Brendan Robinson – Feels So Good

Q) What are the recent projects that you are working on?

A) Lucas is back this season on “Pretty Little Liars” and additionally to that you can see me in my new movie Feels So Good. It’s now available on Hulu Plus. The movie is a teen sex comedy in the vein of American Pie and Super Bad. It’s a lot of fun and everyone I know who has seen it thought it was a lot of fun.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the movie Feels So Good?

A)  I always thought when I moved to LA that I was going to do comedy. Everything kind of worked out with “Pretty Little Liars,” which was definitely not a comedy. It is interesting. Somebody told me when I first moved down here that you end up not doing the thing you think you are going to do, which is not a bad thing at all. Sometimes it is the best thing, which is the thing that kind of happened with “Pretty Little Liars.” It’s been great and kind of kickstarted my career. I was looking to do something different. This is a really broad, out there comedy. I think what really attracted me to this part is that it is different than your typical teen comedy because there is a real arc to the characters. They really go through a transformation. That’s something that I always look for and have been really lucky that the writers have given me on “Pretty Little Liars,” to have 180 degree transformation between season one an season five. That’s always really exciting for me to play as an actor. It was kind of the same thing with Allan, there is an arc there and 180 degree turn (but over the course of ninety minutes). That is what really attracted me to the script in particular, but I did have to audition for it and go through that process as well.

Q) Allan is more of a comedic role for you. Was that a challenge for you to play someone so different from Lucas?

A) I think that whether or not it is a comedy or drama, in order for a character to work it has to come from a truthful place. So, the best way to answer that is when you are dealing with a comedy I really went into it with the intentions of playing it as a comedy. It’s more funny if the character is completely unaware he is being funny. I tried to treat him like that and treat him as a real person. I let the jokes come because they were written in there. I think this character is different from Lucas, even though they are pegged as social outcasts. I would say that Allan is definitely more naive than Lucas is. I think that Lucas is actually, to be completely honest, really savvy. For the last five seasons of “Liars,” I wouldn’t say he has kind of played his cards well or not well. He definitely has hidden motivation where as Allan is just completely naive in terms of how to deal with girls, how to talk to girls and in some ways how to talk to people in general.

Q) In the movie you are paired with Matt Shively. Was he someone you were familiar with before or did you get to know each other through working on the project?

A) I actually didn’t know Matt before we started. Everybody else from “Pretty Little Liars” did know Matt. I know he is friends with Lucy [Hale], Janelle [Parrish] and some other people. We first met at the chemistry read, kind of the final round for the audition. They paired us up with other people, but I think everyone in the room including he and I knew that it was the right fit when we were paired up together to read some scenes. Throughout the course of the movie and production, we really kind of clicked and got along. I think that really translates on screen, which is great and we’re lucky that happened because that is not always the case for people who don’t know each other and working together for twelve hours a day. It worked and I think it really elevated the movie.

Q) The film centers around the two guys attempt to have sex. What were some of the most interesting or embarrassing scenes you filmed?

A) I’ve never had so little clothes on in front of a bunch of people or in public, if you will. We did those scenes where I fall into the pool and I was really nervous in those scenes. I think that when everybody is kind of laughing along with you, you stop caring about your own personal issues and insecurities and just have fun for the sake of the movie since it is supposed to be a fun scene. That scene was fun to film because Josh Stolberg, our director, didn’t tell us what to do with the striptease. That was just improvised and we just kind of let the cameras roll. He said, “You guys just dance around and take off your clothes.” There is a take in the movie that actually made the final cut where Matt is taking off his clothes and doing some crazy dance for the Lane twins and I’m supposed to be watching him and being very uncomfortable. There is one spot where I turn around and kind of cover my face. It looks like I’m really embarrassed, but in real life I’m covering my face because I’m trying not to laugh and ruin the take. It made it into the movie and there were a lot of moments like that which were a lot of fun and I am trying not to laugh.

Q) We got to see Lucas play his cards, but not fully share the whole hand recently as a part of Mona’s Army. Will we get to see him team up with her again or maybe someone else like Paige?

A) I have shot a couple of scenes with Lindsey Shaw that actually didn’t end up making it in the episodes. I think it was episode four and five. That was because of time constraints, but I am hoping that relationship between Lucas and Paige plays out more. The relationship between Lucas and Mona will play out more during the rest of the summer season. It is interesting. I discussed this with I. Marlene King before we started this season and we talked a lot about why Lucas trusts Mona after he basically was forced to go into hiding in his bedroom because of her. Honestly, I think the entire reason Lucas is even speaking to Mona at the moment is because they have this common hatred (if you will) for Alison. That brings them together in that sense, but I think he is playing his cards very careful and keeping Mona at a distance, even though he is involved with this army situation.

Q) Lucas is back with a brand new look. Was that a planned move?

A) Mandi Line, our costume designer, Cindy Miguens, our head makeup artist,  and Marlene all came together and had a meeting about what to do to bring Lucas back and make him different and surprise the fans. I actually think I am going to keep this look after we are done filming. I am glad other people like it, too. I spoke to Marlene and we really wanted it to be a surprise. I think you can look on my Instagram handle from months March through June that I tried as hard as possible not to post any selfies. I tired to wear a hat and cover up the new hair if I was going to post something. We both wanted it to be a surprise and it was hard to keep a secret that long!

Q) Is there anything else you would like to share about the movie or what you would like to tease is to come for Lucas?

A) I’ve gotten a lot of comments from people and was very surprised that they have liked the movie so much. It is surprising to me because I knew that when we were making it that it would turn out to something fun and good. But a lot of people have told me on Twitter that they went into it expecting another American Pie kind of thing and they were really surprised there was a lot of heart to it. They really enjoyed the relationship between Zack and Allan. People should go into it with an open mind because it is really a sweet hilarious film, even though there are hilariously filthy moments throughout. In terms of “Pretty Little Liars,” there is a lot more that is happening with Lucas that I think at this point is not expected. I think people are going to be really excited to be thrown for a loop, if you will, later in this season. Lucas is kind of involved in that as well.