[IMG:L]Bridge to Terabithia defied many box office predictions to become a solid hit last winter. Based on a children’s book with few visual effects and a tragic element, it seemed like a tough sell (though trailers did make it look like Lord of the Rings). Still, audiences connected with the film and with the DVD release, they can revisit it again and again.
Terabithia stars AnnaSophia Robb, 13, and Josh Hutcherson, 14, recently re-teamed for a press call with Hollywood.com. With a slew of press junkets under her belt, Robb discussed the film like a seasoned pro, while Hutcherson came off sounding a lot more like a man, than the junior high student he played in the film.
Hollywood.com: Josh, your voice was deep at the press junket, is it even deeper now?
Josh Hutcherson: I think it may be a little bit deeper now. It’s getting deeper and deeper. I’m like, “Geez, how much farther is it going to go.” I’ve changed so much. You heard my voice, I’ve changed too. Since Terabithia actually, I’ve grown 5 inches taller and I’ve gained another 20 pounds or something so I’ve changed a lot since then.
HW: Did that cause any continuity problems while you were filming?
JH: Actually, believe it or not, on Terabithia, we had some serious problems about it because what happened was, we filmed the movie and then went away after we filmed it and everything, and they brought us back almost an entire year afterwards to do ADR. And by that point, my voice was so much deeper. And we were telling them they have to hurry up because my voice is going to change soon. But they didn’t so it came that time and my voice had changed so much I had to almost ADR the entire movie. I had to redo 85 percent or something.
HW: How gratified are you both that Terabithia became such a success?
AnnaSophia Robb: Oh, it’s so great. I was so excited. It did so well and I just had such a good time making that film.
JH: It’s amazing. To finally work that hard on something and be as worried as everybody was about it as far as how audiences were going to receive it, and then people receiving it as well as they did, it was great. Very thankful for that. I think it’s a great movie because it has such a wide audience. I think that’s what helps audiences receive it. You know, 6 to 60, you’re going to love the movie.
HW: What do you think made it connect?
AR: I think partly because it’s such a famous book and such a good book. Also, I think the trailer attracted some attention because they put almost every special effect in the trailer so I think a lot of boys went to see it for that reason. Girls went to see it, well, I guess because of Josh. Also because of just the book.
JH: It was interesting because in the previews, it was mostly the visual effects. So like the previews kind of sold it as a very Narnia-like film. But I think that was kind of a way to get a wider audience in there because it’d be really hard to market a film like this because it has so much heart. You can’t really show heart in a 30-second preview. So they have to show the action and everything to get the audience in. Once the audience is in, they realize the film has so much more heart than it just showed in the preview. I think the thing that really drew the people in was either the name of Bridge to Terabithia from knowing the books or the previews with all the action.
HW: Even though there’s some tragedy in the film, people responded. Did that surprise you?
AR: A lot of people were shocked but I think it was good. It made the film real. It showed what happens in real life, that it keeps on going on. Also that you really need to appreciate your life and appreciate the people in your life and have the best time you can with them while they’re still alive. Live with them in happiness and try to do great things.
JH: It was great because a lot of times in younger children’s movies or family movies rather, they take out a lot of those heavy subject matter things because they think it’s too much for kids. But it’s not really. It’s real life situations. Stuff like that happens all the time and people have to learn how to deal with that kind of thing. In a movie like this, where kids are going to see it and they’re going to ask questions to their parents, they’re going to ask their parents about it, it’s really a great conversation starter.
[IMG:R]HW: You guys do a commentary track on the DVD. Was it your first time?
AR: I think so actually. I’m trying to remember but I had a great time doing it. It was really fun. We sat in a room with the producer, Lauren Levine and just talked about what happened after set that day. I hadn’t really done anything like it before.
JH: It was fun. I had never done a commentary before. It was my first one ever. It’s different because most commentaries have like directors or producers or writers and it’s not that much fun for younger people to listen to. But with this one, it’s AnnaSophia, I and one of the producers. So you know we had some younger people in there doing commentary which is great because we’re not talking about all the adult things. We’re talking about what we did that day during lunch. We played baseball and all that stuff. We talk about fun stuff like that.
HW: You’ve both worked with a lot of amazing actors. What have you learned from the people you’ve worked with? AnnaSophia, maybe starting with Johnny Depp, Hilary Swank or Charlize Theron?
AR: Just watching them was partly a lesson, just how they come on set with just grace and they’re very respectful of people. Charlize told me some of the best advice. She gave me advice every day but she also told me just to go from the gut because your first reaction is usually the correct one.
HW: Johnny Depp prepares so much–would you see yourself doing that with a role?
AR: I do. Not so much as Johnny because he plays really out there roles but I love his work. I work with the director and the other actors in rehearsal and I also make notes about my character, just thoughts. I think about my character, what she did previously to when the film started. What she did on her summer vacation and what her favorite food is and stuff like that.
HW: How about Val Kilmer in Have Dreams Will Travel?
AR: Well, I think A West Texas Children’s Story is the name I know it by but I don’t know what they’re naming it too. Yeah, Val was really cool. I’m glad he got to be in the film.
HW: And Josh?
JH: Any film that you work on with any experienced actors, even if they’re famous or not famous, if they’ve worked a lot, they are always so professional. They’re on time, they take their job very seriously and that’s something you have to realize as an actor. Even though it is so much fun, it’s not all just fun and games. You have to be serious and you have to have a lot of patience. That’s actually, now that I think about it, one of the biggest things is learning about patience because a lot of times you get called in, you have to get there at six in the morning and that’s early for me. You have to get up that early and get there, and you sit around all day long and you don’t start filming until, say, two o’clock in the afternoon. And you’re kind of like, “Well, geez, why’d you bring me at six?” You have to be patient and realize that everybody kind of has a role and I’ve always been really interested in everybody else’s job on set. Not only mine but the camera guys, the grips, electrician, directors, everyone.
HW: How do you pass that time?
JH: Mostly school. I have to get my school in whenever I’m on set, unless it’s during the summer. Then I don’t have to worry about school on set, which is very nice. In that case, I play a lot of sports; I throw a football around with my teacher guy. I hang out in the trailer, relax, watch movies.
[IMG:L]HW: With both of you living outside of Hollywood, what is the experience like going back and forth?
AR: It’s great. I really love living in Denver at home because I still get a normal life. I get to see my family and my friends and I get to go to my school. I travel back and forth to LA about once a month but it’s been working out really well so far.
JH: I get recognized mostly when I’m back home in Kentucky. That’s where I’m born and raised and I guess people know that I live there. It’s not that bad really. It’s kind of part of the job so when it does happen, I’m more than happy to sign pictures or take pictures of people, anything they want because without fans, I wouldn’t have a career. So I’m very grateful for them but really, I live in Kentucky so it’s not like I’m being caught up in that Hollywood world or anything.
HW: Are you recognized a lot now?
AR: I am kind of. It depends on where I am. Kids tend to recognize me more so than adults…a lot of times [the kids] just stare and point. Sometimes they’ll come up to me.
HW: I’m sure you get this question all the time, but how will you avoid the pitfalls of child stardom?
AR: It hasn’t been hard at all. I guess partly because I live in Denver and I’m away from all that and my parents have been really great about keeping me grounded. And also, I don’t want to do any of that stuff. I choose not to. I don’t want to get sucked into that.
HW: You’re also involved with two charities, right?
AR: The Dalit Freedom Network is a network and they go out and help the untouchables in India. The untouchable are a class, the lowest class in India and they are treated less than animals. They are so low but they need to be recognized as people. I’m also involved with Save the Children in Darfur. I’m just trying to educate people about what’s going on with the genocide and how terrible it is. It really needs to be stopped and it’s all pretty much coming from the government.
HW: How did you get involved with each, and what events can you do to support them?
AR: Through film, that’s one of the great things that film has done for me. I’ve always cared about the environment but with these certain groups, Mia Farrow got me involved with Save the Children in Darfur because she’s the UNICEF ambassador. So she got me involved with that and I’m so thankful that she did that. Then, for Bridge to Terabithia, the owner of Walden, his wife, she’s greatly involved with the Dalit Freedom Network.
