Tommy2: Hey it’s Tommy2 and joining us today we’ve got Zachary Gordon to talk with us about his new film, Diary of A Wimpy Kid Dog Days, which will be released in theaters next week. So what’s up man?
Zachary Gordon: Oh, I’m doing great! How about you?
Tommy2: I am doing good myself, enjoying the summer. Now first off, I wanted to say congratulations…. since the last time we spoke was prior to Roderick Rules and you told me that you were hoping it would do well so you could do a third film. You got your wish may!
Zachary Gordon: Yeah, I’m really fortunate for that. You know it’s great filming this movie and I had a really great time.
Tommy2: Yeah, it’s pretty amazing how far the Diary of a Wimpy Kid film franchise has gone since the first film opened in March of 2010?
Zachary Gordon: Yeah, you know it’s really become a great family series and it’s turned out way better than I really, you know… it was really so much fun to make these movies and the story is just great and everyone can relate to it.
Tommy2: So tell us, what can we look forward to in Dog Days?
Zachary Gordon: Well obviously, the first two didn’t really take place during summer vacation and the third one does, which is really awesome. And Greg’s idea of a perfect summer is, he wants to play video games of course like every teenager and you know he wants sleep in and eat a lot of junk food and watch TV. But his Mom’s idea is obviously not exactly what Greg’s idea is, so she really wants him to spend time with his Dad and really bond. And it obviously doesn’t appeal to both of them, I mean Frankie and Greg really have struggled in the past with bonding but, you know obviously the try to make an attempt and it turns out to backfire you know most of the time for Greg. But Greg then realizes I have to do something to really impress them, so what would be better than getting a job? But Greg really doesn’t get a job, he just says that he has a job and he fakes it that he works at a country club. But, eventually the fib gets him into a lot of trouble and it’s not exactly what he thought would happen.
Tommy2: And of course you’re returning with the cast we’ve all grown familiar with in the previous films. That’s gotta be such a nice luxury for everyone to know each other and the characters so well when you begin production.
Zachary Gordon: You know it’s great because when you come back to Vancouver after like a year or so, it’s kind of like a family reunion and you know just seeing all the cast and everything really. It helps me personally get back into character, just immediately, and you know I’ve had so much fun with the cast members over the last three films. It’s been such an incredible experience and you know, I’m glad that everyone was so nice and cordial and you know I’ve really built relationships that I will keep with me for the rest of my life.
Tommy2: And you mentioned shooting the film in Vancouver there and this is a film that’s supposed to take place over summer. You probably didn’t shoot it over summer, so were there a few season there where you guys were actually freezing and you were trying to portray it was warm?
Zachary Gordon: Well actually we started shooting in August with each one of them, so it was somewhat in the summer but, when it turned towards October late September it was cold. We got to wear our jackets and it would be raining but you know it really still did turn out great and it’s looking great.
Tommy2: When you were shooting Dog Days what scene did you enjoy doing the most?
Zachary Gordon: Ooh… you know I’ve had so much fun filming all these scenes, I have many favorite scenes but just one in particular is the country club scene. I had so much fun in between takes, you know Robert Chapin and I we would be filming our video horror films in the bathroom in between takes and you know, be really fun. And I actually got a ride a golf cart, not for the first time but I kind of got to have a little fun, but uh yeah, and I actually love tennis so it was cool learning how to play tennis and it was fun that I got to play with the cast members as well.
Tommy2: Now honestly, when I look at the trailer I see you at the pool at amusement parks and doing a lot of fun stuff. How many times do you say to yourself, I’m getting paid to do all this fun stuff?
Zachary Gordon: You know, when I film I don’t really think of that. You know I just do it for the amazing experience and the opportunities I have. You know, I learn so much and I’m so thankful for it. You know, I’ve been lucky enough to work with such amazingly talented people and the cast and crew were great and you know it’s just an experience that I will keep with me for the rest of my life, I’ll really treasure it.
Tommy2: You mentioned learning tennis for this new film, with the last film you mentioned you learned roller skating for the film and I thought it was interesting cause when I looked at your knew bio of the things you enjoy it said roller skating. So I take you you’ve been doing a lot of that in last year?
Zachary Gordon: Yeah, I mean it’s so much fun but I recently broke my leg. I got the cast off thankfully but I had that on for 3 months. I have to wear a boot now, but yeah I couldn’t roller skate for a bit of time but still, you know I’m somewhat… I still have it, I can roller skate somewhat. Not as well as I could in Vancouver but I’m getting my skills back… my somewhat skills that I had in Vancouver.
