It’s been a little over 18 months since the last time we caught up with Peachtree City resident-turned-Hollywood actor Travis Van Winkle. Since then he’s acted in three major motion pictures and that’s only the beginning of the plans he has for himself.

After appearing in the 2006 comedy “Accepted,” starring Justin Long and Blake Lively, Van Winkle appeared in one of 2007’s biggest box office hits, “Transformers.” His latest film, “Meet the Spartans,” has also met the box office with huge numbers and more success for the hard working actor.

So, how does it feel for the McIntosh High School grad to see his films do so well? “[The success of ‘Meet the Spartans’] was cool, it was definitely a good feeling,” laughs Van Winkle. “Now my main concern is I want it to continue, like, I want it make good money. Not just the opening weekend to be the big shebang bang.”

After an opening weekend box office gross of $18.5 million, the comedy spoof has continued to pull in audiences for a worldwide gross of over $56 million to date, nearly $38 million of which comes from domestic box offices.

“When I did ‘Accepted,’ that made $38 [million], so as long as it beats $38, that will be a success for me. For some reason I see it, if the movie makes $50 million or more, in the box office domestically, that’s a success,” said the actor in a recent interview. “I’m not saying that it’s gonna make that, I just know that I will be satisfied if it makes $50 mil or more.”

Well, it appears that success is at hand for the 25-year-old.

His first film, “Accepted,” grossed $38.5 million worldwide, according to BoxOfficeMojo.com, a number which Van Winkle felt should have been bigger. “I think it could have made more money,” he admits. “I was disappointed by it only making that much because it was a funny movie. Still, $38 mil, I mean that was my first movie and I’m very, very satisfied and happy with $38 mil. That’s great.”

While $38 million seems like a lot of money to those outside the business, Van Winkle holds high expectations for himself and the work to which he commits himself. He blames poor marketing on the final box office tally, a point many audiences would agree with given its positive reviews from both critics and general audiences on websites like IMDB and Fandango.

A box office success that most young actors only dream of, “Transformers” rocked last summer’s theaters, bringing in over $707.5 million worldwide. Not too shabby for a guy with only one other film credit under his belt.

“It was great being a part of such a big movie. I mean, obviously I didn’t have the biggest role, but just to be attached to a movie that did so well. I mean, that was a cool feeling. To know that 75 kajillion people saw the movie,” says Van Winkle. “It was definitely a good experience to work with Shia LaBeouf too, ’cause he’s already blowing up. So it’s kind of cool working with these actors that are definitely superstars in the making.”

While Van Winkle may not have had a lead role in the film, he did have several lines and a fair amount of screen time, given his relatively unknown status, in such a hugely anticipated film.

One film that didn’t turn out as had hoped, however, is the David R. Ellis thriller “Asylum.”

“‘Asylum’ just fell through the cracks,” he explained. “I was in Atlanta over the holidays and I had one of my buddies that was in the movie call and say that it was playing in two theaters: one in Atlanta and one in Cherokee County. It had some very small release because they had a pre-requirement that they had to release it in at least two cities so that it could be released on DVD in 2008.”

Van Winkle expects a DVD release date of sometime this spring.

“It’s unfortunate. We went in there thinking it was going to go to theaters, but [it’s going] straight to DVD,” admitted Van Winkle. Looking at the bright side of things, he added, “I got to meet my girlfriend on the project, it was a fun experience, I made a few friends, so it’s fine. I’m okay with it.”

When “Accepted” was first released, Van Winkle came home to view the film with friends and family, an experience he says was stressful.

“I went to one of the Newnan theaters, and I had a big slew of my friends come in and a bunch of family,” he recalled. “It is fun to do that, although it’s a little more nerve-racking for me since they’re just sitting there watching it for the first time and probably being very critical.”

And does he truly think his friends and family were watching the film critically? “It’s not that they’re trying to be critical,” he expounded. “But whenever you’re watching someone for the first time it’s going to be hard for you to enjoy the film because you’re worried about when I’m going to pop up on the screen or you’re not going to be able to get lost in the story.”

He relates to that unfocused, initial viewing he’s referring to, he says. “It’s kind of how, every time I watch a movie that I’m in for the first time, I have a terrible time watching it,” he explained. “And then I watch it again, and I actually sit and enjoy it and watch it as a real audience member and then I actually enjoy it.”

So does he have a difficult time watching his own films the way so many seasoned actors claim? Nope.

“I love to watch stuff that I’m in because I’ve worked really hard on it,” he admitted. “So I want to reap the benefits and actually get to enjoy it and hopefully be happy with my performance. I mean that’s the whole goal.”

With his current rash of success, Van Winkle isn’t taking things any easier. “Whenever I’m not working I am in acting class,” he stated. “Right now I take two classes a week. I also have my own video camera...right now I’m just kind of messing around on my own terms, shooting a bunch of silly, little projects on my own, and staying immersed in acting classes.”

Does that mean he’s thinking of transitioning to a role behind the camera? “I always see myself in front of the camera, but that would be great if somehow I learned how to be an amazing director. I’m very open to it,” Van Winkle allows.

The future is bright for this Fayette native, and his eyes are set on expanding what types of roles he gets in projects to come. Lately he says he’s been auditioning for a few “nice guy, down to earth guy” roles.

“The stuff coming up is definitely something I’ve been waiting to do, but right now it’s not something I can talk about because it’s about 90 percent of the way there right now,” he said. The project, for which he is currently in talks, is a film and his part would be his first “lead, lead role.”

“I’m trying to switch it up,” Van Winkle added. “I’m trying to get out there in that different area.”

So, does he feel any different now than he did 18 months ago? “We gradually evolve,” he answered. “My acting is evolving and I feel like people, in the industry at least, are beginning to take notice, and it’s just steps. As long as I’m continually moving forward, I think that’s basically all I can ask for. And I feel like I have. I feel like I’ve taken many giant steps forward. It’s just going to continue happening because I definitely work hard and I’m not just sitting around twittling my fingers, so I hope to always be moving forward.”

With his charm and talent, good looks, level-headed perspective and an attitude aimed for greatness, it’s no doubt that Travis Van Winkle will definitely keep moving forward.

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