We caught up with D.J. (aka Kyle in Road Trip) to see what really went down when the cameras weren't rolling on his fresh comedy, The New Guy.

D.J. Qualls (called "Deej" by friends) is fast becoming one of Hollywood's most buzzed about young actors. He's currently on location in Texas working with Josh Jackson on the upcoming crime comedy Lone Star State of Mind, but D.J. says he won't soon forget his experiences filming The New Guy.

In the flick, D.J. plays a geek who reinvents himself and becomes East Highland High's coolest transfer student. As new guy Gil Harris, he ends up dating the head cheerleader played by Bring It On's Eliza Dushku. The two got close in real life, as well as in the movie. "Eliza and I became really good friends," he says. Their immediate connection came in handy: "We make out a lot in them ovie, and you've gotte look like you're comfortable," he laughs.

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"It was a very social set, the cast hung out all of the time," D.J. recalls. "I couldn't go out as much as everyone else, but I had a really good working relationship with everybody."

D.J. (left) gets a lesson in jailhouse toughness from Eddie Griffin (right) and a fellow "inmate" during filming.

Producer Todd Garner (far right) and director Ed Decter (right) explain a scene to D.J. (left) and another cast member.

Eliza plays Danielle, the gorgeous girl next door who falls for D.J.

Reprinted from Twist - May 2001