http://www.menasuvarifan.com ============================================== Teen Hollywood - August 11 2001 http://www.teenhollywood.com/d.asp?r=5518 ============================================== OZ AND HEATHER: LONG DISTANCE ROMANCE Written by Lynn Barker In the original American Pie, Oz and Heather (Chris Klein and Mena Suvari) were the sweet, devoted couple, maybe the least raunchy of the group. In American Pie 2 they are still rock solid but are a continent apart and their relationship gets well… creative. Since much of "Pie 2" takes place at a beachhouse, we went to the beach in sunny Malibu to speak with the two young actors whose stars have risen wildly since their first film together. They opened the conversation with some frisky teasing: Teenhollywood: You guys don't really have many scenes together in this movie but you have very funny moments (phone sex). How did that work, as actors? Chris: Mena's so hot anyway. The chemistry was there. I've been trying (to get to her) for years. Teenhollywood: It looked like you were on different sets in those scenes but were you actually talking to each other? Mena: Yes. That was great. It really helped. That's how it should be done. It was fun. Chris: It's light, funny, neat. I've never actually had phone sex before. Mena: Actually, I'm gonna have a hot line now. Teenhollywood: Okay, enough joking around. Did you feel a little left out because the rest of the cast was together but you guys were kind of separate? Mena: Well, it would have been kind of nice to work with some of them. We're friends and everything but what I love about Heather and Oz's relationship is from the first film we're so devoted to each other and to be their age (19), it was just such a nice thing to show audiences because I really believe that relationships like that exist. What I loved about her going off and having an exchange student opportunity in Barcelona, experiencing a new culture, I l oved that she was so strong. I think the women are really strong in this film and she sticks with what she believes and wants to do and that's great. She wants to take that opportunity and never regret later on that she didn't do that. Younger women are afraid of leaving their boyfriends. Like, for me, in my previous experience when I was younger, I had boyfriends who would get jealous if I went away for three months. I love showing that Oz is so supportive of her. It's a really nice message to show. Teenhollywood: This "Pie" seems to develop the relationships or humanity more. Mena: The first one focused on losing virginity and sex, a little raunchier. This one does focus so much more on the relationships and you do really care about these people. I love that with our relationship and Kevin and Vicky (Tara and Thomas), they are so different. It adds so much more to the film. It's not just a fluff kind of comedy. There's something you care about. There's a heart to this. Teenhollywood: Chris, was it kind of disappointing for you to be hanging with the guys and the "babes" are all around but you're taken? Chris: No. I think it's neat. You look at it from a character standpoint; in the first movie Oz's arc was all about getting the girl and doing something that would make her realize that Oz could be the kind of guy she wanted. For, the past year we've been going to different colleges. We've only been able to see each other a limited time on the weekends. There's a certain level of support that would have had to have happened and a level of brutal honesty and communication which is something that, today, I think it's a cool message. Not too many people that are 19, believe in that sort of thing. It's a real, strong challenging thing. You have to be a strong character to be able to do that. Teenhollywood: Both of you have gone on since the first "Pie" to great success. How has that impacted on you? Mena: When I came into the first American Pie, I had no idea what I was doing. It was all so new. If you just have those couple of years to grow and experience life and get to work in different movies with different directors, approaching different roles, you just grow and learn about the business and determine what you want to do and how you want to take your career. In every movie you get stronger about yourself and opinions so then you can voice what you think you want to do. Whereas, in the first one I was like "Okay. Whatever you want." Teenhollywood: Did you like to have control over the character? Mena: It all depends on the film. You should stay true to yourself and follow what you think the movie is about. You just learn to be like that. The way you approach your job is different. Teenhollywood: Heather is a little different in this film. Mena: Heather's changed and grown. She's been traveling. She's a bit more worldly. She likes taking those risks. She's taken off part of that sweater set. Teenhollywood: Do you get a lot of pressure in films to show more skin? Mena: Not at all. I've never come across that. I made it a point, even before American Beauty, I said I'm never gonna do nudity. I'm not gonna be that kind of actor and (for that film) it just kind of happened. I think that film was such an exception. It wasn't about the nudity. It's so symbolic. The scene that I had is about the revealing of the character, who she really is. It's not this boob shot. There's so much more to that movie. Conrad Hall (cinematographer) was great. I love the script. Sam Mendez had me come down to L.A. and talk to him just about that scene. He didn't want to talk to me on the phone. He told me how he was going to do it. It was so comforting. He really helped me know that we had Conrad Hall who was going to make it beautiful and there were so many things tied into it. But, since then I've made a point of saying I won't do nudity. Teenhollywood: We've heard, Chris, that you are pretty religious. Is that true? Chris: I grew up Roman Catholic. I went to TCU for a couple of years. It's just how I live my life. Teenhollywood: Do you find it hard to do the raunchy scenes? Chris: No. These are life experiences with these characters. Religion is very important. I'm very glad that I was brought up in it because it's a great value; all that Midwestern living, family values, some sort of spirituality, whatever it is, all those things are very good grounding things for life to allow me to be the human being that I am sitting here. Teenhollywood: Do you see more problems marketing a film like this with all the hoopla against marketing "R-rated" films to teens? Chris/Mena: The first one was the same way. It was rated "R". Mena: It's changed a little bit. We had to do this thing yesterday. We were reading to the camera for the DVD saying "This movie contains adult content." We get asked if we worry about people getting into this one. The other film was rated "R" and that worked out well, so no. Teenhollywood: Chris, have you seen Rollerball yet and are you upset about them changing the release date? Chris: Haven't seen it. I'm not annoyed. It's out of my control. Let them take their time. If they feel better to be on hold and tickle it a little instead of just throwing it out there, then fine. It was such a special experience for me. When it comes out..it comes out. It was fun. Teenhollywood: What else is coming out for you two? Mena: Musketeer in September. I haven't seen it yet. After American Pie I did a film called Spun. Chris: I'm just waitin' for Rollerball. I just got back from vacation. I've gotta read some scripts.