"A human head weighs 8 pounds!" Seriously campers, how could you not want a kid, not want to shoplift the pooty, after seeing Jonathan Lipnicki tear into the hearts of millions as Renée Zellweger's son Ray in Cameron Crowe's wonderful Jerry Maguire? Lipnicki is 13 now, and as I sit across from him, listening to him chat about his new movie screening at this year's Victoria Independent Film and Video Festival, When Zachary Beaver Came To Town it's safe to say there's still a bit of Ray there.

Zachary Beaver is a story that has been compared to the likes of Stand By Me; it's a coming of age story set in the dry heat of a small Texas town - filmed in Granger, Texas - where Lipnicki's character, Toby Wilson, meets Zachary (played by Sasha Neulinger), also known as "The Fattest Kid in the World," who is part of a circus act. The film also stars Eric Stoltz and Jane Krakowski.

"I definitely loved the whole experience of this independent film." Jonathan begins. "It was really fun. I actually went for a meeting to discuss making Zachary Beaver back in 2001 with John Schultz, the director, and I got Like Mike (The film Schultz directed starring Lil Bow Wow in 2002), which was really awesome. I was actually too young to do the role at the time of Like Mike, but I grew a bit, I got older and we did the film in 2003. What's great about independent film is you just get to go out and do the movie you want. And they don't make films like it anymore."

Would Jonathan maybe even consider taking the independent route in the future? "I'd like to mix it up. I'd love to do small movies, big movies ... It's the story that counts. It has to be a story that I love." Jonathan wouldn't even mind trying the story angle himself in the future. "Writing I want to do, definitely! I just want to see if I can actually write one of those long screenplays over 100 pages! I'm only 13! But I have a few ideas right now. I would definitely do something about a boy my age or a story like that. They don't make a lot of stories about that anymore, you know? I liked some of the old River Phoenix movies from the 80's, stories like that."

He may be 13 and a well-known actor and future writer, but how about any other future inspirations? "I love to play the drums! I just started that a while ago and I love it. And I'd also love to be in the NBA. I've always loved to play basketball." And who would he like to work with next? "Tim Burton and Johnny Depp! A movie where Tim is directing and Johnny is starring. That's definitely at the top of my list." he adds with a laugh.

And what IS next for Jonathan? "I have a project that I don't know when will be coming out. I can't say much, but I will say that it's a very different role for me. Lots of people will be surprised."