Wes Anderson's latest film Moonrise Kingdom is getting wide critical acclaim- typical for Anderson. But it wasn't just the famed auteur adding to the joy and journey of the film. It was the two young stars, Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward, who added sincerity, emotion and humor to the characters of Suzy and Sam. The two young actors had the intense oppurtunity to star in the film alongside cinema greats like Bill Murray, Frances McDormand, Ed Norton, Tilda Swinton and Bruce Willis. Make no mistake, these two kids are the one to watch- that is, when they're not in middle school or at golf camp.
<<Check out Ology's review of Moonrise Kingdom right here>>
<<My Dream Date with Wes Anderson>>
So, I saw the film and I’m absolutely in love with it. You guys were incredible. What were your favorite moments while you were filming?
Kara Hayward: My favorite scene to film was probably this one scene with Fran
McDormand. It was a very touching mother-daughter scene between the two characters and shows them at a very emotional point.
Jared Gilman: I have a lot of favorites, but I’d have to say the top three would be a lot
of the storm stuff that we filmed, the scene between my character and Redford, and the church scene. That was a lot of fun to film.
Did you have favorite costumes? That’s a big Wes Anderson thing, to have these really great costumes. And Kara, you got to wear a little more variety. Did you guys just love putting that stuff on?
KH: There were a lot of fun clothes. I would say I loved my school uniform, actually. I
loved the pink dress and I loved the jacket with the beret, but my school uniform was
really adorable.
JG: I only wear a couple of costumes, but I guess the main [costume with the green] with all the badges and stuff.
Did you get to keep any of the badges?
JG: Unfortunately, no.
That’s such a bummer! Were you nervous about anything going in? This was your guys’ first big film and the cast is incredible. Did you guys freak out a little bit before?
KH: You know, I was so excited to be there. I felt so lucky, so honored and blessed to be chosen for the role that I really suppose I wasn’t nervous, just thrilled.
JG: Yeah, same here. I was excited, I wasn’t nervous.
How long was your audition process? Was it kind of grueling or did you just fall into it?
KH: Mine was just a couple of weeks. My dance teacher told me about an open call that was going on near where I lived, where I met the casting director and read with her. About a week later, they asked if I would like to meet Wes Anderson and about another week after I met with him he called and said I had the role.
JG: My audition process was about a half-year long—
Wow.
JG: Yeah, it was not nearly as quick as Kara’s. I had my first audition back in September of 2010 and then six months later and three callbacks (March 1, 2011) my mom picked me up from school (which she never does) and over the Bluetooth, my dad told me I got the part.
That’s amazing. I mean, how familiar were you guys with Wes Anderson’s work before you dived into the audition process?
JG: I had seen Fantastic Mr. Fox when it was in theaters and I loved that movie and I
had heard of his other movies.
KH: I had seen Fantastic Mr. Fox, The Darjeeling Limited, and The Royal Tenenbaums.
They’re such amazing films and when I heard I was going to be working with the man
who made them, I was very excited.
Yeah, definitely. What I got from you guys’ chemistry together and just general
scenes was that he kind of—and correct me if I’m wrong—but he kind of let you guys
organically feel it out and let you be young and in the moment, which is what it’s about.
JG: Yes.
KH: Yeah.
Was it easy working with him? Was it strange?
JG: It was very easy to work with Wes. Wes is great.
KH: Wes is brilliant and kind and just so amazing overall. It was very easy to work with him.
How familiar were you guys with the rest of the cast? Did you have butterflies meeting anyone in particular?
JG: I’m a huge movie buff so I had heard of a lot of the cast members and I had seen a lot of Bill Murray and Bruce Willis movies and I’d known greatly of Edward Norton and many other people, but I was excited to meet all of them, really.
KH: I knew of them all and I’d seen a few of their movies and it was so exciting to be
able to meet the talented artists and to be working with them. It was such a great feeling.
You guys have been thrown into this crazy world of filmmaking all of a sudden. You were at Cannes—what’s been the most surreal moment you’ve had after the film was released?
JG: I would have to say the Cannes was really great because we got to see the movie
played in front of 2,000 people. That people were really, really great.
KH: I think being there to see the movie get the recognition it deserved for being such a fabulous film was amazing. I was just so happy to be there.
Did you guys get to do any of the beach, cool France stuff or were you too busy most of the time?
KH: I could get an afternoon where I walked around all the stores. There was castle up on a hill that I hiked up to. It wasn’t completely work, but I had so much fun working that I wouldn’t mind if every second was filled with it.
JG: My last day in Cannes was dedicated to going to Nice. I have to say Nice is very,
very nice.
Do you guys want to work with anyone else in the future? Are you actively auditioning now or are the roles coming in?
KH: Acting is something I would like to continue doing for a very, very long time. I’m
not sure I’d like to work with anyone in particular but I would like to do more stories
with such beautiful characters and plot—just amazing stories. I am still looking at some
opportunities and I’d really like to do something that’s both special and beautiful.
JG: Same here. As I said before, I’m a movie buff and there are thousands and
thousands of people I’d love to work with. I just hope the next movie I get is just as good as this.
Do you guys have any genres? Would you guys ever go slasher movie or action film or all of the above?
KH: They all sound fun to make. I just like working on films.
I think that’s a big part of a Wes Anderson film too. You can always tell it was enjoyable to shoot. I mean obviously there’s stress, but it looks like fun.
JG: Yeah, it was.
You guys are still pretty young and I know you’re going to school. What are your other passions and hobbies besides acting?
JG: I like to golf. I like to think that I’m a good golfer. I also like making my own little
movies, like short action scenes and stuff that I’ll film all by myself and then edit
whatever I have after. I’ll add in stuff like blood afterwards.
EC: If you have an iPhone, I’ve been playing with the JJ Abrams app that they came out with for Mission Impossible…
JG: They came out with a JJ Abrams app?
You film something on your iPhone and you can add in something like an explosion or a helicopter crash and it’s so much fun. I highly recommend it.
KH: Personally, I enjoy writing, reading, drawing, dancing. Really any activity that’s art-based I tend to enjoy.
Would you ever consider writing your own script, like writing your own movie?
KH: I do think that in the future, writing is something that I would be very interested.
Finally, are you worried about the notoriety that you get? It’s the strangest thing, being recognized all the time. Are you guys worried or are you embracing it?
JG: I’m embracing it. I’m not too, too worried.
KH: I agree.
Well, it seems that you guys have some pretty good heads on your shoulders so you won’t fall down in any tabloid rumors. What’s next for you guys? What are you looking forward to this summer?
KH: As I mentioned, I have been looking at some opportunities into something really
extraordinary, but other than that I really don’t have much planned.
JG: I’m auditioning for other movies and stuff. If I don’t get any work, then I guess I’ll
rest. Maybe take a couple weeks of golf camp or something.
You guys should at least go to the beach or something!
JG/KH: Yeah.
Thanks so much you guys! Best of luck!
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