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Home  / News & Publications /  Michigan Catholic News / 2008 /  From St. Hugo's stage to 'Gran Torino'

by Kristin Lukowski of The Michigan Catholic
Published August 29, 2008

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Michael Kurowski, right, sits with family members — brother Matthew, mother Denise and sister Annalise. The whole family has musical talent, whether it’s voice, guitar, piano or trumpet.

Bloomfield Hills — Michael Kurowski called it a one-in-a-million shot that he would be successful at his audition for a small role in a movie directed by and starring Clint Eastwood.

But two years of school plays, three summers at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp and a few other acting gigs here and there helped him to do his best and ultimately land the part of Eastwood's character's grandson. Also standing in his corner, he said, was his faith.

"I know that God blessed me with that talent, most definitely," Michael said of his skill for acting.

Michael, 14, just started his freshman year at Notre Dame Preparatory School and attends St. Hugo of the Hills Parish in Bloomfield Hills, where he also attended school until this year. He credited St. Hugo for helping him broaden his acting talents, and his mother, Denise Kurowski, gave credit to the school for recognizing that talents are gifts from God and should be valued as such.

"Everyone's been happy for him," she said. "I think that speaks a lot for the St. Hugo community."

The movie, "Gran Torino," has been shooting in southeast Michigan and is scheduled for release in December.

Published reports have said the movie is about disgruntled Korean War veteran Walt Kowalski, portrayed by Eastwood, setting out to reform his teenaged Hmong neighbor after he tries to steal Kowalski's prized 1972 Ford Gran Torino.

Scenes were filmed at St. Ambrose Church, Grosse Pointe Park, for two days in July, among other locations. No information about the moving is being released early, according to the production company. The filming comes on the heels of Michigan's new tax incentives to draw in production companies.

Kristin Lukowski | The Michigan Catholic Michael Kurowski shows off some of his acting mementos: books from his roles in St. Hugo school plays, and a signed poster from independent film “The Armed Boy.”

In addition to roles in St. Hugo's "High School Musical" and "The Music Man," Michael Kurowski also had supporting roles in Birmingham Players productions, did a radio commercial, and appeared in the independent film "The Armed Boy," a production of the Rackham Symphony Choir, with which his mother sings. The production crew from "Gran Torino" saw his headshot, on file with Talent Shop agency in Bingham Farms, and called him in to read lines. He did the best he could to conjure a character, did his part, and left.

When his mom got the call he'd landed the part of Eastwood character's oldest grandson, Josh Kowalski, she called Michael and he, in turn, "started calling everyone I know," he said. The first call was to his grandfather, also named Clint and a big fan.

After the family learned Michael had gotten the part, they watched a bunch of Eastwood's movies, since Michael and his siblings, Matthew, 17 and a senior at Notre Dame Prep, and Annalise, 11 and a sixth-grader at St. Hugo, didn't know much about him except that he was a movie star. He was also concerned he wouldn't be able to go on his Boy Scout High Adventure trip the week before, but the crew was willing to meet with him as late as possible — after a quick shower to scrub off a week's worth of camping grime.

"The whole time, everyone was very nice," Denise Kurowski said. "I think they went out of their way to make it a nice experience."

During the two weeks he was involved with shooting, Michael and his mother and his father, Mark, one of whom had to accompany him on set because of his age, appreciated the professional, businesslike set and friendly crew, something that the more seasoned people said was typical of an Eastwood production but not necessarily of other directors. He was given freedom as an actor to interpret lines as he saw fit, and the days usually wrapped up at about 5 p.m.

Michael said the best part about shooting was when the actors would ad-lib after the scene was done being shot. "It's so funny what they make up on the spot," he said.

Having his own trailer was a nice perk, and the food was great, he said — lobster, steak, shrimp, sushi. "Everyone kept asking me if I invited (Eastwood) over for dinner," Denise Kurowski said, but joked that she couldn't compete with the on-set food.

Michael had a few lines, and although there's no telling how prominent he'll be in the movie's final cut, his mom is sure at least one will make the finished movie. "If his earlobe makes it in, I'll be thrilled," she said.

Since Eastwood both stars in and directs the movie, Michael got the chance to work with him in both roles — and both he and his mother were impressed by how smoothly he switched back and forth, they said. They agreed that he was a nice guy with a good sense of humor, and Denise Kurowski thanked him for bringing business to Michigan, she said.

Michael hasn't heard from the agency about any new gigs, but his mom points out that Michigan's movie industry is still growing. Plus, since he considers acting a hobby and not a full-time pursuit, he and the rest of the family have plenty other activities — he plays the drums, dances at Deborah's Stage Door in Rochester Hills, has been involved in scouting and singing and being an altar server at church, and has earned a black belt in the martial art kuk sool won.

His siblings are just as busy — Matthew plays guitar and saxophone, is a drum major at school, had earned his Eagle Scout award, and has a black belt in tae kwon do, and Annalise sings and plays the oboe and piano. His mom sings at church in addition to the Rackham choir — "She's amazing," Annalise whispers — and their father, Mark, played the trumpet, and, to the kids' dismay, sometimes performs a Reveille to get them to school on time.

Since Michael just started high school, he hasn't yet decided if he wants to sing in the choir or participate in school theater productions, but he is taking men's glee club as a class. When they're not busy with activities, the three siblings hang out with each other in their Bloomfield Hills home, playing with their cats Snuff and Puff and their dog Rosie, and goofing around with each other — Matthew takes an opportunity talking about "Gran Torino" to tease his brother about wearing movie makeup, and Michael seizes a quick chance to shoot foam darts at his sister.

Denise Kurowski wants to assemble a scrapbook for her son with mementos of the movie, possibly including an October 1976 issue of Circus magazine, of which Eastwood appeared on the cover and autographed for the young actor. All in all, Michael has a lot of memories of moviemaking to take with him.

"It was a great first experience," he said.