PAULA GARCES (Francesca)
Did you pretend you were a teenager while auditioning, and did use experiences from your teen years?
Yeah, I just tried to remember what it was like when I was 16. I just really fell in love with the character Francesca because of her wholesomeness, and because of what a positive role model she really was for young kids.
Is it easier to play a teenager after you are older?
I don't think so because as you get older, you get jaded and you get pessimistic about life and life issues. You really have to take yourself back to that place where you thought anything was possible. I mean when you're 16, you think life is beautiful and life is great, and you have all these dreams that you think are going to come true and as you grow older, you learn that it's not necessarily so. I don't think it's easier - I think it's a lot of fun because it gives you the liberty to be so open and so nice and so trusting of people. But I don't think it's necessarily easier.
How challenging was it to work in this film that relied so heavily on effects?
It's very hard. You have to use your imagination and you have to trust the director a lot. You have to trust his judgment and you have to trust the people who are making the special effects to really give you good information, and enough information for you to play around with in your head and for you to imagine what's supposed to be going on.
Are we going to see a Francesca action figure?
I hope so. Keep saying that and say it louder! I wouldn't mind a Francesca action figure; I wouldn't mind a series. I wouldn't mind a "Clockstoppers 2, 3, 4 or 5." I'm in the beginning of my career so I would love that.
What about doing the various intimate moments with Jesse in this movie?
It was a pleasure because we always had like “the actor” talk before any type of intimate moment in the scene. I asked him to please be a gentleman and he was because he has his own girlfriend and I have my husband. It's always a pleasure working with someone who understands and who is a nice person. He's genuinely a nice guy.
Do you have a cut-off date for yourself when you will no longer play anyone under 18?
I think if I can get away with it, I'll keep on playing young roles. The age doesn't really matter. I think what matters is what the role is trying to say, if it's someone interesting to play, if it's a role that will make people think. I think that Francesca makes people think. I think the whole premise of the film makes people think. I mean what would you do if you could stop time? I think it's something that everyone has thought about at one moment or another, at one point in their lives.
And what would you do?
Ahhh, so many things! I would play practical jokes on a lot of my friends and family. But in my everyday life it would be very practical - especially here in LA, especially when I'm stuck in traffic or something, speed through it, cut in lines, the normal things.
When did you decide that you wanted to be an actor?
I didn't decide. My mom was always very conscious of us having some extra-curricular activities so she would always make sure that we were either dancing or painting or doing some musical theater or something like that. One day we just went to a dinner party and I met an agent there - and that's it.
What is your ethnic background?
I'm South American. I'm from Columbia.
Were you brought up there?
No, I grew up in New York City and I also lived in Columbia for about five or six years. I'm still New York based.
Was the role always a South American or did they like you and say, “Let's make it South American?”
No, the role was very specific. It was a regular girl next door who just happened to be from Venezuela.
Is that something that you were glad to see them do in a movie like this?
Let me tell you from first-hand experience, being South American and being an actress, this is definitely a milestone in this business for a character like this to be around. She was the regular girl next door but just happened to be from Venezuela. That is huge. I didn't have to have an accent for this film; I didn't have to do any stupid stereotype whatsoever. They wanted her to be just very regular but just happen to be from Venezuela. And again, it's huge. The family is the Venezuelan Consulate, they have money, she's educated, and she's smart in the film.
She also has a very innate sexiness about her too. There's that scene where you are in a towel. Did they try and make her sexier?
I don't think that anybody thought that was going to be sexy. It just happened to be that we were in a hotel room and I don't think it was something that was done on purpose for any type of sexiness. I'm glad that Francesca's sexy and that she's allowed to be very much a woman and a young lady. But again in the film, she demands respect all the time and I think that's a great role model for young girls today.
How does Jonathan Frakes work as a director?
He's amazing. He really runs a tight ship. His crew is fast - fast, effective, and they all respect him. His word is law but the fact that he makes his set so much fun - he's always clowning around, always happy - is, I think, done on purpose. Because really everybody on the set was having a lot of fun.
Did you hear any “Star Trek” stories?
He really loves his “Star Trek” fans so he was always talking about that, how people still nowadays stop him on the street and talk about “Star Trek.” He finds that truly and utterly amazing and he's really grateful to his “Star Trek” days.
What funny things does he do on the set?
He's a big guy; he's like 6'2” and he's not afraid of physical humor. He'll like trip and knock down lights and stuff like that. He's just very loud. If I get on set he'll announce my name. You know, like, “Thank you for gracing us with your presence, Paula Garces. Everyone, Paula Garces is here.” And everyone would start clapping. He's always very loud, and just happy, jolly guy. After a really good take, if we did something that he really wanted us to get to, he'll really announce it. He'd say, “Thank you. That was amazing.” And he'll laugh at the jokes.
How did the grips feel when he was knocking over lights on purpose?
They think he's funny. They think he's amazing. Because everyone - not just himself or the actors - is allowed to have fun. Everyone had practical jokes and pulled stunts on each other.
Do you think this film will open more doors for you?
Yeah, because of “Clockstoppers” and because my name was buzzing so much that I got it, because of the way I got it, I think I was cast in a Scott Rudin film written by Paul Rudnick. It's called “Marci X” and it's a huge film. I star opposite Lisa Kudrow and Damon Wayans. I think it all happened because of “Clockstoppers.” It's a comedy and my role in it is extremely different from Francesca.
How so?
I play Yolanda and I call her a twist between L'il Kim and J-Lo. She's very much sexed out and ghetto fabulous - all the stereotypes that I was being very careful about in “Clockstoppers,” we make fun of in “Marci X” - but everyone does, it's not just me.
Is that a good thing?
Yes it's a good thing because it's not just me in a serious film playing this ridiculous Latino role; it's everyone playing ridiculous roles. You know, Lisa Kudrow is very much the New York Jewish-American Princess and Damon Wayans is a rapper who is sort of like Puffy. Then there's like a Suge Knight character in the film. It's all about the record label business, the music business. It's really a lot of fun.
Do you sing in it?
Yes, very badly. I have my own video.
Is it bad because it's supposed to be?
Yes, because the character's supposed to be bad.
Do you want to sing professionally?
I don't know. As an actor I guess you can explore all those possibilities but I'm just trying to stick to the acting right now.
