Leighton and Melonie "Remember"

TeenHollywood got quickie exclusive interviews with Leighton Meester of "Gossip Girl" and cute Latina Melonie Diaz of Be Kind Rewind and Lords of Dogtown at a very unlikely place; a Beauty Salon in West Hollywood where the female cast of the coming-of-age film Remember the Daze was getting hair and make-up done for the film's premiere.

It's odd to see stars arrive looking kind of like you and me and be glammed up. It gives you hope, 'ya know? Both actresses were in jeans and casual tank tops, no make-up and ready for their red carpet transformation. We were able to get in a few short questions before the hairdressers and make-up mavens made us get out of the way so they could do their magic! Picture the gals in the make-up chairs, getting fussed over, trying to drink a coke, answer text messages and talk to me at the same time... argh!

TeenHollywood: Melonie, was this a tight knit, fun set?

Melonie: It was fun. Once you see the movie you get an feel for the party atmosphere. I think all of the cast members organically jelled in that way; even when we wrapped we would still hang out.

TeenHollywood: It seemed very natural. Was it all scripted or did you just get to improv a lot of the dialogue?

Melonie: My scenes were strictly scripted. There were a moments where we went off book.

TeenHollywood: Was your own high school experience anything like this?

Melonie: I grew up in New York. I went to public high school but it wasn't at all like that. My graduating class was 50 kids, very different.

TeenHollywood: You also have a ton of other films coming out. Your career is about to really blow up!

Melonie: Thanks! I have this really amazing film called American Son that was at Sundance. I play Cristina, Nick Cannon's love interest. Then, I'm excited about Hamlet 2 that's coming out and Assassination of a High School President. I'm excited about all of my films for different reasons.

TeenHollywood: Who are you dying to work with?

Melonie: Oh, Benicio del Toro! Or Gael Garcia Bernal. I love Gael. He's really brilliant.

TeenHollywood: This movie is about a high school Senior spree in 1999. basically. What advice would you give to today's Seniors?

Melonie: Do what you want to do. Enjoy your time, enjoy your adolescence because, when you go to college, that kind of freedom; of being allowed to be young and crazy kind of goes away. I guess that's a negative way to look at it but enjoy where you are and enjoy your friends, your home and neighborhood. Once high school ends things change.

At this point Leighton comes in and the two hug...

Melonie: Oh honey, Hi Bunny!

Leighton: Hi sweetie.

Leighton sits down in the next beauty chair. Now I'm suspended between the two.

Leighton: [to me] How can you hear anything? [there are blow driers going].

The two actresses need to catch up. I just recorded the conversation.

Melonie: I'm moving out here.

Leighton: That's what you said a year ago.

Melonie: But it's true this time. The Los Feliz area. Are you finished with your show now?

Leighton: I'm done at the end of the month then I'm coming back for part of May and we go back in June then we'll have like 30 episodes.

They catch up more.. We'll butt out for a while...

TeenHollywood: Leighton, your character Tori is stoned on shrooms for most of the movie. Was that as fun to play as it looked or just difficult to play someone who's trippin' most of the film?

Leighton: [laughs] It was fun and we had a really good director who basically showed me what to do. I didn't know how overboard to go but she definitely helped me push the limits. It was fun but also hard. You don't know how much to imagine.

TeenHollywood: Was the film a collaborative effort for you? Did you have input?

Leighton: We had a really good open experience. Everybody had a voice and opinion. Everyone was such close, good friends.

TeenHollywood: Are you happy with the darker hair? You are a blonde in Remember the Daze.

Leighton: I like both. I'm up for whatever the character calls for.

TeenHollywood: What do you wish the writers would let Blair do on "Gossip Girl" that you haven't gotten to do yet?

Leighton: Uh, have an affair...oh wait, she's already done that. Uh, burlesque dance... wait, already done that. I really want her to travel, probably because I want to travel. I want her to go to France.

TeenHollywood: Or go to Rome and throw some coins in the fountain or something.

Leighton: Yeah!

TeenHollywood: Uh, I've got make-up people and hairdressers trying to get me out of the way. So, I'm outa here. Have fun at the premiere tonight!

The girls say thanks and we're off to write this story.

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Lynn Barker is a Hollywood-based entertainment journalist and produced screenwriter.