Q&A: Taylor Lautner on “Twilight: New Moon”
Taylor Lautner plays Jacob Black in “The Twilight Saga: New Moon.”
Over the weekend, the sequel “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” turned months of buzz into big box-office numbers, making $140.7 million domestically.
Since the film and “The Twilight Saga: New Moon” Week here at BAM’s Blog are proving so popular, I’m extending my daily coverage of “New Moon” for another week. Just call it “New Moon” Week: The Sequel.
In the second film based on Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling book series, the supernatural love triangle between human Bella Swan (Kristen Stewart), vampire Edward Cullen (Robert Pattinson) and werewolf Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner) really starts to develop.
On Friday, I brought you features on Lautner, Pattinson and Stewart I wrote after attending the massive “New Moon” press day at the Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. This week, I’m going to bring you full Q&As on the three leads, plus a few other cast and crew from the film.
Today, I’m featuring a Q&A with Lautner, taken from the L.A. press conference, in which he fielded questions from several entertainment journalists, including yours truly. He talked about his physical transformation for the film, shared his technique for dealing with the “Twilight” fan and tabloid phenomenon and had a clever yet vague answer ready when asked about his rumored romance with country star Taylor Swift. (The Q&A has been slightly edited for clarity and length.)
Q: Did it ever feel like you were really in danger of not getting this role in this movie, and were you on steroids for those 30 pounds you gained?
A: Definitely not, on your second question. And honestly, I knew where my character went in New Moon and that’s all I tried to stay focused on. I couldn’t control things outside. I couldn’t control the media. But I could control what I was doing to portray Jacob Black correctly. So that’s what I stayed focused on the whole entire time.
Q: Did that start with going to the gym and gaining 30 pounds?
A: Absolutely. Jacob transforms a lot in New Moon, not only physically but mentally and emotionally as well. So it was a matter of getting to the gym and eating the right food and a lot of it. But also reading and studying the book and the character over and over and over again so I could have his character down as well because he changes in many, many different ways
Q: Can you talk about those changes?
A: When he transforms, basically my job was to continue what I started in ‘Twilight,’ which was this extremely happy, friendly, outgoing guy, best friends with Bella. I had to continue that for the first half of the film, but as soon as I transform I snap and I become a completely different person. I’m dealing with my issues and it’s really hard for me.
Q: You have a lot of opportunities in the film to show off your new physique, like when you take your T-shirt off …
A: And wipe her blood?
Q: Can you talk about that scene and any others like that?
I start laughing so hard every time I see that scene. ‘You’re bleeding? OK, let me fix it.’ It’s so embarrassing. Yeah. I mean, here’s the thing: there’s a reason that he’s not wearing clothes all the time. One, when he transforms, all his clothes get shredded. He can’t help it. And when he goes into the woods to get something to put on so he’s not naked, it’s just a ripped pair of jean shorts. He’s also hot. He’s 108 degrees. So that’s another reason. The thing is, I love this character, I love this story, and putting on the weight and not wearing much clothing was required by the role. A year from now, if I love a story and I love a character that requires me to lose 40 pounds, I’m ready to do it. …
Q: Can you be more specific on what you did to gain the weight — what did you eat, how did you exercise? Can you give a little more of a rundown?
A: Oh boy. You’re putting the pressure on me now. I was in the gym about five days a week, because it’s important to get your recovery time and not overworking yourself, because if you’re overworking yourself … I was trying to put on weight and if I was in the gym too much I’d be burning the calories I’m trying to take in.
The most important thing was the eating side. Everybody thinks it was the actual getting in the gym. That was easy—I was motivated. So getting in the gym was easy for me. But the eating was pretty hard. It was just eating a lot. I found out that I had to consume at least 3,200 calories a day just to maintain. And I’m not trying to maintain, I’m trying to gain. So I had to eat more than that, and putting something in your mouth every two hours. And I’m busy. I’m downtown L.A. I’m (going) from meeting to meeting. There’s not time for me to be eating. So I literally would have to carry a little Baggie of beef patties, raw almonds, sweet potatoes. So it’s not like every two hours I’m eating ice cream. It was difficult.
Q: Did you have a personal trainer?
A: I do. I definitely had one that helped me out.
Q: Having not read the “Twilight” books, seeing the movie I’m thinking this girl is retarded, why is she not going for Jacob? So was there any concern about overshadowing Edward? Was that something you had to temper in your own performance? Because you were very winning.
A: Thank you very much. I think it depends on what kind of girl you are, what kind of guy you like. Edward and Jacob are complete opposite guys. They’re hot and cold. Literally. So yeah, I mean it’s just, I personally love Bella and Jacob’s relationship, how they begin with best friends and it starts to grow into something more and more. Both guys are in love with Bella. Both guys are always going to be there for Bella, and they’re protective. I just think it’s what kind of guy you like.
Q: Can you talk about the stunt and wire work, how difficult was that to get used to, and also bonding with the other wolf pack guys?
A: Yeah. The physical side was really fun. Some of it was challenging. I’d never ridden a dirt bike before. And yes, I rode the dirt bike for a total of about five seconds in the film, but for those five seconds I had to look as cool as possible. So it did require a lot of practice just, for safety-wise, so they’d let me do it. And the wirework, like when I run up the side of her house, that whole thing, the wires were there so if I slipped and fell I didn’t face plant into the ground. But it was definitely challenging. That stunt was really complicated. You need to be on. I’m using a little plug in the side of the wall to take off from and jump so it’s really complicated and it required a lot of practice. Every single weekend I would practice that stunt for three hours a day. It was the last thing we filmed. The bonding with the werewolves was very fun. Those guys are characters. They’re a lot of fun too. Did they just talk to you?
Q: Yes
A: (Grins) Oh my. I’m sure this was a fun room. They’re great guys. What’s so great is that they each fit their character perfectly. So on set we just had a blast, we had a blast when we were on set. They just made that so exciting.
Q: They were talking about getting the wolf pack tattoo, are you in?
A: I don’t know, I’ll have to think about that. I’ll have to discuss it with my pack.
Q: What is the strangest thing that has ever been written about you and also how do you balance letting the public and fans know who you really are outside of Jacob but also keep your private life private?
A: Honestly I try to stay away from what has been written about me ‘cause if you let that stuff get to you and it’s not true, it can drive you crazy. One thing that I have heard recently, which is not true, I definitely didn’t say it, I was quoted as saying I will never take my shirt off for a movie again. I didn’t say that. If I have to, if the character requires it, I will. Who knows, in 10 years, I might do that. And like I said earlier, if a character requires me to lose 40 pounds, I’ll do it. It’s just what the character requires. So that was interesting to see. What was the second part?
Q: How you balance letting the fans know who you really are outside of Jacob but also keep your private life private?
A: Right. It’s difficult. It is. It’s definitely important to stay true to yourself and stay close to those people you were close to before, your family, your friends, and just not let that outside stuff get to you.
Q: This movie is going to make you a bigger star. You’ve already got a lot of teen girls who idolize you. Going into this movie with a bigger role, how did you think about that and how did you prepare yourself for that?
A: I don’t think there’s any way to prepare yourself for this phenomenon, just because none of us expected it. When we were filming “Twilight,” we didn’t expect anything. We were just filming a movie that we wanted the fans to enjoy, and then it kinda just blew into this whole other world. So I don’t think that there’s a way to prepare for that. You could definitely say I felt a little bit of pressure trying to bring Jacob’s character and Jake and Bella’s relationship alive for the fans, ‘cause this movie definitely develops their relationship and sets up the love triangle. So it’s a very important story.
Q: What is it like for you to see all the posters and billboards with your face on it? Is it kind of strange for you?
Yeah, of course. Yeah, I don’t think there’s a way to ever get used to it. It’s not normal to drive down the street and see your face up there. But it’s “Twilight.” It comes with the job. …
Q: You’re doing a movie with Taylor Swift. Has she written a song about you? Do you want her to write one for you?
A: That’s a scary thing. I don’t know if she has. I have no idea. That movie was a lot of fun and it comes out pretty soon after “New Moon” does. It’s going to be fun, there were a lot of fantastic actors in it. I got to work with legendary director Garry Marshall and Taylor was great as well so I’m excited for everyone to see that.
Q: What’s it called?
A: Valentine’s Day
Q: So it will be out early next year?
A: Yeah, in February.
Q: Was it hard to squeeze that in with your schedule?
A: It was hard, yeah. We had a very short break between “New Moon” and “Eclipse” and I knew that I wanted to be part of this film somehow, just to work with Garry and the entire cast so I was able to squeeze a short thing in, quickly
Q: What about you and Taylor Swift?
A: What about us?
Q: Is it a publicity thing because the film is coming out, or are you really dating?
A: The very funny thing is that all of you have seen every single move I make so I guess I can leave it up to you to decide.
Q: I’m wondering about the wig, how it informs your character, and was getting rid of it freeing? Talk about that experience.
A: I had a sigh of relief when you brought this up. It was very freeing. It not only was uncomfortable … One, I’d look at myself in the mirror and I wouldn’t even be able to recognize myself. It was so weird just to see that hair on me. Two, it was very itchy, hot, whatever, annoying.
Also, it slowed down the filming process. Whenever it got caught in my eye or whatever, we’d have to cut and start over. It got caught in my mouth and I’m spitting hair out in the middle of the scene. I’m coming this close to kissing Bella and ‘sorry, I’ve got to spit my hair out.’ It was annoying. So the day we were able to, we actually had a picture wrap on the wig. The crew claps for you at the end or whatever. My last day of filming with the wig, we ripped it off, held it up in the air, like ‘that’s a picture wrap on Taylor’s wig.’ The whole crew gave it a standing ovation. It was amazing. It was great to chop that thing off.
Q: You know, there’s practically an international countdown for your 18th birthday? (It’s Feb. 11.)
A: Oh boy.
Q: I wondered if you even thought about making any plans for that day, how you might celebrate?
A: I haven’t even begun. We are so busy, it’s taking one day at a time. I don’t even know what room in this hotel I’m going to after this. No, that’s very interesting and I wasn’t aware of this countdown. It’s a big day, so yeah, as soon as I finish this maybe I’ll think about that.
Q: We’ve talked about how the fans can be invasive in your life but what’s a touching and really sweet fan encounter you can tell us about?
A: Man, we have fans all the time that will just burst into tears, and that’s just moving. like it must mean so much for them to meet us. It’s an amazing feeling to know that you can touch somebody that way. It also makes you sad. ‘Don’t cry. Stop crying.’ You don’t know what to do. You’re like, ‘it’s OK.’ It is, it’s hard, we feel bad for them but you’re also happy at the same time
Q: When would it help in your real life to turn into a werewolf?
A: Oh boy. I don’t know. I guess when you’re younger and you’re in school and you’re being picked on by some bullies, get in a fight with your little sister … I don’t know, that’s a good question. I don’t think that it would be a good situation. It could get very, very ugly
Q: Who would win between Sharkboy (his character from 2005′s “Adventures of Sharkboy and Lavagirl”) and Jacob?
A: That’s a good question. At the moment I’d have to say Jacob. We’re pretty strong and fast.
Q: Last year you were teamed up on the press tour with Edi (Gathegi, who plays doomed vampire Laurent) and Rachelle (Lefevre, who played bad vamp Victoria in “Twilight” and “New Moon” but was replaced by Bryce Dallas Howard for “Eclipse”). And you really showed what good friends you were. What’s it like to say goodbye to both of them, who else are you close to in the cast, and have you gotten to know Bryce very well?
A: Yeah, it was definitely sad to see both of them go. All of us, the whole entire cast, loves both of them. They were great people. But Bryce is amazing. She’s extremely talented and a great girl as well. So we’re definitely lucky to be surrounded by an amazing cast. What was the middle part of your question?
Q: Who else are you close to in the cast?
Right. I wouldn’t be able to pick one. If I were to start I’d end up listing the whole cast. I do spend a lot of time with Kristen because all my scenes are involved with her. So Kristen and I are very close. I guess I’m close with Rob, too, ‘cause we spend a lot of time together as well. But the great thing about this series is the whole entire cast is so close, and it would be a nightmare if we weren’t. It would be impossible to make this series because the characters are so tight. So we’re really thankful that we all get along so well.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about working and I guess now living in Canada and tell us a little about the next movie, “Eclipse”?
A: Canada is great. I’ve spent a while there. I’ve spent six months out of this year. The first time we were there it was really rainy and dark and cloudy. It was snowing. And that was difficult weather-wise.
But filming “Eclipse,” it was beautiful. It’s just one of the most beautiful cities and I’m definitely going to miss it a lot. Filming “Eclipse,” “Eclipse” was my favorite book so I was really excited to start filming the movie. I just love that it’s the height of the love triangle. “Twilight” develops Edward and Bella’s relationship, “New Moon” develops Jacob and Bella’s, and in “Eclipse” the three of them are physically together. It has one of my favorite scenes ever in that movie: The tent scene, where Edward is forced, and I guess it was a choice of his, to let me sleep in the same sleeping bag as Bella just so she doesn’t die, because she’s shivering to death and I’m warm. I’m the only thing at that moment that can keep her alive. It’s a funny scene. There’s a lot of ribbing going on between Jacob and Edward. It’s going to be a really good movie and visually stunning. (“Eclipse” director) David Slade is incredible visually
Q: In the movie when you show up half naked in the rainy forest I was shivering watching you. Can you talk about behind camera how cold it was and how challenging it was not to shiver?
A: Yeah, the challenging thing is Jacob is supposed to be extremely hot, so he’s not supposed to feel cold at all. And the worst scene for that was the rain scene, the breakup scene where Bella first sees Jacob after his transformation. We’re standing on this little hill right behind Jacob’s house and it was 35 degrees and it was pouring rain on top of us, not regular rain, rain tower rain, which comes straight from the springs. And the scene was very long. It took four minutes to film the scene. And we filmed the same scene all day long. So it was really, really rough. It was hard. And as soon as we’d call cut we’d run over to a heater quick and wrap ourselves in blankets and we’d have like two minutes off before we’d have to go do another take. So the weather was definitely extremely challenging. I just had to take myself to another world so during the scene I wasn’t sitting there shivering. It was hard. Sometimes I’d catch myself and I’d have to stop.
Q: You didn’t catch a cold?
A: No, I didn’t. I’m really surprised by that, actually. I thought for sure I was going to get sick
Q: Since your character is supposed to be Quileute Indian, did you learn any of the language?
A: At the end of this one I did speak a little bit of Quileute, when I was leaning in to kiss her in the kitchen, and I’m not gonna tell you what I said. I’ll leave that to you to figure out. But it was really cool. There’s only like four people left in the world that actually speak Quileute so we were able to talk to one of these ladies. It was really interesting.
Q: What did you think of your wolf when you got to see it on screen? And with you being so busy and this being the end of your teenage years, how are you trying to sort of relish and make sure that this all isn’t a blur in five years?
A: I must say I’m having the time of my life. It couldn’t be a better end to my teenage years. I’m doing what I love and I’m spending time with the people that I love. So it’s great. I’m definitely never, ever going to forget this. …
The wolf. I was blown away. I was really excited. Because when I’m filming, the famous trailer shot when I’m running through the field and I jump up and try and fly in midair, I’m attached to wires and I’m running and I let the wires pull me up in the air and jerk me to a stop and I just have to freeze there and let them convert my body into a CGI wolf. The whole time I’m like, ‘I hope I look cool.’ And yeah, after I saw the final version last week, after I saw the wolves, it was amazing. And the fight scene that comes right after that, the fight between Jacob and Paul wolf, was so cool. I thought they were extremely powerful and looked very real.
Q: The movie is geared toward the conflict between Jacob and Edward. In a fight, Jacob or Edward? Same thing between you and Rob?
A: Oh man. I don’t know between me and Rob. He actually does a lot of boxing in his time off. It might be a good match-up. We were actually discussing this on set, it’s funny, like who would win in a fight between Jacob and Edward? Because there’s a scene outside Bella’s house where Edward grabs my shoulder and Jacob doesn’t take that, so takes his arm and rips it off and that moment Jacob would transform into a wolf. And we’re having this discussion, it got really deep, we were like, ‘If I were to poof into a wolf right now, what would happen? Who would win?’ Our discussion points were we’re usually with our pack so if I’m without my pack am I going to be weaker? Honestly I don’t know. That discussion is still up in the air. We should probably get Stephenie Meyer on the line and ask her.
Q: Aside from the physical how has being part of this phenomenal transformed you?
A: Really I’d have to say the biggest transformation would be my schedule. I’m really, really busy but it’s a lot of fun. I just got back from South America yesterday and here I am today for three days.
And then I go to Europe. So I’m really, really busy but it’s been a lot of fun. It’s been a great experience. I’m really excited to be part of this thing.
Q: You say you spend a lot of time with Robert and Kristen. I’m wondering, they’re a bit older than you and were acting when they were your age. Have they given you any advice about enjoying the moment or life, you know, how to enjoy it?
A: No, I think most of our advice, and talking and stuff, has pretty much stayed on a business level and that’s the great thing with our relationship. All of us are completely open and not afraid, we don’t hold anything back. We talk about our characters together and have meetings to discuss our characters. It’s really, really helpful, but we haven’t gotten to life talks yet.
-BAM
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