Meaghan Martin Mania

First, I wanted to share this interview that Fanlala did with Meaghan Martin (and her costars Lindsey Shaw, Ethan Peck, Nicholas Braun, Dana Davis, and Larry Miller)about the new season of 10 Things I Hate About You.

Fanlala: There are 10 new episodes of “10 Things I Hate About You” that are premiering soon! What makes them so exciting?
Meaghan: I think that it’s a very exciting 10 episodes simply because of all the plot twists! I had no idea of what was coming and I’m still surprised every week when they hand us a new script! I think the writers really bring a realistic excitement to it. It’s just like living your life everyday. And a lot of it’s so relatable. The last episode we shot, I kid you not, the script reflected my life exactly! We were making jokes about it on set! I don’t want to reveal anything because I want everyone to figure it out but it’s funny to see the similarities without even talking to the writers. It’s great that we’re writing real stories for real people to watch!
Lindsey: It’s like the characters 2.0. It’s like the first season but times 20. It moves. We’re moving into love triangles. [There are] these two characters have never talked but now they’re talking and now they have this whole relationship and story line. We’re just being brought together. We’re becoming more involved with everybody.
Nicholas: The first 10 ended with Cameron being totally lost and heartbroken. He didn’t know what to do about not having Bianca as his girlfriend. He thought it was going to happen! So he’s kind of mixed up and doesn’t know what to do with himself and he’s going to have to find his way.

Fanlala: What have you all learned from your talented cast mates?
Meaghan: Larry [has] been so incredible to work with, and everybody on cast! I’m definitely the baby and definitely the one with the least amount of experience. It’s been such a blessing to come on my first TV series and learn so much from everybody. [I remember] the first episode we were shooting Lindsey, as we were exiting the house, locks the door behind her. Something that simple can make everything so realistic! I’ve learned stuff like that! I’ve learned techniques about working with your fellow actors. Larry’s very giving and he talks through the scene [with me] and he makes me feel comfortable. One of the biggest things that has been really flattering to me is he doesn’t speak to me like I’m some little 17-year-old who has no experience. He talks to me and says, “Here’s what we need to do and how do you want to do it, Meaghan? You’re an actor too. You have your opinions and your character choices.”
Larry: I’m the lucky one! The truth is, we have fun together [since] the first day we were there. I’m gracious to her not because I’m such a big sport but because that’s the only way I know how to live as an actor. “What do you think about this? What do I think about this?” I don’t see a young actor or actress in this whole cast, I see other pros who are really good! On the ride over here, I was reminding her today – and you never say this to an actor on a day when she is doing it – there were some lines. And one was in the tape that they showed. Just the rhythm that she says, “you like him, you want to kiss him.” And every time she said that, I would laugh on the set in this one episode. I learn as much from her as anyone might from me. We’re in the same show, we have parts and we like the parts and each other. It’s that simple.

Fanlala: What advice do you have for kids in high school trying to fit in and getting through those awkward times?
Dana: When I was in high school, I struggled so much to fit in and when you get older you realize, you never really fit in. Enjoy your individuality! That’s what makes you so special! I wish I could drill that into people’s heads but it takes life to learn it. But I would just say to enjoy your individuality and enjoy the fact that you’re different.
Nicholas: I cared a lot about what people thought and how to be cool and who to hang out with. The thing I like about Cameron is that doesn’t happen, really. He’s cool with being an AV nerd, professing his love for a girl. He’s just so honest, so much more honest than I was.
Lindsey: You’re going to come out of this and you’re going to think it’s really not that important, how high school was. It’s really not as drastic as you believe it to be. None of your life really is and you really start to learn that in high school, you get past that. It’s just the world that you’re in and being a part of it.
Ethan: Just don’t think about it!

Fanlala: What’s an awkward high school moment you’ve had that you can share?
Nick: I’m in freshman year of high school and I’m in the lunch line. There’s this senior girl in front of me who’s just a knockout, her name is Annie. She was just stunning and all the freshman guys were in love with her. I’m standing there and we both reach to get a cup and our cups like clink or something, it was really awkward. And I look at her and go, “Sparks are a-flyin’!” She just walked away and she turned around and just gave me this look over her shoulder like, “What?!” So that was one of my very good failed attempts at picking up a girl.

Fanlala: How do you all act towards each other behind the scenes?
Lindsey: There’s so much camaraderie on set. It’s just the feeling that we want to share around. Like we’re always hugging and complimenting each other. It just adds to the comfort.
Larry: It’s easy to care about [the cast]. Is it something like a father? In a way, absolutely! It’s easy to play the part and care about them, and I care about them in real life! [I remember] Nick [Braun] said something, Nick plays Cameron, and he said, “She’s so beautiful. I care about her so much.” And I just said to him, “That’s my daughter! Watch it!” It’s so fun, but there’s a reality there. I care about them!

Fanlala: Meaghan, you just graduated from high school! How was that for you?
Meaghan: Yes! I did just graduate in real life. It was a very exciting and freeing experience! I don’t even know how to describe it. I’m definitely going to start college as soon as I can! My plan is to go to community college and transfer to a university. So I’m kind of waiting it out and figuring out when I have a chance to really dedicate my time to classes.

For the life of me, I don’t know why ABC Family insists on making such short seasons.

Anyway, I titled this post “Meaghan Martin Mania” because I also wanted to show off my new Meaghan Martin Autograph! 🙂

So freakin’ cool! 😀