#INTERVIEW: CHLOË GRACE MORETZ ON “IF I STAY”

Chloë Grace Moretz certainly is no stranger to Toronto having filmed and promoted her on multiple occasions. More recently, she filmed back-to-back the Carrie Remake and Kick-Ass 2 here – the latter which had per reprising the role which won the hearts of Fanboys abound, Hit-Girl. The brilliant 17-year-old Actress in nine years has built-up an impressive Résumé working from just about everyone from Martin Scorcese to Denzel Washington.  Moretz recently made a visit to the City in tandem with the 2014 MuchMusic Video Awards and we had the pleasure of chatting with the Star in Yorkville about her latest effort, If I Stay.

Based on Gayle Forman‘s popular Young Adult Novel, the Vancouver-made Film directed by R.J. Cutler (The September Issue, Nashville) certainly tugs at the heartstrings.  Moretz plays a talented young Cellist named Mia whose world is torn apart after her and her Family are impacted by deep tragedy.  She spends much of the Story in a Coma, caught between life and death and must ultimately decide her own future and fate. The Male Lead Adam is played by promising young Actor Jamie Blackley.  Aspirations and devastation separate them, but is their bond strong enough to keep them together?

Moretz, giddy after meeting Hilary Clinton at an Autograph Signing earlier in the day,  enters the room casual-chic. An Urban Outfitters Tee, J Brand Jeans and Kurt Geiger Shoes are appropriate for the low-key chat.  “I tend to dress down in every day life.  As I’m growing-up I’m trying to figure out what I like most and Fashion is an outlet.”.  She reflects on her meeting Clinton beforehand, feeling incredibly validated, “She knew If I Stay, had seen it in a newspaper and was excited it was coming out.”.  “So yeah, she knows me”, the Georgia-born Star jokes.

What is it exactly that makes Moretz stand-out from the remarkable  pool of talent in Young Hollywood, we wonder.  “I wanted to take on a Female Empowerment Character” she says, “Mia at the of the day knows her first love is the Cello which she found when she was five years old. And that’s how I am with acting. I want to portray that to young girls as someone to look up to.”.   Despite being attracted to Mia‘s innocence, she reveals “I’m not one to be a Damsel – the Woman calling on a Man to save her.”.

The Actress admits that getting into Mia‘s psyche certainly was no breeze. “Every day was a tough acting day. It was worth it. Mia was worth going the emotion for” she recalls. “Music helps me a lot to stay in-character and shoot it out.  We were shooting in an old Asylum, so the atmosphere was really heavy and that helped.”.

One of the things most remarkable about If I Stay is how completely believable Moretz is as a Cellist. An audition scene late in the Film is rather compelling and a mark of her true commitment to her craft.  She describes the musical preparation for her role explaining, “I did five months of intensive training with a Cello Coach and she was amazing. We’d Skype three hours a day. It was difficult, but I did the most I could and did the best I could”.  “At the end of the day though, you have amazing Doubles who make you look good.”.  In her estimation she thinks that one would need at least 15 years of training to play at the level which her Character Mia performed.

I ask Moretz about her experiences filming in Canada, having seen the Country from two coasts.   “In Canada, my favourite City is Toronto because the food is amazing first of all”.  She names Little Italy‘s Vivoli and also Duff’s Wings among her favourite spots.  Not to be outdone though she admits, “Vancouver was great with a really large Music scene.  It’s very Seattle, very Portland. It’s very epic. I tend to enjoy the East Coast a bit more for the City vibe.”.

Make no mistake  – despite her youthful effervescence, Moretz is a bit of an Old Soul.  Dare I say she’s actually an Introvert?  She answers each question with a wisdom beyond her years and in a nutshell understands exactly what she’s here to sell. She is asked what it is that draws people to “sappy” Movies.  She explains, “I think that nowadays people really want to feel something when they go into Movies. I think it’s because we have less interaction because we’re all living our lives, so we’re not feeling as much.”.  “Movies are becoming more and more sappy and tear-jerky.”. “Movies like this and The Fault in our Stars you walk-in and know you will get hit in the chest with a couple heavy-hitters”, says Moretz. “It’s worth it because they’re really good Movies.”.

Moretz gets candid with me when I ask her about her experience filming with some of her talented Co-Stars including the likes of Mireille Enos, Liana Liberato, Stacey Keach and of course her romantic interest in the Film, Blackley.  She has the highest praise for the latter, stating  “Jamie was such a  great guy.  It’s easy to fake a love relationship when you like someone was a Friend.”.    Liberato plays Mia‘s Best Friend Kim and says, “Liana is a good friend of mine. We had sleepovers like every weekend!”.  Enos, who has seen a significant boost in profile of late with Films like World War Z, we learn is a Nurturer.  “She is like the ultimate Mother”, says Moretz.  Jakob Davies plays her little Brother Teddy.  ” He was like a little Munchkin you can’t help but fall in love with. He is his Character.”.   “It wasn’t hard to get along with them. There wasn’t a person I didn’t like on this Movie which was weird… and great. I got lucky!”.

Our Snap:

Moretz even shared her prized Clinton Autograph with us:

 

Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release IF I STAY on Friday, August 22, 2014.

You’ve been warned to bring some a box of Tissue.

(Photo/video credit: Warner Bros./Mr. Will Wong)

 

 

#SPOTTED: JAMIE BLACKLEY + GAYLE FORMAN IN TORONTO FOR “IF I STAY”

In support of upcoming Young Adult Novel Adaptation If I Stay, the Film’s Male Lead Jamie Blackley and Author Gayle Forman have made their way to Toronto as part of a whirlwind Press Tour which have seen them and Star Chloë Moretz make numerous promotional stops across North America everywhere from Shopping Malls to Cupcake Shops.

The touching Vancouver-filmed Drama centers on a young girl named Mia (Moretz) whose world crumbles one day after tragedy strikes. She is an aspiring Cellist on the verge of admission to prestigious Juilliard and her beloved Soulmate Adam (Blackley) also is the Frontman in an up-and-coming Rock Band. Stuck between life and death, ultimately she must make the most difficult decision of choosing her own destiny.

Blackley and Forman surprised Fans at a special Promo Screening of If I Stay last night. Although tearful, Fan reactions still were joyous that the Adaptation is just as resonant emotionally as the Bestseller it is based upon.

Then Duo are slated for multiple interviewstoday and one of their scheduled Stopoffs was at Global Television‘s The Morning Show (National Edition) where they were greeted outside the Studio by Fans. Although rushed, the British Star still made time for everybody, signing Autographs generously and snapping Selfies. Multi-talented (he has quite the musical ability) Blackley’s star certainly is on the rise appearing more recently in Box Office Smash Snow White and The Huntsman and he has caught the meticulous eye of Woody Allen, starring in the Visionary’s next as-yet-untitled release.

In cased you missed them, Forman and Blackley both appear tonight at Indigo Yonge & Eglinton, 7 PM.

 

More Snaps: 

 
Warner Bros. Pictures Canada release If I Stay on Friday, August 22, 2014. 

Check back next week for our lovely Chat with Moretz!

 

(Photo credit: Mr. Will Wong)