Joey King – Wish I Was Here

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

A) I am filming a movie right now called Stonewall with Roland Emmerich and I’m excited for everyone to see that.

Q) How excited are you for the worldwide Kickstarter premiere of Wish I Were Here?

A) I can’t believe it is happening! Starting from when Zach [Braff] first tweeted about it to now is incredible! What’s exciting for me is that before I even knew I was going to be a part of the project, I was a backer. So, it  was really cool for me to see it come together and be a part of it.

Q) Because you were a backer, what was it about the project that made you want to donate and then star in it?

A) Zach and I worked together on the movie Oz The Great And Powerful a few years back. I loved it so much and I had seen Garden State and loved it. When I heard he was going to make another film, I thought it was going to be nothing less than genius because it was coming from him. I read the Kickstarter page and it sounded like an amazing story. Also, I love Zach so much that I knew he could pull off anything he wanted to. So, I wanted to be a part of the experience in supporting him.

Q) Talk about the evolution of your character, Grace, from the origin of the Kickstarter campaign to what we see on screen.

A) Since the campaign, you got an outline of what she was supposed to be like and who she was, but the character has evolved so much. She is just really trying to be accepted in a way because she is very religious and people have judged her for that. Her family isn’t quite as religious as her so she is having a hard time fitting in. Basically, in the Kickstarter description she is kind of reserved and not fitting in that way. You really see her evolve from that, which I think is captured so nicely on screen. You really see her let loose a little bit, which was really nice.

Q) Was there anything you added to her that wasn’t originally scripted for you?

A) Zach was so open about improv and doing what was natural. So, there are some things that are different. I definitely added my own flair to the character to give her some spice and something else to work with that brings a new dimension that audiences will love.

Q) What was it like working with Zach in all aspects of the film?

A) Zach is brilliant. Getting to work with him as a writer, producer, director and actor all in one film was incredible. I feel like observing him was amazing. He is so good at what he does and he is just brilliant! He knows what he is doing, what he wants and how to get it done fast and efficiently. He has a sense of humor about it and knows he doesn’t have to be so strict about everything. I love that about him and he did an incredible job with the film. He’s going to touch a lot of hearts.

Q) When working with the cast, did the chemistry come naturally or did it take some time to develop?

A) My family are huge fans of Mandy [Patinkin] so when I met him I knew he was a brilliant actor already. It was so exciting to meet him! He was so wonderful and nice. He’s an incredible, incredible actor. Meeting Kate [Hudson], I was already a fan of hers and she is so flawless. Getting to play her daughter was amazing! She is so gorgeous on the inside and out. I really look up to her as an actress.

Q) What did you take away from working on the film?

A) Not only friendships that will last a lifetime, but I took away the moral of the story. I got from this is that when you are in your last moments of life, are you going to want to sit in that fancy car that you bought, go through your financial statements or look at the trophies on your shelves? No. You’re going to want to spend time with your family. You want to spend time with your family and people that matter to you. If relationships matter in our final days, why shouldn’t they matter most now?

Q) You are a part of social networking sites. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive w hen the film releases?

A) I am so looking forward to seeing how fans react because I know that it is an incredible movie and I know they are going to love it. I’m also excited to see what they take away from it and how they feel about it. I know it is going to be positive, but I am excited to see their reactions.

Q) What was your favorite part of creating the film?

A) It was making history, I believe. Zach got this funded through Kickstarter, which is so crazy and amazing! That, in itself, was history made. Also, it was making a unique film. A lot of people don’t make these kinds of films. It’s very real and very relatable. A lot of people don’t get to see that very often. People get to see very dramatic films or very funny films, but none of it is realistic. So, this film is just something everyone can relate to because everyone has family problems, no matter who you are or what you do. There is no denying that. This film really shows all the problems and things that happen, but it is also really funny at the same time. This family tries to handle some of the things with humor and it is a lighthearted, but also heartfelt film.

Q) Is there anything else you want to be sure to share with fans about Wish I Was Here?

A) It’s a very raw movie and I think that people will really appreciate that we touched on subjects that aren’t always touched on.