Here is He Mr. Zach “Don’t Call me a Wussy” Ward!

Occasionally the LOP Team likes to pull some of our interviews from the vault for re-airing. These oldies but goodies were originally corralled during the days of LOP Magazine. They say that good wine and cheeses get better with age, and we say “why not interviews as well?!?!?” Be sure to also check out our new interviews and reviews that will be airing soon!

Original Publishing Date: Thursday, April 05, 2007

Hatch: Zach, everyone knows you were the mean redheaded bully in “A Christmas Story” but tell me what started you in the acting biz even before that part.

Zach: My mother, Pam Hyatt, is an actress so I grew up watching her perform. We were living in Stratford, Ontario, Canada, and my mom was playing Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet. Every night my mom would read “Lambs tales of Shakespear”, basically Shakespeare for kids, so I would understand the plays I was watching while she was working.

I was 9 years old at the time. My mom made the language make sense, made it funny and scary and exciting, she made it come alive. So when I saw a play and the actor was speaking it in a way that didn’t bring it to life, you know, that overly superior way a lot of actors speak Shakespearian plays, as if they’re saying something you are too stupid to understand.

Well, that made me feel like I could do it better and I wanted to try. I begged my mom to let me be an actor and she said “no! I want you to have a normal life”. My older brother, Carson Foster, asked her “what is a normal life?”. There is no answer, and she let me try acting. I started doing commercials at 11, after a year of going to auditions. And my first movie was “A Christmas Story”.

I got lucky as hell and am eternally grateful to my mom and Carson for making the opportunity exist.

Hatch: I’m going to jump right into it! How did you decide to go the direction you did with your character Dave in the show Titus.

Zach: I based Dave on my favorite dog, Apache. A dog will love you no matter what. And the relationship between Chris and Dave was dynamic and angry and childish, BUT, they would kill for each other as they really loved one another.

Dave was very much me. Insecure, scared, wanting to be accepted, wanting someone to be the hero and give guidance. That was me at that point in my life and it made it a very personal and real character to play. Sometimes a little too much.

Hatch: What was your favorite episode on the show Titus?

Zach: Tommy’s Not Gay. It was brilliant and should have been nominated for an Emmy. It was touching and risque and real. And it hit an audience that probably didn’t have to many gay friends.

If you’re watching Will and Grace, you already have a relationship with the gay community so any statement about tolerance is basically masturbation. You know your audience already agrees with you, you’re not changing any minds or taking any risks, just grandstanding and patting yourself on the back, creating that “after school, feel good Hallmark moment” that makes the writers and producers feel like they’re “cutting edge”.

Our audience likes hot rods and smacking me in the back of the head and Stacey Keach smoking and drinking. We made a statement. Our writers had REAL FUCKING BALLS. They pushed the envelope of comedy, they made people think while they laughed. They deserved a fucking Emmy and FOX gave them nothing while NBC BOUGHT, and I mean bought with millions in advertising in the industry, every year, they bought the Emmy’s for their cast so Mr. and Mrs. America would applaud and the advertisers would pay big bucks per spot. Our writers got dick. Fuck yeah it makes me mad.

Hatch: Tell me about being on the set of Resident Evil 2.

Zach: Great time working with Russian commandos training in kill-houses and working with cool weapons. I love Milla Jojovich, one of the kindest, sweetest women in the world and she deserves a fantastic life. The producer, same guy that wrote and directed the first one, kind of a yutz, but very impressed with himself. Oded Fehr, thinks he’s very handsome. Just ask him.

I thought the movie was kind of dumb. I liked the first one better.

Hatch: What is the hardest thing about being Zack Ward?

Zach: Being famous-ish, famous-lite. People stare at me and ask if was in their high school, or dated their sister, or owe them money. Then I feel like a tool telling them I’m an actor and they know me from that, as they always tell me I’m wrong.

So now, I either walk away like a dick, as I’m not seeking their approval to validate my career, OR, I stand there and recite my resume and look pathetic. Hmmm, what to do, what to do. Aside from that and my inability to tan, I like being me and feel pretty damn lucky to do what I do as I love this stuff.

Hatch: Ok, hot topic…. Tell me your role in Transformer.

Zach: I play Sgt. Donnelly, Special Forces Ranger, returning from assignment inside enemy territory in Iraq. I’m kind of like Bill Paxton in Aliens. And the movie is gonna blow your mind.

Hatch: Walk me through a day in the life of Zack Ward.

Zach: Get up, hit the gym if that’s the type of project I’m working on. Check the computer, organize auditions, do bank and life stuff, eat healthy, try and meet pretty ladies, make phone calls and work at getting films financed. No day is typical as it’s always changing. I’m a hustler.

Always working to get the next job, create the next job, realize the next opportunity. The only time I’m not hustling to make or get work is when I’m working, as that has to be %100 focus. It’s weird and stressful and great and satisfying and scary and seductive. But after 27 years, it’s all I know and it is my addiction.

Hatch: Who inspired you to be the person you are today?

Zach: So many, in so many ways. My mother, to dream and have courage. My older brother Carson, to try and try and try. My dad, to work. My ex wife, to feel pain and keep going. My producing partner, Ben Moody, to be madly passionate about the art. Chris Titus, just do it over and over again. Sooo many people, moment to moment, teaching me when I’m willing to listen. Pretty amazing people to be around.

Hatch: What has been the most challenging role to date?

Zach: The part of Alex Green in Trade. The subtle evil made me feel like I had grease on my soul.

Hatch: Tell me about your new film that is being released in chapters called “LA Twister”.

Zach: Really? In Chapters? You mean the book store? Or, chapters as in “Chapter 1, chapter 2…” ? Well, I did LA Twister about 5 years ago and it had a small release, but didn’t get much footing in theaters.

It’s a good film, I like my part and the kind of character I was playing. Honestly, very much who I was at the time. It’s a fun film with a lot of soul. It’s only problem is that it doesn’t fall into a specific category and that confuses distributors. I got to re-write a lot of scenes in the movie and really enjoyed watching the audience respond to it. I’m hoping people enjoy it and let me know their thoughts, positive and negative. I love feedback.

Hatch: Shamless Plugging Time! The Floor is Yours…

Zach: Well, obviously everyone is gonna see Transformers, so it doesn’t need my help. I’ve got Postal coming out this year and it’s a big deal for me as I’m starring in it and it’s a $15 million dollar film. So I am hoping it will motivate more offers along that level, so please check it out in theatres, I mean, JEEZ! I go see all YOUR films! C’mon!

Also, I’ll be at Comic Con in San Diego, repping Postal and another film I start tomorrow called “the Suit”, sci fi space marine in Halo-like battle armor fighting the aliens. So cool! Every 12 year old boys dream. Trade is supposed to be released August 31st (my birthday) and I think people will be surprised at what I’m playing in it. It’s a really good film and may get an Oscar nomination, so that would be retardedly cool.

I’ve got others coming out,but don’t know when. I guess that’s it.