- How was your boot camp experience?

The interesting thing about the boot camp is that the U.S. Marines were trying to do a whole lot in a little bit of time.  I’m on the mortar with Sledge, and we’re expected to learn this thing within 24 hours, and it’s a pretty intricate use of equipment. 

We’re learning how to fire a World War II mortar in 24 hours, and when you don’t get a few things right, you tend to get yelled at, and a bit berated, and that can be pretty harsh and almost make you want to cry sometimes.

So there were times where you hit a wall and you’re like, 'What am I doing here?  Why am I putting myself through this?' but in the end, of course, I knew why I was there to do it.  It hurts, it’s painful, the food is awful, and you smell pretty bad after a few days but it was worth it.

- Were there any injuries?

Yeah, there have been a lot with all of us. Our elbows and knees are all busted up and five months into this they finally gave us kneepads to make it easier! I also had a nerve compressed for three weeks in my arm, and that was pretty bad so it seems like there was something everyday when someone was down.

- How did you get along with your co-stars?

Great and it came together really quickly through the boot camp. When you see someone suffering in boot camp, all you want to do is help them. If someone drops their weapon, they will get screamed at, so you want to pick it back up for them. 

Or, if someone’s late tying their shoes and you’ve finished everything, you want to help them lace their boots up real quick. That instantly forms a bond with the guys. You don’t want to see anyone falling behind but the guys that have been assembled on this project are pretty incredible.

We’re with each other all day and when we come back to the trailers, we talk and joke.  You learn a lot about people’s lives that way so when you’re on camera you just give a guy a look and you both know it’s real and I think it shows.

- Are you excited about the possibilities in your career after this?

Yeah, but I don’t know if it’s going to get any better after this.  This is the best job I’ve ever had.  It’s the most exciting, exhilarating, and thoughtful, heartfelt, and passionate project to work on war in this era in this venue with these writers and producers and directors.  Everything is just A-list.

- How was shooting in Australia?

Australia’s been fun.  It’s a long way from home, which is another element that really starts to make one think about what they have back home.  It’s nice to be in such a remote location and they have pretty girls in Australia!

- Do you think this project is timely with another war happening?
 
It is, and I think it always will be. There’s always time to think about the war, whether this brings it up or not.  It also makes you think about past wars, too.  Some of the weapons we use are from World War I so it’s just non-stop. 

It’s just nice to be working on something where these kids were as passionate about what they needed to do, and your cause.  It makes you realize how hard it must be, fighting today around the world, and how hard of a time they’re having, and what they must be dealing with being away from home.

- Do you feel any responsibility to the veterans?

Absolutely; I think there can be a tendency in these war films just to make it about war, but there needs to be that brotherhood relationship that’s shown, and the, why we fight, aspect.  The relationships are of great importance, expressing the hardships, the vulnerability, the exhaustion and the loneliness.

The Pacific is out on DVD and Blu-ray now.

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