Movie Jungle: Lauren Lee Smith
Milo Ventimiglia and Lauren Lee Smith at the Comic Con 2007
Milo Ventimiglia stars as a "Pathology" student at Philadelphia's University Hospital who is stuck in the middle of a game created by colleagues with the goal of committing the ultimate perfect murder.
We had a chance to catch up with not only “Heroes” star Milo Ventimiglia but also co-stars Lauren Lee Smith, Michael Weston and Johnny Whitworth.
Additionally, we spoke to the film’s writers’ Mark Neveldine and Brian Taylor (“CRANK”) alongside director Mark Shoelermann.
Milo Ventimiglia and Lauren Lee Smith:
The striking duo just minutes before snapped pics with fans after the ComicCon Pathology Panel and the room is abuzz with media frenzy. Clearly their excited about this project, they should be, it oozes thrills, chills and sex appeal.
At first Lauren has a seat followed by Milo.
Question:
So you saw the movie?
Lauren Lee Smith:
“I did. It’s very suspenseful and it’s very smart and, yeah I got to see it for the first time in this really rough cut yesterday and really, it exceeded all of my expectations. Even when we were making the film, I knew that we were making something different and something interesting and something that would be really stressful. But watching it really exceeded everything that I had hoped for.
Milo Ventimiglia:
“It’s really a beautiful film. You’re fascinated by the visuals you’re seeing. So many times, I think films in the genre of horror, thriller, they go for whatever the quick fix.” He moves on to say “this film was beautiful and meaningful but also displayed that kind of like torture, darker side.”
Question:
They’re asked about what they learnt from the movie.
Milo Ventimiglia:
“For me it was getting into the actual feel of forensics, how a body is taken apart, disassembled as you call it. A lot of people don’t think about that. For me I was always fascinated with medicine, I wanted to be a doctor. “
Lauren Lee Smith:
“I’d have to agree. Going in and watching the autopsy for me was just. Before I had I was very, very apprehensive about it but once you get in there and you’re watching them, it’s fascinating, it’s absolutely fascinating to me and, I don’t know, there’s something about it that’s really not that disturbing. I think you were talking about it earlier, it’s just a shell, there’s no life force at all in there. It’s so apparent obviously. But yeah, it wasn’t at all what I was expecting it to be.
Question:
A question comes up about Italians and some other nationalities not dressing up or making up the bodies for a funeral like Americans do and what the stars think about that.
Milo Ventimiglia:
“I wish more people in the United States would understand what these people, the pathologists really do; how they care and actually respect our loved ones but at the same time they have a job to do. And think about the way that you would respect a living person and when their dead you respect them but at the same time it’s a shell so that light behind them is not really there. I would love it if everybody got to see what we saw because I think it changed my perspective on life. I went in, I saw all these young guys, young gang members, people that were reckless….just dead and you know, you’re not tough and you’re not cool when you’re on a morgue table. At the same time it made me have a better appreciation, to smile more, look people in the eyes, shake their hand.”
Question:
So you seduce Milo’s character? What’s she like?
Lauren Lee Smith:
She laughs heartedly at my question - “Troubled, I would say!” *laughs again*. “Troubled young woman! Yeah she does! She definitely seduces Ted. She tries very hard and eventually succeeds to a certain degree.”
Question:
They’re asked about playing new characters.
Lauren Lee Smith:
“I think every time you’re drawn to a character there’s something about that character that you know somewhere...the idea to play them, even if it’s something out of your own personal character, you are an individual I think, for me anyway…All of the characters that I play there’s always something that I’ve got in my head wishing that I could be them for a day. Do you know what I mean?”
Milo Ventimiglia:
“There’s like a deep psyche I think. I’m not saying I’m a killer but I think if we look deep within all of us, we have that in us, that really bad darkness. It’s just whether we choose to let it out or contain it where it is.”
Question:
They’re asked about whether he went out to look specifically for a role like this since he’s played “fairly sweet characters” before this.
Lauren Lee Smith:
“For me it’s boring to play the same characters over and over again, I really don’t have any interest in that so it’s always finding that balance and looking for new material and new characters. For me as an actress the goal is to never have to play the same character twice.”
Milo Ventimiglia:
“For me, I don’t think I actively seek out to play the opposite of what I’m playing. I look for something in the character. For me it’s always the challenge of can I pull it off or not? There are some roles that I think they can be so great but I don’t know how to do it, I can’t connect to so therefore I’m not going to waste everybody’s time including my own. For me if I read it, I like it and I think I can pull it off and I think I can make it good…The fact that I’m playing a character very connected to the world, loving, caring person on a television show vs. playing an antihero who’s into sex, drugs and murder…it wasn’t like a decision. “
He talks about being drawn to the script of playing someone older due to the fact that he’s played someone younger often.
Question:
Since the film is really dark they’re asked about what the set was like.
Lauren Lee Smith:
“It was pretty fun. There wasn’t really any heaviness at all I would say. Even in the throws of some of the most disturbing or complicated…we were able to make them funny…well not funny…*laughs*…make them comfortable.”
Milo Ventimiglia:
“When you are so fortunate to be in a group that is enjoying their work, they want to give so much to the process, you’re having a good time; you’re enjoying yourself. I don’t think there was anything specific to make it like a set…” They both say at once “it just was…”
Milo carries on “We were always laughing.”
Lauren Lee Smith:
“Brian and Mark [writers] definitely had a good influence on set I think.”
Milo Ventimiglia:
“They’re right on top. They’re steering the ship. They’re having a good time.”
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