Video:Ramon Rodriguez Interview - Battle: LA and Charlie's Angels

Transcript:Ramon Rodriguez Interview - Battle: LA and Charlie's Angels

Rebecca Murray from About.com Hollywood Movies at the LA Premiere of Columbia Pictures' Battle: Los Angeles.

Ramon Rodriguez - '2nd Lt. Martinez' in Battle: Los Angeles

Talk about getting ready for Battle: LA because you went through hell.

Ramon Rodriguez: "Yes. We went through a rigorous three week boot camp. It was amazing. It was a great process where we actually got to learn with these three veteran sergeant Marines that were there with us, kind of making sure that everything that we did was Marine-like. And it's very specific, you know? It was intense. It was in louisiana in the summer, which is grueling. It was crazy. But it was, honestly, it was the perfect time where we got to bond. We became a family, a platoon, that's when we were really formed. It was really cool."

And you really needed that because that's what this film's all about.

Ramon Rodriguez: "Right, you're following this platoon and hopefully you'll get the sense that there's a history between these guys. There's this friendship, and Marines don't leave a man behind - or a woman. It's a brotherhood, there's a family, and I think that's when it was formed was during that time."

Do we learn any backstory about you guys?

Ramon Rodriguez: "I think you get to learn a little of my character's backstory, and you get some of the other guys' backstory too which hopefully that's what helps you connect. You go, 'Oh, I care for this person because I know a little bit about them.' It's not just Marines and we don't know anything about them. They did that for some of the characters, which is cool."

I know Jonathan did a lot of stuff practical, as much as he could. How does this compare to a Transformers set?

Ramon Rodriguez: "The cool part is we were just in one... We weren't all over the place traveling to different locations. We were in Louisiana for the most part. But in the sense of just explosions and big actions, it's kind of the same thing. Things are exploding, you're moving, you're running. We had to wear that gear - 40 pounds of gear that the Marines wear. But action, I didn't need to see the explosions. I saw them in Transformers. All the guys wanted to see that. I'm like, 'Listen,' I've done that. I've been there, done that. Check.' It was still an amazing experience."

And you're back for the next Transformers?

Ramon Rodriguez: "I'm not. I'm actually not. All night everybody's been telling me that it says somewhere online that I am. I'm not doing it. I had a great time on the second one and I've moved on."

Good for you.

Ramon Rodriguez: "That's so funny. That's everybody's reaction. I find that interesting."

What sets this one apart from every other alien movie out there?

Ramon Rodriguez: "A couple of things. I think being from the perspective of a Marine platoon. You're watching it from these Marines. Secondly, it's almost like a mix of the Hurt Locker where it's very real and gritty. You've got this camera that's following you around. It's very handheld. They wanted to shoot it documentary-style. And it's in our turf, it's in Los Angeles. Those are some of the things that kind of make it separate and distinct."

What I think is interesting is that it's not the big landscapes in LA that they're taking out.

Ramon Rodriguez: "They didn't do the cliche stuff. They didn't take out the Hollywood sign, which could have easily been done. They kind of kept it very real. Like, I love people coming up to me saying, 'Thanks for blowing up my neighborhood.' It's in people's neighborhoods where people live, which is cool."

Talk about Jonathan as a director because this is his first huge action film.

Ramon Rodriguez: "Sure. Absolutely, no doubt. I thought he handled himself like he'd done it before. I was looking at him like, 'Wow, this doesn't seem like it's your first time. 'This isn't your first rodeo.' He kind of had this lightness about him. In between all the heavy killing and shooting and aliens, he would tell jokes. And it's a huge cast - 13 people and all the civilians. He was very, very cool. I was very impressed. Seriously."

So I haven't seen it yet but I heard there's a possibility of sequels. Have you heard anything?

Ramon Rodriguez: "I've certain talk about it, and I think they left the ending for the possibility."

And you're also going to be in Charlie's Angels?

Ramon Rodriguez: "I am. I get to be Bosley."

That is crazy.

Ramon Rodriguez: "I know. It's going to be fun."

Are you kind of nervous?

Ramon Rodriguez: "Yes and no. I'm more excited than anything. I get to do a character that's famous. People know who Bosley is. He's been done in several different versions. But I think mine is new, young - obviously, just be the casting. Different. I'm excited to make my imprint on what Bosley's been, so it's going to be cool."

Are there going to be nods to the past Bosleys?

Ramon Rodriguez: "I think they're going totally new. I think they want to do a completely new version. I've got to make my own version of it. I've got to do my take on it, so yeah, I'm excited. And listen, in Miami with three angels, I'm not complaining. Things could be worse."

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