Ahoy, squirts! Quint here. The lead-up to this interview was the most interesting of all the Con interviews. You see, my friends at Sony told me they'd try to arrange one on one interviews for SPIDER-MAN 3, but they couldn't guarantee anything. I had to skip out of the second half of the Marvel panel to just sit outside the hall and hope I could get some interviews. I was offered the roundtable interviews, but what's the point? I'm sure you've already read (or heard) that interview on the dozen sites that sit at those. It's the same story and so impersonal that I just can't stomach them.
So, I was sitting out in the hall with some guys from Variety, who were also waiting to hear about one on ones. They were really cool guys and we talked a bit about how the Con was going. Then they got told it was a no-go for their one on ones. They went down to watch the GHOST RIDER panel that was underway and make sure they had a seat for the SPIDER-MAN 3 presentation. Well, I thought, that's it for me. If Variety isn't getting anybody, then why the hell would they give me anybody?
I was trying to decide if I should make sure I had a seat for the SPIDER-MAN 3 presentation when Ian, my Sony friend, came out and grabbed me, leading me out to the open-air area. I was with 2 other guys I didn't know and we were each set up at 3 different tables. The idea was to circulate 3 SPIDEY people between us. In front of me was Topher Grace chatting with someone that didn't look like a journalists, just hanging out. Past him was Sam Raimi doing an interview. To my right was Thomas Hayden Church doing an interview and next to him was Bryce Dallas Howard doing a one on one with somebody.
It turned out we only got one interview each I don't know who these other guys got, but they lead Bryce Dallas Howard over to me.
My first impression of her was that she was even more beautiful in person than she is on the screen. I thought she was pretty in THE VILLAGE (still haven't seen LADY IN THE WATER, but I will soon), but she was just gorgeous in person. I know that's becoming a Comic-Con cliche for me and I apologize, but Ms. Howard was not only pretty, but she was very friendly and even a little geeky. There's nothing hotter than a beautiful woman who reads comic books.
So, I had no interview questions prepared since I had no idea who I was going to chat with. However, I think the interview turned out really well. I wish I could have spent more time talking with her about the film, but this is one of the better 5 minute interviews of the Con. At least I think so. Keep in mind this was before the presentation (by about 10 minutes, actually) and no one but Sam Raimi was announced as being there... Enjoy!
QUINT: The geeks are going to freak out when they see you guys...
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: (laughs) Oh, man!
QUINT: Especially since you're bringing footage.
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: And I think they don't know. Is it true they don't know?
QUINT: They don't know you guys are here. There's some rumors spreading that the panel is more than what it appears to be, but I don't think it went too far.
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: I'm so excited! I can't wait! This is going to be so amazing.
QUINT: They'll probably ask lots of blonde questions...
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: (laughs) No problem.
QUINT: And so am I!
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: (laughs) Sure!
QUINT: SPIDER-MAN was always my favorite Marvel title and I grew up reading the books. I had to get the trade paperbacks... I couldn't afford the original stuff that Gwen Stacy appeared in. Did you read the comics at all?
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Here's my history with comics. Not when I was very young... and, actually, what brought me to the comic books, which is what I loved so much about this franchise, were the films themselves. When I saw the first film and then when I saw the second film I'm like, "What is this? This is amazing! And what is going to happen!?" So, it was only then that I became interested in the comic books. Then, of course, when I was cast I was just, like... I became this voracious comic book reader. It's just so amazing and it's such an amazing tradition. All the kids that I've been talking to who read comic books and are now grown ups... it unifies them. It's something that when you know you're talking to a fellow comic book reader there's that instant connection.
QUINT: When you got the part did you go back and look at the original comics and take anything specific from that depiction of Gwen Stacy?
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Sure. First and foremost, the look of the character was imperative in creating that... And secondly... well, what world is this girl coming from? I mean, she's coming from a very, very different world than, for instance, Mary Jane, a very different familial background. If that's her backstory, how does she enter to this film tonally that's also appropriate? I mean, she can't come in just like sunshiny all the time, but how do we create that...
QUINT: ... to contrast Mary Jane...
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Exactly, exactly.
QUINT: I know a lot of people are curious how they're approaching your character in this new film. By the time Mary Jane and Peter Parker are really serious in the books, Gwen is long gone.
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Yeah! (laughs) Long gone!
QUINT: Do they treat it like a triangle? Because they can't have Gwen come in without Peter being attracted to her... At least I hope they wouldn't...
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Well, like in all of the films they've approached these storylines in very unique ways while still being reverent of them. What they've created... absolutely plausible and believable and fantastical and great. I mean, I'm very happy. I believed it.
QUINT: What was your favorite thing that you shot for the movie?
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: I'd have to say that moment where I was on 52nd Street and falling down 5 stories, holding on to Spider-Man. I was just like, "This is AMAZING!!! This is unbelievable!" I was in New York, being carried by Spider-Man!
QUINT: And that was you, not a stunt double?
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Totally! I wouldn't let it be anyone else! I felt so bad for the stunt team because they were always having to figure out ways to protect me because I was like, "I'm doing everything." How could I not do everything?!?
QUINT: What's your favorite Gwen Stacy trait that you brought to the character?
BRYCE DALLAS HOWARD: Her unconscious and innocent sensuality is what I liked about her.
See why she stole my heart? Too bad she's married... all the good ones are taken, eh? Also notice my SPIDER-MAN poster cameo in the pics? Heh...
I'm hoping to wrangle a phone interview or two from the Sony people regarding this project. Fingers crossed. The footage they showed at the Con was great (read my coverage here!!!), the cast all seemed very enthusiastic... I can't wait to see Raimi hit a home run with his 3rd SPIDER-MAN film!
-Quint
quint@aintitcool.com
