NAPOLEON DYNAMITE Q&A with actor JON HEDER Movie Interview by Neils Hesse

You regarded this as a role of a lifetime, why? Well it is my first full length feature film and it is such a great character that I might forever be known as Napoleon Dynamite, I might never be able to top it. The body language of your character was so outrageously accurate, how did you do it? Well I drew a lot of inspiration from my younger brothers and I had to realise that Napoleon physically has no balance, is horrible at sports, is socially awkward and runs like an idiot. Who decided that the wave hairstyle in the film shouldn’t become permanent for you? It was for a while, I liked playing with it after PELUCA, which is a short film we did initially, so we permed it again and I looked like a lion. What was it like when you went out with the hair? I never really went out, I washed it very little as we didn’t want to lose the look. I hardly ever walked out in the outfit. Did you exist in the sort of clique that Napoleon exists in the film when you were in High school? I was a geek not a sports jock. I have a twin brother, I was in between but the difference was that I knew what I was, Napoleon doesn’t have a clue. Any hopes of a franchise? He easily has potential and I think that fans wanna see more. When we made it we just hoped it would be bought someday, so as for a franchise we will just have to wait and see, but I would not mind playing Napoleon again. Considering how things are constantly changing maybe you should do it sooner rather than later? Idaho won’t change anytime soon, but I have got to do it before I get fat. Is the scene where the cow is shot in a field in front of a bus full of children based on something that actually happened? Yes. It is some farmer who took his cow out into a field and a school bus just happened to be passing by when he decided to shoot it. Why is America so enamored with the nerd? People are sick of the emphasis on being pretty and I think celebrating the nerd liberates young people and it was very liberating for me. What was it like for you personally when you first tried to ask a girl out on a date? It was very awkward I sent her a pine cone. At dances I always wanted to ask girls to dance but I was too scared. Is your next film going to be very different? I have had some offers I still want to do more comedy but some drama would be good as well. Who inspires or inspired you from a comedy point of view? I love Jim Carrey, Dana Carvey, Jack Black and THE SIMPSONS. Who would you play in THE SIMPSONS? The dorky kid with the glasses. Were you star struck at the premiere and what did you think of the audience reaction to the film? Well I met some famous people who liked the film and it was cool. Initially I think that most young people loved it but the older people took some time to get the humor. I hear that there are now steak throwing contests thanks to the scene where I get one right in the face. Talking about that scene how painful was it? It was hard, we did a couple of takes and one of them hit me in the armpit so Jon said that it would be easier for him to get it right if he threw it hard and he was right but it hurt real bad. Was it hard to stay in character? The Rex Kwan Doe scene was hard for me to keep a straight face and the Llama feeding scene was hilarious for me. Continued on page 2

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