Mason Cook – If There Be Thorns

By starrymag | April 4, 2015

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

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

A) I just finished shooting If There Be Thorns, which is the third installment in the Flowers In The Attic series and it was adapted by Lifetime. The story continues as Cathy and Chris who are now married and living together. I play their son Bart who starts getting manipulated by a mysterious woman who lives next door. She starts making him question his idea of his own parents’ relationship. It gets really heated at the end. It premieres April 5th so I am really excited.

Q) What made you want to be a part of the film?

A) Bart is very much like me. He is wise beyond his years, which is kind of funny because a lot of people say I am wise beyond my years. Not only was it a very demanding role, Bart is also an awkward kid who gets manipulated. He is a very strong character though.

Q) Were you familiar with books at all before joining the films?

A) No. My dad kind of told me the story.

Q) What did you find challenging about your role?

A) I never really wanted to play him as an evil child that is manipulated by adults. He has many layers, but once you peel back those layers in the middle you see he is just a normal kid who has been manipulated. This happens to kids all the time. Bart was feeling unloved and excluded so he was an easy target. At the end of the day, everyone wants to feel important, right?

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

A) No.

Q) What was it like getting to work with Heather Graham?

A) Heather was such a sweet woman. She is awesome to work with and she is as sweet as she is pretty. I think everybody knows that and thinks that, too. She is one of the nicest people I have ever met and worked with. In If There Be Thorns she plays a pretty intense character that a lot of people might consider evil, but she plays Corrine in a way that you see the human side rather than the evil side to her.

Q) Was there instant chemistry when the cast began working together?

A) Definitely! It was almost like we had practiced this “perfect family.” You start to realize that is not true in the movie.

Q) What kind of bonding did you do to prepare to portray this family?

A) We hung out as a group or one-on-one on and off set. It was fun because we had a lot of rehearsal and it really did help to create the family vibe. I got to really know everybody and it was fun.

Q) What were some of your memorable moments from filming If There Be Thorns?

A) I got to shoot a bow and arrow in a movie. I hadn’t shot one in four years. There were a couple of times I even shot a bullseye! It was really, really fun. I went to classes to practice using a bow and arrow. There were lines to shoot from “close,” “medium” and “far.” I got a bullseye shooting from the very far line and it was my first shot. It was awesome! The actually gave me a bow at the end of the movie.

Q) What did director Nancy Savoca mention during filming that you took to heart?

A) I was with her a lot of the time on set and we had a connection. I know what a good director is and she is definitely the definition of a good director. She was nice, she was kind hearted and knew what she was doing. That is always an important element as a director. She connected with me and said, “I want you to feel the same emotions that you feel in real life, but as this character.” I thought that was really cool because most directors don’t really connect your real life with the character’s life. I thought that was really interesting.

Q) Why will people want to take their time to tune in and see If There Be Thorns?

A) First of all, I have to say the fans of the Flowers In The Attic books will be happy seeing If There Be Thorns because it is the third installment. Judging by the tweets I get from the fans they are incredibly passionate about the story. I think they will really be pleased with what we have done. Also, the movie is not just fans of the book, but it stands on its own. Nancy did an amazing job with the movie. It has such an artistic appeal and look. Someone not familiar with the story could still enjoy it. Last, but not least, people should watch to see me in a role that is very different from my past roles. It was so much fun to take on Bart during his journey into darkness and I loved every single minute.

Q) You are a part of social media. Are you looking forward to the instant fan feedback you’ll receive when the movie premieres?

A) Oh yeah! I’m going to live tweet during the movie so that is actually going to be really fun. It’s going to be really fun. I did that for “Legends” and I definitely think the feedback is going to be ten times more amazing.

Q) What can you tease is in store for the second season of your show “Legends?”

A) The second season of “Legends” is all top-secret certified. I have no idea what the storyline is. I know that season two is going to answer a lot of questions, but also leave a lot of questions. It’s going to be really exciting and really awesome.

Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of you and your work?

A) I really appreciate the love and support. I’ve been doing this for almost seven years. I definitely think I have grown throughout the years and I think my fans have helped me grow into a better actor and a better person. Thank you to all my Masonators out there. I love you guys!