ELIJAH'S SAUCE INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPT
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elijah_findsThere have been posts here with a clip of Elijah on The Sauce on 4/30/07. That clip is for the very end of the interview. Since I am not able to upload the whole interview I have made a transcript of the part of the interview that hasn't been posted. I stop the transcript where the clip you've seen starts (just because of time constraints). I thought it was a great interview - and although I know that reading this won't be as good as seeing it with all his wonderful facial expressions and listening to his lovely voice - I thought you might be interested in seeing his answers to some very interesting questions about Day Zero and gaming and music.
NOTE: NO SPOILERS ABOUT ELIJAH'S CHARACTER - 1 SMALL SPOILER ABOUT CHRIS KLEIN'S CHARACTER IN DAY ZERO
The host is Holly (H), the interviewer is Steven (S), and Elijah is E. Hope you enjoy it!!
The Sauce Interview on Fuse Channel 4/30/07
Host (Holly): But before we get to all that Steven is with a guy whose movies have made almost $5 billion at the world-wide box office - Steven
Steven: That’s right Holly I’m here sitting with Mr. Elijah Wood – we’ve been trying to get here for a long time – thank you so much for coming by.
E: Of course – thank you for having me.
S: This is very cool to talk to a self-proclaimed fellow music geek.
E: Yes – I’m a nerd.
S: Yeah – we’re going to geek out in a little bit..
E: Awesome.
S: First we’re going to talk about this flick you had at Tribeca – Day Zero.
E: Yes.
S: Which is a film that for me speaks volumes because it’s about reinstating the draft. And this was the Tribeca weekend – so how was the weekend overall for ya?
E: It was good – to be honest I literally just got into town.
S: Literally?
E: Literally – ah - managed to get in town just in time for the premiere so I didn’t experience anything of the Tribeca Film Festival (chuckling) – um – but it was great – I mean it – you know the film was made in New York.
S: Under 25 days right?
E: Um – god – um – yeah I think so – yeah we shot it in 5 weeks, 4 ½ weeks, something like that – I did 2 weeks and then I was done so it was fast.
S: I like how you have the exterior of the Holiday Cocktail Lounge and then you’re inside the Holiday Cocktail Lounge .
E: Yes – it’s totally legitimate – um – yeah but it was filmed in New York, it is an absolute New York film but its essentially about these guys – these friends – who are all drafted on the same day in this sort of imagined future – not too distant future – in which the draft is reinstated. And it’s essentially about these friends faced with this ultimate fate and how they each individually deal with that. Um – one of them’s a lawyer and is married and he’s got his issues with it and doesn’t feel like he should go. My character is a writer – um - doesn’t really have any family connections or any kind of political feelings – passions – either way so he kind of spins out of control. Um – and then one of the characters is a cab driver so he’s a real working class – you know – belief in the American system. So it just analyzes – I mean beyond the political aspect I think it’s really a tale of humanity and how humans deal with something like that.
S: I know we were talking cause I watched the film today and it really speaks to me because my father was drafted and I spent my whole life as a military brat moving all over the world. My dad was married and a college grad and you know kind of every statistic would say ah it’s people in poorer more urban areas but my father was completely the opposite of that, from an affluent family, and he got sent over to Thailand for a while.
E: Right, right
S: Uh – the movie talks about what you would do in the 30 days before you go – literally day zero – and uh I know you’re going to get asked this all the time about the film but if the draft were reinstated right now and your number came up – based on what’s happening now in the world – what do you think? What would you do?
E: Hmm – it’s tough – ah –
S: It really is tough
E: It is a difficult decision – I mean – ah – I don’t believe in the reasons that we’re there currently – so – you know – with all of my heart I wouldn’t believe in doing it for those reasons. Um - but there is also something to be said for fighting for your country and when duty calls – when your country calls - for you to respond to that. But it’s a difficult question to answer and I think that, you know, we can sort of hypothesize – intellectually – what our reaction would be – but I think it is such an emotional reaction that I don’t think I can even answer that unless I was actually faced with that – you know?
S: I think my reaction would be the same as your’s in the film – I would throw up.
Elijah laughs
S: Um – we’re gonna see a clip from Day Zero right now – do you know which clip we’re seeing?
E: Um – I believe it is in the bar and my character is talking about a list of the top 10 things he’d like to do before he leaves.
S: Ok – here’s Elijah in Day Zero.
SHOW DAY ZERO FILM CLIP
S; Alright that was a look at Elijah Wood in action in Day Zero – now another hypothesized – in real life – what would you put on your list before you go?
E: Ummm
S: It would depend on who was playing in town, wouldn’t it?
E: Hahahaha – yeah what bands to see – um – I don’t know – I think that the top priority for me - before going off to do something like that – would be to spend as much time with my family and friends as possible. You know – I’m sure that there would be things that I’ve wanted to do all my life that I’d want to accomplish but I think more than anything I’d want to be home and spend as much time doing the sort of mundane things that we miss when we’re away from home – um – and really soak that up before leaving, I think.
S: Yeah we have a friend who actually worked here in Fuse who was in the National Guard and has been over there for the past year – got sent over.
E: Oh – wow
S; Um – now let’s talk about Tribeca – after the movie they have this incredible Q&A with the actors and directors and producers and stuff – what were the questions like for Day Zero?
E: (stutters a bit) Interesting – um – you know the thing about this film is that it poses so many questions. I think one of the things I loved about the script is that it doesn’t make any answers for you – it doesn’t editorialize – it doesn’t have a political perspective – it kind of presents these broad ideas and leaves them with you to sort of ponder. And so there were a lot of interesting questions – particularly about my character and my character’s fate at the end – um – people were kind of curious about how that came to be. Um – won’t ruin anything for anybody. There’s also a moment in the film with Chris Klein – where he kind of – he lashes out – he goes to a gay bar in the film. You know, one of the things that Chris’s character is so obsessed with is that there are these sort of – these ways out. It’s a totally arbitrary system and, you know, if you harm yourself then you don’t have to report for duty – if you’re gay then you don’t have to report for duty – all these things – all these ways out – and so he ultimately tries to chop off his hand and he can’t do it and he’s so frustrated that he goes to a gay bar to kind of like – screw you guys because you don’t have to go. So there were a lot of questions about that and some of the more controversial elements of the film – it raises a lot of questions.
S: Yeah – there’s a lot going on in Day Zero – it’s a very cool film and you have to check it out. You’re going to hang out for a bit, right? Do some instant messaging with some fans – if you guys log on during the break you can talk to Elijah. The screen name is The Sauce on Fuse – but first lets head over to the lovely Holly for our first instant poll.
H: Thank you Steven – that’s right it’s time for an instant mobil poll. In honor of our first guest today we want to know what is your favorite Elijah Wood project. Elijah – do you have a favorite project? I know you’ve done so many cool things –
E: Do I have a favorite?
H: Yeah – does one stick out in your mind?
E: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of them.
H: (gives instructions on how to vote – the choices were)
A. Happy Feet
B. Sin City
C. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
D. The LOTR Trilogy
NOTE: Elijah couldn’t see these choices when he answered Holly’s question about having a favorite.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
They come back to Elijah holding a laptop on his lap and you can hear Steven say “you can put it down now”
E: Okay
S: All right – where he’s doing the instant messaging thing and it’s knocking em the hell out – a lot of people hm?
Elijah turns the computer around so the screen faces the camera and points to a long line of messages – “look at all those – it’s insane” – then puts the computer down on a table next to his chair.
S: All right – we’re hanging out with Elijah Wood and talking about his movie Day Zero and we asked you to text us about your favorite Elijah Wood performance and with 29% of the vote we have our very first tie. It’s between Happy Feet and the LOTR Trilogy.
A. Happy Feet – 29%
B. Sin City – 15%
C. ESOTSM – 27%
D. LOTR – 29%
E: OK
S: Pretty cool, huh? They did say ESOTSM was comin up right after.
E: Right
S: So there you go.
E: That’s not bad – a tie.
S: Between penquins and hobbits.
E: Both short.
S: Both short – one more of a tux.
E: Yes – indeed.
S: Now – you’re a big time gamer – um I’m not allowed to be cause my girlfriend won’t let them come into the home (Elijah laughs) – but what are you playing right now?
E: Um – what am I playing? Uh – I just picked up Lost Planet but I haven’t started it yet for the 360.
S: Do you sit and play until it’s done?
E: I tend to get games that are story-based games, you sit down and it’s like you take, you start it and then you spend 3 or 4 days finishing it.
S: Right.
E: So Lost Planet I have but I haven’t started it. Um – and the Wii – I just got a Wii. Here’s the thing – I didn’t have huge expectations for that system – um – I played it once – thought ok – this is kind of cool – but is this really going to be functional – this sort of gimmicky thing. Man they did such a nice job with that system. And the thing that’s great about it is that it appeals not only to kids but to girls – like I had a bunch of girls at my house – some friends – and they were playing it - totally into it – it appeals to everybody. I think it’s great.
S: That’s the secret – I should get a Wii
E: Get a Wii – your girlfriend will like the Wii – you can make a little Wii Mii for her and she’ll be excited.
S: A Wii Mii.
E: Yeah
S: How Great
Elijah laughs
S: Now lets get to what you and I will enjoy talking about - music – you have a record label.
E: Yeah
S: Yeah?
E: Yeah – Simian Records
S: Very cool – and you signed the Apples in Stereo.
E: I did.
S: One of my all-time favorite bands.
E: I love – I love the Apples in Stero.
S: And not only did you sign them you directed a video.
E: Yeah
S: Yeah – that’s very cool – I think we’re actually going to roll a little bit of it in a minute – but what was it like being on that side of the lens?
E: Um – it was fun – it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do – in some ways I sort of feel like I’ve been going to film school for the last 16 years – um – and I always loved the medium of music videos and I think it’s an incredible way to try out interesting things. It’s an incredible artistic medium when it’s utilized right and so I always thought it would be fun to start with something like that and Robert from the Apples suggested I do it and I thought it would be a great way to start, so…..
S: That’s very, very cool – ok – we’re set – we’re going to take a look at…
E: This is authentic 8 mm.
S: This is Energy
SHOW ENERGY VIDEO CLIP
S: All right that was a quick look at Mr. Wood here behind the lens doing Energy by the Apples in Stereo – now Chris Rock directed the last Red Hot Chili Peppers video.
E: I heard that
S: I know, it’s really honest
E: That’s crazy
S: Now – is there a dream band you’d like to do a video for?
E: Oh man – um –
S: That’s the worst question to ask because you have a list in your head when you’re not being asked
E: yeah –yeah - I’m a huge Radiohead fan – but I don’t know
S: So you could do like 5 seconds and be done
E: Yeah – but see I don’t know if there’s anything I could contribute to them visually that they wouldn’t be able to do better so – I don’t know –I don’t know - there’s so many bands that I love
START VIDEO CLIP YOU'VE SEEN
S: Are you psyched for the new Radiohead record?
E: I’m very psyched
NOTE: NO SPOILERS ABOUT ELIJAH'S CHARACTER - 1 SMALL SPOILER ABOUT CHRIS KLEIN'S CHARACTER IN DAY ZERO
The host is Holly (H), the interviewer is Steven (S), and Elijah is E. Hope you enjoy it!!
The Sauce Interview on Fuse Channel 4/30/07
Host (Holly): But before we get to all that Steven is with a guy whose movies have made almost $5 billion at the world-wide box office - Steven
Steven: That’s right Holly I’m here sitting with Mr. Elijah Wood – we’ve been trying to get here for a long time – thank you so much for coming by.
E: Of course – thank you for having me.
S: This is very cool to talk to a self-proclaimed fellow music geek.
E: Yes – I’m a nerd.
S: Yeah – we’re going to geek out in a little bit..
E: Awesome.
S: First we’re going to talk about this flick you had at Tribeca – Day Zero.
E: Yes.
S: Which is a film that for me speaks volumes because it’s about reinstating the draft. And this was the Tribeca weekend – so how was the weekend overall for ya?
E: It was good – to be honest I literally just got into town.
S: Literally?
E: Literally – ah - managed to get in town just in time for the premiere so I didn’t experience anything of the Tribeca Film Festival (chuckling) – um – but it was great – I mean it – you know the film was made in New York.
S: Under 25 days right?
E: Um – god – um – yeah I think so – yeah we shot it in 5 weeks, 4 ½ weeks, something like that – I did 2 weeks and then I was done so it was fast.
S: I like how you have the exterior of the Holiday Cocktail Lounge and then you’re inside the Holiday Cocktail Lounge .
E: Yes – it’s totally legitimate – um – yeah but it was filmed in New York, it is an absolute New York film but its essentially about these guys – these friends – who are all drafted on the same day in this sort of imagined future – not too distant future – in which the draft is reinstated. And it’s essentially about these friends faced with this ultimate fate and how they each individually deal with that. Um – one of them’s a lawyer and is married and he’s got his issues with it and doesn’t feel like he should go. My character is a writer – um - doesn’t really have any family connections or any kind of political feelings – passions – either way so he kind of spins out of control. Um – and then one of the characters is a cab driver so he’s a real working class – you know – belief in the American system. So it just analyzes – I mean beyond the political aspect I think it’s really a tale of humanity and how humans deal with something like that.
S: I know we were talking cause I watched the film today and it really speaks to me because my father was drafted and I spent my whole life as a military brat moving all over the world. My dad was married and a college grad and you know kind of every statistic would say ah it’s people in poorer more urban areas but my father was completely the opposite of that, from an affluent family, and he got sent over to Thailand for a while.
E: Right, right
S: Uh – the movie talks about what you would do in the 30 days before you go – literally day zero – and uh I know you’re going to get asked this all the time about the film but if the draft were reinstated right now and your number came up – based on what’s happening now in the world – what do you think? What would you do?
E: Hmm – it’s tough – ah –
S: It really is tough
E: It is a difficult decision – I mean – ah – I don’t believe in the reasons that we’re there currently – so – you know – with all of my heart I wouldn’t believe in doing it for those reasons. Um - but there is also something to be said for fighting for your country and when duty calls – when your country calls - for you to respond to that. But it’s a difficult question to answer and I think that, you know, we can sort of hypothesize – intellectually – what our reaction would be – but I think it is such an emotional reaction that I don’t think I can even answer that unless I was actually faced with that – you know?
S: I think my reaction would be the same as your’s in the film – I would throw up.
Elijah laughs
S: Um – we’re gonna see a clip from Day Zero right now – do you know which clip we’re seeing?
E: Um – I believe it is in the bar and my character is talking about a list of the top 10 things he’d like to do before he leaves.
S: Ok – here’s Elijah in Day Zero.
SHOW DAY ZERO FILM CLIP
S; Alright that was a look at Elijah Wood in action in Day Zero – now another hypothesized – in real life – what would you put on your list before you go?
E: Ummm
S: It would depend on who was playing in town, wouldn’t it?
E: Hahahaha – yeah what bands to see – um – I don’t know – I think that the top priority for me - before going off to do something like that – would be to spend as much time with my family and friends as possible. You know – I’m sure that there would be things that I’ve wanted to do all my life that I’d want to accomplish but I think more than anything I’d want to be home and spend as much time doing the sort of mundane things that we miss when we’re away from home – um – and really soak that up before leaving, I think.
S: Yeah we have a friend who actually worked here in Fuse who was in the National Guard and has been over there for the past year – got sent over.
E: Oh – wow
S; Um – now let’s talk about Tribeca – after the movie they have this incredible Q&A with the actors and directors and producers and stuff – what were the questions like for Day Zero?
E: (stutters a bit) Interesting – um – you know the thing about this film is that it poses so many questions. I think one of the things I loved about the script is that it doesn’t make any answers for you – it doesn’t editorialize – it doesn’t have a political perspective – it kind of presents these broad ideas and leaves them with you to sort of ponder. And so there were a lot of interesting questions – particularly about my character and my character’s fate at the end – um – people were kind of curious about how that came to be. Um – won’t ruin anything for anybody. There’s also a moment in the film with Chris Klein – where he kind of – he lashes out – he goes to a gay bar in the film. You know, one of the things that Chris’s character is so obsessed with is that there are these sort of – these ways out. It’s a totally arbitrary system and, you know, if you harm yourself then you don’t have to report for duty – if you’re gay then you don’t have to report for duty – all these things – all these ways out – and so he ultimately tries to chop off his hand and he can’t do it and he’s so frustrated that he goes to a gay bar to kind of like – screw you guys because you don’t have to go. So there were a lot of questions about that and some of the more controversial elements of the film – it raises a lot of questions.
S: Yeah – there’s a lot going on in Day Zero – it’s a very cool film and you have to check it out. You’re going to hang out for a bit, right? Do some instant messaging with some fans – if you guys log on during the break you can talk to Elijah. The screen name is The Sauce on Fuse – but first lets head over to the lovely Holly for our first instant poll.
H: Thank you Steven – that’s right it’s time for an instant mobil poll. In honor of our first guest today we want to know what is your favorite Elijah Wood project. Elijah – do you have a favorite project? I know you’ve done so many cool things –
E: Do I have a favorite?
H: Yeah – does one stick out in your mind?
E: Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is one of them.
H: (gives instructions on how to vote – the choices were)
A. Happy Feet
B. Sin City
C. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
D. The LOTR Trilogy
NOTE: Elijah couldn’t see these choices when he answered Holly’s question about having a favorite.
COMMERCIAL BREAK
They come back to Elijah holding a laptop on his lap and you can hear Steven say “you can put it down now”
E: Okay
S: All right – where he’s doing the instant messaging thing and it’s knocking em the hell out – a lot of people hm?
Elijah turns the computer around so the screen faces the camera and points to a long line of messages – “look at all those – it’s insane” – then puts the computer down on a table next to his chair.
S: All right – we’re hanging out with Elijah Wood and talking about his movie Day Zero and we asked you to text us about your favorite Elijah Wood performance and with 29% of the vote we have our very first tie. It’s between Happy Feet and the LOTR Trilogy.
A. Happy Feet – 29%
B. Sin City – 15%
C. ESOTSM – 27%
D. LOTR – 29%
E: OK
S: Pretty cool, huh? They did say ESOTSM was comin up right after.
E: Right
S: So there you go.
E: That’s not bad – a tie.
S: Between penquins and hobbits.
E: Both short.
S: Both short – one more of a tux.
E: Yes – indeed.
S: Now – you’re a big time gamer – um I’m not allowed to be cause my girlfriend won’t let them come into the home (Elijah laughs) – but what are you playing right now?
E: Um – what am I playing? Uh – I just picked up Lost Planet but I haven’t started it yet for the 360.
S: Do you sit and play until it’s done?
E: I tend to get games that are story-based games, you sit down and it’s like you take, you start it and then you spend 3 or 4 days finishing it.
S: Right.
E: So Lost Planet I have but I haven’t started it. Um – and the Wii – I just got a Wii. Here’s the thing – I didn’t have huge expectations for that system – um – I played it once – thought ok – this is kind of cool – but is this really going to be functional – this sort of gimmicky thing. Man they did such a nice job with that system. And the thing that’s great about it is that it appeals not only to kids but to girls – like I had a bunch of girls at my house – some friends – and they were playing it - totally into it – it appeals to everybody. I think it’s great.
S: That’s the secret – I should get a Wii
E: Get a Wii – your girlfriend will like the Wii – you can make a little Wii Mii for her and she’ll be excited.
S: A Wii Mii.
E: Yeah
S: How Great
Elijah laughs
S: Now lets get to what you and I will enjoy talking about - music – you have a record label.
E: Yeah
S: Yeah?
E: Yeah – Simian Records
S: Very cool – and you signed the Apples in Stereo.
E: I did.
S: One of my all-time favorite bands.
E: I love – I love the Apples in Stero.
S: And not only did you sign them you directed a video.
E: Yeah
S: Yeah – that’s very cool – I think we’re actually going to roll a little bit of it in a minute – but what was it like being on that side of the lens?
E: Um – it was fun – it’s something that I’ve always wanted to do – in some ways I sort of feel like I’ve been going to film school for the last 16 years – um – and I always loved the medium of music videos and I think it’s an incredible way to try out interesting things. It’s an incredible artistic medium when it’s utilized right and so I always thought it would be fun to start with something like that and Robert from the Apples suggested I do it and I thought it would be a great way to start, so…..
S: That’s very, very cool – ok – we’re set – we’re going to take a look at…
E: This is authentic 8 mm.
S: This is Energy
SHOW ENERGY VIDEO CLIP
S: All right that was a quick look at Mr. Wood here behind the lens doing Energy by the Apples in Stereo – now Chris Rock directed the last Red Hot Chili Peppers video.
E: I heard that
S: I know, it’s really honest
E: That’s crazy
S: Now – is there a dream band you’d like to do a video for?
E: Oh man – um –
S: That’s the worst question to ask because you have a list in your head when you’re not being asked
E: yeah –yeah - I’m a huge Radiohead fan – but I don’t know
S: So you could do like 5 seconds and be done
E: Yeah – but see I don’t know if there’s anything I could contribute to them visually that they wouldn’t be able to do better so – I don’t know –I don’t know - there’s so many bands that I love
START VIDEO CLIP YOU'VE SEEN
S: Are you psyched for the new Radiohead record?
E: I’m very psyched
(no subject)
Date: 2007-06-05 12:07 am (UTC)