62 Chart APR 2003
Nardwuar: Who are you?
Elijah Wood: I'm not really sure.
You're Elijah Wood!
EW: Yeah, yeah.
Frodo!
EW: Yeah, otherwise known as "Elwood" by friends.
And what the hall are you doing right here? You were DJing tonight Elijah.
EW: I was DJing the wrap party of a movie that a bunch
of us filmed here in Vancouver, called
Try Seventeen.
So Elijah you were in
Back To
The Future II. Back To The
Future
III
EW: Not many people know this. Nardwuar, you've done
your homework.
I'm very excited by
Back To The Future though
because did you realize Crispin Glover was shooting a movie in
town just recently?
EW: No!
Shooting the movie Willard. He was in
Back To
The Future.
EW: Two???
He was in
Back To The Future one.
EW: Oh.
I think he was in
Back To The Future II and he had to sue to get himself out of it.
EW: Yes, he was, he was.
So what were you doing in
Back To The Future II,
Elijah? That's pretty strange, you must've been
very young.
EW: I, I was young. I was eight years old, and uh it was
one of the first movies I ever did, actually, and it was
cool man. I was on, like, this futuristic set and I played a
kid trying to work
Duck Hunt. Remember the old video
game Duck Hunt? You don't remember Duck Hunt?
No I don't, help me.
EW: Aren't you a child of the '80s, or the 70s?
Maybe the '60s, eh? [laughs]
EW: No!
How old are you by the way, Elijah?
EW: How old are you?
How old are you Elijah?
EW: [very geeky laugh] I'm 21.
Welcome to Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.
EW: Thank you.
So Back To The Future
H. Crispin Glover was in town, you could have had a little reunion with him, he was
shooting the movie Willard.
EW: I could have, but I don't think he would have
remembered me, I worked for a day.
What exactly were you doing again, you were just playing a video game, that's it?
EW: Trying to work an old video game in a thing called
the Cafe 80's.
Now you're in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and you were staying at the Sutton Place Hotel under a
little assumed name. I won't give it away.
EW: Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Sutton Place seems to be
little Hollywood.
That's what I was curious about, who have you, like, bumped into since you've been in town here Elijah?
EW: Who have I bumped into? I've seen a lot of actors,
none that I can name
Like, Ivana Trump was in there?
EW: She was!
What the hell's going an there, Elijah?
EW: Franka Potente, who was working in the movie as
well, spotted her. I didn't notice her, but she [points to
nearby friend] spotted her.
So who have you bumped to in the lobby? You know in the Sutton Place. Must be some people
EW: Oh man, trying to think! I've bumped into people
but I've not said anything to them. I tend to keep to
myself. [laughs]
You've done a lot of--
EW: I'm terribly boring.
You've done a lot of exploring of record stores though. Sing the praises of Scratch Records if you could.
EW: Oh absolutely, do you want me to literally sing?
I can.
Oh if you could please Elijah.
EW: [sings] Scratch [sings an octave higher] Scraaaatch
[sings another octave higher] Scraaaaaatch
So they provided you with the Trail Of Dead records.
EW: They did, yes! And Clinic and all sorts of other
things as well. And two White Stripes bootlegs.
Really? And what other sort of music are you into? 'Cause, like, people are probably gonna freak out
when they find out you're into The White Stripes or you're into The Sonics. Are you, like, the only
Hollywood dude into The Sonics?
EW: Maybe. I hear that's your favourite band.
They are! I love The Sonics!
EW: The Sonics are awesome!
Are there any closet punkers in Hollywood, have you come across anybody with cool music tastes? Cause I
understand you want to take your music tastes and even turn it into a record label.
EW: I'd love to, eventually yeah... don't know many
actors that are that into music, to be honest.
You also went to some gigs here too, the Von Bondles!
EW: The Von Bondies! And, and the, the Soledad
Brothers who opened up for them, who I think are better.
Really? You heard it here first, from Elijah Wood!
EW: Oh God, I hope they don't hear that. I'd...oh
that's terrible.
OK, well what else would you like to sing the praises of there Elijah, like what other music did you pick up
in Vancouver? What other gigs did you go to?
EW: Ummm... haven't been to any other gigs, that's
the only gig I got to make it to but other bands... you
know I'd love to give some press to Verbena, I'm a huge
Verbena fan. Do you know Verbena?
No I don't, explain to me, please, Elijah Wood.
EW: [stifling a laugh] They are a band from Alabama.
They're very bluesy, kind of rock 'n' roll. They put out an
album in 1997 called, ummm, Souls
For Sale, it's brilliant.
And the record after that, Into The Pink, was produced
by Dave Grohl of Foo Fighters and Nirvana fame.
For Try
Seventeen,
Elijah, are you going to have any input on the soundtrack?
EW: Believe me, if there's anything I can say about it,
it's not going to be terrible.
Have there been any movies you've had an input in?
EW: Umm... no, no, there hasn't, but I do plan to do
something with this hopefully.
Now you don't like metal do you?
EW: Metal?
I heard you don't like heavy metal.
EW: I like old metal.
But I heard you don't like heavy metal, or country music or rap.
EW: Oh no, that's old news. I love rap
I'm glad you've changed.
EW: Yes, uh... I love country, actually. Old country. And
heavy metal... Black Sabbath is probably where my
heavy metal--
Exactly, that's what I was going to ask you about
EW: Yeah.
I was going to ask you about The
Osbournes,
like how could you hate metal and you were on The
Osbournes?
EW: I love the Osbournes.
Now when you got on that show, did you ever think it would end up being the number one rated show
in America?
EW: I wasn't surprised! [laughs] They're absolutely
fascinating to watch and to be a part of. They're
great people.
On that particular episode, you were cleaning up, was it, dog urine?
EW: Dog urine. Yeah. They've got many dogs that like
to shit and urinate everywhere. And uh... yeah They
urinated on the couch so I had to clean up.
And you ended up going to a Smashing Pumpkins gig, which is pretty ironic too because doesn't Sharon
Osbourne hate the Pumpkins?
EW: She hates Billy Corgan. She used to represent Billy
Corgan, and now hates him. But I actually went and saw
Zwan that night, which is Billy Corgan's new band.
Elijah Wood, here in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Did you see that the Fox Cinema had a little
presentation
of Meet The Feebles?
EW: No! When?
Yes, the Fox Cinema, an old porno theater in Vancouver,
actually they do the porno during the week and they do
Criminal Cinema on the weekends and they had a special
exclusive of Peter Jackson's Meet The
Feebles.
EW: Oh my God!
What can you tell the people about Meet The
Feebles
and Peter Jackson, Elijah?
EW: Well,
Meet The Feebles is basically the Muppets on
acid.
The Muppets doing porn.
EW: And that as well... and eating shit and all sorts of other
wonderful things. It's a really early movie of Peter Jackson's
and it's all Muppet sort of stuff.
How the hell did he get
Lord Of The Rings out of Meet
The Feebles? What an amazing indie film that is!
EW: Amazing. Amazing. And, uh,
Heavenly Creatures for that
matter. Brilliant. He's a brilliant director.
It's like all out of puppets, Meet The
Feebles too isn't it?
Do you know where he keeps those puppets?
EW: They're all housed in the WETA effects building.
WETA is a company that he made with Richard Taylor,
uh, back during
Meet The Feebles. So, they're all there.
They're all in New Zealand.
So does he shower much?
EW: [chuckles] Ummm... [laughing] yes, yes he does. I think
he has to! He works very hard.
EW: [cheesy announcer voice] Uhhh... "Hobbit And Friend Snuggle At Game! Lord Of The Rings Elijah Wood and actor Franka Potente step out for the playoffs."
I love when you open the paper it has... "He's the Lord of EW: The Rink." They just love to do those cheesy taglines in relation to that film don't they? It's fantastic. In fact, I saw an ad for tires the other day, that said "Lord Of The Rims." An ad! A big billboard ad!
That would be a good name for a porno wouldn't it?
EW: [chuckles] Yeah, right. "Lord Of The Rims." Yes.
Elijah Wood is a great porno name, isn't it?
Like "Elijah Wood" that would be a great name.
EW: Oh, the "Wood." Yes. Yes it is.
EW: I don't know whether to be offended or to go with that, but I understand
Elijah, teach me about your sword.
EW: Yes. [stifles a laugh]
EW: Yes. [stifles a laugh]
But I was just curious, can you comment on, you know what's it like when you roll into town, you go to the
hockey game, which I also understand you were a bit repulsed by, it was a bit rough, wasn't it for you?
EW: Uhh, it was a sad game. Sad game. Sad to see Vancouver lose the title.
But did you realize that you'd be, like photographed in the box, did you think that was a private box?
EW: Uh, yeah well... oddly enough, it was a press box we were sifting in, so we were kind of asking for it I
guess, but for some reason you just assume that you have some anan-ana-ananominity... Yeah,
anonymity. Um... but yeah, I don't know. It's weird to see that.
Have a lot of people come by the set of the movie? I heard like about a thousand kids have come by the set
of the movie. I know we're bugging you here at the wrap party of Try Seventeen, but did a lot of kids come
by the set?
EW: A lot of kids.
Like a thousand kids?
EW: Maybe if you counted them all throughout the entire filming schedule, probably.
And they were all looking for your autograph.
EW: Yeah. [stifles a laugh]
Were they all dressed as hobbits too, or were there any interesting people that showed up there?
EW: Well they were all, incidentally, they were all Catholic school girls.
Which is very convenient for you.
EW: [chuckles] I don't know. [giggles]
What other stuff did they present you with?
EW: [still giggling] What's that?
What other stuff did they present you with? Like did you get any neat gifts from them at all, Elijah?
EW: Yeah well... there's actually an interesting gift. Umm... [chuckles] you'll remember this. There was an interview that I had in
Rolling Stone magazine
Where you mentioned The Sea And Cake?
EW: Yes! Which I love!
It's amazing to give them props!
EW: Aww, massive props.
And The Hives too!
EW: Yeah, massive props! Good things!
And Amoeba Records in L.A.!
EW: GOOD THINGS! Have you been there?
No, I've been to the one in San Francisco and Berkeley
but not the L.A. one.
EW: L.A.!
I would love to hook up with you and go record shopping. I understand you know all the clerks there too.
EW: [laughs] I, well--
We could go to the Pasadena swap meet together, too!
EW: There you go! Anyway what was I talking about?
You were talking about the Rolling Stone article. About the gift.
EW: So all right, all right, so the gift. So in the Rolling Stone article, I mentioned this thing about Viggo
Mortensen who was in, uh, Lord Of The Rings with me and he had this fascination with the word cunt. I don't
know if this is going to air on television, I don't know if you can say that, but anyway, I described this story, the
word kind of became a joke on the set and so these girls who had read the article brought me a t-shirt that said
"Cunt-couver."
Woah!
EW: I'll never- I'll never wear that shirt, just so you know. It's your influence, you're a role model.
EW: (serious] That's terrible though [chuckles), to influence girls with something like that. But anyway, that
was their idea of being "in on the joke" but, uh, I think it offended more Vancouverites than I thought.
And some of the girls, or people, or boys... were there many boys who came by to get your autograph at
all, Elijah?
EW: Not many, thankfully.
[laughing] What do the boys usually look like?
EW: Oh... [laughs]
Aside from me.
EW: [laughing] Umm... I don't remember.
How far did they travel from, these people, to get your autograph?
EW: There was actually two girls that traveled, was it from Edmonton? Yeah two girls drove from Edmonton
to drive to the set to meet me and then literally drove right back home again. And I told them, I said, "So
you've driven all the way from Edmonton, are you gonna be in Vancouver for a couple of days and enjoy
the city?" They're, like, "No, we're gonna get right back home" and I was, like, "Well at least make it worth
your while."
[People start to appear in the kitchen] And here we have co-stars from your movie.
EW: Yes.
Introduce them please if you could there Elijah Wood.
EW: Oh, oh sorry that's my job. This is Franka Potente, and then here we have Jessica who, who provided
fantastic wardrobe for the movie.
And these are all the people gathered together here at Section Three.
EW: This is Charles, A the writer of the film [Someone in the background]: Is there anything to eat back here?
EW: [laughing] This is Julie from production. This is all the people from Try Seventeen.
Franka Potente: We want to be on TV too!
So did you also venture to Douglas Coupland's house for dinner?
EW: I was at Douglas Coupland's house for dinner, yeah.
And what was that like?
FP: Ohhhh I don't know, he didn't even cook, he didn't change... I don't know, he was a nice guy.
EW: He's a nice guy, he's a great writer.
Julie: So what did his house look like, that's the important thing?
FP: Too much art!
EW: It was very 1970s, uh...
FP: Too much, too much!
EW: [geeky laugh]
FP: Nice, nice art. He had a Brillo box from Andy Warhol.
EW: He did, that was very cool.
FP: I was impressed by that.
A pillow box from Andy Warhol?
FP: Brillo box. [laughs]
Shows how much I know, eh? [laughs]
FP: [laughs]
[to Frankal Were you "discovered" in, like, a wash room?
FP: Yes I was.
Like some guy followed you in there?
FP: Some girl followed me, a casting agent followed me.
And now you're here with Elijah Wood, starring in the movie Try
EW: Seventeen!
[to Elijah] You like sandwiches, don't you?
EW: I love sandwiches, how does he know?!
What type of sandwiches do you like? Like, I love cheese.
EW: I know you like cheese. You know, I love club sandwiches, those are my favourite.
FP: With my salami--
EW: Well she, she made this fantastic thing, the salami bagel with, basically it's
margarine, uh, salami and a-a toasted bagel.
Unbelievable.
FP: We all enjoyed the salami bagel.
EW [to Frankaj: I think you should patent that.
One day on the set of Try Seventeen I understand Blondie visited.
EW: This is true.
And what exactly did Blondie do, Franka, there with your friend
Elijah Wood?
FP: She fucking kissed him. And I wasn't there, you know.
[Some voice in background]: That bitch! [Franka then
laughs]
Elijah what was it like making out with Blondie? That's incredible! Like how old are you Elijah again?
EW: Uh... 35? 21.
And how old is Blondie?
EW: I'm not really...
57.
EW: Is she??
Like you have a wet dream fantasy scene with Blondie, that's incredible Elijah!
EW: It was very surreal, it was great.
And Try Seventeen is about?
EW: Try Seventeen is... Oh my God, it's sort of a coming of age story about this kid named Jones, who moves to
a house which is basically sublet into various apartments. And the story is basically about the relationship he has
with the tenants of this house, and what that does to his life and how that changes his life and, you know, the
journey that that takes him on, basically.
Where does the wet dream sequence fit into everything? There's a lot of
jizzing and wet dreaming going on, isn't there Elijah?
EW: Well there, there certainly is with Blondie. Urn, she plays a character
named Mom that is very voluptuous and very forward that Jones dreams about.
And you are the guy that dreams about her?
EW: Yes I am.
And you actually got to make out with her as well?
EW: Yes I did. Yeah. [geeky giggle]
Continuing on here Elijah Wood, I was curious, and again we're backstage here
with Elijah Wood, backstage at the Section Three in Vancouver, British
Columbia, Canada, at the wrap party for Try--
EW: Seventeen.
With Lord Of The Rings you all got group tattoos, didn't you?
EW: We did, yeah.
You can't show me your group tattoo from Lord Of The Rings cause it's in an awkward place, right
Prince Albert?
EW: It is. It's in a, it's in a, lower region. But we, yeah we all got tattoos. It's elvish for "9." It means the nine
members of the fellowship.
So will everybody for Try Seventeen be getting tattoos at all there, Elijah Wood?
EW: [laughs] I don't think so! Maybe down the road.
Tell me about Paula Abdul.
EW: That was the first job I ever had was a Paula Abdul video for "Forever Your Girl."
And what did you do?
EW: I played an executive at a table and I broke a pencil because I was depressed that I'd, uh, ended
a relationship.
And how old were you?
EW: Eight. And David Fincher directed the video.
Winding up here, with Elijah Wood, tell me working with Dan Quayle--
EW: Yes! In the Wavy Lays commercial!
Potato chips.
That's right. For the Super Bowl commercial. That was good fun.
Super Bowl?
EW: It was a Super Bowl commercial, yeah. He was a good sport. Cause it was the whole potato joke, because
he had misspelled potato and put and "e" on it in a classroom, so it was a way to poke fun at him and he
dealt with it very well. He was a good guy.
Elijah Wood, I know you're kind of bored of the Rings, bored of the Rings, but can I ask you something about
Lord Of The Rings?
EW: Sure.
Have there been any games associated with Lord Of The Rings? Like drinking games, I've heard that like
there's some drinking games, like every time like a hobbit cries, there's a drinking game.
EW: Is there?
Yeah have you learned about this sort of thing?
EW: No I'm sure there's there's a whole subculture of Lord Of The Rings that I don't know about.
Now Franka Potente, you're also in the movie Try Seventeen are you not?
FP: No. [laughs]
Yes you are, please don't try to get out of it that way. Now what was it like working in Blow with Pee-Wee
Herman and Anastasia Blue?
FP: Anastasia who?
Anastasia Blue, the porn star. You worked with, like, Pee-Wee Herman and a porn star, Anastasia Blue, the
ex-porn star in Blow.
FP: [laughs] Who did she play?
I'm not sure but she was in there!
FP: [laughs] Well I didn't meet her, but Pee-Wee was cool.
How much running did you do for Run Lola Run? Did you prepare a lot, did you run a lot?
FP: No.
No training?
FP: No. I smoke too much. [laughs]
I mean, right now you've got a movie coming up with Matt Damon?
FP: Yeah, The Bourne Identity.
Now what's this about the sex scenes, the sex scenes being edited out of the movie? How dare they!
FP: You and your papers! There's actually, you know what, I don't know, there's no sex scene though. There's
a kissing scene--
I heard it was edited out! I wanted to see you have sex with Matt Damon!
FP: I want to see that too! But we never shot it! [laughs]
Oh damn!
EW: I- I- I have no comment on that. I don't particularly want to see that, so--
Elijah Wood, Try Seventeen is the movie you're pumping now, however, the movie Lord Of The Rings
still rings strong with a lot of people. Some Tolkien fans have said, "I've stopped trying to figure out Elijah
Wood. He simply is 'too weird."'
EW: I take that as a compliment. I like being too weird.
What is your relationship with those super-dooper Tolklen fans? What is your relationship with
those people?
EW: Um... there's really no relationship, but uh [laughs] no, look, I think we made a movie that
was for the fans, and any of their kind of appreciation for the film and the books, I totally respect and love, so--
At the Oscars this year, were you there Franka?
FP: I was watching Elijah on the TV in L.A.
And I was watching you on the TV as well. Now what's the deal with Ian McKellan holding his boyfriend's
hand and you looking away?
FP: [to Elijah] Did you look away?
EW: I looked away?
There was a shot of you Elijah, you were looking away from Ian McKellan when he was holding his
boyfriend's hand. And I guess I was just curious of what was going though your mind at that time?
EW: I think what was going through my mind was "Oh my God there's another two hours of this."
Did you notice Jello Biafra at the Oscars?
EW: Was he there?
He was played in a little clip beforehand, one of those little vignettes. Jello Biafra was at the Oscars.
EW: Oh, he was in those, those things talking about movies and stuff.
Isn't that incredible?
Jello Biafra was there.
EW: Oh God bless Jello.
He's in your record collection too, isn't he?
EW: Uh I don't actually have any Dead Kennedys in my record collection, which is terrible.
We saw Fugazi tonight, I saw Fugazi's CD tonight.
EW: I do have some Fugazi.
And are there many other punkers in Hollywood? I asked this before, but I mean you know Jello at the
Oscars, I mean have you bumped into Rollins or any of the other punkers or anything like that?
EW: I haven't. But you know, do you know who David Cross is? Do you ever watch M-
The show, yeah, Mr. Show, yeah.
EW: Yeah have you ever interviewed David Cross?
No I have not.
EW: Good guy, you should try and interview him if he comes to Vancouver. But David Cross is a big,
kind of punk fan.
The Goonies. Sean Astin--
EW: I know where you're going with this
The Goonies!
EW: [EW laughs] Incredible! Sean Astin! Awesome. One of my all time favourite movies.
And that means you're connected to E. T. and Star Wars.
EW: [laughs] Yes I am I guess.
So there's a connection between Elijah Wood, E. T. and Star Wars and Lord Of The Rings. I mean you've
got it all!
EW: That's pretty cool. I can quit my job now.
And in the movie Lord Of The Rings, is there a scene where you can be seen in your brown shoes?
EW: I never wore shoes.
I thought there was like a scene where you were wearing shoes, like if you look really closely and you can see
brown shoes.
EW: It may have been... scale doubles. Cause we had people that were really small-
What they were paid scale to be your double?
EW: No, just really small people that were of scale for the hobbits
How could they be, I mean, no offense Elijah, but how could they be smaller than you? Cause you're
pretty small.
EW: I am pretty small Nardwuar--
Would they have--
EW: [sulky voice] Thank you for mentioning that.
I didn't mean to. I mean, uh, sorry you're big. Yeah, I mean, uh, I'm uh well actually I--
EW: I've accepted it, it's fine Nardwuar.
I'm 7 foot 5, so you're 6'1". Yes.
EW: Exactly.
Elijah Wood, winding up here, you're in Vancouver shooting Try Seventeen. You've done a lot of movies,
it's incredible, I just am so honoured to speak to you! You were in Internal Affairs.
EW: This is true.
With Richard Gere. Now I know that movie because Richard Gere had anal sex in that movie!
EW: [shocked] He did??
Yes he did.
EW: I don't remember that.
There was a scene of him coming from behind!
EW: Wow! I had no idea!
Now you also were in Black And White with Robert Downey
EW: Junior.
And you were in Paradise with Don Johnson!
EW: [chuckles] Yeah.
Now what do you remember about Don Johnson and Robert Downey Jr.?
EW Uh... Robert Downey Jr. is a brilliant uh--
Like the first thing that pops into your head about that movie, there must be some
little scene
EW: Yeah! Well there was a scene that was cut out of Black And White where Robert
Downey Jr. was actually masturbating to Michael Tyson.
You were also in The Good--
EW: Son.
With Macaulay--
EW: Culkin
Now, The Good Son, that's a weird title isn't it, because Macaulay Culkin wasn't the son and
he wasn't good, he was the nephew. What's going on there, why was it called The Good Son?
EW: Uh... because he was the son of his mother, and he, uh, maybe it was The Good Son because I'm the
good son? I don't know.
Did you go to his wedding, Macaulay Culkin's wedding?
EW: [stifling a laugh] No, no.
Have you been hanging out with him?
EW: No, I haven't seen him in years.
Are you jealous, though, Elijah Wood, 'cause Macaulay Culkin got to be in a Sonic Youth video--
EW: Yes, that is pretty damn cool. Off of, uh, which album?
"Sunday."
EW: Yes! And that was from the... what, how, what record was that? That was their last record. No, it was not their last record,
never mind, never mind. I'm sorry.
And all you got to be in was like a Cranberries and Paula Abdul video?
EW: [sulky voice] That's true.
So he's kind of beat you there, but you're gonna change everything because aren't you going to start
your own record company?
EW: I hope so, yeah I'd love to. I love music, so maybe eventually.
And well thank you very much, Elijah Wood. Anything else you'd like to add to the people out there at all?
EW: Uhhh I love BC, Canada. I do.
For the record stores.
EW: Just for the people. And it's beautiful. And Vancouver's a wonderful place, I've been here quite a lot,
so I love Vancouver.
Well thanks so much Elijah Wood. Why should people care about Elijah Wood? Why should people care?
EW: Ohhh... Nardwuar, such a self-serving answer that's gonna be. Ummm... don't know.
Because you know the Prime Minister of Canada?
EW: Do I?
Yes you do.
EW: I do?
His name is--
EW: I don't know.
Jean
EW: Pierre?
Jean Chretlen.
EW: Oh, OK.
Jean Chretien. Actually I asked that to Dan Quayle and he didn't know who the Prime Minister of Canada
was either. Must have been like the curse of the Lays commercial you were in with Dan Quayle.
EW: Well people should like me because I know Nardwuar now.
Well thanks very much, anything else you'd like to add to the people out there Elijah?
EW: Nothing else.
Try Seventeen!
EW: Try Seventeen.
Please try it.
EW: Please?
Keep on rocking the free world. And doot doola doot doo...
EW: Doot doo.
