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| Kevin Zegers, IFILM.com |
January, 2006
(Source: video on www.ifilm.com)
IFILM, Kara Harshbarger: Hi, welcome to IFILM
Kevin Zegers: Thank you.
IF: So after reading the script, you really pursued this role...
KZ: Yes
IF: What was it about the role that you were anxious to play?
KZ: I wanted to play a character who is kind of, could have been played as a cliche kind of beaten-up kid. But not in the expected kind of way. I think I wanted him to be more likeable than you would expect.
I wanted people, the audience to love him even though he was damaged and had all these problems.
I did not want him to not be saveable. I wanted Bree to be able to love him.
But more importantly as an audience it's bad to see a character who you see at the beginning of a film, and they're so far gone. When you watch "Dead Man Walking" and you see Sean Penn at the beginning. As heinous a guy as he's supposed to be, there's still a sparkle of, you wanna love him throughout the whole film. I think that, not that this character is like that, but in spite of all the other stuff, to be able to like a character despite of all their [?] is something I was trying to pull off without being the cliche kind of head hung, and grumbly kind of kid, which would've just been easy.
IF: How did you convince the director Duncan [Tucker] that you his guy?
KZ: I stalked him for a while and put myself on tape. And I worked really worked hard to make myself look and act like Toby. Not the only job I've ever gotten, but pretty close to the only job I've ever gotten that I felt I worked really hard for, that I put my heart and soul into. I just didn't want anyone else to get the job; it's completely selfish but I just knew it was going to be a great film and I couldn't pass up the opportunity to manage being filed a lawsuit against for being a stalker and just kind of deal with that afterwards if that was the case so. But I needed to convince Duncan that I was his guy.
IF: There were a couple of tough scenes that you have to pull off. Specifically the one with your stepfather. Do you get nervous about going out on that limb?
KZ: Not as much. If I was in this film alone, probably more so. But I think being with Felicity and seeing her go out on that line so much every day actually when we were on set made me much less nervous or aware that I was even doing anything questionable or difficult. I always felt like we were collaboratively making a good movie. And her and Duncan and I kind of hugged every morning and hugged every night, and kind of were very much on the same team in terms of, let's make a good movie, and let's do this properly and not cut any corners. So any tough scene I felt like I had even more of an obligation to deliver a great performance to show up and do as great a job as I could because I didn't want to disappoint Felicity or Duncan.
IF: When you watch the finished project, do you have a perspective on your work?
KZ: It's hard. It's such a long process when you're actually doing it that once it's all cut together, I mean a huge part of film is editing so I can't take credit for everything. I'm able to stand back and at least say I worked harder than I've ever worked in my life on something, and I feel like there was no ounce of energy left in me when I finished and no ounce of effort that I could've given. So even if this film or my performance in some people's perspective seems to be crap or whatever, I'm at least aware I can sleep at night knowing that I put my heart and soul into this movie for three months.