A.I.: Artificial Intelligence : Interview With Haley Joel Osment


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In Sixth Sense, the (1999) the international blockbuster that made him a star, Haley Joel Osment played a hyper-sensitive kid who could see dead people. By contrast, in A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001), the hush-hush project and eagerly awaited new film from Steven Spielberg, Osment plays a robot named David.

But David isn't simply a cold piece of machinery devoid of any human feelings or emotions. He is the first robotic child programmed to be able to love, and is adopted by a couple (Sam Robards and frances O'Connor).

Although he gradually is accepted as their flesh-and-blood son, his new mother ultimately deserts him, stranding him in a hostile world, alone except for his supertoy Teddy. David sets out on an adventure of self-discovery, which is when he meets up with another 'mecha,' or mechanical robot, the aptly named Gigolo Joe, played by Jude Law. Hardly anything has been revealed about 'A. I. ' so far, but Osment is finally talking - now that the director's strict gag order on all his actors has been lifted.

Curled up on a sofa in a suite in the Four Seasons hotel in Beverly Hills, and dressed casually in a patterned shirt and khakis, the Oscar-nominated star (for his riveting performance in Sixth Sense, the (1999)) looks even younger than his 13 years. But once he opens his mouth, he comes across as a very smart kid.

Here, Joel talks for the very first time about his big new film and playing a robot, working with Spielberg, his love of lizards, and the price of fame.

Why was Steven so secretive about this film?

I think Steven has been so secretive about it for a lot of reasons, and a big one has to do with his respect for Stanley Kubrick. Stanley was very secretive about all of his films, and he would have been the same way with 'A. I. '

Were you nervous about working with him?

When I first got the role, I thought I'd be very nervous. I really didn't know what to expect from him. But once I went in and met him, I immediately felt very relaxed, and then once I got on the set, he made it all so easy. He's just a great person as well as a great director. There's so much you can learn from him, and I learned a lot. The biggest surprise was how easy it was to work with him.

What was it like playing a robot?

Playing David was hard work, but I had a lot of fun also, and the more we got into shooting and the more I got into the character, the more enjoyable it became. Every day was an adventure with this character, owing to how unique he was. We began with obvious things such as his body movements and his way of perceiving the world around him. Then we took those elements and gradually diluted them as the film progresses, so that you see David become less mechanical and more human. But we also kept some of his robotic characteristics through the whole story, so that you're always aware that he's still a robot underneath everything he learns.

What about all the makeup? Was that uncomfortable?

Yeah, there was about half an hour, but it wasn't really uncomfortable. Jude had about two hours of make-up to do, more than I, but I got pretty used to the make-up after a couple of weeks, even after a few days, because we had done some tests before shooting the movie.

What was it like working with Jude Law for the first time?

I couldn't have had a better co-star. He'd come to the set with a smile on his face every day, completely prepared, and even though he had to sit through two or three hours' of makeup every day, he never complained once.

Would you like to have your own robot?

That'd definitely be very useful for doing practical things (laughs), but I'd have to see it first since I've had so much experience with robots now.

I don't find them scary at all, just very interesting. I've learned so much about that whole world doing this film, and we're starting to see that the mechas of today could easily evolve into robots that could be very similar to the ones like David in 'AI. ' That capability was definitely the most interesting to me, as it really is a glimpse into the future.

Obviously two of the main themes of the piece are love of family and love for other people. How important is your family to you?

Very important. Their support and care is the reason that I'm able to stay working. I would never have come this far without their support.

What do you think you inherited from your dad?

He taught me everything I know about acting and helped me keep doing it today and I think that kind of skill I got from him.

What about from your mom?

My mom is a teacher and both of them sort of helped me get interested in being creative and encouraged me to read a lot and that sort of stuff. Some of the stuff has really got me interested in the whole art of acting.

Is it true you really love lizards?

Yeah, I have two of them from Pakistan, leopard ghekos. I keep them in my backyard.

Any other pets?

About a year ago we had a ton but they had all reached a certain old age, so they died and we've been pretty busy lately and haven't reached out to get more. But I have a dog named Asuki and she's old, 14 now.

So what do you like to do when you are not working?

Lots of sports, golf, basketball and I really enjoy just being outdoors, period. Bike riding, walking around, play video games on the computer like other kids, all kinds of stuff like that. I also enjoy building models and stuff like that.

A lot of child actors don't make a successful transition into the adult world of acting, but is that something that you would like to do, to keep acting?

I would say yeah, making that transition towards being an adult actor from child roles to more adult roles would be something I'm extremely interested in and I can't wait to try out roles like that. With an eye on other roles that I've been doing recently that development has become very important to me, and I would say for me to take on more challenging and more adult roles is a priority.

Enough about acting. You must have made tons of money by now.

(Laughs) Not really.

What do you spend it on?

All that goes to the bank for college, so I don't use that. No, not yet.

*What will you study at college?

Film, drama and stuff like that, along with probably something to do with wildlife, because aside from being on either side of the camera perhaps later,
perhaps I might pursue another career that I might find in college.

But you must have been able to buy something big and extravagant?

No. Nothing.

Do you go to school or are you tutored when you make movies?

I go to normal school and when I'm on the set I have a tutor that teaches me the same things that other kids will be learning in my school.

Is it difficult with friends? Are they jealous?

No, not really, because all my friends understand what goes on when I'm away and they're always interested on what goes on. I couldn't tell anyone about this film which was a little bit weird, but they understand.

It must be difficult to bottle that up.

Yes, it is, but it's cool because it's good that people be anticipating what comes out of this film.

Do you ever feel you missed out on a normal childhood because you are so busy working?

No, because most of the year I am having my own home life and having that go on is important to me, having a normal life at home and most of the year is made up of that so I don't think I've missed anything.

You've had an amazing career so far and now you're a big star. Do you throw tantrums?

(Laughs) No.

You just do what you're told?

I'm just trying to be good.

You must have some other ambitions that you would like to fulfill as well as the acting?

Yeah, I'd like to travel when I get older. Traveling today is great, and because of publicity and stuff I've had the opportunity to go around the world, overseas, and that might just be one of the things I do for fun.

What has been your favorite place to visit?

I don't know, but the place I've been to the most is Japan, for press. Twice for sixth Sense, the (1999) and for Play it Forward (2000) once and now for 'A. I.' So it's the fourth time going and I shot a film for two months in Poland and so I spent most of my time there. But I like all over Europe, and it's hard to choose a favorite place out of France and England and those places.

Do you speak any foreign languages?

Just like a few words, but hopefully I'll be taking Spanish next year.

Do you have a girlfriend?

Not yet.

Do you read your fan mail? Do you get letters?

Yeah, I get some. I sign a picture or two every once in a while, stuff like that.

What kind of movies do you like to see?

A wide variety. Anything good, from classics to action adventure today, comedies, stuff like that. There's really no type that I like specifically. It all depends on what I feel like if I'm looking for a movie for enjoyment.

What is your favorite food?

I like Chinese food, that's something I like most.

You should be going to China

Yeah, but I haven't been there yet.

You don't like japanese food?

Some of it, some of it is good, but I consistently eat Chinese food.

Do you paint or draw?

Yeah, I love to draw and stuff like that. I'm taking art.

What do you enjoy so much about acting?

Just being able to play another person. You can learn more about yourself when you are acting and that is where the enjoyment is through doing the acting itself. Being able to sift through all those feelings and through different characters and everything and reading scripts about literature, those pieces that you find and stories like that. It's sort of being part of the story which is great fun.

How old are you now?

I'm thirteen.

When is your birthday?

April the 10th.

What have you discovered about yourself so far?

There's a lot that you can't find without a certain searching, getting inside yourself that you wouldn't use in normal life. You have the ability to go through all kinds of phases and places. There's a larger scope of possibilities than what you would make normal use of yourself.

So you discover that you are able to do tons of surprising things.

Yeah.

Do you like going to school still?

Yeah I enjoy it and I do pretty well. I keep up with my studies, that's pretty important.

Isn't it hard to separate the two lives?

No, not too hard because I'm in school more than I am on the set every year so I really value my education.

Who have you met that is famous that really impressed you?

A lot of people. Hard to choose one, especially ones working on a film. That's been cool because I've made some friends on lots of films that are gonna last a long time

Do you still speak to Steven Spielberg?

Oh yeah, I still talk to him. It will be really cool when this film finally comes out.

What else are you doing? Aren't you doing some voice overs?

Yeah, I did 'Jungle Book II,' I did some singing on that too. That will probably come out sometime this year or early next. I also did a film called 'The Bears' and that is a parody of the music industry and that will come out sometime next year.

Was it your first time singing for 'Jungle Book'?

No, I've done some singing for voice overs before, and for 'Bears' I also did a voice over for a bear and that movie is a mixture of live action and computer effects.

Do you like singing?

Yeah, it's cool. I'm ok at it.

Do you like music? Who is your favorite group?

REM.

What type of music do you like best? Do you play an instrument?

There's not one type I like, probably just alternative you know, just rock.

No, I don't play an instrument I'm going to be learning piano this summer and eventually I want to learn guitar.

 

You said you like sports. What do you play?

I play basketball and golf. Those are my two best sports, although I like football too.

So do you follow Tiger Woods?

Yeah, but he's not doing so well right well.

Have you ever seen a ghost?

No.

Do you believe in ghosts?

To a degree. Doing sixth Sense, the (1999) is one of those films that sort of makes you wonder if it is possible.

Was that a great experience?

It was. It was fun. That was one of the darker films that I've done although 'AI' has dark qualities.

Would you call 'AI' a dark film?

Not completely, because there are some good parts, there are some light moments, there are some inspirational things in this movie.

Do you think David becomes human in the end?

Well, I wouldn't want to give too much away there. I have the opinion, I do think think that he makes the jump beyond just being artificial.

Was this the hardest film you've ever done?

Probably, but it's hard to say that because all the films I've done are different and this film had its different unique qualities than other films I've done before.

Do you cry at movies?

No, not really, not too much. There are a lot of sad films out there, but I never cry.

What is the best film you've seen recently?

I haven't seen that many films this year. I loved Shrek (2001).

Is it weird seeing yourself up there on a big screen or are you used to it?

I guess I'm fairly used to it. It's not too weird.

Would you ever like to do theatre work?

I would love to. I did some plays at school recently. I did an Agatha Christie play and 'A Midsummer Night's Dream. ' So, yeah, that would be fun.

Do you get a lot of people or friends asking you if they can be in your movies?

Not too much actually. I get recognized every once in awhile, but not too much of that.

Do you get bothered on the street?

Every once in a while I get recognized, but not too much. And it's good to talk to people like that because they are the ones that sit in theatres and make the movie popular.

So all this fame, it hasn't gone to your head yet?

No, my parents are doing a good job of keeping my feet on the ground.

Well you seem very normal.

(Laughs) Thanks

Author : FeatsPress