[IMG:L]When casting The Happening, M. Night Shyamalan had an “agenda” to find the most likeable cast to balance out the darkness of this movie.
Shyamalan credits his lead actors, Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, and John Leguizamo with bringing light to an otherwise bleak situation saying, “They don’t know it, they don’t know how they do it–but that’s their gift.”
Shyamalan gushes over these three seasoned players whom he has an obvious rapport with, as they all joke with each other at the NYC press conference–sometimes even forgetting to answer the question asked!
Despite Shyamalan‘s sincere praise, we thought we’d check in with the cast, Mark Wahlberg, Zooey Deschanel, and John Leguizamo, and hear what they have to say for themselves about The Happening and their own fears and beliefs…in between jokes, of course!:
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What do you think is the central theme of The Happening?
Zooey Deschanel: I think it can be interpreted as a philosophical message, as much as a spiritual message. I think the message raises questions and inspires people to think about things–I definitely came out of seeing the film feeling like I wanted to question my own beliefs.
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What was your reaction when you finally saw the film?
John Leguizamo: I haven’t seen the movie yet. I don’t know why? Probably because I am pagan! People without faith weren’t allowed in to see it.
Mark Wahlberg: No, cause it will convert you baby. You will be touched by the hand of god.
John Leguizamo: Ohh…I’ll be touched by somebody? But…a…what I loved about the script is that I think great writing has a message and some heart and says something about the world and the state of human beings and the human condition. That’s what I loved about the screenplay, it had that message–that is sometimes missing in some big Hollywood flicks.
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Did you use your memories of high school to prepare for the role of a science teacher?
Mark Wahlberg: I was paranoid because I was some high school dropout! [Interrupted by his colleagues’ laughter] I wasn’t a good student and had to portray a teacher who was actually really good at his job and the kids loved him. I didn’t tell Night that…I wasn’t sure if he knew of my background.
M. Night Shyamalan: [Surprised smile] I had no idea.
Mark Wahlberg: I definitely got a GED science book and spent a lot of time at the Ben Franklin institute following kids around on their class trips. In other films I’ve spoken other languages and it is one thing to say the words, but I obviously need to feel confident enough to understand them and convey them.
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You’ve played some zany characters in the past–this one you play pretty straight–what was that like?
John Leguizamo: It was a departure to me to play an upgraded character in an intellectual way. I tutored calculus in college…but the kids all failed. [Slyly smiles] I transferred to a different college after that.
Zooey Deschanel: [Laughs] So they couldn’t find you?
John Leguizamo: I hit at NYU…they’ll never catch me there! I tutored Spanish there…the kids also failed that. There’s only so far a teacher can take his students. I felt confident–and math to me in college was something that you could believe in and was finite and could provide answers…and, then, I dropped out of college! Guess I got too confident.
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The Happening plays off of people’s innate fears which could easily turn into mass paranoia–what’s your biggest fear in real life?
John Leguizamo: Wow, to be asked what my biggest fear is? Umm…that Obama doesn’t win this fall. That would be my most horrifying fear that would depress me–and math wouldn’t even help me then!
Zooey Deschanel: I would have to agree with him. That’s a big fear!
Mark Wahlberg: [Half-joking to reporters] Have you guys ever been to jail?
M. Night Shyamalan: I think my analysis of fear comes down to the factor of being alone. It’s all based on versions of that so if you take random things that you’re scared of, say it’s flying or the new job that you have, it’s all related to the feeling of, “I’m gonna have emotions and no one else will be able to have these emotions”–and you feel alone in some manner. So, if you’re on a plane and you’re scared, but you talk to the pilot you’re not as scared because it’s the human connection and you’re not alone anymore–you have a commonality.
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Did your own personal faith ever come into play when working in front of the camera?
Mark Walhberg: I think Night cast me because of my strong faith, but then we’d do a take and he’d say, “That was great! What were you thinking about?” And I’d say, “Jesus!” [Then] He’d go, “We have to do it again!”
M. Night Shyamalan: Literally, literally.
Mark Wahlberg: I’d say, “I don’t understand that at all. It’s not going to change [what I’m thinking about]…it’s going to be Jesus every time?”
M. Night Shyamalan: Literally we’d have this conversation, “What were you thinking about? [About] Jesus? What!?”
Mark Wahlberg: People may wonder if [my character] Elliot will survive…I think he has so much faith and hope.
