| The Twilight Saga: New Moon Wolf Pack Interview with Spencer, Meraz, Pelletier and Gordon | ||||
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 New Moon is the first time, in the Twilight saga, that the Quileute werewolf pack makes its appearance. Among the tribe, the werewolf trait is dormant until tribal land is threatened, and then those chosen by fate for this role have no choice and little control over the transformation, as Bella Swan's (Kristen Stewart) best friend, Jacob Black (Taylor Lautner), soon learns. During the press conference at the film's press day, co-stars Chaske Spencer ("Sam Uley"), Alex Meraz ("Paul"), Bronson Pelletier ("Jared") and Kiowa Gordon ("Embry") talked about forming a true brotherhood while portraying the Wolf Pack. Q: How did you all make your abs look so great? Was there a wolf boot camp for this? Chaske: No, they made us work out. It was an hour of training. They got us a trainer. It was a guy who helped out on 300. They threw us into the training for maybe an hour and 10 minutes, and it was a lot of circuit training and muscle confusion. We also ate a lot. We ate six meals a day, three protein shakes a day. Alex: And, thanks to Chaske, we also ate a lot of apple pie. Chaske: Yeah, I was a bad influence. Bronson: We did strength training, conditioning, weight training and lots of cardio. It was pretty intense. Alex: It was definitely crucial to the bonding, too. That's really what helped out with building the chemistry on set, and even during filming. I think it really helped out a lot. We had a blast. We supported each other. We even made fun of each other, like who could do the most push-ups, or whatever. It really helped out with our characterizations. Chaske: I think you can see the chemistry on the screen. We all get along, and that's really cool and surprising because, in some films, you just don't get along with the other people. But, this time around, they picked the right people. Bronson: We're definitely like a band of brothers, that's for sure. Q: You guys have no trouble looking great with your shirts off in the rain. How difficult was it to film that scene? Chaske: The rain was pretty hard. At one point, we all huddled up together to use our bodies to keep warm. It was definitely pretty cold, but we all got through it. Alex: I think Bronson had the best explanation of it. He said we had a glass-cutting business. Chaske: Our nipples were rock hard. Bronson: Yeah, definitely. And, on top of it, there was the fake rain, too. It wasn't warmed-up rain either, mind you. It was cold blankets of rain, coming on top of us. It was pretty wild. Q: The breakfast table scene is really interesting because that's the aftermath of the big explosion. What was that like to film? Chaske: For me, you get to see all their characters. Their characters come alive. They have dialogue. Plus, I've got a kissing scene with Tinsel Korey, which was pretty good to do. Alex: To speak more on that, it's the first time you actually see them more as humans. You see the relationship, and that we're brothers. Before then, it's a little more ominous. There's more foreshadowing. You see the scene before, where Paul tries to kill Bella. So, that's the first time you see the friskiness and playfulness, which I think really helps out. Bronson: It definitely shows the camaraderie of us all. Chaske: And, the sense of humor. That's where you really see the chemistry. Q: Did you have to keep up all that training, going into Eclipse? How hard was that to maintain? Alex: We had about four months between the films. It was hard to maintain. Chaske: It's hard to keep that up because it's a lot of diet. It's tough. Bronson: The dieting is really important. Q: You talked about bonding. Did you guys hang out as a pack? Chaske: Yeah. Bronson: Oh, of course! I love hanging out with these guys. Chaske: The film schedule is so big. There's a ton of cast members, so we didn't get to hang out with all the cast members. We just ended up hanging out with each other. It was good company. Q: What did you do in Vancouver? Chaske: We went bowling. That was cool. Bronson: We watched movies all the time. We'd go out dancing. Chaske: We'd work out together. Q: Did you stay in the same place? Alex: Yeah, we stayed at the same hotel. Even outside of filming, we would text each other and call each other, just to make sure we were still alive. We were like brothers. We really care for each other, and that's important. We got really lucky, in doing a film where you actually care about your cast mates, which is important. We were committed to doing Eclipse, so that really helped out. I think people are going to see it on screen. Chaske: You gotta understand that we were all going through this. We're not just individuals in this whole Twilight phenomenon. So, we check in with each other and make sure everyone is okay. The attention can mess with people's heads. No one gives you a book on how to go through this, so we make sure we're all right. Alex: Don't weep for us! Chaske: Yeah, we're pretty happy. Q: Has being a part of this franchise affected your lives, in a positive way? Chaske: What's cool, is that we get to help people as well. When you meet certain people, it's pretty cool. I remember meeting some of my heroes, when I was a kid, and being like, "Oh, they're really nice guys. They're really cool people." Bronson: I did a couple of Make-A-Wish Foundation things, brightening up somebody's day. If you have that kind of power, it's pretty good. Alex: I think also, as representatives for Native Americans in this franchise, we have a responsibility not to present a bad image. We're portraying Natives, and that's what they're going to see. I think it's time for us to rewrite what Hollywood's take on Native Americans was, which was long hair blowing and a noble kind of people, like in leather and feather period pieces. Now you see something in a contemporary setting, and you see us being humans. It's a great thing. Well, we're kind of human, but we're not demonized, which is important. It's done in a very tasteful way. Chaske: It's going to be one of the biggest movies of the year. Q: What is it that you wanted to convey in the movie, as far as Native American culture? Alex: During the process of casting, when I was waiting to hear word if I got a role or not, there was a through-line where I prayed, every night. I was asking for permission, even to represent the Quileute tribe. I was putting out a lot of good thoughts. In essence, even though we're taking some of their mythology and their creation story , it's mixed in a fantasy, but we're still taking from the culture. Being Native, we needed to be conscious of that and ask permission to the people of the past, present and future for it. It's a very conscious thing. Native Americans have a right to be protective of their stories. Chaske: We're all Natives, not just saying Native Americans. Alex: We're Native of the Americas. It's not a linear term. Chaske: We try to represent well because we're very fortunate to be here and to represent our people in a contemporary way. A lot of responsibility comes with that. We're getting offers, as well, for roles that are non-specific for Natives. We're very fortunate and blessed for that. We've got a lot to bring to the table. Being Native, we come from a different angle. We have a different outlook on life as well. We like Stephenie's writing and she's represented pretty well. We're just very blessed to be here. Q: Being Native American, you have a connection with land and animals. Playing a werewolf, did you find yourself feeling different about that? Chaske: You have to have a balance as well. I know a lot of Natives who are lawyers and doctors, who don't always wear their hair in braids. I think that's a misconception from the stereotyping that Hollywood and pop culture has of us. Not all of us are like that. Alex: Hollywood thought Adam Beach was the only Native American left. Chaske: I lost out on a lot of roles to that guy. Alex: Yeah, were extinct, except for Adam Beach. They were almost going to put him at the Smithsonian for being the last Native American. So, it's good that people did their research. A lot of thanks goes to Rene Haynes, who was the Native American liaison that added to the casting. Joseph Middleton did the primary casting, but Rene had cast Chaske before in other projects and myself as well. She knows her stuff. That was a good thing that Summit did. They really made sure they did it right for the Wolf Pack. Q: What kind of music did you listen to, to get yourself inspired to kill Bella? Alex: A lot of rap and hip-hop. Chaske: During the work-out sessions, we listened to a lot of Beastie Boys, Metallica and Linkin Park. Alex: And, 50 Cent. Chaske: And then, I listened to a lot of Mazzy Star during New Moon. Q: Can you describe your relationship in the movie with Jacob? Bronson: He's like a little brother. Kiowa: He's my best friend in the movie. It's kind of scary to us, seeing these guys. We were just normal kids, and these guys were running around with their shirts off and we thought they were some gang going around, saying they were peacekeepers of our tribe and what-not. Chaske: We helped him phase. He doesn't want to become a werewolf. No one wants this. It just happens. This is what we're dealt. When the Cullens came around, that's when we started phasing. My character was the first one to phase, so my relationship to these guys is the big brother, mentor, father figure who helps them. We are like a band of brothers, like a rock band. And, suddenly, Jacob starts to phase and he has some choices to make. He has to join us. We surround him and tell him it's not that bad. Alex: It's like going through puberty. That's what we tell Jacob. "It's like going through puberty. You're gonna get a lot of hair, things are going to change, but you'll get through it. There will be growth spurts, but you'll be fine, bro." Q: In the movie, you have tattoos. Do you have a real tattoo, or would you like to have one? Alex: We all have tattoos. Chaske: We all have real tattoos. Alex: Which take about three hours to get covered up. One thing we have been talking about is maybe, depending on where this goes, by the end of the films, getting the Wolf Pack tattoo. Chaske: Yeah, it's been a real experience for all of us. Alex: It's a milestone. Chaske: It's changed our lives. Q: Is Taylor going to get the tattoo, too? Chaske: Oh, I can't speak for him. Alex: Maybe if he's 18 by the time we do it. Q: What was your first reaction, when saw your wolf in the finished film? Chaske: He was so cool! Bronson: I literally got goosebumps. I was like, "Wow, that's awesome!" It looks amazing. Chris Weitz did an amazing job, along with the special effects team. Alex: Yeah, Phil Tippett did an amazing job with the special effects. For me, I'd always wanted to be in a film where it's not so much driven with CG, but I could be something bigger than life and have some kind of superpower. So, for me to be able to transform into a wolf and have a fight and all that, I was like a kid in a candy store. I couldn't ask for anything more. There were mannerisms that Phil Tippett and his team actually did to make them all stand out as individuals. You can tell the difference between one wolf and the other. And, it also suited what our characters were and what we brought to the table. Chaske: And, our eyes stay the same. Bronson: Our real eyes are actually on our wolves, so it's pretty cool. Q: Did you guys get to spend time hanging out with Taylor too? Chaske: Oh, yeah! Taylor was a part of all that. He took us bowling, at one point. He's an amazing bowler, by the way. That's a little known fact about him. He's a really a good guy. Alex: We had a really good time, all of us together. For Taylor, this was his. The first movie was more about the Cullens and that little family. In this one, it's about the Wolf Pack, so I think he felt really comfortable and definitely wanted to spend more time with us. It was good. We all helped each other out and had a great time. Chaske: He's a really a strong actor, and I think this movie is going to launch him to a different level. He's a good actor. He put a lot of heart into it. He gained 30 pounds. He's dedicated. He's one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. Q: You guys are not necessarily the market for New Moon, so what did you think of the movie? Chaske: I saw Twilight on the plane ride over to Vancouver because I didn't know anything about it. I got this movie and I started doing my research, and then I was on the plane and it was the in-flight movie and I watched it, and I got it. I was like, "I see what it is. I get the chemistry." Q: Since Taylor is not Native American, did you talk to him or teach him about what being Native American means? Chaske: He was very open about that. He understands. We did the best we could with him, and he's the right guy for the part. I'm very protective of him. Kiowa: He's like our brother. Chaske: We have nothing but mad love for him. He asked a lot of stuff about the tribes, and we would talk to him and tell him about stuff. There are certain things that I do in my culture that I told him about, and he was really open to it. Alex: The thing is that we're not even Quileute. So, for us to represent that tribe, it was as if we weren't even Native. It wouldn't really matter because they have different customs than all of us do. It wasn't like we had to teach Taylor how to be a Quileute Native because we don't know how to be that either. All we had was our culture to bring into the filmmaking. We just knew how to respect the mythology of the tribe, and Taylor was definitely receptive to it. Chaske: He has his own culture, and he could draw from that. Q: How did you learn about the Quileutes? What do you now know about them? Alex: During the process of auditioning, I did as much research as I could about the Quileutes, knowing that they're whalers and they inspired the shape of their canoes to be pretty much clipper ships. They were really fast, and they were able to go from the Washington area, all the way down to San Diego, hunting whales. I learned about the mythology and their creation story. The Quileute came from wolves and transformed into people, but they don't go back. That's the thing. That's the aspect that Stephenie changed, when she took some things and put it in this fantasy realm. Chaske: I was amazed by the storytelling. I was really attracted to that. Q: Is it awkward to spend so much time with your shirt off in the movie, or did you get comfortable with it? Chaske: Whatever puts the ladies in seats for the tickets! Bronson: That's right! Alex: We've been telling guys, "Watch the film because your girlfriends will be watching it." Chaske: The thing is, though, there's action in New Moon, so girls can bring their boyfriends. I think they'll really like it. Alex: They don't have a choice. Their girlfriends are going to be there. But, it wasn't awkward. By the time we started filming, we had already been working out shirtless. It's like a costume. It really is. You wear it. You don it and you own it. You can't be intimidated about your body. That's not the time to be doing that, when that little red light is blinking and you're being filmed. Chaske: It also helped us get into character, as well. Bronson: As soon as I got out there with my shorts and no shirt on, I felt the part. Alex: As soon as I got the bronzing on, I felt it. Bronson: The bronzing always ended up on my socks. Chaske: That stuff is hard to wash off, too. Alex: I think they put motor oil on us. It's all brown and copper. The shower looked like someone murdered a man. Q: How cold did it actually get during filming? Alex: About 30 degrees, and it was raining. It was very cold. Chaske: We could cut glass with our nipples. Alex: We had a glass-cutting company, Wolf Pack & Friends. The Twilight Saga: New Moon opens in theaters everywhere on November 20th, 2009.
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