The Block: Hello Logan, it’s Labor Day. How did आप spend your last weekend of summer?
Logan: Oh, this is the last weekend of summer? I didn’t realize. I was doing some publicity work for Perks, आप know, starting all that… craziness. We had a screening in the Hamptons at the घर of Donna Karan, and I was there, and all that fun stuff.
TB: Perks is such a beloved story. What brought आप to the project?
Logan: I just got the script and was familiar with the title. It was a लोकप्रिय book in my high school.
TB: Had आप read it?
Logan: No, no, I had only heard about it. I had फ्रेंड्स that really loved it, they were always talking about it, but I had never read it in high school. I read the script and loved it and was really drawn to Stephen’s writing. I fell in प्यार with the book after that – so it was sort of a reverse process.
TB: Did आप chemistry test with Ezra and Emma for the role?
Logan: No no, not at all. We were all cast separately and then met in Pittsburgh and got on really well
TB: What did आप like about working with them both?
Logan: Oh, Emma is incredibly talented, intelligent, a genuine, kind person. It’s a great combination. These things make it really nice to collaborate with her. And working with Ezra is so much fun. We became really tight through the whole process. He’s just so freaking talented that we had a blast working together, playing off each other and finding our characters.
TB: What did आप take away from working on the film?
Logan: It was a creatively fulfilling experience for me to do something that everyone was so passionate about, so I was really satisfied द्वारा the end of that. I did some फिल्में before that were … how do I say this? They just weren’t the same kind of movie. It was a different kind of passion I had for this project that made me very, very satisfied creatively.
TB: How did आप approach the role of Charlie?
Logan: I would say the key was isolation. Isolating myself.
TB: How did आप do that?
Logan: I just kind of locked myself in a room for a few weeks and saw no one.
TB: And that was your idea?
Logan: Yeah, that helped me figure everything out. I came to Pittsburgh a few weeks before everyone else and hung out alone in the middle of this hotel in this mall, at the Crowe Plaza there. TGIF’s every day. I remember the दिन I got there, it was Easter and I was eating alone at TGIF’s, and everyone was looking at me so sad, like they all felt so bad for me. It was kind of funny.
TB: Was that a new feeling for you? What was your own experience in high school like?
Logan: I was definitely a kind of social guy. I mean, I knew everyone in my school and I talked to everyone but I wouldn’t necessarily socialize much outside of school.
TB: Because आप were अभिनय from such a young age?
Logan: Yeah, I was working, but my passion was to make short films and watch फिल्में and that really wasn’t what everybody else was into. I had my three best फ्रेंड्स that I’d hang out with and that was really all we did, growing up.
TB: How would आप describe a teenage Logan?
Logan: A teenage me … I was pretty awkward, well, and shy – horrible at talking to girls. I wasn’t as introverted as Charlie, but I definitely related a lot to his feelings and the stuff that he was going through.
TB: The character of Charlie is pretty weighty. He’s not just an awkward teen, but someone who’s dealing with serious depression and other problems. There has been talk that this film could even prevent young people from committing suicide. Did आप feel the responsibility of the role?
Logan: It’s all kind of personal talking about the research and everything [I did] but yeah, I felt it was a role that meant a lot to a lot of people and it meant a lot to me. I definitely took it very seriously and I wanted to do it right for everyone who’s not just a प्रशंसक of the book, but is really affected द्वारा it. So they can have something that they’re satisfied with as well.
TB: I’m sure this film is going to have the power to give hope and comfort to a lot of kids in that situation. What would आप say to kids who are struggling and maybe haven’t found that group of fellow wallflowers who become a sort of savior for Charlie?
Logan: I would say, आप can be whoever आप want to be, do whatever आप want to do, and don’t be afraid to rely on your friends. Talk to people about things, आप know? Whatever’s on your mind. A lot of people feel the need to store it deep down inside. आप can trust your फ्रेंड्स and family, but it is about feeling comfortable with who आप are as well. I think that’s big.
TB: संगीत makes a big role in the film. I heard आप like to make and play संगीत yourself?
Logan: I प्यार music! I प्यार the संगीत in the film. Yeah, संगीत does play a big part in this film and the soundtrack is really quite amazing.
TB: What instruments do आप play?
Logan: I play a little bit of पियानो and guitar. I’ve been playing since I was a little kid. It was kind of therapeutic for me. It was my escape a lot of the time. With everything going on in a kid’s mind, it was a good way to de-stress.
TB: Do आप see many live shows?
Logan: Yeah, I do. It’s one of the things I like to do for fun. आप know who I really loved recently? समुद्र तट House. And Alabama Shakes, I have not seen them, but I want to. The last संगीत कार्यक्रम [I went to] was The Black Keys and that was great too.
TB: You’re starting to get bigger roles in bigger projects. What’s been your experience of the Hollywood system so far?
Logan: I’d say I really got into अभिनय to get my foot in the door for so many things. And then I grew a passion for it. Every single department, every medium that’s involved in the process of film-making. I प्यार acting, but directing is something that really interests me, one day. I really don’t know when that दिन will be, but hopefully soon. I used to write a lot and I’ve found that lately I’ve kind of slowed down writing, which is kind of disappointing. I need to find my creative spark again and get into it.
TB: What draws आप to a project?
Logan: I’m attracted to the filmmaker most of the time. In terms of something like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, where it’s a first-time director, it was really the material and the character that played a big part for me. It is also the security, the cushion of knowing who is the director of photography, who the cast will potentially be, and kind of weighing those factors as well … but I think it all comes down to character and if it’s challenging and worthwhile.
TB: And अगला you’re in Darren Aronofsky’s Noah – pretty big deal!
Logan: Yeah, yeah, I’m doing that right now. In fact, it’s with Emma [Watson] also, we’re working together again. It’s great, it’s like a dream project to work with Darren Aronofsky. He’s a filmmaker I just love.
TB: Which other directors आप want to work with?
Logan: Oh, there are so many good ones out there, so many great directors to work with. If I started naming a few I’d feel really bad if I left out anyone else I प्यार as well.
TB: Do आप have a ton of DVDs? Are आप a Criterion Collection kind of guy?
Logan: Yeah, it’s kinda stupid how many DVDs I have. But now everything is going digital, so I can find a lot of things digitally.
TB: But do आप feel that cinema, as a physical entity, still has legs?
Logan: Yes, of course it does, of course! That’s the best way to see a film – in a theater. I just प्यार classic movie theaters. There’s this great movie theater in Los Angeles called the Archlight that’s just perfect for anyone who loves movies.
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