You have an interesting accent in this film.
Michael Pena: "When I read the script it was written for a white kid with blond hair. I told my agents, 'Look, can you submit me for it?' because they weren’t going to offer me the part because I'm not known for comedy. They said, 'You want to play that part?' And I said, 'Yeah, I think I can play a guy trying to be black.' So I have a couple buddies - one this guy, Rich, who is in a band. He’s from Toledo, but he’s got the strangest accent. Then there's another guy who's a caddy at Wilshire Country Club and I kind of messed the two and then just went in with the accent. [The hair] was my idea too because the caddy at the country club has big curls, but he’s one of the best caddies that I've ever had. He's really serious and pays no mind to his accent."
Is that your hair or a wig?
Michael Pena: "This? It's my hair, dude. Dude, it's tough. I just don't want to spend that much time in the makeup chair and so I was like, 'Dude, let me just perm it bro.' I swear to God [director Jody Hill] was emotional and was like, 'Man, would you do that for me, man? That's so cool man. Come here, man.' I don't think of it any different because if I was working for Redford or something and if they wanted me to perm my hair, I'd perm my hair. But this one I think adds to it. If you guys see there's a gold chain, there's a pinky ring - very subtle stuff."
What is the vibe on this movie like? It seems very loose and improvisational.
Michael Pena: "That's exactly it. And the thing is is that the structure is basically the same, but in drama everything is tracked because the screenwriter in the beginning is talking about something in the past or whatever and in the middle there’s a definite kind of objective. The screenwriter wants to have a kind of effect. What effect does he want to have with this scene, and in the end it's like the conclusion or resolution of that will lead into another one. This one it's like make you laugh, make you laugh, make you laugh."
How is it for you working in this R-rated environment where you can pretty much say and do anything?
Michael Pena: "…I'll say some crazy out of this world stuff and the director comes in, 'Cool, cool can you do more of that?' and he takes it to a whole different level. I'm like, 'Oh my God, I think Jesus is going to hate me for this. I don't want this to happen.' He's like, 'That’s the way to do it, man. Just roll with that. Just roll with it, man. Let it feed you.' At the end of the day you just pray to God that it comes out alright. I think it's alright. Seth Rogen and Jody Hill - I don’t know if you've seen Foot Fist Way, but I’m in pretty good hands."
Seth does about four takes of a scene and he says something different each time. Do you say the same line or do you add to it?
Michael Pena: "Even in drama that's the interesting thing. The dialogue doesn't change, but the action and the intention and whatever the moment gives you depending on the spontaneity of the other actor as well, that kicks in and then sometimes the dialogue changes. On this one you really have to appreciate Seth's take on it. We've done 15 takes on one thing and he says everything differently, but with a different point of view and he changes it each and every time. Me, I do pretty much the same, but not as well. He's a master at that, plus he's a writer so he's got this vocabulary. He's talking about motives or something like that…. I have no idea what that is. So I'll use that in the scene."
What's the perk of shooting in New Mexico?
Michael Pena: "I think golfing. There's literally eight of the top 10 courses are in Albuquerque or really close to it, which is probably not what you were wanting to hear."
Did you ever play with Mark Wahlberg? [Pena and Wahlberg worked together on Shooter]
Michael Pena: "I did. He's the one who actually got me started. I fiddled around with it a little bit and he was so good at beating me with such a consistent pace. I'm competitive as it is. I think I started getting better like two years after, so now I'm like a 10 handicap or something like that."
What did you start off at?
Michael Pena: "Probably like a five or six. He's smashed the ball like a long way. He's a strong guy. You've just got to not look at what he's hitting because you're going to want to go in there and blow out your back or whatever. But he's surprisingly really good."
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Observe and Report hits theaters on April 10, 2009 and is rated R for pervasive language, graphic nudity, drug use, sexual content and violence.
