Pop Culturalist Chats with Corey Fogelmanis

Many of today’s biggest stars got their big break on The Disney Channel. It’s helped launch the careers of Anne Hathaway, Ryan Gosling, Brie Larson, and Justin Timberlake. One actor poised to make that same transition is Corey Fogelmanis. The gifted young man stars as Farkle on The Disney Channel’s Girl Meets World. And, Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with him about the impact of the show and his career.

Girl Meets World Questions

PC: Boy Meets World is an iconic television show. Were you nervous about being part of the revival? Did you feel any pressure because it’s so iconic?
Corey: I don’t think I was nervous or felt any pressure. Honestly, I don’t think I knew the significance of what we were doing at the time. I obviously knew Boy Meets World and thought it was cool to be working so closely with the creators of the original, but I wasn’t thinking about how it would be received. I was more just enjoying the work and my time on set.

PC: The show is known for its life lessons, what’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned being a part of the cast?
Corey: On the show, we put a big emphasis on the fact that people change people and that it’s important to surround yourself with people that will positively affect you. I think that is one of the biggest things I’ve taken away from working on the show and with my cast in particular. It brings up an interesting internal conversation about who you surround yourself with and why it’s so important to analyze friendships and relationships in that way.

PC: Which character besides your own do you relate most with?
Corey: Most definitely Ava. I’m kidding, I don’t know maybe Eric.

PC: How has your character changed throughout the seasons?
Corey: My character has changed drastically in the past three years. As I’ve grown up, I feel like the character has paralleled that in the show a bit. I got to work closely with the writers of the show to find the new direction for the character and find a balance between season one Farkle and where we were going with season three Farkle, that we were happy with.

PC: The show has a lot of young fans, what do you hope they take away from the show?
Corey: Every episode has a lesson of some sort, so on top of just being entertained I hope these messages come across and somehow make a difference in their lives.

Career Questions

PC: What’s your dream role?
Corey: Pippin would be a fun role to take on at some point.

PC: You grew up doing musical theater, are there any plans to make your way to Broadway?
Corey: Yes, definitely. I’m interested in doing professional theatre in general. I think there is incredible theatre here in LA or off-Broadway, among others that I wouldn’t want to dismiss just because it wasn’t on Broadway.

PC: You’re a terrific photographer, how did you get into it?
Corey: Cameras have always been a fascination of mine. My mom was really into photography so there were always cameras around the house. But just in the last couple of years, I’ve become more interested in the art of it all and have kind of honed in on that as a hobby or side profession.

PC: If you weren’t an actor, what would you be?
Corey: A photographer or cinematographer.

PC: Are there any plans in the future to write and/or direct?
Corey: I haven’t put much thought to whether I want to write or direct in the future, but I’m definitely not opposed to the idea of that.

PC: What advice would you give a young actor trying to get their start?
Corey: Go to class, do your research, expose yourself to as much art as you humanly can.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: Guilty pleasure T.V. show/movie?
Corey: I thoroughly enjoy New Girl on FOX.

PC: Favorite play or musical?
Corey: Pippin

PC: Favorite book?
Corey: The Perks of Being A Wallflower

PC: Favorite hobby?
Corey: Reading

PC: A band or artist people would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Corey: I don’t think this would really be a surprise or anything but there’s an artist called Marina and the Diamonds that I think is amazing. She isn’t totally mainstream, so people who haven’t heard of her might be surprised.

Make sure to follow Corey on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook.

Photo Credit: Nate Taylor