GARRETT HEDLUND: “Troy” and “Friday Night Lights” are so similar. They both deal so much with war… I think they are juxtaposed next to each other - football and war – that it’s so easy. They are definitely two huge masculine films. A lot of male bonding going on. We were dealing with a lot of effects, a lot of extras in the background shots on both, computer effects and stuff. It’s crazy, but I’m very proud.
Garrett, you and Lucas don’t have a background in Texas football. What was it like to be dropped in the middle of this?
GARRETT HEDLUND: I grew up on a farm and Lucas, in the jungles of Alabama (laughing), so I think we adapted very well. The people were very welcoming in Odessa. They wanted to see a great film as much as we wanted to make a great film. So they were very supportive.
Can you talk about bonding on the set?
LEE THOMPSON YOUNG: This is my first movie so, for me, all the guys in this movie are going to have a special place in my heart. That’s a funny thing to say but it’s true. It is. We had a cast of characters and had a lot of fun. It was a great experience.
LUCAS BLACK: The first week we met each other, first week we [were] on this film, Pete Berg threw us in boxing classes. All of us went to boxing lessons every morning at like 7am and we, believe it or not, we bonded a lot. We actually got to go in the ring and pound on each other and we liked that.
GARRETT HEDLUND: From that to going on to two-a-days, three hours before and after lunch followed by daily practices. When we weren’t filming, we were in practice with the rest of the guys forming that bond that kind of manipulated the film.
LEE THOMPSON YOUNG: And then when we weren’t doing that, we were hitting the gym with the guys, drinking protein shakes, eating steaks…
GARRETT HEDLUND: Snapping towels (laughter).
