Video:Dan Byrd and Matt Lanter Interviews - Easy A Premiere

Transcript:Dan Byrd and Matt Lanter Interviews - Easy A Premiere

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the LA Premiere of Screen Gems' Easy A.

Dan Byrd - 'Brandon' in Easy A

It's such a smartly written script.

Dan Byrd: "I did it. I directed it, I wrote it, I did the craft service, I did the props."

And you cast Emma Stone?

Dan Byrd: "That's actually me. What's weird is that's my alter ego. It took a lot of make-up, a lot of commitment, sacrifice. People thought I was crazy but you know what? Here we are and I did it."

You were willing to go there for this.

Dan Byrd: "And I'm going to come around the red carpet again as Emma Stone pretty soon. I'm not committed, people. It's crazy."

This movie is different from most typical teen movies so what appealed to you? What did you love about it?

Dan Byrd: "Well I loved that they wanted to cast me, number one. [...]This movie is differently sort of a fresh breath of air into this genre that's kind of been chewed up and spit out at this point. I think, obviously, what gives it everything - it's heart and freshness for lack of a better word - is the person who's at the center of it all. I mean, she's a true talent. I think she's going to be around for a really long time. She just gave it and air of realism and grounded this movie in a way that a lot of actresses her age couldn't do. I think that was the main ingredient. Other than that, we had good writing. We had a solid supporting cast. The director was all right. It was a good concoction of all the elements."

This one not only references John Hughes' films but it's like a John Hughes movie. Were you a John Hughes movie fan?

Dan Byrd: "Honestly, he is a visionary and somebody...he owns this genre. Anybody who's making a teen comedy or otherwise, those are the movies that you go to to draw from. My personal favorite is Weird Science. I feel like it's the most underrated, under-appreciated John Hughes movie out there. It's so funny. Bill Paxton is incredible in that movie. Bill Paxton plays a character like you've never seen him play before and he's funny. So yeah, I'm a John Hughes fan. Everyone who worked on this movie is. We were definitely sort of aware of trying to infuse some of that energy and some of that good John Hughes sensibility into this."

And Cougar Town - one of my favorite shows - you'll be back even though you're going to college, right?

Dan Byrd: "Yes, thank god. I went to college but I did not leave Cougar Town all together."

So do you go back and visit on weekends?

Dan Byrd: "Yeah, so basically the college ends up being 20 minutes away from the house. So it kind of justifies Travis popping back in whenever in their world. And every now and then one of them pops into his world and his new college life. So it's been pretty seamless starting back up. You know there is like a second episode of this season that feels like my farewell. It's like I'm literally riding off into the sunset like you're never going to see me again. But I'm in the next episode - I'm in the following one - so all you haters out there, sorry. I'm coming back."

Matt Lanter - 90210 and The Roommate

So the season starts back up tonight?

Matt Lanter: "That's right."

What are we going to see you doing this year?

Matt Lanter: "Well, let's see. I've got a half-brother. You're going to see Liam shirtless a lot."

Is this a Taylor Lautner type thing you're going for?

Matt Lanter: "No, not at all, but for some reason the scripts keep having me shirtless. I was just on Robertson Blvd a couple days ago - that's why I said that. You asked me what I'm doing this year, and that seems to be it."

Going shirtless.

Matt Lanter: "Yeah. I was on Robertson on a platform posing as a mannequin. An interesting day at work."

Are you surprised how it caught on with audiences or did you know this was going to happen?

Matt Lanter: "I knew it was going to happen. It's a classic show, so coming back you get some intriguing characters and good storylines, and yeah."

Are you going to be back on the big screen again?

Matt Lanter: "Yeah. Actually, next year I've got a movie coming out called The Roommate."

You're never in scary movies.

Matt Lanter: "I was in Sorority Row, that was kind of a scary one. But I don't know, I wouldn't call it like a horror movie. I think it's more of a psychological thriller. I haven't seen it yet, but it was a great script and it's a really cool cast, and it's a really cool story. Make sure to check that out. I think it comes out in February."

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Easy A Interviews, Poster, Trailer, and Cast List