Final Transcript

 

  

  MEREDITH CORPORATION: Greek/Jacob Zachar Q&A

    March 25, 2008/3:00 p.m. EDT

                       

 

SPEAKERS

 

Chrissy Fehskens

Jacob Zachar

 

 

PRESENTATION

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our first question is from Ken Gold with Media Boulevard.  Please go ahead.

 

K. Gold                       Alright.  Thanks a lot, Jacob.  I really appreciate your time today.

 

J. Zachar                     Alright.  How are you doing, man?

 

K. Gold                       Good, good.  How are you?

 

J. Zachar                     Good, good.

 

K. Gold                       ThatÕs not my question.  My question was—first question was, the show looks like itÕs a lot of fun to do, like you guys have a lot of fun.  I was just wondering if you could talk about whatÕs been your best experience so far in filming or in actually doing the show?

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  You know, just meeting everybody for the first time and remembering how we were for the first table read for the pilot and just the journey that everyone has been on individually and to where weÕre at now.  We all have our individual careers in mind, but the overall experience that I really appreciate is that everyone is working together to help each other individually, but also by making this show itself amazing too, because itÕs definitely the roots of where we're going to go from here. 

 

Everyone is on the same plane personality wise and career wise.  I think in that sense itÕs been a great experience because you can bring such an ensemble of diversity together, especially when everyone is in their prime age of 21 and 25.  And especially being in Los Angeles, there are a lot of temptations and being able to go to work everyday together is a great thing.

 

K. Gold                       Alright.  Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     YouÕre welcome.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Sandie Sahakians with DaemonÕs TV.  Please go ahead.

 

S. Sahakians                Hello, Jacob.  Thanks for talking with us today.

 

J. Zachar                     Hello.

 

S. Sahakians                My question was about Rusty.  I was wondering what is in store for him this new season.

 

J. Zachar                     Rusty is—well he just got back from break and his first girlfriend has just broken off and he is in a little depressed state right now.  So youÕre going to see him coping around trying to start new relationships and try and get back in order with school as far as the classes go.

YouÕre going to see his friendship with Calvin bloom a little better because theyÕre going to start noticing their own differences together.  YouÕre going to see a lot of stuff with Calvin.  YouÕre going to see Rusty hanging out with more of the pledges this time around.  I think more fraternity stuff with him also.  So he has got a lot of open story lines.  I think weÕre going to leave all the love stuff for the older kids.  But maybe heÕll surprise you by the end of the episodes in there.

 

S. Sahakians                Well, thanks.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Kendra White with Side Reel.  Please go ahead.

 

K. White                     Hello.  Since both you and your character are from—grew up in Chicago, I was wondering what you pull in about how you grew up in Chicago into your character.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  I guess the first thing I had on my mind when I was reading it was Boy Scouts and along with that stereotype comes a lot of morality, values and some sort of traditional feelings that some people don't have these days.  So I think in that sense I got Rusty coming from Chicago, being in the Midwest, you have more of a family sense, a more sincere character.  He doesnÕt have the East Coast, West Coast stereotype along with him.  In that way he will be accepted by anybodyÕs opinions because heÕs just a very honest person.

 

K. White                     Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Emily Dodi with ABC Family.com.  Please go ahead.

 

E. Dodi                        Hello, Jacob.  Thanks for taking our calls.  You answered my question a little bit, but maybe if you could develop it further.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes, yes.

 

E. Dodi                        The question is if youÕre at all like Rusty in real life or if you had to start from scratch in developing the character, or got inspiration from someplace else?

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  I think deep down I am pretty similar to Rusty, and as cool as I try to act, I think it will only help the character or presents itself because itÕs definitely not going—I know itÕs the correct way I try to do it.  But, yes, I find a lot of similarities between the situations he gets himself in as far as I do too.  My favorite episode is the sport thing.  As awkward as I may have looked playing sports, I love it.  Performing the hockey episode is one of my favorites, for example.

 

E. Dodi                        Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is a follow-up question from Ken Gold with Media Boulevard.  Please go ahead.

 

K. Gold                       Thanks.  I was wondering, could you ever see yourself in real life being a part of a fraternity?

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  I think I would, actually, if I had gone to, maybe, an out-of-state school where I really didn't really know anybody.  I was always very outgoing but honestly I could probably see myself going to more of like the Omega Kai fraternity.  I guess more like the formal and Kai fraternity.  I don't know, I'm more like streamlined with rules myself and I like to have bigger guidelines than have more party atmospheres.  But while I'm at work I get to explore the other side of the personality.

 

K. Gold                       Okay.  Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes, youÕre welcome.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is a follow-up question from Sandie Sahakians with DaemonÕs TV.  Please go ahead.

 

S. Sahakians                I was wondering how you got into acting, actually.

 

J. Zachar                     It started a long time ago.  I started off by doing theater and taking a couple years just learning the basics of everything.  The main reason I wanted to start was just when youÕre at a certain age when youÕre not really being accepted by a lot of people around you, you tend to try to figure things out with why arenÕt you being accepted if youÕre just as far as your opinions go.  Acting allowed me to get up in front of people and perform a different person and not be myself for an hour and half to two hours onstage.

 

Thinking back, thatÕs probably back in sixth or seventh grade and now I'm 21 going on 22.  To see where that original mentality blossomed to now is just amazing in my eyes.  I started way back when, when I didn't really know which direction I wanted to go so I just stuck with it.

 

S. Sahakians                Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     YouÕre welcome.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is a follow-up from Kendra White with Side Reel.  Please go ahead.

 

K. White                     Last night we saw Rusty pushing Cappy to get the idea of getting back together with Casey back in his head, so I'm wondering if now with RustyÕs love life on the racks, if Casey is going to be a project for him.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  That was one of the funny lines that I like youÕre trying to flip out your sister.  Yes, I—yes, Rusty is on the rocks.  The first episode that you guys saw last night, itÕs rough, man.  EveryoneÕs in a really rough boat right now and yes, youÕre going to see Rusty trying to maybe forget about the love stuff, like I said, and maybe just be supportive of the older kids for now.  HeÕs got—I think Rusty needs to have a little fun before he starts getting stuck in those love triangles.

 

K. White                     Thanks.

 

Moderator                   Thank—

 

J. Zachar                     What was that?

 

Moderator                   Thank you. 

 

J. Zachar                     Hello—oh, okay.

 

Moderator                   Our next question is from Emily Dodi with ABC Family.com.  Please go ahead.

 

E. Dodi                        Hello, again.

 

J. Zachar                     Hello.

 

E. Dodi                        Hello.  I wanted to know if youÕre still with your band, Megaband?

 

J. Zachar                     No.  That was a band I was in in Chicago and I'm actually—if I get some time off from work, the next project I'm starting is another band.  ItÕs going to be a funk band.  So when we get some shows coming around—the name right now is called Superfly TNT.  So if I get some dates for some shows maybe I can send some invites out to everybody, if youÕre in the mood to dance, drink, punk and funk.  Yes, I donÕt know.  If you come out to the show though IÕll let you guys know what happens with that.

 

E. Dodi                        Great.  Thank you.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Ken Gold with Media Boulevard.  Please go ahead.

 

K. Gold                       Thanks.  I was wondering.  Could you talk about some of the projects that you have going on outside of Greek?  I saw several things on your IMDb profile coming up.

 

J. Zachar                     Oh, right, right, right.  Well I shot two independent films when I lived in Chicago about a year and a half ago before I moved out here.  One was called Drunk Boat.  ItÕs a Mr. Mutt Production who did Ghost World and Art School Confidential and Juno.  ItÕs still in post production.  ItÕs been about two or three years since we shot that.  It was with John Malkovich and John Goodman.  It was a very independent Indy script.  I really donÕt know any dates on that one.

 

With the independent world itÕs kind of hard just with financing.  ItÕs not as simple as being in a big budget movie.  There are a lot of people who have a say in what direction they want the film to go in.  Ultimately it comes down to the writer and if heÕs happy or not with the final product.  So I think the movie is on the rocks right now.

 

And the other one, Little Big Top, is pretty close to coming out.  We were trying to get a premiere at the Egyptian out here for it.  I did see a screening of it and it should be is some select cities out here.  ItÕs an all ages movie with É the devilÕs rejects.  HeÕs really a scary clown character in those movies but he actually opens himself up in our movie and has a little bit more heart.  Richard Riehle, who has done tons of movies, heÕs in Office Space and a few others you might know of.  He is in it also.  So when I get some dates IÕll let everybody know.  So right now itÕs Greek World.

 

K. Gold                       Okay.  Great.  Thanks.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Sandie Sahakians with DaemonÕs TV.  Please go ahead.

 

S. Sahakians                I was wondering who your favorite character on Greek is, except for—

 

J. Zachar                     My favorite—favorite character.  If I wasnÕt playing Rusty I would love to play Cappy.  HeÕs a goofball.  He has a lot of freedom in his character.  But I think my favorite—I donÕt know if youÕve seen the DVD.  I did audition for Dale.  That was the first original character I had gone out for.  So I think my favorite is ClarkÕs portrayal of Dale.

 

S. Sahakians                Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     YouÕre welcome.

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Emily Dodi with ABC Family.com.  Please go ahead.

 

E. Dodi                        Hello.  This is a follow-up question to the music question.

 

J. Zachar                     Sure.

 

E. Dodi                        Who are your musical influences?

 

J. Zachar                     Oh, man.  I grew up—my mom and dad, when I was growing up listening to a lot of Zeppelin and my mom was a disco crasher.  She has a lot of the Sisters, Aretha Franklin and KoKo Taylor and a lot of those groups.  My dadÕs more of a rock and roll, blues, country, Allman Brothers, Led Zeppelin type.  And growing up for me I was involved in the punk hard-core scene.  I was in a lot of Black Flag, Minuteman, Oskido and DC and PC sing-along.  ItÕs like the Huntington Beach scene.  And then Megaband, I got into metal and I was in a É band for awhile so I was playing swing and jazz.  I listen to a lot of everything.  I think my next direction is going into James Brown or more of the funk, something with a nice steady beat to it.

 

E. Dodi                        Alright.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     No problem.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Kendra White with Side Reel.  Please go ahead.

 

K. White                     With the college environment for the show, are there many pranks going on, on set or anything like that?

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  I know PaulÕs definitely the number one person that tries to play pranks on people.  I heard he put ScottyÕs phone number out there and Scotty had 30 to 50 voice mails in an hour or something.  He put it on the Internet.  So there are little pranks like that going on.  But there hasnÕt been anything big yet.  But who knows.  IÕm always scheming to do something big to somebody.

 

K. White                     Thanks.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  And we do have a question from Sandie Sahakians with DaemonÕs TV.  Please go ahead.

S. Sahakians                I was wondering where you would like to see Rusty go in the future.

 

J. Zachar                     Well I think I would like to see him have a bigger conflict.  I don't know who he really wants to be as a person.  I know growing up you think youÕre so set in your ways but once you get set in a new environment where nobody knows you, like as he is in, you do have a freedom to really decide on what direction you want to go.  I think—I want to show that conflict of not knowing what direction to go as a person.  I think thatÕs a very important conflict to show to the people who are—especially the audience watching as a younger crowd may be experiencing that through high school or college.  The choice I feel is pretty important.

 

S. Sahakians                Alright.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     YouÕre welcome.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Emily Dodi with ABC Family.com.  Please go ahead.

 

E. Dodi                        Hello.  What do you like to do when youÕre not filming?

 

J. Zachar                     In my off time I like to skate and go to the beach and stuff.  I get a lot of sun and vitamin D from that.  I put together a garden on my balcony.  I didn't buy—I guess itÕs a prequel to buying an animal.  I want to start small and start with a plant and if I can take care of the plants maybe IÕll work my way up to a hermit crab or something, and then maybe go up to a cat and a dog.  So weÕll see.  I'm starting small.  I'm taking care of my plants right now.

 

E. Dodi                        Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     No problem.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  And we do have a follow-up question from Emily Dodi at ABC Family.com.  Please go ahead.

 

E. Dodi                        Oh, hello again.  I just want to know if you have any favorite actors who influenced you.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.  I like a lot of the older actors.  I was always a big fan of a lot of slap-stick comedy.  My dad raised me on that.  I like a lot of Richard Pryor, Don Knotts and Gene Wilder.  I like actors like Tom Hanks who can pretty much do everything and there are just so many people out there going to so many different genres like the Second City crowd like Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd and that whole crew, mimicking the É crew thatÕs going on right now.  ItÕs pretty amazing.  I'm in it for the long run.  I like the actors who have been able to continuously do movies and not let the press and things like that hurt their career for 30 or 40 years.  I think patience is the main virtue for the actors and stand-ups.

 

E. Dodi                        Great.  Thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     No problem.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  Our next question is from Sandie Sahakians with DaemonÕs TV.  Please go ahead.

 

S. Sahakians                I was wondering what the best part about being on Greek is.

 

J. Zachar                     The best part?  Well I guess the easiest answer is to have a job.  In Los Angeles itÕs really rough out here and something I heard, 2% of the people who are in the unions or the Screen ActorÕs Guild can actually make a living off it.  And that to me to be part of something that small is definitely influences me to wake up early every day to get to work and to just keep a smile on my face everyday.  The best part is just being able to do it everyday and itÕs something IÕve been trying to do for a while.  I only support others who want to do it themselves too.  ThatÕs probably the best part, waking up and having a family to go to at work.

 

S. Sahakians                Well, thank you.

 

J. Zachar                     Yes.

 

Moderator                   Thank you.  And there are no further questions in the queue at this time.