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MEDIA: You and Joel seem to be really great friends. Did you get along well on set?
CJ: Yeah. He's so funny and probably like the most awesome guy I've met. He's a really good actor, and when I'm on the set with him, he makes me feel so comfortable because he's just, he's always with me there, and if I needed someone to back me up, he's right there.
What were some of the things that you learned from him and Jennifer?
Well, I learned that it's all about being comfortable when you're acting. If you're worried when you're acting, you're not really doing so good because you're all trembling in the scene--it doesn't really fit the scene. But when you're working with them, they kind of inspire you to just go with the flow and feel comfortable, and get in the mood. But now that I know them, next time I do a movie, I'll be inspired, and I'll go with the flow and get in the mood.
What did you think of the story when you first read the script?
I always thought [it would be] a really sweet story, and probably one of the best movies I'll ever do in my business. And it's just an amazing script. And actually, when me and my mom read it (I used to do drums and soccer), we were like, "Whoa, that is me!"
Were there scenes that you were a little nervous about?
Probably the scene that I was the most nervous about was the mud scene, because in the mud scene, we filmed in a garage. We rebuilt the house, and when they put that mud on, they had to keep it moist, so they'd spray water on me in the garage, and it was like 32 degrees. I'm like [shivering sound].
What about the underwater scene?
That was my favorite scene of everything, because I get to learn how to scuba dive. And one time, when I was on a cruise ship, I didn't know how to scuba dive, so I never got to go in the water and look at the cool fishes. But now I know how to, because we had to film the scene multiple times underwater [and] I'd be under there for like three hours on end...So then, finally, when I finished the scene, I was like, "I know how to scuba dive now!" So next time I go underwater to look at fishes, I know how to scuba dive, so I won't be scared that I'll like drown or something.
 
What did you like about your character?
What I liked the most about Timothy was that he was unique. And that he looked a lot like me! [laughs]
Would you consider green your favorite color?
Actually, I think blue is my favorite color, because blue reminds me of peace. And then comes green, because green reminds me of nature. Both together, blue/green, is probably my favorite color. [laughs]
In the movie, Timothy plays on his school's soccer team. Is that a sport you're familiar with?
Yeah. I play a lot of soccer. And that's why I felt really comfortable when I was doing the scene, because I was just like, "Well, I already know all these moves, so I just have to perform them in front of a camera and I'm okay."
What did you think about the soccer scene where Timothy is basking in the sunlight?
Well, it was actually really funny because in the scene when I put my arms up, the sun's supposed to come by. But we were going to put in the sun coming by [with special effects], but what actually happened was that the minute I put my arms up, the cloud actually moved and the sun shined on me, so it was like really weird. And then in the movie, I also describe how I did it: like "think tree, absorb it, think like you're getting a sunburn but you're penetrating it". It's like you're a solar panel--you're absorbing the good energy and keeping out the bad. And that's how I thought of it.
What is your favorite school subject?
It goes from math to science to physical education and health. And that's what I think is the most important in life--health and education. So yeah, mix it together!
Timothy has leaves growing from his legs. How long did it take for those to be attached to you?
It took about an hour to get them on and an hour to take them off. But what would be the biggest part about taking off the leaves was that we used this big towel--you would just scrape it right off, and it would like give me a red leg. And afterwards, it would eventually go away. And what was the biggest part was how they did it. I thought it was so cool how they had this clear stuff that they'd stick on, and this liquid that would put the leaves on. I just thought it was so cool, the process of them doing that.
Did you have to be careful handling them?
Well, they were really sturdy, but every once in a while, like if I had to put my sock on over the leaf, a leaf would rip off or something. [laughs] But they would stick it back on in a second.
Does being in a Disney movie get you cool perks like free trips to Disneyland?
Not all the time, but just recently with my family, we went to Disney World and we got this tour guide that would give me fast passes to all the rides. So that was really fun.
What do you think about seeing all the Timothy Green billboards around town?
It was really cool. One time, we were in a theater here [in Los Angeles] because I was working here for a couple days and I was done. So I went to the theaters and I saw a big poster of my legs. So I took a photo next to it, and someone was like, "That's you, isn't it?" I'm like, "Yeah! Hi!"
What kind of audition process was involved for this movie?
Well, I went to an audition in New York...And when I tried out, I saw Peter, so it just came to me. I was like, "Oh man, I feel so comfortable right now because I already know this guy, so what is there to be worried about?"
Do you think you'll want to stick with acting?
Well, I like acting. Actually, when I was younger, I did my first movie with Peter Hedges, who did this movie also. And that was Dan in Real Life, and I was six years old. And we thought it was an extra, just a quick movie that'd just get over and done. And then after I finished filming that, I was like, "All right, we'll stick with the regular life." And then I saw that Peter Hedges was doing another movie, so I said, "Well, why not try out?" So I tried out and I got the part, and this is The Odd Life of Timothy Green. So that's basically how I got into the business. After that, I decided that I should stick with the movie business, because I noticed that I can be a good actor and that I have it in me. So I got an agent, and now I'm trying out for other movies.
What do you love about acting?
What really gets me excited about acting is that it really makes me feel that anyone can do anything if they really [go] for it. Because if you're trying out for a movie, they're going to be like, "Oh, that's not possible." But the only reason why people say it's not possible is because the person doesn't do that. If you really go for that movie part and if you really do what they say you can't do, you will get the part if you really try for it. And that's what I felt about this movie, and it made me feel great.
What would be some of your dream acting roles?
Ummm...I'd probably want to be some guy in Star Wars, or Captain America.
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