Young writer talks ‘Agent Cody Banks’

There’s a new action hero hitting the big screen – Agent Cody Banks. The movie, starring Frankie Muniz (“Malcolm in the Middle”), Hilary Duff (“Lizzie McGuire”) and Angie Harmon, is one of this season’s adventure movies targeted at kids.

The Daily Campus caught up with the man behind the story, Jeffrey Jurgensen to find out what it’s like to sell a movie, be in Hollywood and figure out what’s next with his career.

Q: What is Agent Cody Banks about?

A: “It’s a story about a 15-year-old boy who is kind of nerdy but at the same time he’s been training for the last few summers to be an undercover CIA agent. He’s called to his first mission, but his parents and friends don’t know. He saves the world, gets the girl and gets his first kiss.”

Q: How did you come up with the idea for Cody Banks?

A: “Its always been a fantasy of mine to be an action hero, and I thought why couldn’t a kid be an action hero. In college I interviewed with the CIA, and I think it planted a seed.”

Q: Where did you get the name Cody Banks?

A: “I knew I wanted the main character’s name to be Cody. One day when I was driving down the road, all of the sudden I passed a bank, and I was like Cody Banks – that’s perfect.”

Q: How old were you when you first started writing?

A: “I started writing around 24. I began the script for Cody Banks eight years ago, I was around 27. It was a long road. The thing is, Hollywood loves young people. If you have a script, and you’re young – go for it.”

Q: How did you make money while you were writing?

A: “I was a limo driver for the “Tonight Show with Jay Leno.” Some of my passengers included Tom Cruise, Kobe Bryant, Cher and Bruce Springstein, but my favorite was Heidi Klum.”

Q: Is Hollywood as glamorous as it sounds?

A: “The good thing about people that I’ve met is that 99 percent are really nice people or really quiet. Everyone’s pretty nice to you when you have a script. During the making of the movie, there were so many producers fighting. It’s hard when you have so many people interested in your movie and wanting to make it happen.”

Q: What is your advice to aspiring screenwriters?

A: “You got to want it bad, and you’ve got to be persistent. It’s hard hearing criticism but if you really want to do it you have to keep re-writing until you can’t get any better. The hardest thing is getting read, but if you get it read by enough people someone will be interested.”

Q: What are you working on now?

A: “I have two scripts. One is another kid action movie, and the other is a day in the life of a teenager. Cody Banks has turned into a sequel and there’s talk of a television series as well.”

“I also have a couple businesses I’m working on and a line of infant clothes, kids games and toys. My main long term goal is to some how use the power and money of the entertainment industry to inspire and help children.”

Q: What do you do when you’re not writing?

A: “I travel a lot. Preferably third world countries like Vietnam, Thailand, Laos. I’m going to India this summer. When I found out that I sold the script, I was in Cambodia. I want to try to set up something to go to Iraq to be a photojournalist.”

Q: Who do you look up to in Hollywood?

A: “It seems like that’s a question I should have a real quick answer to but there are a lot of great writers out there. Ron Bass who did Rain Man, Shane Black (Lethal Weapon) – I met him when I was a student. He sold his screen play when he was 22 and has a great writing style. I also see someone like Oprah who gives back and that’s what I want to do.”

Q: Any last thoughts?

A: “If I was able to sell my script and get something made, anyone can. It’s totally possible. I believed in it from the bottom of my heart and soul that it was possible.”