(Photo courtesy of Paramount Pictures)Nickelodeon small-screen star Victoria Justice is making the switch to the big screen with her new movie “Fun Size” in theaters Oct. 26. The State Press recently joined a conference call with Justice to talk about the movie, her acting aspirations and working with Chelsea Handler.
The State Press: I know that for the past few years, you’ve been working on TV and people absolutely love you on TV. Do you think that this love for you will translate into movies?
Victoria Justice: I hope the love translates into movies. I think that where I want to take my career path, I want to hopefully do more film and also, you know, the music career outside of Nickelodeon. I hope people go to see (the movie) and I hope they love it. Fingers crossed, I guess.
SP: I know that you've enjoyed a lot of success up to this point in your career on television shows like “Zoey 101” and “Victorious,” but this is your first-ever lead in a featured film. What were any unexpected challenges that came with that lead role?
VJ: This is a very good question. I'm drawing a blank at this moment. I don’t — there wasn’t really anything — any huge, crazy, crazy challenges that I came across when making “Fun Size.”
You know, I feel like I was in really good hands with working with Josh (Schwartz) and I'm also, you know, was very privileged to work with a super talented cast; especially the young adults that I spend most of my scenes with. I think they're so great — Jane Levy and Osric Chau. We all became really comfortable together.
Unexpected challenges, I don’t know. I think the biggest challenge with making "Fun Size" maybe was the fact that it pretty much all takes place at night.
I had to kind of readjust my entire schedule and my call times would be like 6 p.m. and then as soon as it got dark, (we would) start shooting and then as soon as the sun came up, we would stop shooting and I would go to sleep, and we would do it all over again. As far as being an actress and taking on this role, I don’t know if there are any unexpected challenges.
SP: Is your character in the film, Wren, anything like you?
VJ: You know, I don’t know if we're necessarily similar. I think Wren is — she's kind of dealt with a lot, especially in her home life. She (has) a little bit of teen angst towards her mom.
They have kind of a broken relationship because my mom, played by Chelsea (Handler), is now dating this younger guy and because of that, my character has all this responsibility of taking care of my little brother, Albert, so, I don’t know if we're really similar.
I do think there are some similarities, but nothing that really stands out to me to be honest with you.
SP: When offered a movie role, are there any specific aspects that attract you to a certain role?
VJ: The first thing is a great script. That's what really attracts me to a role and a great character that is someone that's unique and interesting, and has meat to it and not just like a fluffy role — something with depth. I think that attracts me to a script and a role and then, obviously, the director and the other actors that are attached to the project also have a lot to do with it.
SP: What was it like to work with Chelsea Handler?
VJ: We only had a few scenes, so we only worked together — I want to say — three days out of the two and a half months or so in the movie, but the time that I did get to spend it with her was really cool.
People were expecting me to say like, "Oh yeah, Chelsea's crazy and it was like a party and there was lots of blah," but when we were working together, we were both like very focused and very professional and doing our best performance in the scene, so we were both there as actresses to give our best job.
She's definitely funny and cool, and she would (improv) a few lines here and there that were totally hilarious and out there.
She was great to work with (and) she does a really great job in the film.
SP: Do you have a really memorable moment from the set, like something crazy that happened?
VJ: Something crazy that happened. Gosh, I don’t know, one of the most memorable nights would have to be the scene where the chicken falls on top of the (yellow Volvo). That was a pretty crazy night and it was very interesting to see that all taking place.
It's a pretty huge stunt and I had no idea how they were going to pull it off — how they were going to have this chicken thrust against the car. I didn’t even think it was going to be possible, but they did, and that was pretty crazy.
Reach the reporter at okhiel@asu.edu
