Intervju med Jackson Rathbone
Actually, it’s seven now… They all mean a whole lot to me, but I don’t know how fully I want to describe them… I have a heart for my mom, a hammer for my dad, a tattoo for the late great Spencer Bell, as well as two for my late grandparents, my first tattoo, “I’m lost”, and my newest is my family motto, “suaviter et fortiter”.
You have two films coming out the same week, how does it feel to have completed two films directed toward two very different fan bases?
It’s a mark of how I want to keep shaping my career. Keep it moving, change it up, always make it fresh for myself and the audience as well.
How did it feel to step into Sokka’s shoes for the very first time?
Pretty damn comfortable. Kinda like leather slippers.
At Newcon you revealed you originally auditioned for the role of Zuko for Airbender. Are you glad you were chosen for Sokka instead?
I think Dev plays an amazing Zuko and I had a lot of fun with the character of Sokka. I’m also excited to get to delve into Sokka’s development as a warrior and strategist… that is, if we get the next two films greenlit. Here’s to hope!
Since signing onto Twilight, you’ve always spoken about wanting to do Jasper’s back story for Eclipse. Finally getting the chance to film it, were the scenes you filmed at all how you imagined Jasper’s back story would be portrayed on screen? Was there a moment in the book you wished had made the cut?
It was exciting when I finally got to step in the civil war outfit for the first time… I looked at myself in the mirror, and I thought, now that’s Jasper. Not the high-school kid trying-to-be vegetarian-vampire Jasper, but Jasper at his core. The warrior and the gentleman. I just wished I got to play more of the Civil War era vampire scenes because it was so natural and so much fun.
In Dread, your character Stephen Grace has a pretty shocking and gruesome death scene. What was it like filming the entire process?
Surprisingly hilarious. I had an axe sticking out of me for Heaven’s sake! Bloody hysterical. Bone-splittingly funny. Axe me no more questions.
Out of all the various characters you’ve played in TV and film, which one has been your favorite to play?
The one I haven’t played yet.
What is one thing you can’t leave the house without?
Pants. Well, legally…
And finally, just a quick “lightning” round:
Favorite TV Show: South Park
Favorite Book/Author: Kurt Vonnegut Jr, Slaughter House Five
Favorite Food: meat
Favorite Movie: the big lebowski
Favorite 100 Monkeys song to perform: the live improv songs
Sokka or Jasper?: nope
Describe each of your band members in 3 words: passionate, artists, brothers
Over 300 questions were submitted by your fans and only a select few were chosen. Here they are!
From Jenny: Word is, you do not like sweets, what is something edible that you love?
Beef jerky. Anything spicy.
From Emily: What is your favorite Johnny Depp film, and if you could recreate any role that he has done, which would it be and why?
Perhaps, Ed Wood. It’s one of the many under-appreciated Tim Burton/Johnny Depp films and I think the character is so impressively passionate about what he does and how he develops over the course of the film. That would be fun to bring to life.
From Jodie: You were born on the cusp between Sagittarius and Capricorn, which sign do you see yourself relating to or leaning most towards?
I don’t pay much attention to signs. Except for Stop signs.
From Jillian: What is Dean’s story? When did you get him and how did you come across him? Also how old is the little fella?
He is a Canadian cat, rescued from Canada and being adopted by a Southerner, he now prefers American bacon. Much like Wolverine, he doesn’t remember much of his past… He’s five?
From Brenda: With your aspirations of being a director, what kind of story would you want to tell?
The story of searching. I like the quote, “the journey is the destination.” Also, the idea of constant natural and artistic development in a sort of spiritual union, during the most extreme moments of our lives. And I like comedy.
From Tierney: If you had to choose never to pick up a script again, or never to pick up another musical instrument ever again (including singing) which would you choose?
Maybe I’d become a carpenter. I like to build.
From Nikki: Your most favorite childhood memory?
Fishing a bike out of a lake in Houston when I was nine years old, and my dad and I fixed it up for me to ride. Got it painted up a dark blood red… The entire process took two weeks. It was a bonding experience.
From Anonymous: I believe that immortality exists by remember those who have “graduated to greater adventures”, you often talk about your friend Spencer Bell, what is your fondest memory of Spencer Bell, and how has he influenced your life?
Spencer and I used to trade music back-n-forth whenever I moved out to LA and he was in New York. We would email each other songs or trade little sample EPs when we saw each other in person. He’s a musical inspiration, both as a songwriter and as an instrumentalist. Furthermore, as a fellow artist and a friend.
From Susie D.: As you have so willingly shared the loss of your friend Spencer Bell with us all, and you yourself (and the band) have done so much to see that his legacy of music lives on – what would you want your legacy to be?
Like Keith Richards said, engrave “He Passed It On” on my gravestone.
From Jens: In a past interview you mentioned that you were going to be an uncle, how do you feel being an uncle? And is Uncle Larry jealous now that he has to share his title?
Now there’s two uncles in 100 Monkeys! It’s an amazing feeling of pride and renewed excitement of life. Mr. Abrams is no longer the only Monkey’s Uncle… but now we have a club together. It’s exclusive. You have to be an Uncle. The other guys are jealous.
From Maddie Bridget: I’m a huge fan of who-dunnit type stories and you seem like the kind of guy who keeps a bit of mystery about himself; my question is this- were you, heaven forbid, to be “done away with,” which famous literary, cinematic or real-live detective, dead or alive, would you wish to solve the case of your demise?
I’d like to have Basil Rathbone’s Sherlock Holmes on the case. Keep it in the family, you know.
From TRS: Someone invents a device the size of a cigarette. You put one end of it in your mouth and someone puts the other end in theirs, and you both become able to know each other’s minds and memories as easily as you know your own. Do you use it? With whom?
Nope. Getting to know someone slowly and surely is the fun of it. To bumble around in love, stumbling through tongue-tied moments and fleeting, questioned glances.
From Domenique: What is the one thing that you want to do most before you die?
Create.
From LC: If you were to create a “Soundtrack” for your life up to this point, what music/songs,etc. (10 or so) would be on it?
Born To Be Wild – Steppenwolf
Thou Shalt Always Kill – Dan Le Sac Vs. Scroobius Pip
Get Off Of My Cloud – the Rolling Stone
Something is Not Right With Me – Cold War Kids
Wonderlust King – Gogol Bordello
Whatever Happened To My Rock ‘N Roll – BRMC
Where Is My Mind? – the Pixies
Southern Can Mama – Blind Willie McTell
Things Go Up – Seasick Steve
Not Everybody Likes Us – Hank Williams III
From Heather: Since you come from Texas, and Texas is ranch country, do you know what cow tipping is and have you ever done it?
I do know of it. Legally, speaking though, I should say I’ve never done it.
From Natalie: Who is your favorite literary character (personage) and why?
Peekay from the book The Power of One, by Bryce Courtenay. Not the movie version, though.
From Hope Leyba: If you were stranded on a deserted island and you could only take 1 instrument with you, what would you take and why?
I would take a guitara-druma-bassa-keya-lele. It’s like a ukulele, but with a guitar and a bass and a keyboard.
From Writer_girl: I know that you love photography and I as an amateur photographer would love to know do you prefer 35mm or Digital, and what is your personal favorite camera? If not too much, what is your favorite picture that you’ve taken.
35mm all the way. Problem with digital, it takes you out of the moment and takes away the eventual symbiotic nature of artist and tool. The simple act of being able to immediately take away from the moment by checking the picture (as in digital) negates the origin of the creation of the photograph, to capture a moment and preserve it, not to stop the moment and critique it. I say film.
From Leigh: Kind of an out there question and I hope not too personal but what are your favorite things relating to the five senses and why?
Still looking for the sixth sense actually.
From Ally: Lust is one of the seven deadly sins, but which one would you be?
Hmmm…. Lust for life? Gluttonous love? Family pride?
I suppose I’ve fallen victim to them all at one point or another. I yearn to be at least one of the seven Virtues.
Thank you so much Jackson (and your wonderful management) for doing this interview with all your fans!
Thank ya’ll so much!
[Källa]
