Online interview conducted on 29 January 2010 via live video stream from the Acropolis, Greece.
Logan, what are the qualities you think made the filmmakers hire you as Percy Jackson, was it the swordplay? Logan: I'm not sure actually. From my knowledge, I think Chris saw a movie that I did and had this idea that he wanted me to play Percy. When we met, we just hit it off from there. So it wasn't your aquatic abilities, you're much of a swimmer? Logan: No, actually I'm probably the most un-athletic out of all of us. I really had to train for like a long time beforehand just to look like I know what I'm doing with a sword or be able to run in line.
Alexandra, if you had the abilities of your character in the film, what might make things easier for you in real life? Alexandra: I guess, it's always good to have battle skills and be tough so you can fight people off. Jake: Because you never know when you're going to get in a sword fight! Alexandra: Yes! You never know. Brandon: ...people carrying around swords today! That's the problem...if you got a shield and a sword in the street that doesn't work.
Brandon, this whole half man half goat thing, how did that work out for you? Brandon: I wore tights and they put markers on the tights on wherever my legs moved, so it was cool because we had to create a way that I can have hind-legs. And I had to walk on my tippytoes for the whole time! So I'm in ballet shoes in the middle of the forest or wherever, in the mud and we're just going and I'm pretty much in socks and if I didn't walk on my tippy-toes they would always yell at me and go, "make sure you walk on your tippy-toes" because it doesn't create the effect of bouncing. Logan: It was slippery too. I remember you'd always be falling in the mud, it was terrible
You guys seem to get along quite well, how was it working on set? Fun? Playing pranks on each other? How did that work? Logan: I wouldn't say we played pranks on each other but we had a good time you know, there would always be a guitar around or you know we'd just be doing impressions and stuff like that. Alexandra: A lot of jam sessions. Jake: A lot of injuries, getting bruised together. You kind of get bonded through training. In pre-production we did a lot of training and sword-work and martial arts. Brandon: He was really good too. Alexandra: He was intimidating. Logan: There's that trust. You need that trust when you're fighting each other in a scene, that you're going to be there and you're going to be able to block it and hit the timing so, you know, it kind of also builds that trust in...real life too. Jake: Brotherhood. Logan: Brotherhood.
So what is it about the story, do you need to have read the books to enjoy this film? Logan: No, it's a ride this movie. I don't think you really need to read the books to understand the plot line especially because this is the first movie, it kind of explains everything for itself. You can just go in and watch it. Did you read the books before? Do you know the stories? Brandon: We didn't read it before, we all read it after, or while we were filming, we read the script. Alexandra: I read it before I read the script. Ah, she came to Greece and she read the books. Alexandra: Oh no I ... I actually wasn't allowed to read the script, so I wanted to get a sense of what the movie was going to be, and I loved it. I fell in love with the book. Logan: Yeah the script was really top secret when we were all like auditioning. They kept it all under wraps. Jake: Every page had your name watermarked on it. Brandon: If you lose it, you're in trouble.
A lot of action in the movie for all you guys, what was your favourite stunt in the movie? Jake: We have a really great fight scene and we filmed that for about what felt like a month. I think that's not too far off. Logan: That was months. Jake: Yeah it was a lot of wirework, with the shoes, the flying shoes and fighting in the air. So it was one long stunt, but it was definitely the most worth it too, the final product was unreal. Logan: Yeah it was a lot of fun being up on wires all day long.
Lots of fans around the world want to know if you have a favourite soccer team. In to soccer guys? Logan: No. Jake: Well I play FIFA, I play as Wayne Rooney all the time for Manchester United. Logan: I'd say basketball is my sport of choice. I love basketball. Brandon: Yeah basketball. Jake: Basketball is my favourite sport. Alexandra: American football, big Giants fan. For you guys particularly, a lot of stunt sequences, a lot of sword sequences, particularly between you two. How did you prepare for those? Alexandra: Well, they had months of training and I had about three weeks of training as I was cast a little bit late and just training through filming and working really hard and great stunt team. Logan: ...we didn't really have any time off when we were working on this. Even if we had any time off, it would just be, learning the steps for a new fight and all that so, we just worked really hard to make sure that they looked good.
Tell me about working with Chris Columbus? Logan: It was a dream you know, it's really what attracted me to the project in the first place, just being able to work with him. He's shaped my childhood so much with "Home Alone" and "Harry Potter" films. I just wanted to be part of another Chris Columbus creation. Brandon: And best thing about Chris, he's very good at collaborating. He's not a director that dictates, "you do this and that's all you can do", he's really good at just saying "lets all make art together". He makes you feel like you're there, you know he's yelling out things and he gets you to use your imagination. What are you most proud about the movie? Logan: Just the movie as a whole, we worked really hard to make this a film, not just a movie about any one person being bigger than the storyline or about puckering your lips and looking good, it's about characters and the whole storyline and we made a film. Brandon: The best thing about this film, you got to look at it and say...everyone can see it and enjoy it. We didn't make a corny film that people don't like, you know what I mean? It is a PG movie, so it can play anywhere in the world and everyone can enjoy it, because it's hard to do get parents, teenagers and kids to enjoy one movie. Logan: That's what Chris does best. Brandon: And kudos to Chris for that. "Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief" will flash into cinemas beginning 11 February 2010!