Philip Winchester

Philip:(On landing a role in "Flyboys") I was in Montana doing a play with my father actually, and I was sent the script. I read it. It was just very original. I haven't seen a World War I movie like this. I think The Blue Max (1966) was the last war movie that depicted the flying like this. It was like a modern Top Gun with this band of brothers, this group of guys who had their own ideas but had to do it together in a community to make any difference. The Christian value in the middle of it, the kind of gospel approach, was that there are all these guys who have their own ideas, but the only way they're going to succeed is if they do it in a community and if they come together. You're dead out there by yourself.

Philip:(On how his faith affects his role choices) I've turned down films where the main theme is an occult theme. But I don't have a problem with doing a horror film or a war movie or other violent films, because as an actor, my job is to depict real people. My problem comes when the film glorifies something-like the occult or practices of lust, things like that where there is no redemption. So I really have to dig through a script when I get one, because so many times they'll weave in this little sub-plot that kind of candy-coats promiscuity or things like this. I'm constantly reading scripts, and I just have to pray before I read and say, "God, you brought me out here. What do you want me to do today, and how do you want me to do it?" So it's literally just reading scripts with that in the back of your mind all the time. Hollywood is the center for media for the entire world. And if you were the Enemy, where would you plant yourself? I mean, the principalities of darkness are huge here. This is a battlefield of massive proportions. Every day, if you're not suited and booted, you're going to get burned.

Philip: I grew up in the theatre. I was backstage a lot until my mom would pick me up.