Oh God, if I answer that question, I’m going to get shot. My dad rocks. My dad raised five kids on his own. You know, I don't know. I think when it comes to the facts, I came from a broken home and you never can explain it. People have issues. People have good days, bad days. Sometimes people can’t deal with what’s given to them, what’s in front of them, and they abandon what’s important. Maybe they had kids too young. Maybe they never did what they wanted to do with their life. I don't know. All I know is I’m going to try not to go down that path someday when I have kids.
What were you like in high school?
Golly, I hated high school. I absolutely detested high school. But what can I say? I was more the Sam than the Austin. I don't know how to explain it. I think they did a good job of forming the cliques in the movie because it’s true. There [are] cliques. That’s just the way it is and unfortunately there’s a lot of peer pressure. It’s really sad. I can’t stand it, personally. I wish that kids weren’t so damn cruel, but what can you do?
Were you ever in detention?
No, you know, I may have been a little outspoken but my teachers accepted me for who I am. That’s why I sit here right now. I can say thank you to a few of them that allowed me to be creative.
What do you want audiences to take away from this movie?
Well, A) if you’re a parent, look a little deeper. Maybe your kid isn’t so happy. Maybe you should look a little bit deeper and find out who they really are. And I think if you’re a kid, man, enjoy the movie. Don’t stress yourself out with anything. It’s there to be fun and it’s there to tell a story. Go find your Prince Charming, but live your life, have fun. Don’t worry about everybody. High school is going to end. That’s all I gotta say. High school, you do 12 years, you’re done. You never have to see those damn people again if you don’t want to, so if you’re the Sam character, dude, everyone else can screw off. Don’t fall under peer pressure. Do what you want to do. Do what makes you happy. People are giving you pressure for being in theater, for being in band? Well, dude, they can kiss your ass because half those people that said sh*t to me in high school, they’re filling gas station pumps. What can you say?
Should movies for this audience have a message?
Yeah, I mean, heck, yeah. I think that it’s like children’s books. I think every children’s book you ever read has some sort of moral. Don’t be afraid of spiders, or be afraid of the ones with fangs. The basement is not scary. Whatever the heck your story may be in a children’s book—I mean, sometimes you go to a movie to just be entertained for two hours, leave the movie, and not have to worry about anything. Get a good laugh. See a story, be intrigued, see romance and hope that you can have that someday. And sometimes you go to a movie to learn something. I think if you can include both but don’t push too harsh on the fact that you’re trying to set an image and send an idea, then you’re fine. I think it should be just in there, softly, you know?
Can you compare and contrast Hilary Duff and Lindsay Lohan?
They’re just so different, it’s not even funny. Commonalities, one is 16, one’s 17. I honestly don’t know what to say. They’re completely two different humans. They have a different work ethic. Not work ethic, but different ways of working. They’re two totally different actresses. I think they have different goals and concepts in their life and they’re both sweethearts. That’s the one thing that you can say about them is that they were both really cool and I got along with both of them.
How do they approach work differently?
Well, when I did “Freaky Friday,” Lindsay was playing two characters, so she had a lot of work to do. She had to study Jamie really hard and Jamie had to study her. On “Cinderella Story,” Hilary got to come in and she just had to study what it’s like to be a little insecure and she hasn’t had that opportunity, I don't think. So she got to see what it was like to be not the cool chick. So, I don't know. You have to see it to know what I mean. That’s the one perk that we get as actors is you get to really see how these people work, but you can’t really explain it.
PAGE 3: Chad Michael Murray on "House of Wax" and Paris Hilton
