Part I: Boys
Judging from the data, Jack Dylan Grazer and Asher Angel have many similarities. The two post-00 boys are the rising sons of tomorrow in the American entertainment industry. However, after chatting with them separately, I realized that the two teenagers who also co-produced "Shazam of Thunder" as colleagues are actually quite different. I deliberately asked the same questions, and their answers seemed to be two sides of the same coin. .
Jack is the young master of the second generation of Hollywood stars. He wears a hoodie with a large font and leans on the sofa. When it comes to excitement, he dances and doesn't force himself to cooperate with questions that he can't answer. He still looks like a child between his brows, and his aura is also a bit delicate. He clearly knew that he was being favored, but he was indeed worthy of this favor. Otherwise, no one in Hollywood has the second and third generations who are close to each other, and no one can make continuous works in just two or three years like Jack Grazer.
Angel is the other side of Jack. He is a Disney channel child star born in Utah, a singer and dancer, a white suit with oily hair, a serious adult appearance, serious and sincere dealing with the media, and proactively providing more details on each topic, a diligent and high-quality orthodox little idol. Everyone said he would be the next Justin Timberlake.
No matter how attractive a boy is, it would be boring if the story had to be blind. Therefore, Sakuragi Huadao and Rukawa Maple, little fish and flowers, and Daoming Temple or Huaze, will arouse the eternal discussion among girls. Before watching the film, I was looking forward to the performance of Jack and Asher in the film. After watching it, I was looking forward to every new transformation on their way of growing up. Let the two teenagers grow up together.
Q: "Universal Screen" Los Angeles special correspondent Pan Meng
J: Jack Dylan Grazer (as Freddy)
A: Asher Angel (as Billy/Shazam before transformation)
Q: We often see you on the big screen recently, and you still appear in many different types of movies, such as "The Clown's Soul" (IT) is a horror film, "Beautiful boy" (Beautiful boy) is a literary film, Now "Shazam Thunder" is another superhero movie. Can you tell me what it's like to be involved in these very different films?
J: Shooting Beautiful boy was a great experience. It was amazing to work with Steve Carell, probably my favorite person on earth! He's amazing and has been my idol since the day I wanted to be an actor. I think he's the best actor, the best person, and very genuine and kind. Getting to know him and filming with him was definitely a once-in-a-lifetime experience at the pinnacle. Then I also became good friends with the kids I filmed with in The Clown, and I can't put into words how much I love them! It's a crazy adventure to be in "Shazam of Thunder", and I'm now a member of the DC Universe! It's a dream come true, and I'm so grateful.
Q: Speaking of "Pretty Boy", did anyone say that you really look alike to Timothée Chalamet?
J: Yes! I know! I played Tiancha's youth in the movie. When his character was on drugs in the movie, many people thought it was me. Everyone's reaction was "Oh my God! Don't!" I said calmly, don't worry , that's 21 years old.
Q: How did you get the role of Freddy?
J: I was filming an episode of "Me, myself and I" on the Warner Bros. set that day, and I happened to meet David, the director who was also filming on the same set. So after the shoot, I walked over and introduced myself to him. Then they arranged an audition, a very formal audition, and of course I did well and went well (laughs). I also had a live run-in with the other cast Shazam and Billy who auditioned, maybe the director was testing our chemistry with each other. Then Asher and Zac appeared, and our lineup was finalized!
Q: Can you introduce your character Freddy? What do you think is the coolest thing about him?
J: I think it's really cool that he knows so much about superheroes and is so obsessed with everything about superheroes! He was like Billy's spiritual mentor. His best friend Billy suddenly turned into a superhero, and he was ecstatic because being a superhero was something Freddy had always dreamed of.
Q: But he wasn't jealous of Billy at all?
J: Not at all! It's more like he got the experience of being a superhero through Billy/Shazam.
Q: Are you a fan of superheroes yourself?
J: I wouldn't say I can reach the level of Freddy! But I still know DC quite a bit, more than I know Marvel. I know Batman like the back of my hand, he's my favorite.
Q: If you were asked to recommend the movie "Thunder Shazam" to a stranger, how would you recommend it?
J: This movie has everything you want! It's got all the elements you'd expect from a super fun action comedy. It's warm and relaxing, it will make you laugh with tears, keep your eyes open, and sit excitedly on the edge of the seat all the time.
Q: So even if someone doesn't know who Shazam is before watching it, they can still fall in love with this movie?
J: Absolutely!
Q: Although Billy and Shazam are the same character but played by two different actors, how did you interact with them while filming?
J: Because my role is like a mentor to both of them, I'm always in the story when they switch back and forth, so I've been with both Asher and Zac for a long time. Zac and I joked a lot about each other, made fun of each other, and we were always having a good time on set. We all had a great time and we became like family after the movie. It's an unforgettable memory.
Q: What are some unforgettable memories, can you give an example?
J: Well...I can't recall a specific instance at the moment, but we also played together a lot off the set. I went to an escape room with Asher, went to a baseball game, watched a movie, and had a great time together.
Q: After filming Shazam, what is your next plan?
J: My next work is an independent film, which will be with you soon. I don't know the exact release date, but Rainn Wilson, Mena Suvari and Fionn Whitehead are in the cast. It's a great movie, very entertaining. Rainn Wilson is awesome, so I've worked with two of the best actors in The Office and I've done one thing on my bucket list, wow.
Q: Let's ask a bigger question. Why did you choose to perform?
J: Why choose to act (think) Well...acting makes me feel free. This is what I choose to do, this is my destiny.
Q: Everyone knows that your family is also in this industry, such as your father and uncle (famous producer Brian Grazer), are you influenced or influenced by them?
J: I didn't choose to act because my uncle was a producer. I chose acting because I really love the profession. I want to be a filmmaker, I want to be a screenwriter, I want to be a producer, all of these things I want to try because I love the industry. And I feel so free, it's the perfect channel to fully express myself.
Q: So do you feel pressured because of such a family background?
J: I didn't feel the pressure at all. I have never felt so free. This is the most self-liberating thing I've ever done. Being an actor is not my hobby, it is my life. The life I live now is the life I dream of.
Q: Will you need to balance work and studies?
J: Hmm...I still need wow, I think I'm pretty well balanced (a little guilt). My parents helped me a lot, and I will still finish my studies, and I also brought teachers on set, which is required by law. I can handle it! (turning back to my parents, my parents also laughed)
Q: So you go to university?
J: I still have to go to university.
Q: Have you thought about which major to choose? Except for the performance.
J: Then I want to write. I want to be a screenwriter, write plays, write plays, I also want to be a writer, maybe I will write a novel in the future. I want to do everything related to creation. I don't want to be a lawyer, I don't want to work with numbers. I love art, I love everything about storytelling, character building, and I want to build a world.
Q: Finally, please describe the process of making this film in three words.
J: Fun, moving, exciting!
Q: Can you share how you got the role? A: Of course you can! (laughs) Haha, sorry, because the process was really hilarious. Actually, I sent the audition video myself. Because this is a super important movie in the DC universe, I was so excited, I told my parents that I really wanted the role. I recorded several videos myself and sent them over, and they liked them very much. I flew over with my parents for the official audition and met director David Sandberg for the first time. I performed a few scenes from the script for him. I could see that he liked my performance very much, and I could feel the atmosphere at the scene. The next day I went to the scene to observe the audition process of the other actors, and I wanted to observe the way they acted and their facial expressions and so on. Then we went to the airport to go home, and when I was going to the bathroom, they called my parents. They said on the phone: Hey, I know you guys are going back to Utah now, but your son got the role! When I came out of the bathroom, everyone was jumping and screaming. I also asked: what's the matter, how are you? They told me that you succeeded. I also started dancing with the others. It feels super unreal. And I needed to keep it a secret for two weeks after I got the role, which was also very difficult.
Q: What kind of guy was Billy to you, before he became Shazam?
A: (hums Billy's song) He sure doesn't look like a very nice kid, his life is tough. He has a strong spirit and a pure heart. I believe he is still kind in his heart, he has just been through too much. In the movie you will see his transformation, slowly see the real Billy. So at the beginning of the movie, he is not the cutest child, but he has actually changed and grown a lot since then, especially after he has super powers.
Q: Are there any particularly fun moments during filming?
A: A lot! A lot of funny things happened between me and Jack. Jack has always been a personal troublemaker (laughs). He can always make people laugh. There was one time when I was about to shoot a scene and Jack held up a can of baby powder and said, "Hey, Asher buddy, look at this," and he was throwing baby powder on himself, and I was like, cool, don't. Just sprinkle it on me. At that time, he had already finished filming. He just went all the way, I don't know how he did it, he poured the whole can of baby powder on me all at once, from head to toe! Then he ran away immediately, I was left dumbfounded, I shouted "Jack! Come back to me! How can I explain all this when you're not here?" Ask me how I got baby powder all over my body.
Q: So you need to go through all the processes all over again?
A: Yes! All over again. I need to re-make up, re-dress, re-do my hair.
Q: Did they later find out that Jack did it?
A: Finally Jack appeared and told everyone, hey, sorry, I just went to do my homework. Am I serious? How is your homework? He saw me and said, how are you? Why are you all covered in baby powder? I said I was wondering too. Later, he also admitted that he did it, and said sorry to me.
Q: Did you and Jack become good friends after the movie?
A: You know that filming such a movie involves a lot of work. Every day on the set, you are very nervous. After the movie, you just want to go home and sleep.
Q: I just chatted with Jack, and he said you did something interesting together after filming?
A: Yes! We went to the maple syrup factory, watched baseball games together, and ate a lot of delicious food. We spent a lot of time deepening our relationship and getting closer as a result. I think Jack and I started to really get to know each other when we were at COMICON (San Diego Comic-Con International) because we needed to be together all day doing interviews and making jokes about each other. The two of us also went to an event, it was just the two of us, and we stayed overnight together after the day was over. From then on we really became good friends.
Q: Are you a fan of DC yourself?
A: I am a DC fan and a Marvel fan. Love both.
Q: Who is your favorite DC superhero?
A: Well, my favorite DC superhero...probably the recently released Aquaman. I love Aquaman, the underwater special effects are so cool, I watched this movie three times. Really three times! The second place should be Wonder Woman.
Q: If you could imagine having Shazam's superpowers, which one would you most want?
A: Must have super power! How cool would it be if you had super power and no one knew about it! You can show off all kinds of things when you go to school or the gym, and show off your skills in front of girls. It's also cool to be able to fly, to travel the world, and to be in the sky is just awesome. I want to wake up one day with super powers, and I know Zac and I think so too.
Q: I know you have done a lot of Disney TV series before. What do you think is the difference between making TV series and movies?
A: When you spend 7 months shooting a drama, you put a lot of energy and effort into this role. Every week I get a new script, and I have to memorize new lines all the time, over and over - don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy memorizing lines, and I think it feels good to be able to focus on one thing. Filming allows me to focus more on one thing, and I can memorize everyone's lines if I want, so it's relatively easy. What I find more challenging is that today you are the character in the TV series, and tomorrow you are going to make another movie. You need to quickly withdraw from one role and immediately jump into another new role. It's a new experience for me, and it's fun to switch quickly between different characters. Hope to continue to have such opportunities in the future.
Q: If you don't become an actor and singer in the future, what would you most want to do?
A: Haha good question, if none of the above is successful, what are my alternatives? To be honest, I want to try to do real estate business.
Q: Really, why?
A: My father used to be in this business, and I like it very much. I used to go to meetings with him a lot when I was a kid.
Q: So how good is your math?
A: My math is really good, and it's getting better and better in recent years. You know, sometimes after seven or eight months of continuous work, you're happy to finally be able to take a break. But once you really take a break, you won't get used to it. When I'm at home, I think what can I do? So sometimes I go to work with my dad.
Q: You are so hardworking, do you have no hobbies in your leisure time?
A: I love to play basketball. But if it weren't for my friends back home, I wouldn't be so passionate about sports. They've been very supportive of me and my career, and I've always been there to support their football games and basketball games, and they'll come to my gigs. I love my good friends from my hometown, I love sports, and I love watching sports.
Q: Are you often asked this question, if you had to choose between singing and acting, what would you choose?
A: At present, I can still do both, and I believe there must be a way to maintain it in the future. For example, I can take a break after filming a few movies, then sing well, have a concert or go on tour. I feel like I will definitely find a way to balance the two in the future, because it's hard for me to give up either. Both of those things are great, I miss singing when I'm acting, and I miss acting when I'm singing.
Q: Can you describe the process of filming in three words?
A: Challenge, exciting, hardwork.
Part II: ManChild Before I interviewed Zachary Levi, I had just finished watching the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, in which he played Mrs. Maisel's new boyfriend, a dashing and eccentric New York doctor. As soon as I entered the door, I saw a tall man with a white shirt of 1.9 meters. In fact, Zac was the last person in the interview that day. The staff all looked tired. Only he shook hands vigorously and greeted warmly, with a grin and a happy expression of big white teeth, as if he had just returned from a fitness shower early in the morning.
ManChild, ZacLevi described himself several times. He bluntly said that he is just like Shazam, a man's body and a boy's heart, and he likes watching cartoons and playing video games in private. I tentatively tested Zac's understanding of Shazam's superpowers. I didn't expect him to be as familiar as the name of the dish, and I also analyzed by myself what kind of advantages and disadvantages Shazam would have against Superman. Later, I also found out on the Internet that he once co-founded the company The Nerd Machine (look at the name!) with a friend to create an exclusive brand of animation technology otaku. It seems that it is not really a self-constructed character to promote the movie.
Speaking of working and getting along with his younger brothers, in addition to his generous praise, Zac became a little more serious, straightened his back and seriously said that he wanted to be a big brother they could always rely on. When I said goodbye, I asked the last question like I asked the other two young actors as usual, asking him to summarize the experience of shooting Shazam in three words. Zac blurted out and said transformative, transformative, transformative three times in a row.
Zachary Levi, who was Chuck in "Supermarket" and Benjamin in "The Great Mrs Maisel," will be Shazam this April.
Q: "Universal Screen" Los Angeles special correspondent Pan Meng
Z: ZacharyLevi (as Shazam)
Q: Let's start from the very beginning. Let's talk about how you got this role. What is the whole casting process like?
Z: At first I got an audition for the role of Shazam. I knew that Dwayne Johnson might have been chosen to play Black Adam, so I thought that the character Shazam and the character of Black Adam in the DC universe should look very similar in appearance, at least in physique, so I asked me Agency, shouldn't they find a big big star to play Shazam? The brokerage firm replied that they were not too sure either. To be honest, I was thinking about passing it, and I felt like I wouldn't get this job either. Two months later, I received another audition invitation for a supporting actor, so I shot a video myself and sent it over. Then the agency told me, hey, they still want you to play Shazam after seeing your selfie!
Q: Haha, isn't it a great surprise to hear this news!
Z: I think I got it wrong, it's crazy. But if they see potential in that character in me, then I'll give it a shot. Since I wasn't in LA at the time, I auditioned remotely via skype and it went well, then Warner Bros. flew me to LA for a live audition, and then the next day I was Shazam! It all happened within a week. Immediately after I got the role, I started doing a lot of homework, researching everything about Shazam, but it still felt too unreal. Everything is like a dream come true.
Q: Do you need to keep it secret for a while?
Z: I thought I needed it, but I don't need it at all! Almost after they officially notified me of the role, all of a sudden I started getting congratulatory text messages from family and friends, and I was wondering, how did you guys know about this? It seems that they announced the news soon after notifying me.
Q: As an actor, have you been silently preparing for such a superhero role?
Z: I don't know, I actually don't seem to have ever prepared for any role. I'm the kind of person who lives more in the moment, and every time I get a good audition opportunity, I try to get it. But now that I got the role of Shazam, I have to go to the gym 6 days a week, and my food intake has increased, and I have gained 20 pounds of muscle. I think now I'm not just preparing for this role and making this movie, but also starting to prepare for how to continue to do Shazam well in the future, and other things that come with it.
Q: Did your fitness regimen change after making this movie?
Z: No, I even started working out harder. I want to continue my journey, both physically and mentally, to be stronger and healthier, and I hope to continue to do so for the rest of my life.
Q: When I interviewed Jason Mamoa before, he said he had to let go of himself after filming Aquaman.
A: Haha I understand him. Jason's body is already great. But he's definitely working out and eating more intensely than me, because he needs to be topless in the movie, and I at least have tights in the movie, so I don't need to keep every inch of abs exactly the same as he does La.
Q: Then tell us about your Shazam costume!
Z: Super cool! super tight! It's so hard to go to the toilet! I almost had a claustrophobic attack the first time I put it on lol. But I took a deep breath and said to myself, "Hey, Zac, if this movie is a success, you'll be wearing this dress for a long time, in case there's a sequel, so you have to get used to it!" Integrate with it! Then my claustrophobia disappeared.
Q: How would you describe your character in your own language?
Z: Shazam is different from every other comic book superhero I can think of. Shazam is actually a 14-year-old boy who just needs to shout "Shazam!" and transform into a full-grown superhero. This adult version of the superhero is actually a child inside, which makes the whole story unique.
Q: Do you think you and Shazam are similar?
Z: Of course! hundred percent! My heart has always been a big boy who didn't grow up. I love reading comics and playing video games. I'm a very passionate person by nature, and sometimes stubborn and headstrong like a child. So being able to transform into Shazam was very enjoyable for me.
Q: If you could have the super power of Shazam, which one would you most like to choose?
Z: Fly! I think it would be very interesting to be able to fly around every day.
Q: You and Asher are playing the same character, how did the two of you work together?
Z: The two of us have never filmed together on set in a technical sense, it has always been the director who directed our performances individually to make sure our performances fit together. We rehearsed together in the pre-shoot period, discussed the characters and got to know each other, but more on the spot, trusting director David Sandberg to guide the performance.
Q: I just interviewed the director, and he said that Asher's emotions are more delicate, and your performances are more passionate. Do you agree?
Z: Well...it makes sense! I don't really have too many emotional parts in my scenes, while Asher's scenes are more about his personal growth path, my scenes are more focused on action scenes and comedy parts.
Q: You and Jack have played against each other the most. How was your experience working with him?
Z: Very good. He is so talented. He's definitely one of the most talented kids I've ever met. He is very smart, knows a lot of musical instruments, and has a very funny personality. We had a really fun time together.
Q: Does working with these bright young stars of tomorrow put some pressure on you?
Z: Not at all! I just want to make sure I play a good role model and become their big brother, or uncle, or big brother haha. I will definitely be there to help them when they need work advice or a heart-to-heart talk.
Q: When you were in Toronto, did you play together after the show? Do you have any unforgettable memories?
Z: Most of the time, we only meet each other during filming or media promotion. But one very unforgettable thing is that on Thanksgiving, I, Asher and Jack were still filming in Toronto, and there were almost only a few of us left in the cast. We were wandering around in Toronto, and finally found a restaurant that serves American Thanksgiving food, so the three of us had a very warm Thanksgiving dinner together. That was a memory that impressed me a lot.
Q: What is your favorite scene in the movie?
Z: The scene where Shazam first learned to fly.
Q: Is that the part in the trailer?
Z: No, I can already fly in the preview. I like the part where I just started learning to fly and always fail. It's super funny.
Q: Are you a big fan of DC Universe yourself?
Z: Of course!
Q: Who is your favorite DC hero?
Z: Shazam! (laughs) Wow hahaha why would I choose someone else.
Q: The film must be released globally. How would you recommend this film to audiences outside of the United States?
Z: No matter what country you are in, I would encourage everyone to watch this movie. It is very heartwarming, full of warmth, very humorous, and has a lot of action scenes. This is a family-friendly movie, suitable for children to watch, without the problem of being too heavy and too dark. I think it's a movie about a dream come true. A child has the ability to become a superhero. I think all children in the world, no matter what race or corner, whether it is a boy or a girl, will grow up dreaming that they can fly. This is a dream we all have shared. In addition, this film is also about what is family, about whether the evil does not suppress the righteous, finds oneself, does more good deeds, and does not hide.
Q: I know that you mainly focused on filming TV dramas before. As an actor, what do you think is the big difference between acting in TV dramas and acting in movies?
Z: I think the biggest difference is the shooting cycle. For example, when we were shooting Chuck ("Supermarket Agent"), we took nine and a half months to shoot a season, and it only took about two to six months to make a movie. Moreover, in recent years, new dramas on online platforms have emerged one after another, which has changed the entire industry.
Q: I just finished watching the second season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel ("The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel"), you are very eye-catching in it!
Z: Thank you for liking it! In the past, when filming TV dramas, each episode was broadcast on a weekly basis, and the filming had to be done while it was being broadcast. Movies and dramas on online platforms such as Maisel will all be filmed in one go, and then will be promoted in a unified manner. In addition, traditional TV dramas will be broadcast in the United States first, and only after a certain degree of popularity will they be slowly released to overseas markets. Now, with the emergence of websites such as Netflix and Amazon, many works will be launched simultaneously on a global scale. So really right now the line between TV series and movies is blurring, which I think is a great thing.
Q: What do you usually do when you're not filming?
Z: I like riding motorcycles very much. I'm glad I finally started reading more. I also hang out with friends and watch movies and documentaries on Netflix and Amazon.
Q: Have you watched any of your favorite works recently, such as the Oscar season movie?
Z: I watched ROMA and liked it very much! And I'm very happy to see a film that hits the Oscars directly on Netflix, because before the samples of these nominated films were sent to my address by the union by mail, but sometimes I'm filming in other places, will be too late to see. ROMA is a really good movie.
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