Hollywood often pushes actors into unusual situations, and Amy Smart also had a similar experience while working on the 2003 film The Battle of Shaker Heights. Starring Smart, alongside Shia LaBeouf and Elden Henson, the film follows two teenage friends who devise historical battle tactics to confront school bullies, however, complications arise when one of them develops feelings for his friend’s older sister.
Smart portrayed the older sister Tabby, and the 15-year-old LaBeouf played Kelly, who becomes infatuated with Tabby and shares a kiss with her in one of the scenes. Recollecting the experience, the Just Friends star admitted feeling uncomfortable kissing a teenager for the film.
Amy Smart Recalled the Weird Experience While Filming The Battle of Shaker Heights
After gaining recognition in Disney’s Even Stevens, Shia LaBeouf landed a role opposite Amy Smart in The Battle of Shaker Heights, which emerged as the winning script of the second season of Project Greenlit.
In a conversation with Showbiz Cheat Sheet, she highlighted the awkwardness of filming a kissing scene with her co-star, as she was 25 at the time and he was around 15, especially with his mom present during the scene. She shared,
“I know that I was his first on-screen kiss. And the fact that his mom had to be there, I think I was 25 and he was I think 15. So it was just weird, but it was fine.”
However, she also described the experience as a “fun acting class,” saying, “It felt like a big playground. All these new experiences.” The Mirrors actress also shared that she enjoyed working on the project and commended her co-star’s talent.
“I could feel that he was so talented,” she said before adding. “He’s just got such a wealth of talent.” LaBeouf received praise for his captivating and charming performance as Kelly. However, the film itself faced criticism for its lack of depth and coherence, with the plot feeling thin and disjointed.
Shia LaBeouf Recalled Working With Ben Affleck And Matt Damon
The Battle of Shaker Heights was one of the projects approved under Ben Affleck and Matt Damon’s documentary TV series Project Greenlight, which aimed to give aspiring filmmakers the opportunity to direct a feature film.
LaBeouf, who was still navigating his path in the film industry, recalled his surreal experience working with Affleck and Damon. “Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were heroes from my generation,” he told Interview Magazine before adding, “It was a level that I didn’t think I would ever attain.”
The Transformers star shared that the Gone Girl actor was the first actor who instilled in him a sense of capability. He also recounted advice given to him by Affleck, saying, “Keep your head on straight, kid, and don’t let all this get to you.”
The Fury star shared that the 51-year-old actor understood the constant scrutiny and pressure to perform under the spotlight, something that he admitted he has always had issues with.
The Battle of Shaker Heights is available on Prime Video.
