LIVEJessicaMae: Everyone! Actor Colin Hanks has arrived! Colin, it's fabulous to be talking with you. Thanks for stopping by to chat with us about 'Orange County' and the rest of your glamorous life!

Colin Hanks: I don't know about glamorous, but thank you!

LIVEJessicaMae: Let's dive right in.

Question: Can you give us a background on 'Orange County' and your character?

Colin Hanks: I play Shaun Brumder, who is a reformed surfer dude who, after his friend drowns surfing, ponders his life a little bit. One night at the beach, he finds a book in the sand that changes his life and makes him decide he wants to be a writer. It turns out the author of the book is an English professor at Stanford, so he desperately wants to go to Stanford and study under his idol, because he's sort of annoyed by not only his dysfunctional family, but sick of the party-type atmosphere of Orange County. But he doesn't get in! His counselor sends out the wrong transcript, which makes his world come crashing down. He spends the rest of the flick trying to plead his case to anyone who will listen. His family tries to help him but makes things worse.

LIVEJessicaMae: Sounds like lot's of fun! Do you and your character have anything in common?

Colin Hanks: No really. I went to school in Orange County for about a year, so that's about it.

LIVEJessicaMae: Fran99 asks:
Question: Would you ever like to star in a movie with your dad?
LIVEJessicaMae: By the way, Colin's dad is Tom Hanks. :)

Colin Hanks: No, no one would be thinking about the movie, they'd just be thinking about the two of us and how we're related. It would take away from the movie.

LIVEJessicaMae: Eeek95 wonders:
Question: What did you buy with your first paycheck after you made it as an actor?
LIVEJessicaMae: Wow, can you remember, Colin?

Colin Hanks: I leased a car.

LIVEJessicaMae: Do you believe in true love?

Colin Hanks: I don't know -- ask me that after I'm married!

LIVEJessicaMae: Noodles1213 says:
Question: I loved your work on 'Roswell,' and I'm so happy you got this role in 'Orange County.' It looks awesome, so I'm definitely going to see it for my B-day. I wanted to ask you what you did to get this role, and what was it like working with Jack Black? -- Noodles1213
LIVEJessicaMae: Wow!

Colin Hanks: First, happy birthday!

LIVEJessicaMae: That's a long one!

Colin Hanks: I auditioned, and they gave me the part. Working with Jack Black was one of the coolest things I'll probably ever do. I just hope that I'm going to be able to do it again. He's cooler than you think.

LIVEJessicaMae: Here's a good one from DestinyGirl7877:
Question: Hey, Colin! :D I have to say that I love you and everything you do! What did you guys do on the set of 'Orange County' when you weren't filming? Thank you!

Colin Hanks: We just tried to pass the time any way we could. Jack and I would sing different songs, compare concerts. There is always a lot of people to talk to in between setups.

LIVEJessicaMae: On that note, Showoff rocks6 is wondering:
Question: Colin, what was the funniest thing that happened to you while filming 'Orange County'?
LIVEJessicaMae: Any behind-the-scenes pranks?

Colin Hanks: Not so many pranks as mistakes. There were too many to mention! We filmed the movie so long ago that it's hard to remember specific moments, because sometimes the funniest stuff happens when you're delirious from working all day!

LIVEJessicaMae: LOL, sounds like fun!
Question: Which actress has been your favorite to work with so far?

Colin Hanks: I've dug them all, they've all been great! Kirsten was awesome. Shiri is fun to work with. Schuyler, well there's not enough nice things I can say about her. She's the one I've spent the most time with recently. What's cool is Shiri and I still hang out -- it's not just a working relationship as it is an actual friendship.

LIVEJessicaMae: Speaking of Shiri (from 'Roswell')...
Question: I loved watching you on 'Roswell.' What was it like working on the show?

Colin Hanks: Hard! You only have a few days to make a 45 to 50-minute show. It can be pretty exhausting.

LIVEJessicaMae: SammySas wonders:
Question: I was so distraught when Alex died on the show! Were you sad to leave 'Roswell'?

Colin Hanks: Of course!

Question: In the movie, your character has an epiphany after finding a book. Has there been anything in your life that has affected you in a similar way?

Colin Hanks: Not really... maybe a couple moments in acting class where you get that rush, and like a junkie, you're always trying to get back to that place. But it's not so much an epiphany as it is a craving.

LIVEJessicaMae: I'm sure that promoting a movie can be very tiring, with press junkets and the like. What's the best and worst part of it all?

Colin Hanks: Man, you hit the nail right on the head!!

LIVEJessicaMae: Ha ha, I try. ;)

Colin Hanks: It's very cool and can be very exciting; at the same time, it can suck! But it's the other half of being a professional actor, and it's only going to help get people to go see the movie. What sucks most is having to answer the same questions over and over again, yet acting like it's the first time you've heard the question. On the first day of the press junket, I did 66 interviews in one day, and they were all the same. For the past month, I've been promoting this flick. I went on the road for two weeks, going from city to city, and now I'm in New York doing all the talk shows. It's just hard to come up with stuff to talk about. If the people are cool, it can be a lot of fun.

LIVEJessicaMae: Well, I'm glad that we have a creative audience that sends in awesome questions. Do you have any New Year's resolutions?

Colin Hanks: No. I did, but I already failed.

LIVEJessicaMae: Ha ha, LOL! What is the one thing that you would like to accomplish over the next year?

Colin Hanks: Spend more quality time with my friends and family.

LIVEJessicaMae: If you could be invisible for a day, where would you go and what would you do?

Colin Hanks: I don't know! I really don't know! LOL.

LIVEJessicaMae: Csto45 asks:
Question: Where do you get your inspiration for your roles? Do you have to do a lot of research? Also, I was wondering if you had any rituals you did before shooting.

Colin Hanks: My inspiration really comes from what's written on the page. And there are different tricks to getting where you need to be emotionally, and that just depends on the scenario. Obviously, for something like the movies I've done or 'Roswell,' I don't need to research. But with 'Band of Brothers,' I did as much research as possible. You want to get it right. That's what the part deserves. There's no other way to do it. It varies from show to show.

LIVEJessicaMae: On HBO's 'Band of Brothers,' what was it like working with your father, Tom Hanks, and Steven Spielberg?

Colin Hanks: It's almost like I wasn't working with them, because they were the big bosses that were in a completely different country calling all the shots. It's almost like I wasn't even working for them. Believe me, you knew who were the big bosses, and you hoped that you didn't hear from them, 'cause if you did, it probably meant you were doing something wrong!

LIVEJessicaMae: Are there any celebs that you are really dying to meet?

Colin Hanks: There are always a few; most of them are music people.

LIVEJessicaMae: Like who?

Colin Hanks: I'd love to meet Dave Grohl, the guys from the Chili Peppers and Gwen Stefani.

LIVEJessicaMae: Which CDs are currently in your CD player?

Colin Hanks: Jurassic 5, the Strokes and a couple of others.

LIVEJessicaMae: Here's a good one from BawlEr Nort:
Question: You've worked on TV and the big screen. Which do you prefer? Would you consider returning to TV to do another series?

Colin Hanks: I like the movies more because you know there's a beginning, a middle and an end, so you know everything that happens, unlike TV -- you find out in week-to-week increments. Plus, with movies there's more of a purpose to get it right because movies last forever, whereas a TV show will air once and then you're on to the next episode.

LIVEJessicaMae: What is your favorite line from 'Orange County'?

Colin Hanks: Mine or somebody else's?

LIVEJessicaMae: Any line.

Colin Hanks: Probably one of Jack's, but I can't really remember a specific one.

LIVEJessicaMae: I have to ask this one for all my girls in the audience: Are you single?

Colin Hanks: Yes, I am.

LIVEJessicaMae: Yay! I mean, that's cool. And how old are you?

Colin Hanks: Twenty-four.

LIVEJessicaMae: What would be the one thing that you would like everyone to know about this movie?

Colin Hanks: It's not like 'American Pie' or any of these other teen movies -- it's better! It's a movie with heart that's supposed to make you laugh and hopefully make you smile.

LIVEJessicaMae: One last fun question:
Question: Since you worked on 'Roswell,' do you believe in UFOs?

Colin Hanks: I used to, and I'd like to think so. I guess we'll just have to wait and find out.

LIVEJessicaMae: Oh no! I'm so sad -- we are out of time! Thanks so much for stopping by to chat, Colin. One more question -- Megathy753 asks:
Question: In 'Orange County,' your character has a dream of going to Stanford. Did you have a dream college?

Colin Hanks: No. I really wasn't sure where I wanted to go or what I wanted to do; I just wanted to have a good time and learn not only about stuff that I not only didn't know about, but also about myself. You can do that, regardless if it's your dream school or not. Moral of the story: It doesn't matter where you go, it matters what you do.

LIVEJessicaMae: Well, since we've still got you here, let's answer a few more questions... Explain yourself in one word.

Colin Hanks: Indescribable... LOL. Or impossible!

LIVEJessicaMae: What is your favorite movie of all time?

Colin Hanks: I don't have a favorite movie of all time. It changes all the time. I like different kinds of movies.

LIVEJessicaMae: Have any celebs ever been rude to you?

Colin Hanks: A few... but who knows, maybe they were having a bad day.

LIVEJessicaMae: Any names you'd like to throw out?

Colin Hanks: Nah...

LIVEJessicaMae: Ha ha, that's nice of you. ;) If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live?

Colin Hanks: That's a three-way tie -- San Francisco, London or Switzerland.

LIVEJessicaMae: Boxers or briefs?

Colin Hanks: Boxers! And sometimes boxer briefs. Never briefs, though, unless they bring back Underoos!

LIVEJessicaMae: LOL! You crack me up, Colin! Do you have any pets?

Colin Hanks: Yes, I have a dog.

LIVEJessicaMae: What's his name?

Colin Hanks: Her -- Taz.

LIVEJessicaMae: Oops, it's a her! What do you think of Britney Spears?

Colin Hanks: No opinion.

LIVEJessicaMae: LOL! This has been fun! We truly are out of time, Colin. Thanks so much for stopping by to chat, Colin. I can't imagine anyone else that I would rather have talked with.

Colin Hanks: No problem. I had a great time!

LIVEJessicaMae: I can't wait to see 'Orange County' on Jan. 11!

Colin Hanks: Check it out! It's fun!

LIVEJessicaMae: LOL, we will!

Colin Hanks: If not -- in the movie, Jack Black is a briefs man! LOL.

LIVEJessicaMae: Hooray for underwear!

Colin Hanks: LOL.

LIVEJessicaMae: And to the audience -- you guys rock! Thanks for stopping by to chat with Colin!

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