Director/Actor Matthew Lillard, @matthewlillard

Matthew Lillard works on 24 Hour Rush, a charity event in support of The Baby Dragon Fund every year to help raise money for youth in the Los Angeles area.

Matthew Lillard is an actor, director and producer. He is best known for his work as Brian Speer in the critically acclaimed film The Descendants. He has also known for his role as Stu Macher in Scream and Stevo in SLC Punk in which he was awarded Best Actor at the Mar Del Plata Film Festival. Lillard has taken his turn in animated work as well playing Shaggy Rogers in the Scooby-Doo film series as well as the TV show.

The Baby Dragon Fund was established in the memory of Hunter Allen who was nicknamed ‘Baby Dragon’. He ended his own life after losing all hope of recovering from his crystal meth addiction. The Baby Dragon Fund works to help the youth of Los Angeles live fully and courageously in the face of addiction, depression and issues of sexual identity. They offer an array of essential recovery programs at the LA Gay and Lesbian Center for youth and mental health.

Interview Conducted Via Email By: Giacinta Pace

Introduction By: Meg Zrini

Q: What is The Baby Dragon Fund and how are you involved?

Matthew: The Baby Dragon Fund was established in loving memory of Hunter Allen, a gay man who struggled with a crystal meth addiction and in the end, lost hope in his own recovery and took his life.  The organization supports youth mental health services and crystal meth recovery for the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center.  Each year the charity produces an event called the 24 HOUR RUSH and I’ve been privileged to be a part of that event since its inception. 

Q: Why did you decided to work with this group?

Matthew: I have a personal connection with Zibby Allen, Hunter’s sister and the woman who started the Baby Dragon Fund.  When you come in contact with inspiring people, the people that light the world on fire, I find it’s always best to stay near them.  To help them in any way you can.  When Hunter passed, Zibby took her grief and used it to affect change.  She immediately started to shape the world for the better in Hunters name.  She’s an inspiration to me and the people that know and work with her. 

Q: Is there a moving experience you have had working with them?

Matthew: Every year The Baby Dragon Fund produces a show called 24 HOUR RUSH in Hollywood California.  30 actors, 5 writers and 5 directors come together at 8PM on a Sunday night. 24 hours later in front of a packed house they perform 5 original shows in a one night only event. It’s an amazing journey of art and adrenaline and every year I’m proud to be a part of the madness. The audience is filled with young adults who struggle with their addictions and mental health issues and for those two hours they get to be reason for the night, the recipients of love and attention and the labors of some of Hollywood’s finest talent. Meeting those kids and seeing the look on their faces as the world rallies to support them is a profound experience. 

Q: What are your current projects you are working on?

Matthew: I just directed a movie called FAT KID RULES THE WORLD that’s been a labor of love for 10 years now.  We won the SXSW Film Festival audience award last March which launched our film on an incredible journey.  One that’s finally winding down in limited theaters around the US and a VOD/iTunes platform release.  I also recently completed a pilot for FX called THE BRIDGE and I’m currently shooting a film with Patrick Stewart and Carla Gugino. 

Q: Anything else you would like to add?

Matthew: Thank you for offering me the platform to tell the world about this. THE BABY DRAGON FUND!  There are two other charities I’m involved with that also make a profound impact on people’s lives. 

MADISONS FOUNDATION And CHILDREN'S’ HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES

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