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Hangin' With Archives
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Hairspray’s Hot Coupleby Lynn B
Pretty, blonde Brittany Snow just can’t get out of the ‘60’s! She starred as a 1960’s teen on a dance show in the NBC series “American Dreams”. Now, she’s Amber Von Tussle, Link’s girl and snotty princess of the Corny Collins dance show in Hairspray. Of course, in between she was on the big screen in The Pacifier and John Tucker Must Die and will pop up again soon in the teen horror thriller re-make Prom Night. We chatted with these two young stars recently in Beverly Hills. Brittany looked a little retro in her long, ‘60’s style hair and a red rose blouse. Of course, that dark blood red nail polish makes a more modern statement. Zac was casual in yellow, long-sleeved tee with “North Carolina” and a wind surfer on it. The first thing you notice about both young actors is their amazing blue eyes and friendly natures. We learned what the two think of the 1960’s dances, that Brittany’s best friend played Amber on Broadway and that Zac was, at first, rejected for the role! AGW: Girls like Amber are always the prefect girls in school. Did either of you tangle with any girls like that? Brittany, did you base her on anyone you knew? Brittany: I didn’t base her on anybody. I kind of tried to follow Michelle’s [Pfeiffer’s] lead and work off of her. So, she’s kind of the little girl who wants to be like her mom, but doesn’t quite get it right. She’s kind of faking it because she thinks that’s what her mom would like her to do. It’s really cliché to say I had hard time in middle school and high school, but I really did. ‘Cause girls were really mean. Kids really don’t understand when you are going to auditions and working in the business they think you are being conceited or egotistical. So, there was one girl in particular who made my life miserable. AGW: Would you like to take this opportunity to call her out? Brittany: [laughs] Oh, no. This is how crazy she is though. I did an interview with Seventeen magazine or something and they were talking about girls being mean and I think it’s important that girls know that you get over it. Well, I did this whole thing and one of my friends said that she put it up on her wall and framed it. It was like, ‘I was the girl who made Brittany Snow’s life miserable.’ That, in itself, is why you are crazy, girl! AGW: That is weird. Zac anyone in your school who totally was the Queen Bee? Zac: If they were I didn’t hang out with them. I’m sure they where there. There were always those three girls that are way too tall and too pretty and kind of rule the high school. Brittany: That’s basically because they loved you. Zac: I doubt it. I probably didn’t say two words to them the whole time I attended the school. AGW: Brittany, I just want to ask you because you did ‘American Dreams.’ Are you sick of the 1960’s costumes and the hair?
AGW: Even the clothes? Brittany: The clothes especially, but this is different than ‘American Dreams.’ It’s kind of the ‘60’s, but amplified. It’s larger than life. ‘American Dreams’ was more down played, it’s very realistic. [Clothes in Hairspray] are kind of a character in itself. So, the clothes were definitely a lot brighter and bigger. It’s just completely different. AGW: Zac, you made a huge name for yourself with “High School Musical.” Were you ready to go right into the musical genre on the big screen? Zac: I love the musical trend right now. It’s a dream project. I feel like it’s a whole different skill set you get to prepare for a film. I fell in love with entertaining in musical theater. So, I’m always up for a good musical. Yeah. AGW: Had you both seen “Hairspray” on stage? Brittany: Yeah, both of us. Actually, it was weird, because when I was on the soap opera ‘Guiding Light,’ my best friend and kind of my big sister was Lorabelle Bundy and she was the original Amber in the musical. We are still really close. So, when I got the audition for this part I was like, ‘How weird would that be?’ When I got the part I freaked out and she was really excited ‘cause me being her little sister is like passing the torch and she trusted me with the part. It was weird. So, the first couple of times I saw it was with her as Amber. And I went backstage and I was like, ‘I’d love to be a part of this.’ Six years later, crazy. AGW: Wow, that’s destiny I guess. Zac? Zac: It was weird, because when I first saw the play I saw it after I had been passed on for the role of Link. I kind of saw it in cold blood. I was watching it just to justify ‘Oh, I couldn’t do that’ or ‘No, it’s not that cool.’ Then afterwards, of course, it became my favorite show ever after I got the part. Brittany: You’re like, ‘It’s brilliant!’ AGW: You were passed on at first for the role? How did they eventually pick you? Zac: To tell you the truth, I don’t know exactly how it happened. But I went in and I was told that I was too young, too happy, too innocent . A few weeks later they called and said, ‘Can you dirty it up? Can you grunge it up? Can you make it more edgy?’ And I said, ‘Bring it on.’ And yeah, I guess it worked. I was glad Adam [Shankman, the director] had an open mind. AGW: Had you seen the original movie, the 1988 one? Thoughts on it? Zac: Yeah, when I saw it, it’s a very different type of film. A lot of people talk about how much of a cult classic favorite it is but there are some really odd things in that film. [Laughs] It was great, of course. I have an aunt who is a huge fan, it is her favorite movie, and she couldn’t wait to show it to me. It’s hilarious, don’t get me wrong, I love it, I wasn’t prepared. I was ready for this uplifting, Broadway show story, y’know, but it’s a John Waters movie. It brought me back to those types of films. AGW: Can you talk about this being Nikki Blonsky’s first film and your thoughts on working with her? Zac: It’s funny, I was kind of prepared to be helping her and encouraging her and maybe possibly teaching her something but from the first day, I found myself taking tips from Nikki. She was so brilliant in everything she does. She tries everything. She is so courageous. So talented. She’s been ready for this moment her whole life. And thank god that everyone in Hairspray was creative enough to look for her, because I’ll tell you what, she deserves to be here more than any of us. Brittany:
It’s one of those things where you have to believe things were meant
to be, because she is the perfect Tracy for this part. I mean, there is
nobody who has more excitement and just inner genuine love for this project
like she does. She’s born to do it and you can see it in her eyes
when she’s playing the part. That’s how she was on set every
day. It was kind of her AGW: Yeah. She’s very sweet. We interviewed her too. What was it like working with John Travolta? What was the first time you saw him in the dress as Edna Turnblad? Zac: It was during dance rehearsal. I remember the whole cast was in the main studio where we were practicing. And there was like a crowd behind me and I could hear the commotion. It was like, ‘Omigod!’ And I looked behind me and I fought my way to the center of this like moshpit and there was John in the middle, as Edna, dancing. And everyone was hysterical laughing, so happy and he was talking in character. He was using his accent. He was Edna Turnblad for like a few minutes. Brittany: [laughs] He was shaking his [backside]. And he loved it, he was like, ‘Look at what I can do with this new booty.’ It was like rockin’ around. We were all like, ‘Oh, my goodness. What the heck is going on?’ AGW: Wish I had been there to see that! Can you talk about the challenges of getting ready to do the role? The rehearsal process? Zac: Yeah, absolutely. This, of course, involves a much more vigorous dance rehearsal and vocal rehearsal. And not so much scene work. Because there aren’t very many serious scenes in the movie. For months we would literally wake up and go to work at 9 am and dance all day. And of course during lunch and other breaks we’d be singing, perhaps work on a scene with John or something like that, but it was really like preparing for a Broadway show. And we had to work hard out there. It was fun though. It’s a blast the whole time. Especially with Adam. AGW: Are there a lot of promotional performances you’ll be doing for the movie? Brittany: Zac has done a lot of performing. I only sing one song in the whole movie though. Zac: It’s good though! Brittany: It’s O.K. I dance a lot, yeah, but I don’t really get to perform that much. But he does. I just stand there and act. Zac: We did ShowWest. We performed a little bit on Oprah and that’s the only thing I’ve been involved with so far. I know that they have done stuff in Toronto. There are a few more. AGW: When you get into those dances and moves, do you think ‘Omigod, what were people thinking back then?’ Brittany: [laughs] When I was on ‘American Dreams,’ I watched a lot of old ‘American Bandstand’ footage to get myself in that mindset and the dances back then; there was the floop de floo and there was one where they hit each other. They would step forward and they would bang into each other. It was the hot thing. And I remember being like, ‘What?’ But, I guess like maybe ten years from now, maybe the [Zac joins in] elbows up, side to side, like that new dance will be ‘What are people doing?’ Hairspray was a little bit of ‘American Bandstand’ and the ‘60’s dances, but more choreographed and actually stylized dancing. Flips and turns and kicks and jumps. It’s a movie so it can’t be: step forward and banging, y’know? Because the audience would not be interested. Zac: Also, it’s very difficult to be told by your choreographer to just ‘twist.’ Just do the twist? It seems so simple, but there is a mental block because of all the years I watched my mom twisting around the kitchen thinking it’s really cool. It was really funny, what is this going to read like? But, with the costumes and the hair and the way everyone was feeling, somehow it was just complete and it worked. It really worked. AGW: Zac, all your fans recognize you with your fluffy hair. What was the new hairstyle like? Slicked back and all? Is that a look you’d ever want to do in real life for fun?
Brittany: I liked it. I was like, ‘You look so cute.’ Zac: The first time I got my haircut, it was the first time I felt clippers on my head since I was in 7th grade. I was like, ‘Omigod. I can feel my scalp.’ And I had ears. I was like, ‘[Darn], they got big.’ [everybody laughs]. So, it was a reality check when you do something different like that. It works for the role and I love the fact I could change it up. I like changing looks for a role. I gained a little weight for Hairspray so I was good about that too. Not like Christian Bale or anything, but I gained ten pounds. AGW: How hard is it to now get out of this musical sphere when you are going to auditions? Do you feel you have to prove something? Zac: I don’t know. A lot of people ask me if I’m worried about being pigeonholed in musicals. It started with ‘High School Musical.’ ‘Are you worried about being pigeonholed in teen things?’ I dunno. I don’t like to worry about being pigeonholed, because if I’m worried about that, how can I be giving 110 percent in everything I’m doing? I’m just lucky to be here. So, I’m just going to keep going wherever the road takes me. AGW: Can you talk about what you have coming up next? Brittany: Right after filming Hairspray, I did a film called Finding Amanda. It’s a black comedy, an independent with Matthew Broderick. [It’s funny]. Matthew Broderick is my uncle. And then, right after that I did Prom Night which is a thriller-type. My teacher becomes obsessed with me. It’s the same title as the original, but it’s a completely different script. I start next week on a movie in New Orleans called Black Water Transit which is a Tony Kaye film and completely different than anything I have ever done or will ever do. It’s very gritty. AGW: Who do you play in that one? Brittany: I play [a very troubled character]. [laughs]. But, I am a [schizophrenic] in it. It's with Laurence Fishburne, James Franco and Kevin Bacon and Stephen Dorff and Alisya Tyler. It’s a definite departure for me. It’s challenging. It’s set in New Orleans and hurricane Katrina is the backdrop. It’s about prostitution, guns and that whole underground world. AGW: Sounds good and very different for you. Zac, what is your story? Zac: Well, after that, I am going to sound really lazy. Right now, I’m just exploring different options and trying to figure out what is the right thing to do. I feel like there are a lot of projects I could have jumped into that aren’t what I want to be doing. I am kind of sitting back and seeing if there is a cool, interesting character to play. And, hopefully, I can involve the audience that I’ve built and take them on new adventures. pictures copyright New Line Cinema, 2007 |
 
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He’s
got the high school hero game down pat. Hot Zac Ephron won tween and teen
hearts as Troy in the mega-popular “High School Musical” after
many guest roles on TV and a bunch of musical stage experience. Zac had
to give up the concert tour for “High School Musical” to play
heartthrob Link Larkin in the new movie musical Hairspray but
you can catch him this August in “High School Musical 2” which
takes place during the characters’ summer vacation. 
Brittany:
Yeah a little bit. But, no I love the ‘60’s. I think it is
a great time period and I have my hair like that now. I’m such a
huge fan of the ‘60’s so any time I get a chance to do it
I think I am ready and willing for sure. 
dream
come true and she gave 110%. Everyday. Everything could go wrong and she
‘d be just completely happy working 17-18 hours and having all these
lines and working on songs. I think that inspired everyone. I think everyone
was in awe of this professional and very poised girl.
Zac:
Did I like the look? It’s different.