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Mitchel - Interviews

Ever seen bits and pieces of a interview Mitchel did but haven't seen the whole thing? No need to look any further. Down below are various interviews Mitchel has done. A link to the full interview can be found in bold & underlined above the interview.. Enjoy!

Scifi - 2006

Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis say they believe kids like to get scared. So when they produced Monster House, they told young newcomer director Gil Kenan to "go for it" and be scary. He cast three preteen actors, Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner and Spencer Locke, as three friends, DJ, Chowder and Jenny, who go on an adventure to discover the secrets of the mysterious house owned by mean old Mr. Nebbercracker. The actors, now all 14, had to go through some growing pains during the two years of voicing the characters including redubbing some of the dialogue after both boys' voices cracked.

Mitchel Musso, Sam Lerner and Spencer Locke, you all seem to have such good chemistry. How did the casting go for this?

Musso: They had us in for, like, four auditions. It was a good experience for a first audition.Â

Why did you think you worked well together and had that good chemistry?

Musso: Everyone put a little something together into their characters, and it worked out well.

You just saw this with an audience for the first time last night. What surprised you when you heard the reactions?

Musso: I think the one that I was surprised about was the hand that came outÃ¢Â€Â”

Musso: That was added, it's not part of the storyboard. It's all motion capture, so they just added that. I didn't know it was going to be a part of it.

Did you recognize your mannerisms and all that in the animation?

Musso: Yes, especially Sam. I recognized all of his actions, his emotions and expressions.

But he doesn't look like Chowder. He's not chubby.

Musso: He brought himself to Chowder. It's like Chowder and Sam are the exact same person. Not now, of course; that was back then.

Do you have any idea why he was named Chowder?

Musso: He gets sick-you don't want to know the details.

What was it like seeing yourself animated?

Musso: Really cool.

Did you see The Polar Express that Zemeckis directed? It sort of used the same kind of animation.

Musso: Yeah, I loved that movie.

Were you able to add stuff in the script while filming?

Musso: We were just making stuff up.

What about with the other cast members?

Musso: Oh my God, we just could not stop laughing because they were so funny.

Was there a lot of improvising going on the set with the director?

Musso: He was totally cool because he's like a kid at heart.

Your co-star Jon Heder, who played Skull, was quoted saying that you guys really got into the makeup process together. That was the red dots for the cameras, right?

Musso: It was more like two hours.

Musso: We wanted to see who could get it done first. We would get it on and just laugh.

Was it uncomfortable to wear all that?

Musso: Nah, I think everybody got comfortable with the whole thing after a while.

Musso: But it was every day.

And Mitchel Musso, what about doing the voice in Avatar: The Last Airbender? Do you get asked about it a lot?

Musso: Yes, I get asked a couple times, but I tell everybody I only had to shoot the pilot of it, and so I don't talk that much about Nickelodeon. I work for Disney now. Oliver in Hannah, Montana on the Disney Channel.

What else do you have coming up?

Musso: I just got done with another animated show that just got picked up for Disney called Phineas and Ferb. I play Ferb. It's for younger audiences. It's Toon Disney for younger kids. All the biggest stars from Disney are in the show. They just put this one together. I'm doing like 16 episodes. It's really fun.

Have any of the rest of you done animation work before?

Musso: It is very different. When I went to shoot Avatar, everybody was done with their lines, and I had to say the lines as the mouth is moving.
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Did you go back in to redo your lines?

Musso: We had to go back and redo the lines, about two years later after puberty hit both of us. We had a lot of hot tea.

Musso: Oh yeah, it wasn't easy. It was different.

What were some of your favorite Halloween costumes?

Musso: I'm going to go as Sam.

Did you do your own stunts?

Musso: Yeah, that's true, before we had to put on all the shoes and garb they brought in the stunt coordinators. We got to do backflips and all sorts of crazy things.

Musso: Me and Spence got climb up ladders, and on the crane and stuff, and we were up off the ground during all this, so the cameras could shoot under us. And all three of us were in the car, and one day it was roped up so they could shoot underneath and it actually broke.

What are the scariest movies you have seen?

Musso: Hostel disturbed me.

How are you seeing R-rated movies?

Musso: I never saw that movie. [Laughs.] He told me about it.

TheStarScoop - 2006

THE STAR SCOOP:

Tell us about yourself.

MITCHEL MUSSO:

I'm a 14 year-old boy and my birthday is July 9th, 1991. I love to skateboard, love sports. My favorite sport is probably basketball. I like to hockey sack, I like hanging out with my friends, talking to girls, just a regular teen life. I have two brothers, one older one younger, Mason and Mark. Mason is 11 and Mark is 17. I have a dog that's just the love of my life. He's my best friend. I got him on my birthday about three years ago. His name is Stitch. [Also] I am an actor, been acting since I was about nine, and I just got off a movie, Monster House, which is premiering July 21st this year. I play the lead. I'm doing Hannah Montana and I just did Life is Ruff with Kyle [Massey] from That's So Raven. From Hannah Montana, my character is Oliver, who is best friends with Miley. She is a famous pop star and trying not to let anyone know that she's a pop star. We go through everyday life, things that happen; we get into trouble, helping each other. There's always something happening. Just a kid's show.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How did you get your role in Hannah Montana?

MUSSO:

The process of getting on was they first knew me from Life is Ruff, and then they called me in and said they wanted to see me for Oliver. So I went in for the first audition and I ended up coming back two or three times and the 4th time I read with Emily and Miley for testing. After that, they called me in and I got the part. I shot the pilot about 9 months ago. About seven, eight months later they said they wanted to make it into a series. I was just so excited, because I've shot a couple pilots before but none of them have ever been picked up. Just being on a TV show, you get to be the same person each week. The show is amazing. The script just writes itself now. We have a terrific cast.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How are you like your character, Oliver?

MUSSO:

He's really out there. He's way, way into girls. That's all that's on his mind. Helping his friends out and some more girls. There is no time for school with him.

THE STAR SCOOP:

Why will kids watch Hannah Montana?

MUSSO:

I think that everybody can totally relate to Hannah Montana in a way. You've got 2 friends, who go through problems and you're there for them, there's trouble, gotta bail your friends out, you have fun with your friends. It's like real life, and I'm sure everyone can relate to it.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How does everyone get along?

MUSSO:

We're all the best of friends, call each other, hang out. We hang out on set, do school together.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How has working with Disney helped your career?

MUSSO:

Disney, I've always wanted to work with Disney. Everyone knows Disney. It's always been one of the top things I've wanted to work for. I figured hey, this is where I want to be, then this is where I should be. I have always wanted to do it, got the chance to and took it and ran with it.

THE STAR SCOOP:

Why did you want to become an actor?

MUSSO:

It all started with my dad's best friend and he got my little brother into it. When my brother was into it, I thought that was so cool, to be out there on T.V. So I decided to give it a shot, and now I'm here.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How would you describe your acting style?

MUSSO:

Definitely comedy, for sure, that's my favorite thing to do. I love it, I love the attention.

THE STAR SCOOP:

How has your journey to becoming an actor been?

MUSSO:

It's been real hard, actually. It's brought me a long way. I'm a little Texas kid, I'm a country boy. I decided to come out here [for pilot season] after I did secondhand lions with Haley Joel Osment. And so my agent told me I should give it a shot. Ever since I came out to L.A., it's been exciting, fast pace, so exciting. I love what I'm doing.

THE STAR SCOOP:

Can you explain what pilot season is?

MUSSO:

Pilot season is basically just a certain part of the year, about 3 months long and you just audition for T.V. shows; pilots are what you call them before they turn it into a series.

THE STAR SCOOP:

Why was this so difficult?

MUSSO:

It was a big step for me because California was huge to me. I've never really been anywhere except for Texas. There are a lot of turn downs and stuff. You have to get back up and try it again. It's tough for some people. I get over it, but for some people it's a big, big letdown. This is a hard business.

THE STAR SCOOP:

What songs are on your Ipod, or what CD do you have in your player right now?

MUSSO:

Probably Blink 182, Mac Dre, I'm running through my ipod right now. New Kids on the Block. I love New Kids on the Block. Queen, love Queen.

THE STAR SCOOP:

Favorite color?

MUSSO:

Lime green for sure.

THE STAR SCOOP:

What other projects are you working on?

MUSSO:

It's motion captured mocap...it's like Polar Express. Animated, but we had to act everything out, just in a wet suit and reflectors in our faces. It's all about two neighborhood kids who are best of friends and they end up finding this girl named Jennie who is supposed to be the girl they both fight over. These three kids have to take out this monster house. It's pretty kid friendly. PG.

PBS Kids - 2006

IML: What do you like about playing Oliver?

Mitchel: Oliver is totally girl-crazy, like he's a nut about girls. Could you ask for a better part? He's got his two best girl friends. And I get to wear the coolest clothes.

IML: Who do you hang out with on the set?

Mitchel: I love hanging out with Miley!

IML: What do you do together?

Mitchel: We hang out at her house, go bowling, go to arcades.

IML: What do you think about living in Los Angeles?

Mitchel: I just feel everything here is more exciting, more up to date, more fun. I can go surfing and snowboarding on the same day. But I like to go back. People in Texas are totally cool because they've known me all my life.

IML: Is anyone back home jealous of your recent success?

Mitchel: Yes, there's a lot of drama. I find it hard to deal with. If there's too much drama, I try to choose my friends better. It's dumb stuff. Some people were asking for my autograph. I'm like, I've known you since I was two!

IML: Did you have a girlfriend when you moved out here?

Mitchel: I did break up with a girl two months before we moved, not because of the move, I had enough, I guess. At this age, you want to go out with your friends and look for girls.

IML: What do you look for in a girl?

Mitchel: I don't like girls who are shy and I get a lot of random girls, like when I go to the mall, none of them want to come up to me, like are they scared of me! They're all bug eyed. I'm not looking for anything more than any other guy. I like a good smile. Pretty eyes. She has to be active, like not play-sports active, but she'l play air hockey, do some pool, go for rides on the Santa Monica Pier. I would much rather have fun with her than do the cool thing.

IML: You have two brothers. Mason is 17 and Marc is 11. How was it working with Marc in the movie Secondhand Lions?

Mitchel: It was great. I mean, you get to work together and your brother is your little brother. It was very natural. And I was freaking out about the other actors, so I didn't have to freak out alone.

IML: Is your brother Mason an actor too?

Mitchel: No, he's in a band. Actually, he plays with Miley's older brother!

IML: How do you like being the middle kid?

Mitchel: It's great, though the whole part about getting beaten up, that stinks!

IML: A lot of actors have causes nowadays. Do you have a cause that you support?

Mitchel: Iâ€™m working on a charity event where they build churches in Mexico and I'm raising money for that.

IML: Are you religious?

Mitchel: I don't know. I guess, yeah. We used to go to church every weekend. In Texas, I was at the church three days a week. They had a skate park and a team for the church. They sponsored people. It was cool. We've been to a couple out here, but we haven't found anything yet.

IML: We heard you were big skateboarder. How'd you get into that?

Mitchel: It's been one of my all time favorite hobbies since I was eight. This skateboarder, Seamus, lived across the street. He was a major skateboarder. Before he moved out, he gave me a really nice expensive board; it was the coolest board in the world. And he taught me the Ollie, a pretty tough skateboarding move.

IML: Have you ever had any skateboarding injuries?

Mitchel: Last pilot season, I broke my arm.

IML: That must have been a bummer!

Mitchel: It had its ups and downs. It was so neat getting a cast. But the down side was I had to wait in emergency all night!

IML: Thanks, Mitchel, for talking with us!

Mitchel: You're welcome!

TVGuide - 2006

TVGuide.com So, have you seen the final print?

Mitchel Musso: Yes, I did. I saw it with my family and I thought it was incredible. I couldn't believe it. I've been waiting for so long since I did all the work and I'd been waiting for it to come out, and I was like, wow.

TVGuide.com What is your favorite effect? Nebbercracker is rendered extremely well, but the rampaging house is enormously effective, too.

Musso: Yeah, definitely the last couple of scenes with the fighting and the explosions... and when [two characters] dance at the very end, that was amazing because [the two actors] really did dance for it, and then they [motion-captured it]. It's really cool.

TVGuide.com There are so many fun actors on the voice cast: Buscemi, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Jason Lee, Napoleon Dynamite's Jon Heder.... How many of them did you actually get to work with

Musso: I actually got to work with every single one of them. You would think that you wouldn't, because it's animation and the stage is really, really small — 20 feet by 20 feet. But [Monster House's particular motion-capture process] used gray wires, motion sensors, and wet suits that had reflectors all over them and stuff, and we'd shoot the actual scenes on the stage. Nothing could reflect, so they had to make everything — cars, my bed, doors, stuffed animals — out of gray wires.

TVGuide.com So every move we see DJ make, you actually made that move?

Musso: I actually did every single thing with every single prop. The prop would just be made out of gray wires.

TVGuide.com I didn't realize until I called up a photo of you before this interview how much DJ is modeled on your own look.

Musso: We talked about it because at one point DJ looked completely different than me. First they made a clay model out of my face, and then the computer took pictures of that, and that's what they used [for mapping the animation].

TVGuide.com DJ and Chowder reminded me so much of Stand by Me's Gordy and Vern, not just in their appearance but also in their personalities.

Musso: Oh, you're right! Me and Sam [Lerner, Chowder] had so much fun working together. So much fun. After that experience, we became the best of friends. We went to Cheesecake Factory just yesterday! We totally hit it off.

TVGuide.com Did you know Spencer Locke (Phil of the Future), who plays Jenny the love interest, beforehand, from your respective Disney Channel gigs?

Musso: I actually didn't know [about that connection] until after, but Spencer, Sam and I, we'd always get together and hang out. We had great fun, which totally helped the movie. And then of course, I got my first on-screen kiss....

TVGuide.com You got to act that out for the computers as well?

Musso: Yes, we actually had to do the kiss and all!

TVGuide.com What's been the feedback on Season 1 of Hannah Montana?

Musso: It's crazy. I can't walk out my front door without getting noticed. I thought people were going to be like, "Oh, I think I've seen that kid on that show," but it is crazy. I enjoy it so much; being recognized is, like, my favorite part.

TVGuide.com What's the setup, that your character, Oliver, is crushing on Hannah? Is it requited at all?

Musso: In the very beginning Oliver had a crush on Hannah, and then he figured out that it was kind of weird — "This girl I've been best friends with my whole life, do I now like her?" And then we sort of set it aside.

TVGuide.com Will we get some sort of cliff-hanger for Season 1?

Musso: I'm sure we will. It's the Halloween episode, so we'll see!

TVGuide.com Monster House, Hannah's season finale... gee, there's a lot of Halloween stuff for you, here in middle of July.

Musso: Yeah, lots! [Laughs]