Alden Ehrenreich is a name that everyone will hear a lot once 'Beautiful Creatures' hits theaters nationwide today, February 14. After some guest roles in television and indie films, Alden, 23, is taking on the lead role of Ethan Wate in the novel-turned-film. His character wants nothing more than to get out of the small town of Gatlin, South Carolina, but instead, is drawn to Lena Duchannes, a caster played by Alice Englert. We talked to Alden about the difference between small-scale and large-scale movies, behind-the-scenes stories, and the reason why 'Beautiful Creatures' is the perfect movie for Valentine's Day. Also, you can win a copy of the "Beautiful Creatures" book signed by Alden himself!
J-14: What surprised you about the making of this movie in particular?
Alden Ehnrenreich: It was a really new experience for me to be in a movie of this size. There's this big budget, there are all these sets being built and it's all boiling down to a little two-shot of you and another actor. That's a weird thing to wrap your mind around. I've only done smaller movies before. That was the most surprising thing -- trying to bring the same feeling that I would have in a play or a small movie to this big thing. And Richard LaGravanese (director) was really wonderful because he created an environment that was intimate and personal for these actors.
J-14: In the trailer, we saw a lot of kissing scenes, what was it like preparing for that? Were you guys nervous?
Alden: No, I was so friendly with Alice Englert at that point, it was just part of the job. And there are a lot of kissing scenes. Kissing helps your body get into the scene and get into the character more -- from an acting stand-point it's really helpful. We would just kind of laugh about it.
J-14: Was there any line that tripped you up?
Alden: It was more the phrases. There are kind of these crazy, rhythmic phrases like, "Oh well that went over like a rock in church," where you go, "duh dada dada duh duh." Those phrases are hilarious and we had lists of them that we would just put in the movie because they were so funny.
J-14: What are some things that you, Alice Englert, and the rest of the cast members did together?
Alden:Alice and I would watch a lot of 'Columbo' together. It became our favorite show while we were there. You need to see it if you haven't seen it. It's a detective show from the 70s. What else would we do? I did a painting of her one day in the garden. That sounds so romantic, but it wasn't like that at all.
J-14: What makes this the perfect date movie?
Alden: I think it's a real relationship. People love love stories, but I think the best love stories are the ones that present real people and real relationships. They say that birds are born knowing how to migrate. Humans don't have instincts for everything that being a human entails, so we need to go to these stories to learn how to do it. I don't want to learn from a movie that says, "Oh, love is just perfect, easy and blissful." I would want to learn from something that says, "Sometimes you get in fights. Sometimes things are hard. Sometimes you hate each other but it doesn't mean you don't love each other." So, that's why I think it's the best date movie. And it's got a lot of romantic scenes and a lot of humor and charm.
Are you headed to the theaters to see Alden Ehrenreich in 'Beautiful Creatures?'
P.S. We're also loving Miss Literati's hilarious Beautiful Creatures memes -- check them out HERE!