PARADISE FOUND by Debra Arrow.
[It's my life's work. XD And you all know you want to read the important bits of the article, right?]
PARADISE FOUND
article by Debra Arrow
Seeing and talking to the Lost cast behind the scenes of their Vanity Fair photoshoot in Honolulu can teach someone so much more about them as opposed to watching the show and every television show a cast member has appeared on ceaselessly.
Not that I haven't done the latter, either.
What? I was conducting research.
My interviews with its stars are candid and straight to the point, covering Lost, their characters, and their real lives; a non-Lostie might have a hard time understanding it.
All the more reason for people to start watching now.
--------------
8:25am
The photoshoot and the interviews won't start 'til eleven, but the Lost cast was given an 8:00am call time. I was here over half an hour ago, because I wanted to see everything happen from the very beginning. Besides, breakfast and lunch was supplied by Craft Services. Why would I want to miss out on that? Dominic Monaghan and Emilie de Ravin arrived around the same time as me, and we walked in together; the former had mentioned that he was "so bleedin' hungry... I didn't eat dinner last night."
To my surprise (but not Dom or Emilie's), a few of the cast members came even earlier than we did. Yunjin Kim was first to arrive, clocking in at 7:30. Next was early bird Evangeline Lilly, who had significant other Orlando Bloom along with her, as he was on break from one of his own projects. (Later in the day, Monaghan tells me, "Oh, the elf? He's an extension of the family now. The boys and I enjoy taking the mickey out of him whenever we possibly can. There's always that one member in the family that just gets all the jabs - Orlando took that position as soon as he joined the family.") Though there's been supposed tension between the two thanks to Lost's lead Matthew Fox (who arrived shortly after they did), I didn't see any. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, though.
At around 7:55, more people poured in. Ian Somerhalder and Maggie Grace rushed in; the latter seemed to be worried that they were late for the calltime. Josh Holloway and Daniel Dae Kim carpooled to save gas, and the rest of the cast (all of whom are guys) managed to arrive just before the clock struck eight.
Josh had insisted that Harold Perrineau had arrived at 8:02, and he and the boys began demanding that there should be some sort of consequence. Yunjin nudged me then, putting another bagel on my plate, telling me that "those boys are always like that."
10:56am
The guys have been done for ages, all dressed in slightly tattered button-down shirts and tuxedo pants; Ian's even wearing suspenders. They're waiting for the girls to finish with wardrobe and makeup. Dominic seems to be particularly antsy, though Josh and Daniel have now got him distracted by conversation.
Orlando, the only other person aside from myself and the photographer's crew left dressed casually (in dark jeans, Converse Chucks, a plain T-shirt and his signature black conductor's cap), is playing catch outside with Malcolm David Kelley, who asked to be called in "when the girls are done fussing."
Finally... they come out of their dressing rooms, visions in black, midnight blue, lavender, and white (Yunjin, Evangeline, Maggie, and Emilie, respectively). Yunjin's dress is asymmetrical, its highest point touching just past her knee while its lowest hits the floor. Evangeline's gown is past her feet, though the slit in its straight cut reveals the stilettos and the toned legs underneath. Speaking of legs, Maggie's dress is cut and frayed at the end, revealing her long legs, which have since become famous (thanks to Sawyer's "You're in my light, sticks."). Emilie is the most out of (Lost) character. There's no pregnant belly, no worn cotton tank top. Her white dress reaches her knees. The dirt on it is deliberate, as are the holes in her stockings. The overall look of the shoot is tattered and worn, and the stylists are more than satisified with the first set (of two) outfits.
The men stop to appreciate the fact that the women in their cast are probably the most beautiful (and equally talented) on television, and no more complaints are heard that the ladies took forty minutes more than the guys. The photographer hollers shortly after, and the cast photoshoot begins.
11:36am
The cast shots are beautiful so far; they don't need to be airbrushed. The interviewees will come at random, since the photographer decides who goes first and who he needs next. Oh. Here we are. My work finally begins.
11:41am - Emilie de Ravin
So, how does it feel to have to put on that belly all the time?
It means I get an earlier call time than the other girls [laughs], though I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I've been taking it home now, putting it on before going to work so I don't have to be there so early.
At the moment, Claire has more or less just returned from her disappearance that has wiped her memory. Any and all friendships and bonds she'd formed are now gone. What's in her head right now?
She's obviously very paranoid. And afraid. She doesn't know who to trust. And although Charlie and Jack and the others have been reaching out to her, it isn't easy. She's at square one, and she'll have to take baby steps before she reaches anything remotely close to her level of comfort from before. All that matters to her is her safety, and that of the baby.
And you? What's in your head right now?
I'm much more comfortable now than two, three months ago. There's no questioning that. Work and family and friends; they're all priorities, and they've all been really good to me.
You wouldn't like to expound on that, would you? Tell us something that, maybe, not a lot of people know about you.
My interviewee had to go shortly after that question; she had something urgent to attend to. But I suppose, since she'd be the first of many, that it served as a reminder that I shouldn't keep the cast to myself for too long. My next interviewee, however, who'd just arrived, told me (and de Ravin admitted) that calling the Aussie a midget is a one-way ticket to getting on her bad side.
11:53am - Maggie Grace
Shannon. At first glance, people could think that she was just another face; someone who'd tag along and be a deliberate hindrance. But thanks to the writers' scripts and your acting, you've proven otherwise.
Shannon's actually wonderful to play out. There's so much more to her and so much more about her that's worth exploring. Beneath her attitude and everything, there's a really deep, broken character hiding. She's more than just a pretty face and more than just the-annoying-sister-of-Boone.
Speaking of Boone, in the episode Hearts and Minds, we discovered quite the secret.
Yep. You could always see it from the start, but yeah, Boone so had the hots for Shannon [smiles].
How do you think their relationship will develop as time on the island passes?
Well, Boone and Locke are bosom buddies now [laughs]. And Shannon's been standing on her own, now. There'll always be a link between Ian... Ian's character and my character, but I enjoy seeing them as individuals with independent storylines to explore. They each have their own role; their own reason for being on the island.
How has life on this island been treating you?
Very very well, actually. I haven't been sunburned. Food's delicious. And the cast. God, the cast. We've all seen parts of one another that no one else has... literally and figuratively. So we've most definitely formed a solid bond.
More solid with some than with others?
[Grins, bites her lip] I suppose. You could say that.
1:46pm - Evangeline Lilly
Why is Kate running from the law, Evi?
I wish I could tell you myself. I honestly don't know yet. You can ask Damon Lindelof, though. Or maybe JJ. They should know.
Isn't it hard for you guys, having to act a certain way, being told to react a certain way when things happen, but not understanding why until a lot later?
It's certainly a challenge, but it's one we've all prepared for and one we've all enjoyed tackling. I watch Terry and Foxy and everyone, really, because I'm the most inexperienced actor on the project. All of my co-stars have had acting experience, some a lot more than others. But this really is my first role. I learn from each and every one of them every single day. At first, I'd always ask Damon or the writers why this and why that... but when I truly realised that they wanted me, wanted all of us to dive into our roles somewhat blindly, I just went for it. And it's doing us really good so far.
A lot of your screentime is spent with Josh Holloway and Matthew Fox. Every woman on God's green earth wants to know... how does that feel?
Absolutely wonderful [laughs]. Those two guys couldn't be more gentlemanly and kind. [A brief pause takes place here as she thinks of what to say.] The cast really gets to bond whenever we all have scenes with one another, so there's a general feeling of comfort around them, especially Josh and Foxy. They take really good care of me, showing me the ropes and all.
Couldn't someone else show you the ropes? With quite a few hits tucked under his belt, plus the fact that he went to a prestigious drama school... he's more than capable and he has more than enough experience. Doesn't he feel threatened by the Lost boys?
[It's clear that she immediately knows who I was referring to; she looks away, glancing briefly at Bloom, who is seated nearby, and smiles]. He has his own responsibilities to attend to; with the little time that we do spend together, I wouldn't waste it by bothering him with things like that. And the Lost boys are like brothers to me, with the exception of Terry, who's become a fantastic father figure. If anything, he (Orlando) did have to pass that 'Board of Approval' first... but the guys are like that with Emilie, Maggie, Yunjin and I. Really protective. Overprotective, almost. But, even still, he passed. And he knows he has absolutely no reason to feel threatened.
So you're in a good place in your life, right now.
With Lost and with everyone and everything going on? There's no doubt about that.
2:16pm - Ian Somerhalder
Why do you think Boone's decided to join Locke on these trips of his?
Boone wants to do more than just sit around, and he feels that joining Locke makes him more productive and more useful. At first, it feels like he's almost trying to make up for the fact that Shannon's doing nothing to help them get rescued, too. Like he's working doubly hard just so that they don't start questioning her or complain about her lack of participation.
Locke was actually responsible for waking Boone up, so to speak, regarding Shannon and her dependency on him. How will that affect Boone's relationship with his stepsister and with Locke in the episodes to come?
Locke has taken Boone under his wing, teaching him that there's more to his life than just having to make Shannon happy. He always held her with much more importance than he did his own self, and Locke and the island have made him realise that there are other things he should be worrying about. Shannon will find that she'll have to find other ways to survive.
Compare your relationship with Terry and Maggie to Boone's with Locke and Shannon.
Terry's a lot cooler in real life [laughs]. There are a lot of sides to him that Locke doesn't share, so people don't get to see how incredibly child-like he can be at times. He's great to be around; he teaches you a million and one things about anything and everything and you won't even realise it. He's a great father figure to the entire cast. And as for Maggie... in a way, she can be similar to Shannon. You should see her set loose in a mall [laughs again]. Comparing us with Boone and Shannon, though, well, we're a lot less complicated than our characters are. Our relationship is a lot less complicated than theirs.
Does less complicated mean better?
Oh, yes, absolutely. But... then again, Maggie and I have never been stranded on an island before. So we might have to try that out first, and I'll get back to you on that [grins].
2:39pm - Matthew Fox
How does it feel, knowing that you're playing a character that was supposed to die in Lost's pilot?
For obvious reasons, I'm really happy he's still alive [chuckles]. Seriously, though, there's so much about Jack that's waiting to be discovered or explored. The character was worth keeping. So I feel honoured to have the opportunity to play him out.
Jack's become the quasi-leader of the pack, in a way. People believe that it's true not only because of the character, but also because you, as an actor, are capable of leading them, much like you've done in Party of Five.
You really can't compare the two shows, save for the fact that there is no leader in either. I was in an ensemble cast then, and I still am now; we're just a bigger cast this time. Jack has taken a somewhat central role thanks to his occupation, and then there are those little details the writers keep from us. They already have this show planned out, so every step each character takes is a well calculated and planned one. We actors just follow their lead.
All the characters the writers have created have so many layers; each of them seem to be broken, figuratively and/or literally. Does real life ever influence that?
There's no questioning that. Most, if not all the time, you have to put some of yourself into the character you play. Otherwise, you come off as detached; like a singer who's just hitting the notes of the song, but not putting any emotion into singing. Real life experiences give you something to touch on and relate to when you go into character. I may not relate to having lost a father in the way Jack did, but I do know how it feels like to lose someone before you could fix or mend your bond. And that certainly plays into the way I'd act and react.
As with all shows, relationships are forming amongst the characters, though not without certain obstacles. And Jack and Kate are one of the most obvious pairs who seem to have some sort of attraction. Have on-screen romances ever been uncomfortable or awkward to you?
I'm only ever completely at ease during a scene when my scene partner is. Considering Evi's inexperience with the camera, I'm extra gentle around her [laughs], but don't get me wrong. She's a tough chick. I really think she could kick my ass, if the need arose. On-screen relationships are all a part of the job and the role we play. I don't treat it any differently than any other scene. You just have to be professional about it. As for the characters... I'm still not sure where the writers are going, since Josh and Evi already had that little scene in Confidence Man. But I'm the good guy, right? We all know the good guys get the girls in the end [smiles].
How much has the show influenced you, Matthew Fox, so far?
The show itself has made me learn a lot about myself. I watch it like any other fan, and discover things I didn't know. But I find that I learn more from the people in it. Not the characters. But my castmates.
3:27pm - Dominic Monaghan
So technically, today was supposed to be done twenty-seven minutes ago, but after the cast changed back into normal clothes, Mr. Monaghan, the only person I hadn't interviewed, granted me a few minutes of his time.
Thanks for staying a bit longer.
It's no problem. I should've hovered around earlier, but I had other things to attend to. I ripped the costume I was in!
It could've added to the tattered effect of the shoot.
[laughs] I shouldn't have bothered asking wardrobe to fix it.
So. Charlie Pace. You've gotten a lot of praise for portraying him and his situation so accurately and realistically. Your character here's a far cry from any other you've done.
Especially Merry from The Lord of the Rings, I know. People all know and remember me from that, which is fantastic, because I will always be grateful for having that experience. But I didn't want to be boxed in. I don't mind being remembered from the film, but I do mind being remembered as just Merry. I can do a lot more aside from hobbit dances and orc-fights.
Like snorting heroin and playing in a rock band.
Exactly. Which is why Lost was the perfect avenue for me to take... even if I'd actually auditioned with lines as Sawyer.
After throwing that little baggie of heroin into the fire, it seems like Charlie's been changed for the better. He was doing great.
Up until he shot Ethan Rom. Well... what can you do? He knows this guy hurt Claire and wiped her memory, somehow. Which includes wiping her memory of him - which is tough. He did what he thought was the right thing.
If put in the same position, would you have done the same?
Yeah. Though I think I need to practise with aim a bit more.
How are you and Charlie alike?
Well... I don't do drugs, so that's crossed out. But I'm very musically inclined, much like him. And we both love a good laugh; I think that's a bit of me shining through in the character. [grins] But we're also both fiercely protective of people we love. That's what I think. Unless the writers suddenly change him on me.
Is the bond you have with the Lost cast similar to that of the one you had with the Rings cast?
Similar in a sense that we're a family now. That we've all seen each other's good days and bad days. That we just know each others' nitty-gritty secrets and stuff like that. The only difference? Which I'm thankful for? We didn't have an Emilie or an Evi or a Maggie or a Yunjin in the fellowship.
He leaves then, but not before giving me a giddy grin and a hug. De Ravin is waiting for him outside, as are Somerhalder, Grace, and Lilly (with Bloom, who was a nice, patient trooper as the day wore on).
6:21pm
At the end of the day, I find that this interview has my thirst for knowledge of Lost (both on and off-screen) quenched, though it's also piqued my curiousity even further.
Is Orlando Bloom going to guest star on Lost?
Is Ethan Rom responsible for the unanswerable mysteries going on on the island? Or is he just another pawn, like everyone else?
Is the diamond ring on Maggie Grace's left ring finger just a prop for Shannon, her character?
Are they government experiments? Are they all dreaming? Are they in purgatory?
I need to schedule an interview with JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof. Very soon.
PARADISE FOUND
article by Debra Arrow
Seeing and talking to the Lost cast behind the scenes of their Vanity Fair photoshoot in Honolulu can teach someone so much more about them as opposed to watching the show and every television show a cast member has appeared on ceaselessly.
Not that I haven't done the latter, either.
What? I was conducting research.
My interviews with its stars are candid and straight to the point, covering Lost, their characters, and their real lives; a non-Lostie might have a hard time understanding it.
All the more reason for people to start watching now.
--------------
8:25am
The photoshoot and the interviews won't start 'til eleven, but the Lost cast was given an 8:00am call time. I was here over half an hour ago, because I wanted to see everything happen from the very beginning. Besides, breakfast and lunch was supplied by Craft Services. Why would I want to miss out on that? Dominic Monaghan and Emilie de Ravin arrived around the same time as me, and we walked in together; the former had mentioned that he was "so bleedin' hungry... I didn't eat dinner last night."
To my surprise (but not Dom or Emilie's), a few of the cast members came even earlier than we did. Yunjin Kim was first to arrive, clocking in at 7:30. Next was early bird Evangeline Lilly, who had significant other Orlando Bloom along with her, as he was on break from one of his own projects. (Later in the day, Monaghan tells me, "Oh, the elf? He's an extension of the family now. The boys and I enjoy taking the mickey out of him whenever we possibly can. There's always that one member in the family that just gets all the jabs - Orlando took that position as soon as he joined the family.") Though there's been supposed tension between the two thanks to Lost's lead Matthew Fox (who arrived shortly after they did), I didn't see any. Maybe I wasn't looking hard enough, though.
At around 7:55, more people poured in. Ian Somerhalder and Maggie Grace rushed in; the latter seemed to be worried that they were late for the calltime. Josh Holloway and Daniel Dae Kim carpooled to save gas, and the rest of the cast (all of whom are guys) managed to arrive just before the clock struck eight.
Josh had insisted that Harold Perrineau had arrived at 8:02, and he and the boys began demanding that there should be some sort of consequence. Yunjin nudged me then, putting another bagel on my plate, telling me that "those boys are always like that."
10:56am
The guys have been done for ages, all dressed in slightly tattered button-down shirts and tuxedo pants; Ian's even wearing suspenders. They're waiting for the girls to finish with wardrobe and makeup. Dominic seems to be particularly antsy, though Josh and Daniel have now got him distracted by conversation.
Orlando, the only other person aside from myself and the photographer's crew left dressed casually (in dark jeans, Converse Chucks, a plain T-shirt and his signature black conductor's cap), is playing catch outside with Malcolm David Kelley, who asked to be called in "when the girls are done fussing."
Finally... they come out of their dressing rooms, visions in black, midnight blue, lavender, and white (Yunjin, Evangeline, Maggie, and Emilie, respectively). Yunjin's dress is asymmetrical, its highest point touching just past her knee while its lowest hits the floor. Evangeline's gown is past her feet, though the slit in its straight cut reveals the stilettos and the toned legs underneath. Speaking of legs, Maggie's dress is cut and frayed at the end, revealing her long legs, which have since become famous (thanks to Sawyer's "You're in my light, sticks."). Emilie is the most out of (Lost) character. There's no pregnant belly, no worn cotton tank top. Her white dress reaches her knees. The dirt on it is deliberate, as are the holes in her stockings. The overall look of the shoot is tattered and worn, and the stylists are more than satisified with the first set (of two) outfits.
The men stop to appreciate the fact that the women in their cast are probably the most beautiful (and equally talented) on television, and no more complaints are heard that the ladies took forty minutes more than the guys. The photographer hollers shortly after, and the cast photoshoot begins.
11:36am
The cast shots are beautiful so far; they don't need to be airbrushed. The interviewees will come at random, since the photographer decides who goes first and who he needs next. Oh. Here we are. My work finally begins.
11:41am - Emilie de Ravin
So, how does it feel to have to put on that belly all the time?
It means I get an earlier call time than the other girls [laughs], though I'm slowly getting the hang of it. I've been taking it home now, putting it on before going to work so I don't have to be there so early.
At the moment, Claire has more or less just returned from her disappearance that has wiped her memory. Any and all friendships and bonds she'd formed are now gone. What's in her head right now?
She's obviously very paranoid. And afraid. She doesn't know who to trust. And although Charlie and Jack and the others have been reaching out to her, it isn't easy. She's at square one, and she'll have to take baby steps before she reaches anything remotely close to her level of comfort from before. All that matters to her is her safety, and that of the baby.
And you? What's in your head right now?
I'm much more comfortable now than two, three months ago. There's no questioning that. Work and family and friends; they're all priorities, and they've all been really good to me.
You wouldn't like to expound on that, would you? Tell us something that, maybe, not a lot of people know about you.
My interviewee had to go shortly after that question; she had something urgent to attend to. But I suppose, since she'd be the first of many, that it served as a reminder that I shouldn't keep the cast to myself for too long. My next interviewee, however, who'd just arrived, told me (and de Ravin admitted) that calling the Aussie a midget is a one-way ticket to getting on her bad side.
11:53am - Maggie Grace
Shannon. At first glance, people could think that she was just another face; someone who'd tag along and be a deliberate hindrance. But thanks to the writers' scripts and your acting, you've proven otherwise.
Shannon's actually wonderful to play out. There's so much more to her and so much more about her that's worth exploring. Beneath her attitude and everything, there's a really deep, broken character hiding. She's more than just a pretty face and more than just the-annoying-sister-of-Boone.
Speaking of Boone, in the episode Hearts and Minds, we discovered quite the secret.
Yep. You could always see it from the start, but yeah, Boone so had the hots for Shannon [smiles].
How do you think their relationship will develop as time on the island passes?
Well, Boone and Locke are bosom buddies now [laughs]. And Shannon's been standing on her own, now. There'll always be a link between Ian... Ian's character and my character, but I enjoy seeing them as individuals with independent storylines to explore. They each have their own role; their own reason for being on the island.
How has life on this island been treating you?
Very very well, actually. I haven't been sunburned. Food's delicious. And the cast. God, the cast. We've all seen parts of one another that no one else has... literally and figuratively. So we've most definitely formed a solid bond.
More solid with some than with others?
[Grins, bites her lip] I suppose. You could say that.
1:46pm - Evangeline Lilly
Why is Kate running from the law, Evi?
I wish I could tell you myself. I honestly don't know yet. You can ask Damon Lindelof, though. Or maybe JJ. They should know.
Isn't it hard for you guys, having to act a certain way, being told to react a certain way when things happen, but not understanding why until a lot later?
It's certainly a challenge, but it's one we've all prepared for and one we've all enjoyed tackling. I watch Terry and Foxy and everyone, really, because I'm the most inexperienced actor on the project. All of my co-stars have had acting experience, some a lot more than others. But this really is my first role. I learn from each and every one of them every single day. At first, I'd always ask Damon or the writers why this and why that... but when I truly realised that they wanted me, wanted all of us to dive into our roles somewhat blindly, I just went for it. And it's doing us really good so far.
A lot of your screentime is spent with Josh Holloway and Matthew Fox. Every woman on God's green earth wants to know... how does that feel?
Absolutely wonderful [laughs]. Those two guys couldn't be more gentlemanly and kind. [A brief pause takes place here as she thinks of what to say.] The cast really gets to bond whenever we all have scenes with one another, so there's a general feeling of comfort around them, especially Josh and Foxy. They take really good care of me, showing me the ropes and all.
Couldn't someone else show you the ropes? With quite a few hits tucked under his belt, plus the fact that he went to a prestigious drama school... he's more than capable and he has more than enough experience. Doesn't he feel threatened by the Lost boys?
[It's clear that she immediately knows who I was referring to; she looks away, glancing briefly at Bloom, who is seated nearby, and smiles]. He has his own responsibilities to attend to; with the little time that we do spend together, I wouldn't waste it by bothering him with things like that. And the Lost boys are like brothers to me, with the exception of Terry, who's become a fantastic father figure. If anything, he (Orlando) did have to pass that 'Board of Approval' first... but the guys are like that with Emilie, Maggie, Yunjin and I. Really protective. Overprotective, almost. But, even still, he passed. And he knows he has absolutely no reason to feel threatened.
So you're in a good place in your life, right now.
With Lost and with everyone and everything going on? There's no doubt about that.
2:16pm - Ian Somerhalder
Why do you think Boone's decided to join Locke on these trips of his?
Boone wants to do more than just sit around, and he feels that joining Locke makes him more productive and more useful. At first, it feels like he's almost trying to make up for the fact that Shannon's doing nothing to help them get rescued, too. Like he's working doubly hard just so that they don't start questioning her or complain about her lack of participation.
Locke was actually responsible for waking Boone up, so to speak, regarding Shannon and her dependency on him. How will that affect Boone's relationship with his stepsister and with Locke in the episodes to come?
Locke has taken Boone under his wing, teaching him that there's more to his life than just having to make Shannon happy. He always held her with much more importance than he did his own self, and Locke and the island have made him realise that there are other things he should be worrying about. Shannon will find that she'll have to find other ways to survive.
Compare your relationship with Terry and Maggie to Boone's with Locke and Shannon.
Terry's a lot cooler in real life [laughs]. There are a lot of sides to him that Locke doesn't share, so people don't get to see how incredibly child-like he can be at times. He's great to be around; he teaches you a million and one things about anything and everything and you won't even realise it. He's a great father figure to the entire cast. And as for Maggie... in a way, she can be similar to Shannon. You should see her set loose in a mall [laughs again]. Comparing us with Boone and Shannon, though, well, we're a lot less complicated than our characters are. Our relationship is a lot less complicated than theirs.
Does less complicated mean better?
Oh, yes, absolutely. But... then again, Maggie and I have never been stranded on an island before. So we might have to try that out first, and I'll get back to you on that [grins].
2:39pm - Matthew Fox
How does it feel, knowing that you're playing a character that was supposed to die in Lost's pilot?
For obvious reasons, I'm really happy he's still alive [chuckles]. Seriously, though, there's so much about Jack that's waiting to be discovered or explored. The character was worth keeping. So I feel honoured to have the opportunity to play him out.
Jack's become the quasi-leader of the pack, in a way. People believe that it's true not only because of the character, but also because you, as an actor, are capable of leading them, much like you've done in Party of Five.
You really can't compare the two shows, save for the fact that there is no leader in either. I was in an ensemble cast then, and I still am now; we're just a bigger cast this time. Jack has taken a somewhat central role thanks to his occupation, and then there are those little details the writers keep from us. They already have this show planned out, so every step each character takes is a well calculated and planned one. We actors just follow their lead.
All the characters the writers have created have so many layers; each of them seem to be broken, figuratively and/or literally. Does real life ever influence that?
There's no questioning that. Most, if not all the time, you have to put some of yourself into the character you play. Otherwise, you come off as detached; like a singer who's just hitting the notes of the song, but not putting any emotion into singing. Real life experiences give you something to touch on and relate to when you go into character. I may not relate to having lost a father in the way Jack did, but I do know how it feels like to lose someone before you could fix or mend your bond. And that certainly plays into the way I'd act and react.
As with all shows, relationships are forming amongst the characters, though not without certain obstacles. And Jack and Kate are one of the most obvious pairs who seem to have some sort of attraction. Have on-screen romances ever been uncomfortable or awkward to you?
I'm only ever completely at ease during a scene when my scene partner is. Considering Evi's inexperience with the camera, I'm extra gentle around her [laughs], but don't get me wrong. She's a tough chick. I really think she could kick my ass, if the need arose. On-screen relationships are all a part of the job and the role we play. I don't treat it any differently than any other scene. You just have to be professional about it. As for the characters... I'm still not sure where the writers are going, since Josh and Evi already had that little scene in Confidence Man. But I'm the good guy, right? We all know the good guys get the girls in the end [smiles].
How much has the show influenced you, Matthew Fox, so far?
The show itself has made me learn a lot about myself. I watch it like any other fan, and discover things I didn't know. But I find that I learn more from the people in it. Not the characters. But my castmates.
3:27pm - Dominic Monaghan
So technically, today was supposed to be done twenty-seven minutes ago, but after the cast changed back into normal clothes, Mr. Monaghan, the only person I hadn't interviewed, granted me a few minutes of his time.
Thanks for staying a bit longer.
It's no problem. I should've hovered around earlier, but I had other things to attend to. I ripped the costume I was in!
It could've added to the tattered effect of the shoot.
[laughs] I shouldn't have bothered asking wardrobe to fix it.
So. Charlie Pace. You've gotten a lot of praise for portraying him and his situation so accurately and realistically. Your character here's a far cry from any other you've done.
Especially Merry from The Lord of the Rings, I know. People all know and remember me from that, which is fantastic, because I will always be grateful for having that experience. But I didn't want to be boxed in. I don't mind being remembered from the film, but I do mind being remembered as just Merry. I can do a lot more aside from hobbit dances and orc-fights.
Like snorting heroin and playing in a rock band.
Exactly. Which is why Lost was the perfect avenue for me to take... even if I'd actually auditioned with lines as Sawyer.
After throwing that little baggie of heroin into the fire, it seems like Charlie's been changed for the better. He was doing great.
Up until he shot Ethan Rom. Well... what can you do? He knows this guy hurt Claire and wiped her memory, somehow. Which includes wiping her memory of him - which is tough. He did what he thought was the right thing.
If put in the same position, would you have done the same?
Yeah. Though I think I need to practise with aim a bit more.
How are you and Charlie alike?
Well... I don't do drugs, so that's crossed out. But I'm very musically inclined, much like him. And we both love a good laugh; I think that's a bit of me shining through in the character. [grins] But we're also both fiercely protective of people we love. That's what I think. Unless the writers suddenly change him on me.
Is the bond you have with the Lost cast similar to that of the one you had with the Rings cast?
Similar in a sense that we're a family now. That we've all seen each other's good days and bad days. That we just know each others' nitty-gritty secrets and stuff like that. The only difference? Which I'm thankful for? We didn't have an Emilie or an Evi or a Maggie or a Yunjin in the fellowship.
He leaves then, but not before giving me a giddy grin and a hug. De Ravin is waiting for him outside, as are Somerhalder, Grace, and Lilly (with Bloom, who was a nice, patient trooper as the day wore on).
6:21pm
At the end of the day, I find that this interview has my thirst for knowledge of Lost (both on and off-screen) quenched, though it's also piqued my curiousity even further.
Is Orlando Bloom going to guest star on Lost?
Is Ethan Rom responsible for the unanswerable mysteries going on on the island? Or is he just another pawn, like everyone else?
Is the diamond ring on Maggie Grace's left ring finger just a prop for Shannon, her character?
Are they government experiments? Are they all dreaming? Are they in purgatory?
I need to schedule an interview with JJ Abrams and Damon Lindelof. Very soon.