Interview with Isabela Moner from Transformer: The Last Knight

Transformers: The Last Knight
Director: Micheal Bay
Writers Art Marcum (story and screenplay), Matt Holloway (story and screenplay), Ken Nolan (story and screenplay), Akiva Goldsman (story)
Starring: Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Josh Duhamel
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #Transformers

Optimus Prime finds his dead home planet, Cybertron, in which he comes to find he was responsible for its destruction. He finds a way to bring Cybertron back to life, but in order to do so, Optimus needs to find an artifact that is on Earth.

Isabela Moner, who plays Izabella in the new Transformers movie, The Last Night (out now in theaters), sat down with us to do an interview and talk about filming this action packed movie, cutting her gorgeous hair to donate it for children with cancer, what it was to act with Mark Wahlberg as well as Sir Anthony Hopkins, and about where she draws the feelings and emotions she so well portrays on screen.

This movie was so action packed, so how did you prepare for all the action scenes? 
Isabela: I did a lot of training: a month and a half of cardio, resistance training, and I did boxing just because I wanted to. I had three trainers and this was on a daily basis.

It just seems like a lot, like you did a lot in those scenes. 
Isabela: Yeah, and especially when you’re five feet tall and you’re running next to Mark Wahlberg, and trying to catch up with him, yeah. He’s Mark Wahlberg; he wakes up at five in the morning every day, and works out, then goes golfing, and then goes to set, and then he goes to bed at like nine or something. But I go to bed as late as possible because I have schoolwork and then I wake up as late as possible, and then I just kind of roll over and then I just hop into the van to set.

So, were you filming and then go to the trailer and then do homework?
Isabela: Yeah, because we have to have a minimum of three hours of school on set because it’s required, you kind of have to. And, even if you do like school, it’s a lot of work. It’s like you go from quadratic formulas to explosions and death scenes, so it’s mentally a big shift.

Yeah, I can imagine. And then there’s memorizing the lines and getting into character.
Isabela: Memorizing lines was so interesting because a lot of times we didn’t even stick to the script. There was a lot of improve. Like that line that Mark Wahlberg goes like, “Little JLo” (we all laugh), that was improvised.

Do you have a favorite onset experience from this movie, like with the cast? Something that made you go, “Oh my God, this was such a great day”, like some memories from the set. 
Isabela: There was one day when we were finally all together because, you know, the movie has many different people from different walks of life. So the one day we were all able to come together and we all met up this was in Wales, so there was wind and explosions, and it was freezing because it was towards the end of the year and there were thunderstorms. But –and you might not believe me –but as soon as Michael said action, it was in a split instant, all the clouds went away. There was a freaking double rainbow, and it was beautiful. The sun was glistening on the grass and we all just started cracking up in the middle of this really intense scene, it was like the last shot of the movie, and we just all started laughing. Because it described the set perfectly, you know? You’re working hard every day and you almost get so involved that it feels real when you’re fighting for your life, and then the sun would come out randomly, and it was great. It was a great experience.

Is there any specific person you had the most fun with on set?
Isabela: Look, Mark Wahlberg is great, but he wouldn’t want me to talk to the boys (we all laughed). Josh Duhamel is so funny! We are probably at the same maturity level. Lori was nice because she was the only girl in the movie, so whenever she was there I would just hold on to her like she is the only shred of humanity left. It was just great to talk to her and to complain about how we were wearing heals throughout the movie and running. But Anthony Hopkins I have to say takes the cake, because he is just so funny. All of his lines in the movie were improved, especially the scene when he tells the Prime Minister to shut up. And you don’t really see that side of him either, but I saw it on set, that pretty much everything was improvised. He is fantastic because, when I first met him, you know you have this image of what your idols are in person, and you’re kind of scared to meet them because what if they’re not that great? So when I first met him, I was a little nervous, and I couldn’t even get a word out. But, when Michael Bay was like, “This is the little young star of our movie”, I couldn’t speak, and Anthony Hopkins just literally grabs me and pulls be into a bear hug, and lifts me off the ground. And it was the greatest greeting I have every gotten in my entire life, and I’ll never forget it either, because sometimes you just need a hug, and it was fantastic.

Do you have a favorite Transformer?
Isabela: Either Bumblebee or Squeaks

I love your character and it you get a lot of emotion from it, so where do you draw that emotion from?
Isabela: You know, you look at me and you probably think, “She’s been privileged her entire life”, but people go through different things and different experiences. And I definitely have had personal experiences that have brought that dark and sad side, and it’s allowed me to access it easily and all I have to do is think about it. You never know, you can’t judge the book by its cover, yeah. Like back in 2008 we had a house fire, and we lost all our baby pictures and we lost a few pets. My dad is actually a firefighter and he had to go put out the fire, but, luckily, I am so blessed that no one in my family was harmed or injured in any way. But it is from a lot of personal experience that I draw from.
How alike or unlike your character do you think you are?
Isabela: When I was reading the script, I wanted to be more like her, and then, as we went through the filming process, it felt like I wasn’t acting anymore. I’d be on set and I realized we have a lot in common because, you know, because we do have a tough exterior where it seems as though nothing really harms us. We also have a soft spot for family, and it makes her more than just a strong female character that gives her a little more depth and value, literal values to her.

Will we see Izabella in a future Transformer film? 
Isabela: I mean, hey, why not? I’d be down, yeah. But only if they can find my whole family or friends out there, yeah, wherever they are.

How was it filming in England and in Wales? 
Isabela: I’m actually a little annoyed and a little jealous that they actually filmed a lot of scenes in London and I wasn’t part of any of that. I was in the scenes that take place in Arizona where it’s 113 degrees and you’re sweating. I lost like two tutors who passed out from heat exhaustion, and they quit. So I was stuck with that and they were in London and in castles, and churches, and war places. And I was like, “Wow, thanks guys for the invite.” But, we did have the Wales experience.

Was the scene that’s in Stonehenge, was that the real one or was it a set? 
Isabela: Yeah, it was a set literally down the street from the real Stonehenge. The locals got really upset because they thought we exploded the real one. They were about to do a riot or something because they saw pictures in the press of the explosions around the Stonehenge, and they got really upset. Michael could probably do some explosions there, but he was respectful of the land.

Do you feel a sense of responsibility being a Latina actress in Hollywood, and how do you take that on your shoulders? 
Isabela: I do feel a sense of responsibility because it is a responsibility. There are its advantages to being a Latina because, obviously, you have the Hispanic world to support you because they are the most loyal fans, and I really appreciate the fact that they accept me as if I was 100% Peruvian or 100% Latina. I am actually half and half. It is a responsibility because sometimes I do lose parts to fully white girls, let’s be honest. Not because there’s a stereotype, but because young girls my age are playing the parts of daughter of people that look like them, and the majority of adult actors in Hollywood are white, and you don’t look related. It’s so many elements because it’s not only about playing a good character, but being a good person in real life and showing everyone that we aren’t just loud, sassy Latinos. We do have depth and we do have culture, and it’s like demanding respect almost. And I think there is a movement going on and I am glad I could be a part of it. You look Becky G, and Salma has been doing it for a long time, and you see people working on it underground; it’s subtle but it’s there, we are getting there.

You’re saying you’re a Latina actress, when you got the part, how did you feel about getting the role in a movie that is so massive and that it’s something that people are going to really enjoy? 
Isabela: I was ultra shocked because I didn’t think I was going to get it. The role was like 18, 19, kind of 20 year old, and Michael Bay was actually going to hire someone the day before. But then the casting director told him, “You have to see this tape that some girl sent in from her house in Ohio”, and he saw me and he said, “Oh, she’s so young, like 14”, and that’s when he realized he wanted an authentic kid. I was genuinely shocked because I thought he was going to cast some model who is like 7 feet tall. So it’s a great opportunity, it’s amazing. I appreciate him too because the role wasn’t written to speak Spanish at all. He heard me talking on the side to my mom in Spanish and he was kind of like, “Oh, she speaks Spanish, let’s have her improve some lines here and there.”

After that, we were able to take a picture with her. She was absolutely amazing: very mature for being only 15, funny, bubbly, incredibly smart, and also very humble. I thoroughly enjoyed interviewing Isabela. I so look forward to see where her career goes; she has so much talent and charisma that I am sure it will go very, very far.

In her defense, I was wearing 4" heels and she wasn't

All of us that interviewed lovely Isabela were featured on her Instagram story (where I got the pic from), one of the coolest things ever

Catch the new Transformers movie, The Last Knight, in theaters now.

An Interview with Pilou Asbaek of #GhostInTheShell!

Ghost in the Shell 
Director: Rupert Sanders
Writers: Jamie Moss (screenplay), Masamune Shirow (based on the manga by)
Starring: Scarlett Johansson, Pilou Asbæk, Takeshi Kitano, Michael Pitt, Juliette Binoche
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #GhostInTheShell

In the near future, Major (Scarlett Johansson) is the first of her kind: A human saved from a terrible crash, who is cyber-enhanced to be a perfect soldier devoted to stopping the world’s most dangerous criminals. When terrorism reaches a new level that includes the ability to hack into people’s minds and control them, Major is uniquely qualified to stop it. As she prepares to face a new enemy, Major discovers that she has been lied to: her life was not saved, it was stolen. She will stop at nothing to recover her past, find out who did this to her and stop them before they do it to others. Based on the internationally acclaimed Japanese Manga, “The Ghost in the Shell.”

---

Pilou Asbaek is a Danish actor best known in the United States for his recent role as Euron Grayjoy in Game of Thrones. Recently, he played Batou in Rupert Sander's Ghost in the Shell and I was able to interview him regarding his experience in the film!

So, you're Danish

Asbaek: Yes

I was wondering if you find a lot of differences between the Danish film industry and the American film industry. If so, could you elaborate?

Asbaek: I think the biggest difference between the two, American verses Danish films, is the size of the budget. I think one weeks catering on Ghost in the Shell is like one big budget Danish film. So, you know, that's a big, big, big difference but, story wise, it's exactly the same. You wanna tell good stories, you want to create good characters. So the approach, in my job, is the same besides the language because as an actor you want to feel free, you want to have control. It's like driving a car, you navigate. It's the same thing with characters. If the performance is going a little bit too slow, you press a little bit on the gas, you shift gear. So, um, the language is difficult but everything else is the same.

I know you're very used to working in shows or movies that work with a very fictional reality, but did you find any aspect of Ghost in the Shell particularly difficult considering it's set in such a, to me at least, unimaginable future?

Asbaek: Yes, but actually I think that what Rupert (director) created is a very- I think he created a very interesting thing in the film because for me it's actually, I think- I think it's possible, what he created in Ghost in the Shell. I think that future might be the future of our world where, and I'm sorry to say, there is more and more artificial intelligence that is going to be a part of, maybe not our generation, but our children's generation. So, I don't see a big difference between doing Game of Thrones or Ghost in the Shell. It's just different genres, but it's the same work and the size of the character- the size of the character, it doesn't matter if it's the supporting character or the lead, the work is almost the same because you have to be prepared. That's at least how I work, so, no, I think- I don't see the big difference between doing social Danish realism and big American science fiction films.

Speaking of preparation, how did you prepare for this film particularly?

Asbaek: Ugh, I was in the gym so much! I hated it, I hated it, I hate it, I hate it, I hate it! There's nothing more - I hate it. [laughs] I, uh, started working out the moment I got the job, because I don't want to start working out before I get the job, uh, and then we went down to New Zealand two months before we would start shooting and it was a production decision that they wanted to bring all the cast to New Zealand- to Wellington- before we would start the film because they wanted that Section Nine, uh, spirit, you know. It's like an elite unit. And, you know, we would work, we would do tactical training, we would do weapons training, counter terrorist training and we would be working out and we would do that for five hours everyday and then we would go rehearse the script or we would go do fittings or we would go do prosthetics. I had a lot of prosthetic tests because, you know, we had to make those eyes look not idiotic. They still look a little bit funny but we did the best we could. [laughs] And it took four hours of makeup to get these on before I would do four hours of shooting.

But could you see through them?

Asbaek: No, I couldn't see shit so when I was doing stunts... I couldn't see! My peripheral vision was like zero! So, when I had fight scenes with Scarlett or I would be fighting with some guys at the bar, you know, I would like [hit] Scarlett! Because I couldn't see anything! [laughs] But she's okay, she's a tough girl so she can take it.

Were there any obstacles or challenges you had to face other than going to the gym when you were making this movie?

Asbaek: Yes, there was a big challenge regarding the- you know, it's based on the manga. It's like the written cartoon in the 80s and then they made the anime in the 90s, and it was a very loved manga, it's a very loved anime. And, I've learned from Game of Thrones, that when people are very fanatic about it, they don't want you to touch it. They think they own it, but it's, you know, that's selfish thinking that you own the whole franchise! Like, no, it's mine, you can't do that! I'm like dude, I've got just as much right to interpret Batou as you have you know, drawing or whatever. So you have to take ownership of it, you have to have a little bit of disrespect. Not for the material, but for the fans. To own it. And I loved it as much as the hardcore fans, but it was a big challenge. It was a very big challenge, and there's been some controversy about the whole Asian / American adaptation and stuff like that. And it came as a surprise honestly because I think it's such a- such a loved story and you know, Hamlet! Hamlet has been a black guy, he's been an Asian guy you know, Hamlet has been everyone and I come from a country of 5 million people. You know, whenever you see Vikings on films they rape, I'm like, dude, okay, thanks a lot! [laughs] So, you know, I'm just glad that it's a great discussion and we need to [make] it again and again and again because Hollywood needs to open up, you know.

You play easily one of the most significant anime characters of all time, really.

Asbaek: Yeah.

If you could do it again, if you could do any anime, comic book, video game character right now no matter who, who would you be?

Asbaek: I want to make Twisted Metal into a movie. And I'm actually writing on it right now.

Who would you play?

Asbaek: I don't want to play anything, I just want to write it. Honestly, I swear to god, I never wanted to be an actor. [Interviewer laughs] No, I hate it! I mean, I don't hate acting.

I would hope! [laughs]

Asbaek: No, I love my job, but I never wanted to be an actor. I always wanted to be writer. My wife is a writer, my best friends are writers. I wanted to be journalist when I was younger, and I still wanna! But, I went to school, and I had to take this acting [class] and- it's a classical, cliche story because there was a girl and I wanted to hang out with her and get a little bit closer to her and she took acting lessons. I was like [shrugs] I'll do it! And I came into to class and we had to prepare a text and then it was my turn up and I just went blah blah blah blah blah blah and the teacher was like, dude, I'm so sorry, but you gotta be an actor. I was like no, I'm going to be writer, I'm a writer, I'm smart, I want to do smart things! [laughs] And I found out later that acting was- there was a lot of challenge but, uh, she pushed me in that direction and I was 21. I was a pretty late bloomer and now I'm sitting here talking to you guys 14 years later!

Were you a fan of the anime before getting cast or did you just find out about it afterwards?

Asbaek: I was a teenager when I saw it for the first time. I'd never heard about Shirow's (Masamune) manga, I had never heard about it, but I saw the anime and you guys know, it was like- this is what I hope is going to happen with the film. Shirow created the manga in, I dunno, 88 or 89, the audience was [small], it was not many people that read it, but they were like pretty hardcore fans, and then Oshii (Mamoru) created the anime which traveled the world and became this cult thing, right, in the late 90s and the audience grew. They loved it! They loved it so much that they're like don't fuck around with it, you know. And now we're doing a live action version and Scarlett is such an incredible, talented actress that [more] people are going to know about Ghost in the Shell. Some of them knew about it already, but there's a lot of people that didn't know about Ghost in the Shell and if we, with our film, have shown it to some people who weren't aware of the source and go back and watch the original anime and read the original manga? That's fucking awesome! Then we've done our job well because this is one chapter in the whole story of Ghost in the Shell, but, was I a fan of it? Where I come from, fan is a very strong word. I'm from the North, from the cold countries, you know, where we don't show emotion so, even if I was a fan, I'd never say it. [laughs] But I liked it a lot.

Okay. [laughs]

Asbaek: There's two things I loved about it. I loved that it was a cartoon that took itself seriously. I'd never seen that before. And I loved that it was a strong female lead. I thought that was pretty cool, you know, I'd only seen that once before in Nikita, a French film I thought was pretty cool, and then they did a shitty American remake and it turned into a TV series.

Was it nice working with Scarlett again after working with her on Lucy? 

Asbaek: Well, in Lucy, I got to to meet her you know. I mean, how close can you get with a person in three days? I mean, she's a professional actor and she's there to work and so am I so it's not like you- I wanted to just be like hi! You know? You wanna go out and grab a cheeseburger or something? [laughs] But that's you know, that's not how it works. I got to meet her and we did a scene and she was incredible but it was not until Ghost in the Shell where you're like six months in Wellington and six months is a long time on that island. You're kind of isolated you know? So we got very good friends and I'm very proud of her, I'm very proud of calling her a friend.

Do you think there's any aspect of Batou that you relate to? 

Asbaek: Yeah, he likes beer and pizza. So do I, so do I- and he likes dogs! When I saw the anime the first time I actually didn't connect with him very much, I connected to with the Major. When I got the job, and I had to audition, I made like three or four tapes for Rupert and then Paramount and DreamWorks weren't super happy with my tapes. They didn't think I was smiling enough. So I flew to LA from  Denmark, that's a 14 hour flight, to have a meeting with Paramount and DreamWorks where I sat through out the entire meeting like this. [sits back and smiles very wide] Smiling! To persuade them that I can be charming if I want to, but he's not a charming guy. He's a serious guy. The heart and soul of Batou is all the looks, all the pauses, it's not all the actual, do you get what I'm saying? When you see a good actor on screen you think what the hell is she doing because the lines are information but what you do between the lines is art, okay.

Yeah.

Asbaek: What was the question again, I forgot. [laughs]

Are you similar to Batou?

Asbaek: Oh right, yeah, so I didn't connect with him and I saw the anime again and again and again and I ended up going back to the original manga and I found out- because Batou in the anime is much older than I am, much more quiet. So I thought, people are going to give me a hard time because I'm not old enough for this role, you know. I'm the first one to know, I'm the actor, I know what I'm doing, I know what people are going to say are the strengths and weaknesses. And then I went back to the manga and realized, oh shit! He's not old at all! He's much younger in the manga! It was Oshii, when he created the anime, that made him much older. So I can go back to Shirow's manga and go I'm the right age! He was the guy fucking up the character! [laughs] I mean, of course Oshii didn't fuck up, Oshii did the most beautiful Batou. What I wanted was the visual looks of the manga and the heart and soul of the anime, so that's also a personal homage from me to the two geniuses who created it.

Advance Screening Recap of HBO's Big Little Lies - #BigLittleLies

We are excited to talk about the new HBO show BIG LITTLE LIES. We recently attended a pre-screening event, where we were able to preview the first 2 shows, chat with Kathryn Newton and have some delicious treats afterwards. 

ABOUT BIG LITTLE LIES
In the tranquil seaside town of Monterey, California, nothing is quite as it seems. Doting moms, successful husbands, adorable children, beautiful homes: What lies will be told to keep their perfect worlds from unraveling? Told through the eyes of three mothers – Madeline, Celeste and Jane – BIG LITTLE LIES paints a picture of a town fueled by rumors and divided into the haves and have-nots, exposing the conflicts, secrets and betrayals that compromise relationships between husbands and wives, parents and children, and friends and neighbors. Based on the New York Times number-one bestseller of the same name by Liane Moriarty, BIG LITTLE LIES is a subversive, darkly comedic drama that weaves a tale of murder and mischief as it explores society’s myth of perfection and the contradictions that exist beneath our idealized façade of marriage, sex, parenting and friendship. The seven-episode limited drama series debuts SUNDAY, FEB. 19 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO.

Kathryn Newton biography:
With two Young Artist Awards and further recognition of a talent which can effortlessly shift between comedic and dramatic roles – not to mention from the soundstage to the golf course – 19-year-old actress Kathryn Newton continues to ascend on the leaderboard.

In the wake of her recurring role as Claire Novak on the long-running CW series “Supernatural,” Newton returns to episodic television in the new HBO series “Big Little Lies,” which premieres February 19. Adapted by David E. Kelley and Liane Moriarty based on her #1 New York Times bestselling novel of the same name, the comedy crime drama boasts an all-star cast in weaving the tale of three mothers – Madeline (Reese Witherspoon), Celeste (Nicole Kidman) and Jane (Shailene Woodley) – whose supposedly perfect lives are interrupted when a murder occurs. Kathryn Newton plays Abigail, the older daughter of Witherspoon’s Madeline Mackenzie.

On the big screen Newton will be seen in two films with Lucas Hedges (Manchester By the Sea), the forthcoming independent film comedy Lady Bird and the crime drama Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri. Newton may be best-known for starring in Paranormal Activity 4 as Alex Nelson, a young teen who documents the supernatural occurrences that happen when a mysterious family moves into the neighborhood. For her work in the blockbuster horror film, she won a Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film - Leading Young Actress.

Previous credits for Newton include Disney Channel’s “Dog with a Blog,” AMC’s “Mad Men,” and CBS’s “Bad Teacher” and “Gary Unmarried,” for which she won a Young Artist Award for her role as daughter Louise Brooks. Born in South Florida, Newton began her acting career at the age of four, appearing on the venerable daytime show “All My Children” from 2001-2004.

A diehard fashionista with an extensive collection of vintage designer items, Newton is also an avid golfer (she admits, “I don’t know whether to call myself a golfer who acts or an actor who plays golf!”). Last year she did a video series for Golf Digest, which recognized her as “The Best Golfer in Hollywood.” Having helped her Southern California high school golf team win three league championships, Newton hopes to launch her own tournament where adults and child players pair to raise money to encourage more young people to get into the game.

---

Our recap:

Big Little Lies premieres on HBO on Sunday February 19, 2017 and it is sure to garner plenty of attention. Based on a best-selling novel by Liane Moriarty and starring Hollywood heavyweights, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Laura Dern the show while not revolutionary, is well executed and deliciously mischievous.

At the heart of the story is Madeline Martha Mackenzie (Witherspoon). She knows how things should be and is willing to do what it takes to make things work out that way. She wants fairness and justice and meddles with the school and manipulates peoples’ perspectives to get things the way that she thinks they should be. Her best friend, Celeste (Nicole Kidman), lives like a Greek goddess in a mansion on the water with two perfect boys and a Ken doll husband. She is ever present but coolly disengaged. Jane (Shailene Woodley) moves to town and unlike the other “dress for success,” glamour haired moms, she seeks comfort with baggy clothes, short hair tied back and no trace of make-up. She’s a single mom and lives for her son, Ziggy.

This ill-fitted group of heroines, while they consider each other best friends, in many ways barely know each other. In fact, although theirs is a community where people are constantly digging into other’s business and judging, no one seems to know much about anyone’s actual lives. One of these women is emotionally distant to her husband, one is haunted by a recurring vision and one is engaged in a violent, dangerous game of sex and co-dependence with her husband.

Madeline pits people against each other for sport. Working moms v. stay at home moms; her ex-husband against her current husband; even her teen daughter against herself. She thrives on the diversion of minutiae and in so doing is blind to bigger issues around her. When the moms arrive at school to pick up their children after the first day of first grade, Ziggy is accused of hurting Super Mom Renata’s daughter. Renata (Laura Dern) is a high-power executive with PayPal and Madeline’s nemesis. Ziggy claims innocence and Jane assures that her son isn’t a liar. Thus, begins a he-said-she-said kerfuffle that ripples into much larger issues.

Set in Monterrey, California, the episodes are crisp and visually stunning with breathtaking homes and settings. Even Jane’s stark home is enviably cozy and the quick peeks of a bigger crime lurking behind the story tugs at the viewer whenever you forget that it’s coming

Director Jean-Marc Vallee swirls between clips of the community talking to police at depositions and a traditional unwinding narrative that affectively floats viewers along with the story, helping us understand the myriad perspectives that can make simple confrontations become holy wars.

 

Interview with Asa Butterfield from "The Space Between Us"

The Space Between Us
Director: Peter Chelson
Writers: Allan Leob (screenplay), Stewart Schill (story)
Starring: Britt Robertson, Asa Butterfield, Gary Oldman
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #TheSpaceBetweenUs

The first human born on Mars travels to Earth for the first time, experiencing the wonders of the planet through fresh eyes. He embarks on an adventure with a street smart girl to discover how he came to be.

As I mentioned in my review of “The Space Between Us”, I became a fan of Asa Butterfield when I saw him as Jake in Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, so when I was given the chance to interview him I was very excited. He was a complete sweetheart and we got to talk a bit about London (I loved it when I went there!) and about the Miami weather. Without further ado…Here’s Asa’s interview:

First of all, how are you liking Miami so far? 
Asa: It’s nice. I went to the beach yesterday. London is just cold and gray all the time.

What’s your dream role?
Asa: My dream role? I get asked this a lot and I can never give a good answer because I never really think about it. I kind of just play it as it comes, what roles and scripts I read.

Do you have a preference? For example, do you prefer sci-fi since you’ve done “Ender’s Game” and “The Space Between Us”.
 Asa: I like doing all sorts of films actually. I don’t tell my agent that I want to do sci-fi or western, it really depends on the script and the character. I do like fantasy and sci-fi because it gives more freedom to do a lot of things.

So what drew you to do this movie? 
Asa: It had a lot of different things going on, a lot of different genres. I felt the character was very interesting: playing someone that is experiencing everything we take for granted, experiencing it for the first time and the wonders of it, and making all those mistakes. I thought it’d be very funny, different, and challenging –which it was.

How did you prepare for this role? 
Asa: There was the walk since coming from Mars to Earth you’d feel a little heavier, so I practiced with weights on my ankles and waist to see how much more difficult it’d be to walk and run around, and it affected the way I moved. I also watched films of people coming from space and I tried to recreate it but without the weights.

What do you hope people take away from this movie?
Asa: I hope they open their eyes to what we have as a planet, which we are very lucky to have and a lot of people ignore or don’t realize.

Is there something specific you want people to open their eyes to?
Asa: Well, yeah, the landscape, I think the natural side of it, like you see in the film some mountain views, but also the human aspect of it. Like going to see hot air balloons which Gardner sees for the first time, which most of us don’t even give a second glance to because we are all on our phones now.
What do you think you have in common with Gardner and what did you learn from playing that character? 
Asa: We are both very curious and interested in things. I really like learning about weird things and I can spend a whole evening reading. Just like how Gardner is fascinated by everything he sees.

Did you practice to be surprised since there are a lot of moments in which you have to act surprised?
Asa: I did my surprise face in the mirror all day (laughs). No, I’m joking. I don’t know. People ask me how I prepare to be a certain character and I can’t explain, because it’s more than acting, it’s mental, it’s what’s inside your head and you can’t really explain that. So, I don’t know is my answer (laughs).

You haven’t done a lot of romantic scenes in the movies you’ve been in, so how was doing the romantic scene with Britt Robertson? Was it awkward? 
Asa: No, it’s not awkward. When you have that type of relationship that you have to sell on screen, it’s always a lot easier when you get along with that person. Britt is very sweet, very chilled out, which is great because I kind of felt anxious and she was very relaxed. And, in those kind of scenes, you just can’t take it too seriously or otherwise it does get awkward, and then on camera you’ll go ‘why do these guys look so awkward?’ when you’re watching the film.

Gardner grows up having everything he needs, but he wants more; he just wants to connect. Do you believe that there is anything more valuable than human connection because, at the end of the day, that’s what the movie is about. 
Asa: I’m glad you got that because it is about science fiction, but it’s ultimately about these connections and relationships between these characters. And I do lean towards human contact, someone to talk to. I do like being by myself, having alone time, but I do believe it’s important to have that connection, so living on Mars would be a struggle for me.

If given the opportunity to live on Mars, would you take it?
Asa: No. I would like to go into space; I would like to go into zero gravity because I have pretended to be in zero g so many times. It would be awesome to experience that, do different types of experiments. But Mars is a little bit too far away.

How did you feel working with Gary Oldman?
Asa: Uh, Gary Oldman is an amazing actor to work with, as an actor. But, as a guy, he’s so kind of…normal, and funny. He doesn’t take himself too seriously at all, which is great to see in someone like that because, again, it relaxes the whole atmosphere on set. Because no one is going like ‘Oh, Gary is coming, let me do my tie up’, because his hair is a mess and yeah, it’s great.

Which director would you like to work with next? 
Asa: I don’t know; I’m open. I don’t like to set myself any goals because I feel bad if I fail to reach them, so I just go with the flow. I’ve worked with some incredible directors that no one has ever heard of, so I think it’s not fair to set those goals.

Can you tell us a bit about any new roles you’re working on now? 
Asa: Yes, I was filming last year; it’s called “The House of Tomorrow”, which is an independent American film. I played with Alan Wolf, which we are sort of in this punk rock band, and it was incredible.

You’ve played a lot of characters throughout the years, is there one that stood out to you the most?
Asa: I really like Gardner, really. It was fun bringing him to life because he is so different character than all the other ones I’ve played.

Since you started acting so young, do you feel like you missed out on things? 
Asa: I think I may have missed out on little things, but it didn’t really faze me. I’d come back to school and it didn’t really make a difference. It didn’t feel like I’d been away. But I did mature pretty quickly, which I am still not sure if it’s good or bad thing. I mean, I still act pretty immature, so I guess it balances out.

Were there any other space movies you watched to get into that mode? 
Asa: It does have some references to E.T., which I think is quite sweet. And they make a lot of references to Wings of Desire.

If you wouldn’t be into acting, what do you think you’d be doing? 
Asa: I’d be out with a camera in a forest or some type of savannah, just filming the animals. I love nature, I love animals –always have, and I really love photography as well.

Do you ever want to be on the other side of the camera? 
Asa: I would love to be a cameraman. Directing, maybe, but cameraman definitely.

If you were told today is your last day on Earth because tomorrow you are leaving to Mars, what would you do? 
Asa: Oh my God, what am I going to do? So many things. I will have to say I would spend it with my family, do the nice thing. And stash as many things as I can to steal to Mars.

So, what’s your favorite thing about Earth? 
Asa: Music. I love hip hop, but classic hip hop. From early 2000s: Eminem, Tupac, Biggie Smalls. I also like reggae and soul music.

Austin Butler Performs Role of Akos in 'Carve the Mark' Audiobook!

Did you know that actor Austin Butler from The Shannara Chronicles, Switched at Birth, Carrie Diaries performed the role Akos in Veronica Roth's new book Carve the Mark audiobook? 

Well now you do, and here is a video that HarperAudio shared on their YouTube channel recently. 

---

Carve the Mark
Written by Veronica Roth

Fans of Star Wars and Divergent will revel in internationally bestselling author Veronica Roth’s stunning new science-fiction fantasy series.

On a planet where violence and vengeance rule, in a galaxy where some are favored by fate, everyone develops a currentgift, a unique power meant to shape the future. While most benefit from their currentgifts, Akos and Cyra do not—their gifts make them vulnerable to others’ control. Can they reclaim their gifts, their fates, and their lives, and reset the balance of power in this world?

Cyra is the sister of the brutal tyrant who rules the Shotet people. Cyra’s currentgift gives her pain and power—something her brother exploits, using her to torture his enemies. But Cyra is much more than just a blade in her brother’s hand: she is resilient, quick on her feet, and smarter than he knows.

Akos is from the peace-loving nation of Thuvhe, and his loyalty to his family is limitless. Though protected by his unusual currentgift, once Akos and his brother are captured by enemy Shotet soldiers, Akos is desperate to get his brother out alive—no matter what the cost. When Akos is thrust into Cyra’s world, the enmity between their countries and families seems insurmountable. They must decide to help each other to survive—or to destroy one another.

An Interview with The Cast of #BenHur

Ben-Hur
Director: Timur Bekmambetov
Writers:  Lew Wallace (based on the novel by), Keith R. Clarke (screenplay), John Ridley (screenplay)
Starring:  Jack Huston, Toby Kebell, Rodrigo Santoro
MPAA Rating: PG-13
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #BenHur

The epic story of Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston), a prince falsely accused of treason by his adopted brother, an officer in the Roman army. After years at sea, Judah returns to his homeland to seek revenge, but finds redemption.

Here I am sandwiched between the 2 hotties

As I’ve stated before many times, I am a fangirl; a fangirl that loves meeting new celebrities –and if I get to ask them some questions, even better!

I was asked to go cover the press table for the upcoming super action-packed Ben-Hur and that two of the main cast would be there. Well, it was none other than Ben-Hur himself (played by Jack Huston) and Jesus Christ (played by Rodrigo Santoro). I had seen Jack earlier this year in his role as Lt. George Wickham in “Pride and Prejudice and Zombies” (alongside my love, Matt Smith), so I was somewhat familiar with him. Rodrigo I hadn’t seen before, but I have now promised myself to check out some of his work because, after meeting him, I am that much more eager to see it!

I was very excited to meet these two incredibly talented actors because I have a great love for acting and, to me, meeting two fine and well-known actors is an honor. I have to say that these two were absolute and complete gentlemen: they were courteous, really looked each one of us in the eye as they responded our questions, and were all smiles. They even stayed longer than they were supposed to just to make sure we all got our questions answered, and they didn’t want to rush them. Big props to Rodrigo who was very sick with a bad case of the flu and said he felt terrible. Despite this, he was graceful and sweet and animated with all his answers. I am very honored to have met these two beautiful souls.

Enough of praising these guys, here’s the interview so you can read it for yourself:

What lead you guys to accepting the rolls you guys had in this movie?

Jack: To me, it was such a huge honor because, as an actor, you’re always looking for great characters. I truly believe the character Judah Ben-Hur is one of the great characters, and you know that because 130 years ago someone wrote a book and we are re-imagining this story for the fourth time on the movie screen. That’s what transcends everything. And I say re-imagine because the ’59 version is a very different version than the ’29 version, and because it was made for an modern audience and it’s introducing this amazing story to a new audience. This character really taught me a lot about myself, about life, about how things somehow that happened 2,000 years ago are still happening today, and this film is incredibly relevant right now, even though it’s written 130 years ago, even though it’s based 2,000 years ago. The subject that it’s about, it’s still happening right now. There’s so much hatred, so much animosity in the world, and it’s kind of beautiful to be part of something that has a message that has a way out of that: that it’s love, that’s forgiveness, and small acts of kindness. That’s what made it special for me.

Rodrigo: I think I had all the reasons to accept this challenge and responsibility because it doesn’t get much bigger, more special than that. But, also I don’t just get to play this part, but this part inside this film, this story. I was all over the place when I was offered to play him because I was swarmed with contradictions and anxiety and excitement, and doubts and everything. I took it as a real, personal experience; I really wanted to go through this experience. And the fact that I was going to be inside such a strong, beautiful, powerful story, was –as you say here in America –a no brainer. Actually, it was an all-brainer for me because I was all over the place and didn’t know what to think. But that lasted one day. I went to bed and the next day I woke up and thought ‘I really want to go through this experience, I really want to do this’, and I tried to shut down all the voices in my head telling me ‘are you sure? People are going to say this or that. It’s Jesus, are you sure? It’s been done so many times, what can you add to this?’ And I said, you know what? I think it’s going to be a very unique experience and I want to go through that and, basically, that was the instinct that told me to take it. Life is too short to rationalize everything, just go with your gut. I couldn’t be more grateful for the experience I had.

When the last Ben-Hur was made, it was a spectacle and it’s regarded as one of the best movies ever made. Were you guys trepid about going into it? Technology has advanced so much, do you feel it makes it more difficult to surprise audiences into this one?

Jack: As you said, the ’59 version was the first time we had seen a movie of that scale, of that epic nature, with that many horses and extras, the time it took to make it, it was unique at that time. But also, the style of acting back then was quite theatrical, it was a very different style of making movies, and it’s been nearly 60 years this movie and the Wyler version. The lovely thing that I think is so interesting is that, with all the special effects and the pressure of the film business, what Timur [Bekmambetov, the director of the film] and we wanted to do was bring it back to the characters, the story. We actually didn’t use that many special effects, we actually knew that the way to reach the audience was my immersing ourselves in those characters, and to do all those things and put ourselves through all these emotions and physicality; I’ve never trained harder in my life. I lost 30 lbs as a whole. Every time you see us with the horses it’s us with the horses. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of this movie, because when you say re-imagining, it is re-imagining because most people haven’t seen the ’59 version, and so we get to tell this story to a whole new generation of people. And I think Lew Wallace would say ‘that’s pretty cool, my book is still filmed.’

Rodrigo: He said it all. I don’t know what else I can really add. Maybe what I can is that the first question I asked the director in our first meeting was: How do you feel, as a director, the responsibility of the story, the title, the Oscars, it’s inevitable to have comparisons? And he said, “Are you crazy? I would never touch that movie! This is a completely different movie.” So I asked him, what do you mean? He said, “From the way I am going to tell the story, from the way I am going to shoot it, from the narrative standpoint, everything, and your character. And I said, well, it’s been done so many times, are you sure you’re going to have a different take on it? He then said, “I’m not even going to go there. It’s not about being different; I have a very specific vision, which is that I would like Jesus to be a very relatable figure. I want him to be very, very human.” And then he had me look at YouTube videos as references; like, very realistic, very much the approach he wanted to bring to the film, and for this character he said we are going to be very careful, we want him to be very powerful, we want it to be the way it has to be because we are going to follow the scripture. [Timur said] “Everything is going to be the way it has to be, but, I want you to bring something to this character that hasn’t been written, which is to be relatable as a man, as someone who is planting seeds and showing acts of kindness and having a relationship with another man, a fraternal relationship.” That is the message because all his teachings are there, but I wanted all of us to feel that we are all sons of God too, which is probably, I don’t know, what Jesus was trying to say. We all can do this, we all should shoot in that direction and try to be better, try to evolve, and really try to love as much as possible.

Jack: There was such a beautiful atmosphere on the set, which meant that everyone had a voice, and we were encouraged to talk about it, and how do we relate to this. Because Timur is unbelievable! He is constantly playing references [on YouTube] that he knows will relate to a modern audience. The scene when I punch Toby (as Messala) in the face 3 times, that’s from a clip of 2 people fighting. Everything, in a weird way, had some sort of reference like that. And the first time me and Rodrigo met, it was like 2 guys talking, not Jesus and Judah. This guy is showing me such an act of kindness, and that is such a relatable thing for us now. That’s not Jesus Christ to Judah, it’s this carpenter dude doing something nice for a second. And I thought it’s so great because it’s between 2 people right to the crucifixion, there was a very human connection with us, and all the characters. And it was a cool thing to explore, and it gave it a more modern take on something.

What was the best part of making this movie on it’s own separate entity?

Jack: As an actor, whether a several million dollar movie, or TV show, I think you have to approach it from a place of love, the character. I always have chosen characters because I love them, and I feel I have a need to play them. Very much on this one, and I think the greatest thing about this one is the journey: where you start and where you end, and everything in between. I got to go on a journey mentally, emotionally, physically. It’s one of my favorite things, it’s why I’ve gone into this business. It’s tough and it’s trying, but it’s like the tougher the work, the more the rewards, and I found that this one was the toughest of all jobs I’ve done. And it’s true, the rewards were exponential, they were amazing. I’ve always loved cinema, and this is the reason we go to the cinema: to watch these movies, to go through that experience, for that moment when you forget and lose yourself. Sometimes if I watch a movie about a painter or writer, I feel inspired to go paint or write, and that’s something about this movie, that if someone can walk out of it and feel they’ve actually learned something, then all the better for it, and I feel incredibly proud about that.

Rodrigo: I’m going to try to be straight to the point. I’ve been everywhere inside myself in the process of preparing for this because I just didn’t know where to go. I was trying to find an answer and there was no rational answer, there wasn’t an equation that could solve it and tell me, ok, that’s how I play it. The approach was different than any other character I have played because of my own impression and relationship with the figure of Jesus in my own respect, in my own expectations, my own ideas of who he really was. So, I really had to dive inside myself. I practiced yoga, I practiced meditation –things I already do –but I really went for it, just to center myself to try to be in that place. So, what I think I brought to the film is everything I’ve got inside my heart, because I really wanted to stand for that character, I really wanted to be my best. But, maybe, for the first time, I was able to set my ego aside, say ‘Rodrigo doesn’t have to be a great actor here, it’s beyond that.’ Because we, as artists, are insecure and creative, but we want to be the best; I always want to become a better actor, but this time I wanted to become a better person. I gave it all that I had and, as you see in the story, Jesus punctuates the story; Jesus is not all the story. I don’t know if I even accomplished that, and it doesn’t even matter to me. What matters is what I went through, what that I know 100% that I am good with myself because I gave all I had.

This movie took a lot from you guys, the actors, physically and emotionally, and I am wondering what scene took a lot emotionally and physically from you?

Rodrigo: I would have to say the cross, because there was another ingredient that day, which was the weather and we all know what Jesus is wearing on the cross. So, I didn’t have a nice, warm, cozy scarf wrapped around my neck and it was windy and it snowed the night before, and it’s going to be very windy and very cold. I was freezing up there and on top of everything there were wind machines! (Jack intervened to say: “It was the coldest day. I had clothes and thought, this is mad!”) If you for a moment stop and think about, how must it feel to be crucified, how does it feel physically, mentally, and emotionally? And then you have to add the scriptures of everything that Jesus is saying up there, what did he mean? Like, the real meaning of all those words. How do I deliver this? This is so iconic, this changed civilization! It’s BC and AC, it’s as important and scary as it gets. The day of, I went there, I froze, I did it. But there were 2 things that were interesting: first, due to the physical conditions, I wasn’t able to think too much, I was just focusing that I had to get this done. I begged the director to please let this be just one long take because, they tried to keep us comfortable, but it was very cold on top of this mountain, so I said, I will give you the lines in different ways, give you different options because to think to be up here and then have to come back, just no. And then, there was Jack; they had developed this powerful connection, with another human being, with a man that went through so much turmoil, and you’re cheering for him to overcome it. He looked at me, and I felt it was a rope that pulled me, that was the connection to the whole world, all humanity in one man, and it was very special, and I will never forget it.

How does this movie compare to any of the other ones you’ve taken on before in your acting career?

Jack: We were very lucky with this one because we got to film in Matera [Italy], which is one of the oldest cities in the world. The wonderful thing to immerse in that we were in a town that looks and feels like Jerusalem, it was amazing. You’d think it’d be the hardest to do, to go back 2,000 years, but the way that Timur wanted to do it with this modern edge, the way we spoke to each other in a more relatable way, it actually was one of the easiest places to work in because time changes, but humans don’t really.

Rodrigo: It’s inevitable for me to not go to the character when talking about the film because the character, to me, it meant so much –and because it was taken as a personal journey as well –I can’t even compare to the other stuff I’ve been in. I am not talking about the result, or as an actor. As I saw the film, I remembered the experience, as a human. It doesn’t happen all the time because I do catch myself thinking I could’ve done this, or I could’ve said it differently when seeing my scenes because you are constantly trying to get better. This time, I couldn’t really judge much, which is something I probably learned with the experience itself. The city of Matera is incredible and it just brought a lot to my imagination, my inspiration, because when we weren’t filming, I was just walking around. The only thing that was very difficult was that I was on a diet, and there was pasta and gelato everywhere and I couldn’t have a piece of it. Being on a diet in Italy, it’s sacrifice.

Do you think this movie will bring people to Christ?

Jack: I think this isn’t discriminatory against any religion. The great thing about it is that, the underlying message, is that of a good one. And maybe that is Christian, or that’s another one, but what I love about this one is that it’s about finding good and the humanity in each other, in people. I don’t think you need to be religious to take away from this what we have, and what the message is underneath it, and that’s the beautiful thing. People can jump on it all they like, but until they haven’t seen it –that’s why I am so passionate about this movie because even before it has come out, they’re jumping on it. That’s exactly what this movie is about: fear, hatred, all this anger and crap that is out there. It’s what people jump to, but why not try to experience it in its moment? It’s people like you who can go out and say you saw it and say it’s not actually a remake of the 1959 version, it’s a stand alone movie, and it’s got a beautiful message, and it’s got good vibes, and at the same time it’s why we go to the movie. So, if it brings people back to Christ, or back to goodness, or back to kindness, all of it is worth it.

Rodrigo: The movie is clearly not about Christ’s journey. What it’s about is his presence, changing people’s lives while he was there. That’s why the writer of the book chose to tell the story from Judah’s point of view. If you see in Wyler’s version, you don’t even see Jesus’ face. It was a conscious choice, but I think it’s meant to go much more beyond, which is humanizing and making the figure of Christ more relatable. It’s about how it touches you, because at the end of the day, if it doesn’t hit you, it doesn’t move you, nothing is going to happen; there’s no transformation. So, if the question is if it will bring people to Christ, I not only hope so, but I think it all depends on how you see the film. If people are ready to compare, or judgmental, or expecting –because human beings are filled with expectations –but, it’s not about fulfilling expectations; it’s about the experience. It’s about letting it touch you, or not. 

And that concludes the marvelous (but short) time I got to spend with these 2 up and coming hotties of the Hollywood world.

An Interview with Simon Helberg of #FlorenceFosterJenkins

Florence Foster Jenkins
Director: Stephen Frears
Writers:  Nicholas Martin
Starring:  Rebecca Ferguson, Meryl Streep, Hugh Grant
MPAA Rating: Not rated
Official Socials: Site | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | IMDb
Hashtag: #FlorenceFosterJenkins

The story of Florence Foster Jenkins, a New York heiress who dreamed of becoming an opera singer, despite having a terrible singing voice.

---

I am a self-proclaimed geek girl, and proud of it! I’ve always liked the things nerds and geeks would get made fun of for liking, ever since I was a little girl. While the girls in my 5th grade class were all swooning over New Kids on the Block, I was swooning over Raphael from the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. As I grew up, I never stopped liking those things; in fact, I started to add fandoms to the long list I already had. So, a few years ago when The Big Bang Theory show started to air and someone recommended I watch it because “it’s something I would like” –and I saw what the show was about –I finally felt understood. As I started watching the show and getting to know the characters, I realized that Howard Wolowitz was my second favorite character (and he’s not my #1 favorite because, well, Sheldon…). I absolutely LOVE Howard and his sass! And, as the professional fangirl that I am, I started to do more research on the actor who plays Howard on BBT: Simon Helberg. My research led me to find out that he’s actually a very smart, sweet, and funny guy. He’s less hyper than Howard, but has somewhat of that sass in real life. OMG, I love him!

Then, fast-forward to July 2016, when I get asked if I could go on behalf of OUaT to interview Simon Helberg as part of the promotional press tour for the new movie he’s in, “Florence Foster Jenkins” (in which he plays Cosme McMoon). Naturally, I squeed like the fangirl that I am and said, “Absolutely I can!” The day of I was so giddy, I couldn’t stop smiling and was so amazingly star struck (which doesn’t happen often to me) when I got to sit next to him during the press table. He even joked with me about my geeky pins on my jean jacket! Cue more fangirl squees!

Anyway, without further ado, here’s the interview with Simon:

I have to say that one of the funniest scenes in the movie is the very first time you here Florence sing (Simon: “oh, yeah”). It’s a great shot, and all your reactions really make that scene that great. Do you recall anything about that day while shooting? I’d love to hear about it.

Simon: Yeah, I remember. Actually, my wife was there that day because she knew it’d be fun, and I knew it’d be fun, just based on the script. A lot of that stuff is not like it’s planned in the sense that it’s not like, ‘now we are going to have this expression, or this look’. This movie ended up being a reaction movie, I guess. But, in the script it did say something like ‘Florence opens her mouth and lets out a shrill screech’ or something like that, and then ‘Cosme looks like a stunt mullet’, that’s what it said (we all laugh). And I had to look up mullet, I mean, I know the hairstyle very well, it’s super cool, but it’s very British –there are a lot of Britishisms because Nicholas Martin wrote it and he’s brilliant, and British. Anyhow, when we shot it –because we are playing this music live in the film, what you are seeing and hearing is what is happening; we did not do it to playback –there is so much to focus on, there is so much work to be done that it helped, actually, it liberated us from becoming totally self-conscious because we are totally playing this music and it made it very authentic. So, that’s her singing and that’s me playing and acting, and I think that’s an eccentric part. But, that day it was really fun. I remember knowing that this is going to be a good scene, and it’s important because it’s the first time the audience hears her, and I was sort of like the eyes of the audience, so I felt a bit of pressure. But she’s so brilliant, Meryl, that all I really was ever doing was watching her. And when you watch a master like that, it makes everyone else’s job very easy.

Your character, which is a great comic relief, like when he is trying to compose himself, he looks like he’s in a perpetual state of nervousness; he’s very giddy. So, is that something that –upon research on the actual individual –he is known for or is that something you brought to the character, and you thought it would be great?
Simon: Yeah, there certainly was no evidence of his disposition in real life, or his emotional stability, or anything like that. Although there’s probably more now that there’s a biography out with the poster [of the movie] as the cover –so they waited until we did all the work to publish the biography –but, there is really kind of nothing. Except for maybe, like, Cosme was a master chess player, and that he was born in Mexico, lived in San Antonio, and then he moved to New York at 18, and things like this, which actually were helpful. And there’s also the imply that he was gay, and that he was into amateur body building, so all those things were lovely little clues to come up with the ‘what might that guy have been like?’ Like, also not having English as your first language, and then moving countries as a young child, and moving to New York, and when being gay was illegal and him not being able to manifest it. It would probably make someone feel sort of alien in their own body. And then, the other part of it is just the script and the clues that were there, of how difficult it was for him to try to confront Hugh’s character to tell him that his wife is a terrible singer, and Hugh seems to have no idea. How uncomfortable that might make someone who has probably never had to confront anybody, and then to know about this mistress. It just felt like every scene he had walked into some kind of conspiracy that he had to help uphold, and how that would’ve made me very uncomfortable, and I am just a nervous person, and Meryl Streep and then Hugh Grant showing up there, I was giddy, and I was scared; I was kind of in awe.

Have you ever found yourself working in Hollywood in a position in which you’ve had to tell somebody to give up the pipe dream?

Simon: Well, to play this character, I thought about what is that kind of moment, you know? Because he has so many moments like that. I think that we naturally tend to encourage people to pursue what they want, unless it’s detrimental to anyone around them. And sometimes we do it out of selfishness, or out of fear of hurting them, or if we profit from it. And I think this movie walks that line because these people are gaining something financially and artistically, but, also, they are helping a woman live out her dream in this beautiful way; a way you would for a child. Like, you wouldn’t criticize a three-year-old for carrying a bad tune, or for having a belly, or having bad dance moves. But I haven’t crushed a lot of dreams, not as many as I should, but there are people that I know who are sort of Pollyannaish, and kind and innocent, and I have thought about what would it be like for that person? I worked with a person who was a producer, and would have to fire people, and she was the sweetest, most meek person, you felt like she would just crack. What would it be like when this person fires somebody? I just thought about that during this movie too, because he has to constantly be the messenger and deliver bad news, but he’s not equipped to be a dream crusher.

Can you tell us a bit about you learning the piano? Even before I read that it was you playing it in this movie, it was very obvious and very well done.

Simon: Thank you. I grew up playing. I started when I was about 10, which seemed late at the time, so silly now that I think about it, I was actually very little, but I got obsessed with it. I tried to play classical, and I didn’t really connect, so I ended up playing rock music and playing jazz, and, after that, in school I got into these bands. By the time I was 16, I had played all around the Sunset Strip and in a bunch of jazz places, and with a couple of bands and made a tiny bit of money. So I did it semi-professionally for a bit, and then I just stopped and I started acting. I kind of peaked at that moment, and then I got this role, and I kind of lied to Stephen Frears and said, ‘oh, I can play anything, I am a professional piano player’. But I said it like meaning I know where my hands should go, and he just hummed in on ‘you can play anything?’ And I really wanted to be in this movie with Meryl Streep (me: and not crush anyone’s dream) (laughs) Yes, and not crush Stephen’s dream of my ability, so I kind of had to have this crush course for a few months, took some lessons. I am very slow at reading, so I had to get an apartment to go sit alone and work through this, and then learn these pieces as well as I could, so that when I got on the set to accompany Meryl to shoot this, aside from that terror, also the ability to bop and weave with her singing, destroying these songs and the ability to do that. It took like 3 months to really get ready.

You had mentioned that you were kind of in awe working with Meryl Streep and Hugh Grant, so how did that relationship work on set? Did you guys kind of play off of each other?

Simon: Yeah, for sure. I think all we did was play off of each other. That’s kind of what you want everyone to do, but when you are working with really great people. Meryl spoke about kind of feeling alive, and that’s what she’s so brilliant at. Every time you watch her, even every time I catch a few scenes of this movie in one of the screenings, I am always amazed by something that she’s doing because it’s kind of that light on the screen. It’s not something you can kind of figure out at home; it has to happen there. It takes this total surrender and confidence, and also vulnerability and commitment. The amount of work that goes into it, that we all put into it, and then you sort of let go of it on set and try to be in that moment. And it’s two pretty incredible people to watch.

What was the difference between working with a British film company versus an American company?

Simon: Well, first of all, it was my real first time getting to spend a real chunk of time in London (me: which is amazing), and, yes, it is such a great city, and we fell in love with England, and it’s such a magical place. In some ways, it’s very much the same, but in others it’s very different because there’s like an elevated level of class that you feel. Or maybe it was just who I was working with, obviously royalty in many ways. But it also felt very intimate, which I think is a British thing. The studio that we shot at was like the size of my garage and it had one, maybe two stages, but there was no security. In Los Angeles, these are like institutions and, this just felt very like ‘Oh, we’re shooting? There’s Meryl, and there’s Stephen’, and I feel it helps to feel intimate when you’re making something intimate, because sometimes you can get carried away with the monstrous size of the feeling of the studio. It didn’t feel like there was a studio; it just felt like this a group of people we are shooting with.

Earlier you mentioned your wife was on set that day, and I read that you had your directional debut with her in your movie “We’ll Never Have Paris”. So when you work with someone like Stephen Frears, or Todd Phillips, or Joel and Ethan Coen, what have you taken away from those experiences that you applied when you got behind the camera?

Simon: Well, everyone works very differently. Like, Joel and Ethan storyboard everything and they are word perfect, they are so brilliant. Their scripts are so perfect, and as you read them, the transition from page to screen is identical. Usually when you read a script, when you do a movie, by the time you see it, it’s very different. They have basically finished the movie in their head before you started. I thought what I can take from that is to make the script as good as I could possibly do before, and I asked everybody before to have the lines memorized perfectly and then you can open it up a little bit for improve. But when you are making a movie on a tight schedule, and it’s your first one, I think if you rely too heavily on ‘oh, this will come together later’, or ‘let’s find something that works better’, and you want to find it that you can be free on set, but you don’t want to be lost going into it. And Stephen, he’s kind of in between those, actually. He is so free, but you are also kind of filtering it through his vision, but almost seamlessly; you don’t feel him pulling the strings. It’s been a very good group of people I’ve gotten to be around.

You’re about to enter your tenth season of “The Big Bang Theory”, which started in 2007 when it was still taboo to be a geek, but now to be geek it’s almost like being a rock star. (Simon: You’re welcome, we all laughed) How do you see this show transform throughout the number of years and how proud are you about being on that ensemble?

Simon: I’m very proud to be part of it. When we would talk to people at the beginning, I saw that there are a lot more geeks out there than people realize: there are people that feel awkward, or like they don’t have a place, like there were a bunch of closeted nerds that deserved more. And we said, hey, it’s ok, we are actually the stars of the show in this one, we aren’t the buddies, and that’s cool. I don’t know if there was anything more that we wanted to do than to entertain people, and I feel like it has spoken to a deeper part of what maybe was a subculture, and is now more of mainstream culture. And yeah, it’s cool to see that. The other really cool thing is that a lot of people that are going into science, these little kids that have grown up watching it, now want to be engineers and physicists, and I feel that is really great. And I feel that if I was a kid and I saw the show, it might inspire me because I never really had that much of an interest in science, and it’s great that people are talking about this thing, especially that certain people deny that science is real, and it’s cool saying these are these irrefutable facts, and it’s actually kind of fun and we should celebrate the beauty of evolution as a brilliant, magical thing.

Simon was funny and so amazing, and humble. I am incredibly happy and lucky to have met him and gotten to interview him. Please make sure you go check out the new (very funny) movie he is: Florence Foster Jenkins (and read my review of the movie as well).