Michael Pena, one of the supporting actors in the soon-to-be-released drama, Lions For Lambs, also starring Robert Redford, Meryl Streep, and Tom Cruise, was in town recently and I was able to catch up with him for a few words. (Michael has also appeared in Crash, World Trade Center, Shooter, Babel, and Million Dollar Baby.)

Lions For Lambs begins after two determined students at a West Coast University, Arian (Derek Luke) and Ernest (Pena), follow the inspiration of their idealistic professor, Dr. Malley (Redford), and attempt to do something important with their lives.

When the two make the bold decision to join the battle in Afghanistan, Malley is both moved and distraught. In the meantime, a senator (Cruise) and a reporter (Streep) are at odds with each other about choices being made in the war.

Q: What was it like growing up in Chicago?

Growing up in Chicago was fantastic. I lived at W. 16 Street and S. California Avenue in the Pilsen area, right across the street from the park, for 12 years. The park on Saturdays was booming. You would have maybe eight games of soccer going on at one time. Then we moved South of there, around 65th, and I went to high school in that area.

Q: In Lions For Lambs you play a college student, yet you never attended college. How did you prepare for the role?

I have never been in college, but I have done presentations as of late at colleges. To depict the college student character in Lions For Lambs I basically studied the subject of the presentation he was making in the film until I totally understood it.

Q: Could you pass along some advise to high school and college students about studying for their careers?

That’s a very good question. A lot of students learn by memorizing for the test, which is cool. But, I have learned in real life situations, that what you want to do is learn by thinking of how to apply the information you are getting while you are studying it.

Like for example, if I read a golf book, I don’t memorize it, I think of how I would apply it to anything I do. Some students that are really “smart", just have good memorizing skills, you know what I mean? But the students who can actually analytically figure out things, that’s in another realm of knowing the material.

It’s two different things. It’s the same thing with acting, some people memorize lines very well, but sometimes they are not believable even though they have a good memory. It’s how can they use the material and apply it to the character that makes them a good actor.

Q: If you were 17 again, what would you tell students not to do when planning an acting career or any career?

In high school, I think I did more things right than I did things wrong to be honest with you. I didn’t start acting until after high school so I can’t say it was the drama courses. I think it is reading more than anything that is important...and signing up for the classes that you’re going to need and really use is very important. I was really good at math so I don’t understand how I became an actor.

I found math to be very useful because of Calculus as it helps in applications. I took calculus in high school, and it's funny how, when I am reading a script such as Lions For Lambs, how you use that part of your brain that’s developed through math.

But, like in calculus, you have to solve long problems and this is the same thing with acting. I know if I make a choice at one point, that I am going to have to track it and it’s going to affect something later. It’s like doing a big equation. If I put a choice in here, I think of how would it affect something else. It's funny how math comes into play. I am also a musician, and math helps you out in music too. Somehow it’s all tied in together.

Q: In high school were you the bully or were you the guy who was picked on?

The people that I hung out with were the musicians, artists and painters. I was that guy. I was in AP Calculus, and I was also the guy that was captain of the wrestling and track teams. I was never bullied, never. It was like you knew there were bullies, but I tried to get in communication with them as much as possible and check out the reality. I just stayed out of that trouble.

If anyone ever got picked on I was considered the cool kid and I would just talk to the bully and say, 'what are you doing buddy'. It was kind of a pet peeve of mine. If someone was picking on someone that was weaker than him or her, I would say ‘pick on somebody your own size'. I think that phrase isn’t used enough today.

Q: Actors have a choice of roles from time to time, what drew you to Lions For Lambs?

(In Lions For Lambs) There were six different points of view, and everybody’s was valid in a way. It wasn’t like I want to tell you what is going on with the war and how we should think about it—there was none of that. The characters have a way of thinking, and Ernest (Michael’s character) goes to war and fights for his country. There is someone else in the film that doesn’t think it’s a good idea, and another character pushing for it, and then there’s a female character played by Merle Streep who doesn’t know if she should report about this.

I just loved all the points of view, and the way that it all goes together. Nobody wants a talking heads movie. First and foremost it should entertain, and then it makes you think a little bit. I always like movies like that.

Q: In the film your character goes to war in Afghanistan. What were the most difficult things you had to do in the role...like the helicopter incident?

We were in this interesting, and clearly devised contraption. They had this helicopter on this hydraulic system and when it moved form side to side, I actually fell out. It was quite an experience, as it was not supposed to happen like that. I ended up doing my own stunt.

Q: What have you learned from acting in Lions For Lambs and what can you take with you in doing your next role?

I have been real fortunate to be in The World Trade Center, Crash and Lions For Lambs, where I have had fantastic directors that I got to learn from. With Redford I learned a little bit more patience, with Oliver Stone I learned not to be afraid of choices, and with Paul Haggis, to really go after the truth. Those are the main things I picked up from each of them.

Q: How was Robert Redford as a director?

Oh, that guy is awesome. You know there is a reason Redford is a huge star. Not only is he a huge star, but also has been for decades. That’s really a long time to stay on top of your game.

He takes his time on how we are going to accomplish the scene. It’s like this—lets take these ideas and he walks through it. He is very calm and systematic at times, and unsystematic on other ideas, but definitely has a way of getting to the point.

He’s like ‘what do we want to accomplish in this scene?’ and then he says, ‘how are we going to do it‘ and then ‘ok cool'. And then after we do that, he says ‘how are we going to make it real'? It’s really cool to sometimes take your time with it.

Q: Have you ever turned down a part in a film, that you regret not taking?

Not yet. I have turned down a number of movies just because of my taste or whatever. I think there are parts that I really wanted to get that I haven’t gotten, but nothing that I turned down.

Q: What TV show did you enjoy working on the most?

I think I would have to say Felicity, because that is when I really started to like acting. Before, it was like just trying to get some cash and stay alive and when I read the (Felicity) script I put so much work into it, and the writing was so good, that I wanted to be the character.

Q: Do you do any community service work or have a favorite charity that you work with?

I enjoyed doing the Eva Longoria ‘Heroes’ charity golf tournament in San Antonio. The charity is very important. Her sister’s mentally challenged so Eva set up a non-profit organization that provides a place for counseling and assistance in helping the intellectually disabled read and write. Also to do things on there own, like how to pay bills and stuff so they can be self-sufficient.

You can find out more about Michael’s favorite charity at http://www.evasheroes.org .

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NatM   |2007-10-24 22:41:10 great interview! although, i suck at calculus! Reply 0   0

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."