SXSW Interview: Shiloh Fernandez and Heath Freeman talk ‘Skateland’, auditions and getting left on the cutting room floor!

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 25:38 — 17.6MB)

When I talked to Shiloh Fernandez at last year’s SXSW for the film Skateland, I wrote that he had been one of my favorite actor’s to interview.

A full year, one starring role in a big budget studio film (Red Riding Hood) and tons of press later, he’s still one of my favorite actors to talk with. He loves acting, gives thoughtful, honest answers and is an all-around good guy.

I talked with Shiloh and the co-star/co-writer of Skateland, Heath Freeman (Raising the Bar, Bones), during this year’s SXSW where they were gearing up for the film’s release.

This is a really great interview where they both talk candidly about losing out on work and getting cut out of films, bad auditions and of course, Skateland!

The film – which I absolutely recommend – also stars Ashley Greene and opens on May 13^th.

For the full interview, click the audio link above or download it from iTunes

You’re also an actor what made you wanna write the script?

Heath Freeman: I got the lead, I was the lead in a TV series, and then… and I got replaced. A new head of the network came in two weeks before I was supposed to go shoot and replaced me for no reason. And so I was pretty upset about that. I called my brother, my brother Brandon, we’ve always wanted to do movies together and write together and we had some ideas floating around. He was like, “Well let’s do a movie. I mean what are you doing in LA? Why do you wanna do other people’s stuff, people’s material? Let’s start a project.” I was like, “Ah, ok, it’s that easy?”

I’ve always wanted to write about this roller rink, kinda center something around this roller rink that we all grew up in Longview, Texas, which is kinda this, I mean it’s a lot nicer in this film, but in all actuality it was a pretty run down place, pretty bad, pretty nasty. And so, that’s kinda how it started.

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SXSW 2011 Roundup

Hey guys! I have to apologize that the site hasn’t been updated since Monday! I was in Austin, TX for SXSW (South by Southwest Film and Interactive Festival).

I got there on Friday and was running around, busier than I’ve ever been till Monday afternoon. I talked to some great actors and filmmakers – all of which I’ll post as soon as I can.

Who did I talk to?
The cast of Source Code (Jake Gyllenhaal, Michelle Monaghan, Vera Farmiga, Director Duncan Jones and Screenwriter Ben Ripley).

Josh Lucas – This was one of the highlights of the fest for me. He’s starring in a film called, A Year in the Mooring, and he’s fantastic in it. I can’t wait for you guys to read this interview. One of the best!

Dane Cook – This was another highlight. Seriously, Dane is a great guy. We talked about his new film Detention and his upcoming Broadway show, Fat Pig. Unfortunately, I just read this morning,  the show has been postponed til next season because of financing.

Shiloh Fernandez and Heath Freeman – This is the 2nd year in a row I’ve talked to Shiloh and he’s still as thoughtful as last year. Along with his friend and co-star of Skateland, Heath, this is another great interview.

…and many more!

I’ll post them all as soon as I can.

Thanks again for all the support. If not for you, I wouldn’t have been able to talk to these wonderful, creative people.

~Lance

 

Red Riding Hood’s Shiloh Fernandez on almost being Twilight’s Edward

Shiloh Fernandez may have missed out on playing Edward in  “Twlight,” but Amanda Seyfried said she is quite pleased to have him as her love interest in “Red Riding Hood,” opening this Friday.

“I’m kind of glad he didn’t get it, because then he wouldn’t have done this movie,” she says of her 26-year-old co-star. “I knew when he came in, I knew he was Peter, for me. I had to fight really hard for him. Catherine and I fought for him and then Leo (DiCaprio) backed us up,” Seyfried says.

Fernandez laughs when asked about losing out on the part of Edward. “I would’ve [done] far, far worse, and luckily, I had the opportunity to work with Catherine down the road and this character just suits me,” he said of his role as Peter, the wood cutter. “This was just the right thing for me.”

To read more, go to: yahoo

Trailer: ‘Red Riding Hood’ starring Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman

Red Riding Hood – Trailer #2:  Valerie, a beautiful young woman, is torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. from trailers.apple.com

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez , Max Irons, Virginia Madsen, Julie Christie

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Trailer: ‘Red Riding Hood’

Red Riding Hood: In “Red Riding Hood,” Seyfried plays Valerie, a beautiful young woman torn between two men. She is in love with a brooding outsider, Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), but her parents have arranged for her to marry the wealthy Henry (Max Irons). Unwilling to lose each other, Valerie and Peter are planning to run away together when they learn that Valerie’s older sister has been killed by the werewolf that prowls the dark forest surrounding their village. For years, the people have maintained an uneasy truce with the beast, offering the creature a monthly animal sacrifice. But under a blood red moon, the wolf has upped the stakes by taking a human life. Hungry for revenge, the people call on famed werewolf hunter, Father Solomon (Gary Oldman), to help them kill the wolf. But Solomon’s arrival brings unintended consequences as he warns that the wolf, who takes human form by day, could be any one of them. As the death toll rises with each moon, Valerie begins to suspect that the werewolf could be someone she loves. As panic grips the town, Valerie discovers that she has a unique connection to the beast–one that inexorably draws them together, making her both suspect…and bait. from trailers.apple.com

Director: Catherine Hardwicke

Cast: Amanda Seyfried, Gary Oldman, Billy Burke, Shiloh Fernandez , Max Irons, Virginia Madsen, Julie Christie

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“Skateland” star Shiloh Fernandez: “I’ve learned more on this film than I’ve ever learned about acting in my life”

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 9:59 — 6.9MB)

Shiloh Fernandez is currently starring in the film, Skateland with Ashley Greene.

I saw Skateland at SXSW and it’s a cross between Sixteen Candles and Dazed and Confused. I liked the movie a lot and Shiloh was a big part of that reason.

He’s got a really good story on how he got started and how he got the role of Ritchie Wheeler in Skateland.

He was such a nice guy, loves the craft of acting and I’m sure you’ll be hearing more about him in the future.

So tell me about your character in Skateland.

Shiloh Fernandez: It’s funny because I’m the worst person at explaining things.  Well, I guess that’s not funny (laughter).  That’s terrible.  I play a kid named Richie Wheeler, I think he’s like 19, 20.  Just kind of complacent in his life.  He’s had this job at the skating rink since he was 14.  He’s become the manager and it’s kind of an easy life.  He doesn’t have to deal with the hassles of responsibility in any kind of widespread arena.  But he is a talented kid and he’s got a good heart.  Everybody around him is kind of rallying to make him understand that he should test the waters outside of this small town in his, not mundane, but his normal life.  And I related with some of the, there’s some family problems, some friends, friends that want to stay in town, friends that have gone off.  I guess I kind of identified with that.

How do you approach a role?

Shiloh: This was a part where I felt really connected to this kid.  A lot of the parts that I’ve gotten in the past were very, not necessarily one-dimensional, but the go-to for me to get the job was to be very intense and kind of, not hardcore, but just… I don’t know, not super light-hearted or friendly or smiley.  If that’s a word.  And so, I really just wanted to bring a lot of who I am in real life.  I mean, at the same time it takes place in East Texas and I’m from Northern California.  Obviously Tony, the director, whenever I felt kind of out of place or like I didn’t know what I was doing, I’d look at him because he is similar to Richie Wheeler.  So it’s good to have your director to look at.  It’s like this good old boy, he’s funny and he’s friendly and he’s genuine.  So just trying to bring out the best traits of myself.  Ashley Greene plays my friend/love interest, so that wasn’t hard.

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Ashley Greene on “Skateland”, acting and how she got her start

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (4.5MB)

Ashley Greene is starring in the new film, Skateland.  It’s a coming of age story that also stars Shiloh Fernandez.

I’d never seen Ashley in anything other than the Twilight films so I was curious to see her in this while I was at SXSW. She plays a totally different character and she was great!

Ashley was incredibly sweet, I loved talking to her and if you’re a young actor you’ll love her answers.

Tell me about Skateland and your character in the film.

Ashley Greene: I play Michelle Burkham, and she is a bit of a love interest, really best friend to Richie Wheeler, and who is [played by] Shiloh Fernandez.  And Brent Burkham [Heath Freeman] is my brother, and we’re all this kind of trio in the film.  And it’s the 1980s small-town Texas.  And basically, it’s kind of this girl and this coming of age film and everyone’s trying to figure out who they are and what they’re doing, and I’m certainly one of those people.  But, I’m also one of the people that pushes Richie to find himself and grasp for higher things and she’s a great character to play.  She’s very vulnerable, very strong.  A lot of emotional ups and downs.

When you first look at a script and decide you want to do the part, how do you go about approaching a role?

Ashley: The first thing is, of course, reading the script and seeing if the script holds my attention and then more importantly, does the character… is it something I haven’t played before, and something that I actually care about and I’m passionate about.  I feel like if you’re reading a script and it doesn’t hold your attention and you don’t care about where these characters are going next and what they’re doing and you don’t care what they’re thinking and how they’re affected, then it really shouldn’t be something you’re doing because never ever doing I want to be in a film where I don’t care.  And so, I think that’s the biggest thing.  I think it’s kind of a gut thing and follow your heart and it works out.

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South By Southwest: The Good, The Great

I’m back from South By Southwest (SXSW) and let me tell you, it was an experience! If you follow me on Twitter, you’ll know what I mean.

In five days, I saw 10 movies and interviewed 19 actors and directors.

And now, I’m exhausted!

I interviewed:
Edward Norton and Tim Blake Nelson for their fun and incredibly entertaining film, Leaves Of Grass.

Kyle Gallner and Brittney Robertson for coming of age story, Cherry.

Jon Foster and Director Will Canon from the great film, Brotherhood. How good was it? Well, it won the SXSW Award for Narrative Feature.

Patrick Wilson, Judy Greer, Chloe Sevigny and Director Chris D’Arienzo for the hilarious, Barry Munday.

John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill and directors Jay and Mark Duplass for the also hilarious, Cyrus.

Lee Turgensen, Paul Fitzgerald and director Joe Infantolino for the incredibly acted, Helena From The Wedding.

Ashley Green and Shiloh Fernandez from Skateland. I loved this move… what more can I say?

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