The
“Sisterhood”
Still Rules!
by Lynn Barker
 We’re
in New York for the latest from the feisty Traveling Pants 2 girls!
We got the
scoop from Blake Lively, America Ferrera, Alexis Bledel and Amber Tamblyn
on their stronger friendship since the first Traveling Pants film, their
current challenges, craziest gossip ever made up about them, cool fashions,
wild action while filming and what it’s like for America [“Ugly
Betty”] and Blake [“Gossip Girl”] to pick up and carry
the torch of TV stardom after Amber and Alexis blazed the trail first
with their “Joan of Arcadia” and “Gilmore Girls”
series. Picture America in a cute, form-fitting black dress and high heels,
tall Blake in jeans and sweater, Amber in cute brown frock and Alexis
in a vintage, early 60’s-inspired print dress.
AGW: America,
Carmen gets a top role in a play and also gets a guy in this new film.
Were you happy on discovering that, taking Carmen to another level?
America: In
the first movie she was a lot more extroverted and kind of the glue that
held the sisterhood together. I think in this film you catch up with her
at a point where she's kind of sick of being the glue. She feels like
'If no one else is going to try then why should I?' I liked that she was
struggling through something. She was forced to do it on her own. Her
friends couldn't help her. I think the issues she was dealing with in
the first movie are carried into this one and have worsened. In the first
movie her father is moving on and starting a new family. In this movie
her mother is moving on and starting a new family, and her friends are
moving on, so she has to deal with feeling alone again. She has to do
it on her own. I think that is her journey in growing up.
AGW: You all
got to ride donkeys and jump off a cliff in this. Which was more frightening
or maybe there was something else…?
America: Riding
the mopeds.
Amber: The
firs t day of shooting we got into a little tiny moped accident. It was
my fault.
Blake: I heard
you tried to say that it was my fault yesterday.
Alexis: It
was a domino effect.
Amber: Thank
you, very much. Alexis is the voice of reason.
Blake: Amber
totally started it off though.
Amber: Well,
Blake hit the back of everybody.
Blake: Where
else am I supposed to go when I turn the corner?
Amber: We
got in a tiny little moped accident the very first day of shooting. Actually,
Blake really hurt her knee pretty bad. America fell off her bike and spun
around. It was very dramatic and great for the first day of shooting.
I got to make fun of them on crutches.
 Blake:
She would take our crutches too. She would go in our room and steal them.
It was great.
AGW: You all
really became friends on the first movie but you’ve moved on to
so many things. How do you keep the friendship going?
Blake: A pair
of [magic] pants.
Amber: Email
and texting.
America: And
our spidey senses kick in.
Blake: We
try to see each other whenever we are in the same town. That isn't often.
AGW: How did
your characters’ styles reflect their personalities?
Blake: Well,
Bridget is like Indiana Jones and I don't dress like that. I don't wear
soccer outfits, so my [own style] is very different. She's honestly like
Indiana Jones in this movie. It's crazy. She's got swooping hats. It’s
awesome but I dress a little different than that. We had a wonderful costume
designer for this film. I think she did such a good job at carving out
each character’s personal style. She was able to tell a bit of the
story with our clothes as well. I think that's pretty great.
America: I
think that clothes are a big part of self-expression when you are that
age. I think that specifically for my character, Carmen, we wanted to
show her having climbed into a shell, or cocoon. Earlier on she's layered,
she is wearing sweaters, and she's trying to put more distance between
her and the world. She's just trying to hide in it, so in the end when
she emerges in this amazing period costume [for a play] it was really
kind of an arc in terms of self-expression through what you are wearing.
I took it home and sat and watched TV in it. Not funny, I don't do that.
But, I personally feel like I don't truly feel like my character until
I get in their wardrobe; get in their skin, the clothes that they would
be wearing, and know what they are feeling.
Alexis: Lena's
costumes are very feminine and 50's style. I think it makes a lot of sense
for her character. I would like something like that but not all the time.
Although, today, I’m wearing something she would wear.
Amber: Tibby
looks like Hot Topic sponsors her.
AGW: If there
is another film, what would you like to see for your characters?
America: More
important than where we would be on our separate journeys I think that
this movie is about friendship. It's about this special bond. It would
be about how friendships change throughout your lifetime. I always thought
that this movie was not so much about what each of the girls were going
through, so much as how what they are going through effects their bond.
I guess they would be like 24. What is friendship like at 24?
Amber: Don't
ask Blake, she's five.
Alexis: They
would probably still be trying to keep in touch and still going further
in different directions. They are such different people.
AGW: You are
all perfect for your roles but who would you like to play if you could
switch?
Alexis: [to
Blake] We both said Tibby yesterday. She just seems like fun. She can
be sarcastic.
Amber: Is
there an option to stay in your own role? Also if I want Bridget do I
get Blake Lively's legs? [laughter] Then, I would say Bridget.
AGW: How was
shooting this sequel to a movie as compared with your TV shows?
Alexis: This
film was a little tricky because it was the second, third, and fourth
book all in one movie. There was a lot of material. We didn't really know
what they were going to be able to put once it was condensed into the
film. They let us have a little bit of input as far as what they were
trimming. The things that were important to us to keep they listened.
Hopefully it came across.
 Blake:
With a television show you find out what is happening to your character
every single week with each episode. With a film you get to see the arc.
With this we had a series of four novels so we really got to see where
they grow. It's easier to plan. When you are doing a TV show the writers
don't even know where your character is going. You don't know how many
years you are going to be on it. My character has many dark secrets that
are always resurfacing. She is always changing. I think it's easier to
plan where you start and end in your journey. On a show you are kind of
making it up as it comes along.
America: I
think I would echo what they say. The easiest way to put it is that a
movie is a sprint, the television show is a marathon. You have to pace
yourself and be open to whatever changes. Wherever the writers of your
show choose to take your character through.
Amber: America
said yesterday that in a film you have a beginning, middle, and end. You
can see where that character is going to change. You can do specific scenes
based on that stuff. With television you really don't have any idea. You
just go show to show and make the best decision you can as an actor to
fill in everything that needs to be filled. Just to find what that character
requires.
AGW: What
would you saw are your characters’ major strengths and shortcomings?
Amber: I guess
Tibby's strength is her sense of humor. It's her ability to be funny and
make other people laugh. Against that is ignoring her own intuition and
intimacy issues. She completely ignores Bailey’s death [in the last
film], and how that trickled into her life, and how she feels about things.
America: I
think that Carmen's strength is that she is very generous with her emotions.
She is open to loving people. She also leaves herself vulnerable because
I think she depends on the people around her too much to define who she
is.
Blake: Bridget
is very determined. She is very strong-willed. She runs away from her
problems. She lives a very fast-paced life. She's doing that to avoid
dealing with the real issues.
Alexis: I
think that Lena is a good friend. She seems to be sweet and considerate,
but she is too timid to deal with her life. She needs her friends to push
her into confrontations that most people could probably just deal with
on their own. She needs a little help.
AGW: You are
all victims of the tabloids. Can some of you talk about the craziest gossip
you’ve ever heard about yourself?
America: I
just think it's funny how it's literally someone's job to make stuff up.
'She was wearing a four leaf clover, hidden under dress, for luck, which
her boyfriend gave her for Valentines Day.' I was like 'What?'. It's just
a lie. It's just not real.
Blake: They
make things up. I've had people call me and be like 'You didn't tell me
you were in town' when I'm across the country. They say I was making out
with somebody, or shopping in some store. Recently another one that the
hair and make-up girls thought was funny, they put it up on our trailer,
was like 'Blake tells a tall tale.' And it said that I'm really 5'4 and
I lie and say that I'm really tall. That I would have to be wearing stilts
to be really tall. They were like 'The only way she's anywhere near 5'10
is if she is on stilts.' It was a big piece, it was half a page.
 AGW:
That’s hilarious. We are here to say that we are 5’7”
and yes, you are definitely at least 5’10”.
Blake: [laughing]
I'm 5'4, but the stilts are under the table.
AGW: Do things
in this film actually reflect your own personal friendship with each other?
Blake: As
far as the four of us, a lot of it is just us giggling and laughing and
then filming it. We can't actually say our lines sometimes. It's a direct
reflection.
Alexis: We
just have fun working together. I know that in the first movie they got
out of our way and let us do it. Whatever we were lucky enough to have
as chemistry ourselves they really let it come through. In this movie,
since we kind of picked up where we left off, there was more of that.
Amber: Alexis,
talk about how much you like me. Spit it out.
AGW: What
about your own friendships growing up? Do you stay in touch?
Alexis: I
think just trying to stay in touch as you get older is difficult. That's
something we have all had to deal with.
Blake: I think
these girls are lucky to have four girls that are so strong. I've always
had one or two people close to me. Two of my best friends, one I've known
since I was four, and the other since 7th grade. That wasn't that long
ago, but I still keep in touch with them.
Amber: My
very best friend, Meredith I've known since kindergarten. She came out
here from LA to come to the premiere tomorrow. She has always made herself
available to be really supportive of my films. I talk publicly about her
and I'm sorry for that.
America: My
best friend is one of my sisters. She is a year older than me and we grew
up too close sometimes. I think everything I've experienced, in terms
of how people mean different things to you at different times in your
life, has been through my relationship with my sister. There were times
where we have gone off to college and wanted nothing but to be as far
away from each other as possible. Then other times you need them by your
side and they are the only person that can help you through certain situations.
I was never lucky enough to have friends that stayed throughout my entire
life, outside of my family. What I will say is that what I love about
this movie is that it gives young women an example of strong female relationships.
I don't think I learned how to appreciate strong relationships with other
women until I was older. Until I could get beyond the conditioning that
women’s relationships have to be competitive, jealousy ridden, or
back stabbing. I hope that there will be better examples for the next
generation so that women can grow up supporting each other instead of
tearing each other down.
AGW: Amen
to that. Blake, how was acting with your real dad, playing your dad in
the film again. Is it easier or harder?
Blake: I get
really shy around people I know. Even when I'm watching a movie that I'm
in with family members, or friends, I just want to hide. In the first
movie it was my first job ever. It was more normal. This one, I think
my worst scenes are with my Father. It just felt so strange to be working
along side him. I'm yelling at him. I've never yelled at him. You can't
yell at him, he would just give you a big teddy bear hug. I watch that
scene and I'm like 'Oh, that's so bad for me.' It was really an honor
though that he got to be there. I don't know when we would ever get to
do that again. It was a really wonderful experience. I grew up watching
him. He's the first one in my family that got into this business. I never
wanted to be in it, but it's just nice we get to be on the screen together.
AGW: We don’t
see stories about you guys being big party girls. How do you stay grounded?
Amber: I think
I had general disinterest in that life. It's not what kept me grounded
so much as what's just not of interest to me.
 America:
I just want to work. I just want to do my job. I love what I do and I
have way too much respect for the work. I don't ever want to jeopardize
my job. I just don't know who has the time to get in trouble. I don't
have the time.
Blake: I think
for too many people it becomes a way of life instead of just a job. For
me, my whole family was in this business. They didn't stay in it, but
at the end of the day that was just their job like any other people's
jobs. I grew up with that mind-set. I think that is the thing for me.
At the end of the day of work I want to go to dinner and watch a movie.
I don't want to go to a club and not wear panties.
America: Whoo,
Sound bite, sound bite! [laughter]
Alexis: Yeah,
I've always thought of it as a job. I've never had time to get into trouble.
When I was on the show it was a lot to do. I'm pretty low key anyway.
AGW: Do you
see yourselves as role models?
America: I
think it's less about how we see ourselves and more about how other people
see us. I think that I would say yes and answer for all four of us. I
know for a fact that I've met young women who look up to every single
one of these ladies. They love them and are always looking out for what
we are doing. I just think they did a really wonderful job of finding
normal, great girls to do the first film. Now that we are in each other's
lives, I think if any of us dared to be ridiculous we would get a lot
of phone calls from each other.
Amber: We
would say 'What were you doing? You are grounded.'
AGW: Are there
any other characters from novels you would like to play?
America: I
would like to be Harry Potter. That's already taken.
Amber: I would
like to be the lead female character in any Janet Finch novel. All two
of them and one has already been made. She wrote 'White Oleander'. I think
she's a phenomenal woman who writes really, really, interesting female
characters. If anyone has read 'Paint it Black' its one of the most interesting
character pieces. It's about a girl born and raised in Los Angeles. I
really identified with that and thought she wrote it perfectly.
Blake: I feel
like I only ever play characters in books. It might be nice to play one
not in a book. I might have to fight her for Harry Potter though. I read
books and there are a lot of times I don't want to be the character. I
want to watch it come to life myself. I just read this book called 'The
Glass Castle' that I know they are making into a movie. I would love to
be a part of it. Just not on the acting side because I want to watch it
come to life. Maybe I'll do craft service or something.
Alexis: I
don't have a specific one in mind. The last book I read was 'My Life In
France' the one about Julia Child. They are making that into a movie but
I'm not age appropriate and Meryl Streep is doing it.
AGW: Favorite
scenes in the film?
Amber: I think
my favorite scene is the confrontation between America and I. One when
all four of us are together, America reminded me yesterday about the graduation
scene. We were all messing around and had giant gowns. They were like
'Just go for it, we'll just shoot it.' America crawled inside my graduation
suit and I zipped her up inside
of it. We were trying to walk. That was fun.
Blake: I thought
jumping off the cliff was really fun. We did it ourselves. We were then
getting to do it in the film. I am really moved by the scenes where there
is no talking. The last shot at the end with just these four girls. Such
different personalities and they aren't saying anything. You just know
so much about the journey. You wonder where they are going to go but you
see that they will always have this [bond] whether they are together or
not.
Alexis: I
like the scenes with my Greek grandmother. She has this really sardonic
delivery that is really great. It cracks me up. She's a really interesting
lady because I guess in Greece the actors are their own agents as well.
She would get on the phone and be arguing about her deal. She was being
really nasty on the phone, pissed off, and she comes out as a sweet little
grandma. She had to have both personalities at all times. It was really
interesting. I'm glad I don't have to be my own agent.
America: I
would say one of the most interesting for me to shoot were all the Shakespeare
scenes that Carmen had to do. They had a really wonderful man on set with
me who was helping me through the language. I loved wearing that dress
and saying the words. I was kind of in a different movie all together
within this movie. I was exposed to Shakespeare from the time I was in
7th grade. Not that I always understood what I was saying but by the time
I was a senior in high school, I had an ear for it. I could get through
any Shakespeare play. I think that is a really wonderful gift.
Pictures courtesy
of Warner Brothers Pictures, 2008 |
