|
|
|
A few weeks ago, I got an email from a very nice woman named Ren� Ridinger, who told me she'd been a big fan of TWoP for years. She also told me that she just happened to be the publicist for Jason Dohring (Logan Echolls). Intrigued by where she could possibly be going with this, I kept reading. She very graciously offered me the opportunity to interview Jason, and after the holidays passed and I was able to find some time to put together some questions, Jason generously gave me about an hour and a half on one of his days off to produce the following. I certainly hope it will help rehabilitate his horrible image in the forums. Seriously, why don't you guys like him?
Actually seriously, Jason thanked me for talking to him, and confessed to being nervous for this interview, because this one means a lot to him. As you'll see, he had little reason to worry.
Couch Baron: You have a pair of twin brothers and a pair of twin sisters, if I'm not mistaken.
Jason Dohring: That's right. Jon and Robert are twenty-two -- they go to Occidental College, and are basically the diving team over there. There aren't many divers on the team, but they usually finish first and second in all the dive meets, so they're pretty good. ["Jason's sisters, Kirsten and Kelsey, are eighteen." -- CB]
CB: What was it like being the only non-twin in the family?
JD: You know, I didn't know any different. It was great -- I have a really great family and I still live at home -- I have an apartment down in San Diego, but my wife and I kind of have a little part of the house in L.A.
CB: Cool. You and your brothers and your sisters, I've read, all got into commercial acting at the same time -- being twins was your siblings' "in."
JD: Yeah, that's right -- with young kids, you can only work them three hours per day, so with twins they could use one for three hours and then the other for three more hours.
CB: And you went along for the ride.
JD: That's right!
CB: Do any of your brothers and sisters still act?
JD: Not really. ["Irony!" -- CB]
“ You know what? I don't think Logan's ever going to redeem himself, personally. I don't think he's going to make any drive to become better. ”
CB: What's it like having Rico [Colantoni] along on those trips? Is he like the dad of the group?
JD: That's exactly right. He's just the total father and just...he so allows people to be who they are. It's so nice to be in his space and just talk to him. I don't know...he's so caring, so wants to know how you're doing. He's our only adult, really, but he's such a kid in some ways. I think he keeps it all under control and together, you know?
CB: Awesome. Now, getting back to your character: we talked a little bit earlier on where his worldview is at the moment. You mentioned a sort of beaten-down apathy, and a lot of the posters have complained that so much bad stuff has happened to your character. In fact, on more than one occasion, it's seemed like Logan's entertained the thought of suicide. Do you think Logan now has a "me against the world" attitude?
JD: I think...yeah, I would say that, to some degree, you know, because he doesn't think that anyone understands him. Because, like you said earlier, people think they're right. Nobody thinks this kid is right but him. I think Veronica understands certain reasons...certain of his backstory that's made him be the way he is. I think she's the only person, because it's like, who the fuck gets this guy, man?
CB: Yeah. So do you think Logan retains any optimism at this point? Or do you think something good is going to have to happen to him, something passive, before he gets to that point?
JD: You know what? I don't think he's ever going to redeem himself, personally. I don't think he's going to make any drive to become better. If somebody were to step in and understand him, sit and listen to him, then I think he could come out of it, and I think that's where Veronica has the only power to do that, because he's not going to go, he's never going to admit, "Oh, I'm wrong, I want to change my ways," but with kindness and understanding, I think he could be brought to that realization.
CB: One other point about your character that I mentioned earlier is that he's impulsive. Do you ever see him sort of learning to plan ahead and think before he talks, or do you think he'll always be kind of a hothead?
JD: When I get the concept of the kind of character he is, I think he's going to say whatever's on his mind...impulsive behavior, less calculated to deceive somebody. I mean, he's good at scheming, I think -- that scene in the car with his dad in "Return Of The Kane" showed that. And he really understands people's feelings. He understands being the outcast -- he can understand anybody's situation, even though that might not be reflected in his actions.