INTERVIEW: We "Get to the Greek" with Russell and Jonah!

We're here at L.A.'s famous Greek Theater. It's a marvelous, sunny California day with a mild breeze and birds are singing in the tree over our umbrella-decked interview table. Our eyes are closed as we enjoy all the blissful nature around us but wait...  

All is shattered, but in a good way, by the approach of witty, energetic, always hilarious comedian/actor Russell Brand dressed in black leather jacket, black jeans, lots of black cuffs and bangles, his signature silver rings and a dashing black scarf with fuchsia skulls all over it! A true rock star look appropriate for his wasted rocker character Aldous Snow in the raunchy comedy Get Him to the Greek!

We'll corner Russell's co-star Jonah Hill a little later. We've seen him around today and he looks corporate and the complete style opposite of his buddy in dark blue suit jacket over blue check shirt, dark pants and white Nikes. Put these guys together however, and they are comedy magic (Russell played Aldous before in "Sarah Marshall" and Jonah was an eager young waiter/composer trying to get the rocker to check out his CD).

The guys are talking about partying with co-star P. Diddy (Sean Combs) in Vegas as "research", they spill tidbits on their significant others (Katy Perry and Jonah's long time girlfriend), band reunions/comebacks they'd love to see and, whoops, Russell just picked up our tiny digital recorder and he's kissing it! (Okay, the little thing is adorable. It's Iron-Man red and sleek.) We tell him the last interviewee to lay hands on it was Oscar winner Adrien Brody and we're off.....

Russell: Who kissed this last?

TeenHollywood: Well, Adrien Brody picked it up....

Russell: I like him! Oscar winner. Now you must say that there's a real Oscar buzz around me playing this Aldous Snow part. But, it's too early to indulge this Oscar buzz. Come on. Let's nip it in the bud because, you know, there's too much for me to live up to. It's my first lead. Let's go easy with the Oscar buzz.

TeenHollywood: Okay but, honestly, despite how wildly hilarious this film is, it really has heart and I was impressed with the dramatic work in it.

Russell: (brightening) Oh, thank you!

TeenHollywood:  I was wondering if you took this role especially because it was a chance for you to show off your dramatic acting chops?

Russell: Actually, no. I had assumed that the movie would be comedic throughout, that it would be a rip-roaring, roller coaster ride of giggles, chuckles, guffaws and laughs. When I arrived on set and suddenly I was expected to do crying and shouting, initially,

I spoke to my management and said, 'Look, they're asking me to show genuine emotions. Is that in my contract?' They then said that acting done properly encompasses a whole variety and range of emotions and by then it was too late. I'd agreed to it. So, I was forced to do it. But, when I saw the film, I think it makes me look quite cool and deep. So, thanks. That's what I was hoping for.

TeenHollywood: So now you are a serious method actor, just living the part all the time?

Russell: Very method- methodical. What I did was I heard that Daniel Day Lewis went and lived as a cobbler for three months in Italy so I got a job as a plumber in Havana. It went well for a while. I infiltrated Fidel Castro's secret network of spies. I'm still working for him now so unless you start being a bit more communist, there's gonna be some gunfire. Let me tell you.

TeenHollywood: You are playing the rocker Aldous character you played in the "Sarah Marshall" film so did you feel any pressure to match that performance or..?

Russell: No, I did not feel any pressure at all. Well, I knew there had to be some continuity because they said that they liked that character and my relationship with Jonah and that's why this film was being made. But, in a way, this is a very distinct and separate film. It has a different sort of emotional intensity to it. So, I supposed that, as a comic actor, at the beginning of your career you tend to operate from a certain sphere. So, I thought, 'Stay in that strata, then get out of it.'

TeenHollywood: Did you hang out with any rock stars to get inspiration for Aldous?

Russell:  I do hang out with some rock stars just because they're my friends.
Noel Gallagher,(former member of the band Oasis) he's one. I've hung out with Pete Doherty (The Libertines) a bit. (Amy) Winehouse, she's my mate. She's more blues, I suppose. Carl Barat he's a mate of mine and contributes to the soundtrack. So, I count some rock stars among my friends.

TeenHollywood: What did you learn from them?

Russell: From Noel I learned this kind of inherent nonchalance that rock stars have. Like, I went to him with 'Why are you so nonchalant?' Then followed a brief time where I explained the word nonchalant. No, really, Noel Gallagher's a brilliant man and poet, but I did have to explain that word. And then he said, 'It's 'cause I know that anywhere I go, no matter what happens to me, no matter what people say, as long as I've got the guitar and the ability to play, people will pay ten quid to come and see me.' So I thought, 'Oh, that's good that he's got his gift. Where as a comedian, or whatever, you tend to be more neurotic about stuff like that'.

TeenHollywood: Good point. Did you have childhood rocker fantasies that you were able to fulfill performing on stage here at the Greek for the film?

Russell: It did fulfill them. Say sometimes you gotta do a kissing scene with a good-looking woman. What I do is I go, 'I'll just go kiss her and like not even act. And there's free kissing with a woman.' (we laugh).  So with the rock star I thought, just be a rock star now and it's not like anyone can go, 'Cut! Who the hell do you think you are? That was embarrassing.' I've got to go with it, 'cause it's the film. So, I just completely released a lot of childhood fantasies and a good many of my other childhood fantasies have been rightly repressed, as they are dangerous. They involved a utopia in which there is no money and everyone is topless.

TeenHollywood: Ooookay! Speaking of kissing, are you ready for marital fidelity with Katy (Perry, his wife)?

Russell: Yes. You have to be. That's one of the things about this institution of marriage. I've recently had explained to me by my wife. You must be faithful. And I don't have a problem with that. I'm really, really in love. You just can't maraud through life (doing) whomever you'd like.

TeenHollywood: Well, Katy was named Maxim Magazine's "Hottest Woman Alive". What's your reaction to that?

Russell: Well, on one level, it's superficial and meaningless. But, in another way, it flatters my male ego 'cause I think, 'Oh, I've attained this, so I must have value, as a person.' On another level, I  recognize it's meaningless. So, it depends on the mood I'm in. At the moment (big grin) I feel real puffed up.

TeenHollywood: Did you contribute to any of the songs in the movie and do you have a favorite? I'm partial to "Furry Walls".

Russell: Oh yes! Well I improvised a few raps. I'd like to add hip-hop artist to my ever growing- no, the songs are written by Jason Segel, this fellow Mike Viola,  Carl Barat of the Libertines, Jarvis Cocker wrote a couple but I've changed the odd word to make it sound more English, but sometimes the American writers would use (the wrong) language. Like, 'Bangers, Beans and Mash'- you do not have beans with bangers and mash. You get a little tomato and ketchup in a mash, it'd be horrible. Gravy, is what you want.

TeenHollywood: We'll make a note of that. Hey, is there going to be a sequel to your funny "My Booky Wook"?

Russell: I've written it. 85,000 words. Finished it. It took ages. Rightly so. I mean, it's boring really and hard and you have to do it on your own and all the typing. But I've written it. It's good. (It's called)  'Booky Wook 2: This Time It's Personal.'

TeenHollywood: We see they "got you to the Greek" today. Are you more responsible, as far as getting places where you're supposed to be now?

Russell: No. I've outsourced responsibility to others. There's other people who are in charge of that. Danny makes sure no one can beat me up. (he indicates the burly dude sitting behind us). Nick, my manager, makes sure I get places on time. Tom, my assistant, makes sure I do stuff. There's all sorts of people that do stuff. That's one of the best things about having some money is a lot of things I didn't like doing, I don't have to do them anymore.

TeenHollywood: What was meeting Puffy like? He took you to Vegas?

Russell: Oh man, he made me go to Vegas. Puffy took me and Jonah individually. I was on a private jet with Puffy. Puffy told me, specifically, that I was to wear a long fuchsia scarf for the journey. He goes, 'I want you to arrive at that airport two hours late wearing a fuchsia scarf, jacket behind you, on the tarmac.' I said, 'That is bloody specific.' Normally, it's just a passport. But he was particular. So, I couldn't get one, but I did get a bronze cowboy hat and I regretted it as soon as I sat down next to him, but it was too late to take it off. It had affected the hair underneath it so I was wearing it for ages.

TeenHollywood: Have you stolen any clothes from your wardrobe on this film?

Russell: Yes. I've got these golden boots and these leather trousers. I stole them.

TeenHollywood: We're going to tell!  What is the most memorable scene in the film for you?

Russell: In the scene where I'm on the stage at the Greek here, performing, there is a shower of sparks, right? They put me in the wrong place one time and the shower of sparks all landed on me. And I thought, should this be happening? And go about continuing to act, but I stopped. It was like being stabbed. It was a peculiar storm of fire. I got a lot of attention afterwards, "Oh, sorry. That should never have happened to you. Are you all right?' And I laid down on the couch for a while. Just milked it.

TeenHollywood: Aldous does a comeback concert in this film. Is there a group or artist that you wish would do a comeback tour?

Russell: The Smiths, with Morrissey and Johnny Marr!

TeenHollywood: Do you think Aldous will appear in yet another film?

Russell: This character keeps resurfacing like a corpse abandoned in the Thames. We will never be free of it. Never. Unless we tie concrete to his ankles and abandon him in some deeper body of water. I think that perhaps he will return again and again. Perhaps it will be like the new 'James Bond' or the new 'Sherlock Holmes', constantly played.

We're trying to keep it together and not laugh too much as Russell moves on. Jonah is approaching and we greet him.

TeenHollywood: Jonah, you've been traveling around the world for this press tour. Is this different from press tours you've done before?

Jonah: I'd say it's way less strenuous than the Superbad tour. We were unknown, Michael (Cera) and I and Chris (Christopher Mintz-Plasse) and we had to travel all around the country and the world for way longer periods of time and really get the word out there because no one could say 'hey, I know who those guys are. I'm gonna go see their movie'. We kind of had to introduce ourselves to the press all around the country and the world. This one, is like a cakewalk compared to the Superbad tour. But it's honestly a lot of fun if you love the movie. I think this movie is really good and I'm proud of it so it's nice to go meet fans and talk to people who appreciate it.

TeenHollywood: You and Russell have a great chemistry and rapport together. What was it like working with him again?

Jonah: It was great. I really respect Russell as a talented comedian/actor and also as a person. I think he's great and it was fun to get to work with him again.

TeenHollywood: I was impressed with how the movie showed how uncomfortable and disturbing the rock star party scene can be. How hard was that to capture so that audiences don't say "oh, that' looks cool and fun"?

Jonah: The movie is kind of the ultimate fantasy. Who hasn't dreamed about going on the road with their favorite rock star and party for three days but in actuality and I don't think in a cheesy way, you kind of realize after all the fun and debauchery and sex, drugs and rock 'n roll, that a lot of times that lifestyle can be rather empty and, without loved-ones and people that you care about, and that, in turn, care about you, life can be pretty sad.

TeenHollywood: Even in England when your character is partying and hooking up, it seems like, 'Geez, that's too much for anyone'.

Jonah: Right. I think that rock stars or people that party like rock stars probably have a higher tolerance for that sort of thing than the average person going into that world. They probably would not be able to handle it as well.

TeenHollywood: Girls have been saying 'you're so funny' for a long time. Are they now saying 'you're so hot?' Cuz you are adorable.

Jonah: (is he actually blushing?) Aww, thanks. I appreciate that.  I have a girlfriend who I dated before all the movies so when she says I'm adorable, I believe her. We dated like three or four years ago before Superbad and we maintained best friends and then started dating again five months ago.

TeenHollywood: That's sweet.

Jonah: Yeah.

TeenHollywood: Russell told us about his P. Diddy encounters. Did you have any apprehension when you first met P. Diddy (Sean Combs)?

Jonah: No. He had acquired my phone number somehow and he called me and said he was a huge fan of mine and he had heard about the role in this movie and wanted to come audition so he flew out to audition for Nick (director Nicholas Stoller) and I and he just knocked it out of the park and he was very clear that we weren't entering his world, he was entering ours. It's not like I was recording a rap album or something like that. He was stepping into something Nick and I were far more familiar with and was very humble and dedicated to giving a good performance and it paid off because I think he's shockingly hysterical.

TeenHollywood: Didn't he take you to Las Vegas with him?

Jonah: Yeah, before we started shooting, he took me and my friends from high school and him and his friends to Las Vegas and we had a wild time. I think it was very informative, although tiring (laughter). It was very informative for my character and for the upcoming experience about what it's like to actually party with a mega-star like that.

TeenHollywood: Is that going to "stay in Vegas" or can you tell us anything?

Jonah: There's not much I can tell. I didn't get a lot of sleep. That's the one thing I remember.

TeenHollywood: What music artist or band would you love to see do a reunion or comeback tour?

Jonah: I would love to see Neil Young perform "Harvest". Maybe that would be really cool or I would like to see Weezer perform their first two albums. I think that would be great. Not that I don't like their other albums but their first two are two of my favorite records. I would like The Monsters of Rap Tour to come back or maybe Beastie Boys performing "Paul's Boutique" or something.

TeenHollywood: Those are very specific requests. You want this band performing this album...

Jonah: Yeah. I saw GZA perform "Liquid Swords" and that was one of my favorite albums. It would be cool if bands started doing tours where they just played one of their classic albums. It would be cool.

TeenHollywood: I agree.  Did you hang out with any A&R guys before you did this film?

Jonah: No, but I knew a few. I come from a music business family so my brother manages bands and my dad is an accountant for bands and I had a lot of good stories growing up because my dad is a very sweet, straight-laced businessman and he went on the road as the accountant for Guns and Roses and a lot of wild acts so he had a lot of interesting stories.

TeenHollywood: Are you more comfortable with the comedy or do you like doing dramatic roles?

Jonah: I just love films. I love movies. I love talking about movies. I love watching movies. I want to be a director. That's my ultimate goal. I like writing and producing movies. Honestly, I just want to look back on my career and be proud of every film that I do and not worry about what genre it is or how people perceive me or if I have fans. That's far less important to me than the quality of what I do.

TeenHollywood: Hollywood keeps remaking '80's hits. Is there a great '80's movie that doesn't get discussed enough?

Jonah: I'd say a great '80's movie that doesn't get enough love is Major League. I don't hear people talking about it. I love Major League. It's such a classic.

TeenHollywood: Why is your character Aaron in this film "the most normal guy you've ever played"?

Jonah: I don't know. This is only the second movie I got to choose after Superbad, to kind of pick and choose what you're doing. I think I could have sold out a hundred times over between then and now but I took my time and waited for the right movies like Get Him to the Greek or Cyrus and Moneyball. I just took my time and I think because I've only starred in one other movie; Superbad, people assume I'm like my character in Superbad who is a 17-year-old horny, obnoxious loudmouth teenager and it was appropriate for that movie but I'm an 26-year-old, ambitious man and I'm not like that. So, I think it's important for this character to represent the audience because it is the ultimate fantasy. Who wouldn't want to party with their favorite rock star and I had to represent the person watching it so it had to be more relatable I think.

TeenHollywood: You have a youthful look though. Does that still effect the way you are cast?

Jonah: Thank you. I don't know. I think I played 24 in this movie. I was 25 when we made it. Now I'm 26 so... in Superbad I think I was 22 playing a 17-year-old and 21 in Cyrus.

TeenHollywood: There is a scene where you and Russell are supposed to have a three-way with co-star Elizabeth Moss who is your girlfriend in the movie. Was that just awkward and uncomfortable to shoot?

Jonah: It clearly wasn't the most comfortable scene for obvious reasons and my main objective was just to make sure Elizabeth (Moss) felt comfortable and safe. Russell and I would be fine but if there's an actress there, you want to make sure they're not feeing disrespected or uncomfortable or unsafe in the situation so my focus was on making sure she felt comfortable.

TeenHollywood: You had a nice rhythm with Elizabeth Moss. It kind of gave a reality to the film. Did you guys spend a lot of time improvising?

Jonah: Yeah. I'm such a big "Mad Men" fan. A lot of really great actresses came in to read for my girlfriend and when Elizabeth came in, Nick and I were huge "Mad Men" fans so it was exciting. Out of all the actresses that came in, she and I just felt like we could actually be a couple. It seemed more natural for us than with a lot of the other actresses. She's just super talented. I really look at her as an actress to watch.

TeenHollywood: The sleep deprivation thing in this film is something to really watch out for too when you are on an endless party binge. Is that something you wanted to bring to the movie?

Jonah: Yeah, we would think about, often, how tired I was. A big thing that was helpful for me was instead of thinking 'wow this is a rock star', I would think of Russell as Bill Murray or Martin Scorsese who are my actual heroes. So I would think, 'what if I was on the road with Scorsese or Bill Murray? How would I act towards them? Would I be excited to ask them questions' and so forth. A big thing Nick and I would talk about is I can't believe the pocket dial hasn't been utilized in more movies so we were excited about using that. (NOTE: pocket dialing is when your cell phone, seemingly of its own free will, dials your friends (or worse, enemies) at inappropriate times. This could be caused by small pockets or objects in the pockets that press buttons on your phone - including the send button.)

TeenHollywood: Your character in this film hates the rocker's latest album but has to lie and say he loves it. Have you ever done that?

Jonah: No. I have an inability to do that. If a friend of mine shows me their movie, if it's someone I love and respect and they ask my honest opinion, I give it to them but not in a mean, spiteful way. If a friend of mine who I know loves me, gives me criticism, I know they're not doing it to hurt me, they're doing it to make me aware of what needs to be better next time out of love.

But, if it's a stranger and someone says 'hey I love your movies' and they're an actor or a director and I don't love their movies, I just say 'thank you' and don't say 'I love your movies as well'. It's good to be polite and nice of them to say so but I have an inability to be full of s**t I guess. (laughter)

TeenHollywood: What fun stuff will be on the "Get Him to the Greek" DVD/Blu-Ray?

Jonah: A ton of music videos, a lot of deleted scenes. There's one of my favorite scenes in Central Park that had to get cut for time. It's so funny. That'll be one of the best DVD extras ever.  We do (drugs) and go on a jog through Central Park.

TeenHollywood: Teens loved How to Train Your Dragon. Will there be a sequel?   

Jonah: Yeah, we're going to make a sequel and I'm excited about that. I talked to Jeffrey Katzenberg and he told me we're gonna make a sequel and it's gonna be fun. Those movies are fun. When I have kids one day and I have nephews now, it'll be cool to show my kids a movie where I'm not (doing something super R-rated).

TeenHollywood: You've said your ultimate goal is directing. Are you doing to do a short film or....

Jonah: Well, I've directed short films but that is my main goal. I just know as an actor who is in the spotlight, the first film I do direct will be judged extra harshly by press and fans so I'm very thoughtful and meticulous about these decisions and don't want to rush into it but I don't even want to talk about what I want it to be until it's more crystallized. As a director, I'd rather be someone who makes the material good no matter what I'm doing and not worry about if it's a re-make or something bigger or smaller. Just put your original voice into what you're doing.