|
Page 2
SHANNON ELIZABETH (Nadia) How do you know when you are shooting gross-out scenes that they are acceptable as opposed to just plain stupid or tasteless?
I think sometimes also it does depend on the context of what you are doing. As far as the ratings things, for instance like with "Scary Movie," we could get away with showing a penis in the air because it wasn't a penis having sex. That's literally what they said. We all asked how they got away with it and that's what they said. I think it's the context of what it's done in, and if you are laughing at it and it's done in a funny way and it's supposed to be funky, weird, funny stuff versus serious pornographic kind of things. I think it's kind of like "Its not what you say, it's how you say it."
But shouldn't the line be the line?
We don't live in a world that's black & white, that's got set standards. And you're also talking about a line that's set in America for Americans, by the way that whoever is setting it thinks. Because it's like in Europe they can do topless on the beach everywhere, and they can do nudity, and it's no big deal. Why is it such a big deal to America? Things change in different countries as people grow, and as generations change.
Maybe because we are taught to cover ourselves up and other countries are more open to nudity?
It's just something that's inbred in you from when you are young, and it takes time to change things, you know? When our grandparents were growing up, this never would have been allowed. But things change as generations change and times change. You don't really have control over what things are going to be - it's just how evolution works.
Why were you willing to return to this and do a sequel?
Well, I think that we all have a lot of history with the people who were involved in this ("American Pie"), and who made this. For me personally, it launched my career and there's a part of me that feels like I owe them a lot because I wouldn't be here today with you guys (the media) if it weren't for them giving me the opportunity to play Nadia the first time around. I went in and auditioned and had that casting director not called me back, had those producers not liked me or those directors…you know, everything happened for a reason. I'm grateful for everything that happened and because of that history there, and because everybody was willing to come back, how could I say no? It's such an amazing thing because it's a group effort, and it's fun, we get along, and "American Pie" has a built-in audience that wants to see more of these characters. That's the reason they do sequels, beyond the studios making money, is that there is that audience there that, good or bad - whether it tops the first one or not - they just want to see more of these people.
Will you do a third or is this enough?
I didn't know I was going to do a second. You never know. If you had asked me that the first time around, I wouldn't know.
More Interviews with the Cast of "American Pie 2" - > Next Page / Return to Page 1
Photos@2001 Universal Pictures
|
