Schools

WPHS Senior Plays 'Flick' in 'Christmas Story 2'

Walter Panas' David Thompson is currently acting in the Warner Brothers' sequel to the Christmas classic.

Whiz Kid: David Thompson, Senior

Accomplishment: Thompson is starring in his second feature film, and is currently playing the character Flick in “A Christmas Story 2,” a sequel to the 1982 classic produced by Warner Brothers, in Vancouver, Canada. His first feature film was an Independent film, “Win, Win” that was shown at the Sundance film festival last year.

Key to Awesomeness: Thompson is a talented actor who excels in academics, plays in the high school band and balances out a personal and professional life as a senior at Walter Panas High School.

Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

While he has managed a successful professional career at such a young age, Thompson also is a good friend, student, band mate and son, his mother says.

“He really likes school, takes a lot of AP classes and is in the National Honors Society,” said mom Lessa Thompson. “We are very proud of him for that and school has been wonderful to him.”

Find out what's happening in Peekskill-Cortlandtwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

In "A Christmas Story 2" Thompson plays Flick, Ralphie’s friend who best know for sticking his tongue to a flagpole. “He is good at being goofy or sort of werid in a number of ways,” Leesa said. “I could see him putting his tongue on a flag pole…And he would do anything for his friends on or off the scene.”

While there is no flagpole tongue scene in the sequal Thompson is in, “there will be a scene that warranted a visit to a prosthesis shop!” Thompson told Patch via email while he is onsite in Vancouver.

In his written responses Thompson displayed a fun sense of humor. In answering a question “When did you first realize you had an interest and talent for acting,” Thompson responded: “I was convinced to do 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' in middle school, and it's all been downhill from there.”

He likes acting because it gives him a chance to “step out of my own shoes and enter someone else’s. I think it’s fun to change personas and become someone else,” he wrote.

Thompson said it is hard to be away from friends and family, but he is keeping in touch on Facebook and sees his distance as a sort of prolonged vacation. He has been keeping up with school by spending three hours with a tutor every day that he misses school and by keeping in touch with teachers.

Thompson plans to study Cinema at SUNY Purchase next year, but, if he gets work acting, he is willing to miss his classes. “I’d like to continue on acting, maybe write something at some point, and keep working on my stand-up.”


Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.

We’ve removed the ability to reply as we work to make improvements. Learn more here