2009 has been quite a year for Austin Nichols. He became a series regular on the popular long-time drama 'One Tree Hill', began work on a new film, and even developed some additional career aspirations for himself outside of the entertainment industry. He discussed that and much more with me including what he would like to see happen with his role of Julian on 'One Tree Hill'.

Q- How has filming been for you lately?

A- Fun, it's been busy. I'm shooting a movie as well right now so I've been in between LA and Wilmington a lot. The movie is called 'Beautiful Boy', it's with Michael Sheen. It's just an incredible piece of writing about a husband and wife who find out their son was involved in a campus shooting. I play a writer who writes about the tragedy. I'm really happy about it.

Q- This is your first full season on 'One Tree Hill', how has that been like for you?

A- It's great. It's exciting. It's different from being a guest. You feel more responsible for the show as a whole, for the final in product, as a regular. But it's been fun. As far as I can tell, this season there has been really great material and better than any season before it so it's been really cool.

Q-Had you ever seen the show before joining it?

A-No I hadn't. I really didn't watch that much television and I think the show had a certain audience, younger. But I think the audience is actually growing now. The show is kind of older and more mature and not just limited to a young audience anymore. My parents and all my friends now are watching the show and they are in love with it, and telling all their friends to watch it. So that's been cool. It's been cool to see that sort of a reaction to a show that's been on for that long. And to see that kind of an audience grow and branch out. And people love to see stuff they can relate to. There's heart in it. It's real stuff.

Q- Why do you think the Julian and Brooke relationship and storyline has stood out so much?

A- For some reason there's this it factor. When Brooke and Julian, and Sophia and I get together there's just a great chemistry that happens. There's just this really great energy there when we work together.

Q- In the most recent episode, Julian said he's not sure if he will ever be ready for kids, what do you think about that? Would you like to see Julian as a dad?

A- Yeah I absolutely would. I think it would be fun to explore as an actor and go through sort of what that's like. I think any guy at Julian's age is grappling with the same thing because when you get out of college having a few years of what you're going to with your life and ....then all of a sudden you get to a certain age and you're like, wow, I can't party like I used to, and I need to exercise and I need to get my professional life going or wow, she's a great woman, maybe I should marry her. You know all these questions start coming up at that age. It's been really cool to explore that. But yeah I think Julian wants to have children, I think he's just scared because as a man you want to be ready for those things. You want to have enough money, and you want to have a place for them to grow up healthy and you want to be able to support them and put them through college and so you don't want to dive into having kids being unprepared.

Q- Julian has been working with more of the other cast members lately. How was it to shoot the camping scene with James, Antwon and Lee?

A- It was great. That was the first time Julian and Nathan had actually had a talking scene together. I remember having a talk with the writers and Mark Schwahn, and saying look I mean Julian isn't really interacting with anybody but Brooke and now he's a big part of the One Tree Hill world and let's get him out there and involved with everybody. And so it was nice. I got a lot of emails and text messages from family and friends saying it was so cool to see you working with other people. It was like a new view point

 

Source - Source 2

About the movie, Beautiful Boy

Source

In just one season, Austin Nichols’ Julian had quite the evolution on One Tree Hill.  When he first showed up, fans worried he’d play homewrecker to Leyton’s finally-back-on relationship.  Instead we ended up with perhaps the most dedicated boyfriend Sophia Bush’s Brooke has ever seen and a new leading man for the show’s seventh season.

TeenDramaWhore: What was your reaction when you found out you were being promoted to a series regular?

Austin Nichols: Fear. To be perfectly honest, I didn’t want to do it. The thing about a television series is that you have to have faith that the material is going to be good. Because all you know is episode 1. You have no idea what episode 2-22 will contain. But after many conversations with my captain Mark Schwahn, I felt better about signing up.

TDW: Why do you think the audience has taken such a liking to Brooke and Julian?

Nichols: Because when we look at each other, volcanoes erupt, the earth quakes, and glitter falls from the sky. 
 

This is not a recent interview but it’s still fun to read. I  mostly adore all the surplus information Austin gives the interviewer. He sure sounds like he’s a great storyteller!

Malibu surf, Hollywood turf

July 5, 2007 – Mark Sachs (latimes.com)

The title-role star of HBO’s new Sunday night show “John From Cincinnati” is Austin Nichols, and he’s from Texas, not Ohio. You might have seen the mysterious teaser for the series, in which a surfer runs up onto the sand, and as he’s drying off, rises about a foot off the ground. “I’m not the guy who’s elevating,” explains Nichols, “I’m the reason he’s elevating.” He’s far less cryptic about his weekends.

Foodie heaven

On a Friday I like this newish Mario Batali joint in Hollywood on Highland called Pizzeria Mozza. The food is really creative and the atmosphere is kind of different – I just feel like I’m not in Los Angeles. I’d order the pizza with asparagus, pancetta and a fried egg. I like to sit at the bar, but there’s also a cool back room for small parties.

Because I’m a real billiards man, I might stop off at an actual billiards haal, but more likely I’d just go to one of my favorite dive bars, the Joker on Pico in Santa Monica. They’ve got about three pool tables, and it’s the best place in the world.

After that, there’s this other place I’ve got to tell you about for the best in late-night street meat – Cactus Taqueria in Hollywood on Vine. They’ve got a sign that says, “No. 1 Taqueria,” and I’d have to agree. I get all kind of tacos – carne asada, chicken and al pastor. And I usually get them with avocado and this amazing cheese. And there’s this weird Parking Lot Jesus sort of character who wanders around with a Tecate and shouts out thing like, “I’ve been born a hundred times in the past and the future.”

The last time I was there he offered me a keyboard if I would buy him a taco.

Tasty waves

On Saturday mornings, because I’m surfing a lot for the part in “John From Cincinnati”, I’ll get up about 5.30 a.m. and go to Malibu and surf. There’s something very therapeutic and healing about it. And there’s this place nearby called Lily’s, where all the surfers and construction workers go for breakfast burritos. Service is slow because it’s so popular, so as soon as I get out of the water I’ll call ahead and order the Big Boy – eggs, beans, bacon, cheese and this green, nine-alarm salsa you can put on that will destroy your tongue, but it’s my favorite.

Later I might infiltrate some hotel and steal some time in its Jacuzzi.

Then I might catch a double bill at the New Beverly Cinema, which runs a lot of rare, out-of-print stuff or the nights – a couple of  on-the-lam movies like “Bonnie and Clyde” and “The Getaway”. It’s a niche kind of crowd there, but it’s not a small niche.

‘Beauty of life’

On Sunday I’ll get up and go to breakfast in a nice, relaxed place on Highland called Ammo, sort of upscale American cuisine. They have this great blood-orange juice, which is my favorite drink in the whole city.

After breakfast, I’d drive out to the Watts Towers. I went for the first time a few years ago and was so awestruck that I often go back and just lie on the grass and read a book. Then I might head for this barbecue spot called Jordan’s Café. The first time I went there I felt as if maybe I didn’t belong because everybody was so not white – and then everybody’s really nice and you’re so glad there and you think, “This is the beauty of life, man.”
It’s that kind of place.

thanks Stephanie and IHJ for the pic

I was under the impression the interview, posted on my previous entry, was more widely spread.

For anyone who's interested, here's the other part of the interview, where Austin talks about his days as a waterskier, Pasadena and The Day after Tomorrow.

Enjoy



Water skiing's contribution to Hollywood - Friday, 28 May 2004

This Memorial Day weekend, The Day after Tomorrow opens to cinemas worldwide. Among the cast of the multi-million dollar blockbuster movie is Austin Nichols.
Austin Nichols – a name that conjures a few memories among those who skied with him in tournaments past and a name that will be up in lights in the very near future.
Since hanging up his tournament skis he has pursued a promising career in the T.V. and Movie industry and a successful one at that – he will be starring in two Hollywood blockbusters this coming summer, “The Day after Tomorrow” (opening today) and “Wimbledon” (opening Labor Day weekend).
The following interview can be also be seen in abreviated form in the latest June edition USA Waterski's The Waterskiier Magazine.

WSC: You are appearing in two major Hollywood movies this summer. You pretty excited about that?

AN: I am incredibly excited.  I am about to wet myself waiting for them. It seems like years since I finished them.  In the case of “The Day after Tomorrow” it has been a whole year.

WSC: For those who need a refresher as to who you are, tell us a little about your skiing background and what you had achieved in the sport.

AN: My Mom, Kay Nichols is a ten time National champion.  So I was sort of born into skiing, but I did not really get serious until I was 12 or 13.  I started improving rapidly and spending time at Jay Bennett's in Louisiana. 

I quickly made alliances with Ryan Fitts and we became inseparable.  We got into quite a bit of trouble too.  He was quite a hero and a competitor.  I was always gunning for him.  But I certainly have him to thank for my competitive fire.  It was an incredible way to grow up. I made the 1997 Junior US Team at the Team Trials at McCormick’s.  We all went to Edmonton, Canada and I won Slalom and Overall and the US prevailed.  I also reached the #3 spot on the world ranking list for Junior Men's Tricks behind Marco Riva and Jimmy Siemers.  Jimmy and I both trained at Aquaplex in Austin, Texas.  And I competed in Two Junior Masters at Calloway Gardens.  I love golf.

WSC: Most skiers that I know of at your level tend to go the NCWSA route and continue skiing through college. What prompted your decision to do otherwise?

AN: At the age of 15 or 16, acting was calling to me in the back of my mind. It was a little bit eclipsed by the call to be a professional water-skier, but acting slowly broke through.  I made a student film with a couple of graduate students at UT and I was in a bunch of acting classes.  Eventually, acting was shouting at me and skiing was just a whisper.  Maybe I just didn’t want to go to college in Louisiana!!!

WSC: Describe how you got your first break into the acting field back in 1995 - "The Great Work" episode in "Sliders".

AN: I got to Los Angeles and started school at USC in September.  I had my first job on SLIDERS in October.  It was wonderful because I got my SAG card immediately, so the union battle was quickly won. Sliders was also a very fitting role, because the character of Seth was a very 'green', wide-eyed kid, which described me perfectly as I was just entering that world.

WSC: Some shows, especially in this day in age, never really get to show their full potential before getting the axe from the network. One of those shows was "Pasadena", in which you appeared in 5 episodes and was cancelled by Fox before the end of that season. Tell us how you felt after learning of the show's demise.

AN: Tony, I am so glad you know about “Pasadena.”  It was a wonderful show with a stellar cast.  Dana Delaney, Martin Donovan, Philip Baker Hall, Balthazar Getty, Natasha Gregson-Wagner, and Alison Lohman.  The funny thing was, that '24' was just starting that season as well, and both shows were for Fox.  So Fox put all their money into marketing '24', their golden goose, and it took off.  Also, I think Pasadena was really ahead of its time.  It was incredibly dark and incredibly funny and I think people didn't really get it.  They thought it was really serious, and they didn't get the humor.  But I was definitely devastated because there was a chance that I might have become a series regular.  Also, Mike White was the writer/creator/showrunner and he is incredibly brilliant.  I am just dazzled that I got to work with such wonderful people.

WSC: Describe your role in TDAT. What kind of character do you play in the movie?

AN: In The Day After Tomorrow, I play J.D., a wealthy high-school senior who lives on the upper east side of Manhattan.  J.D.'s school hosts an Academic decathlon and three kids come to town from Washington D.C.  (this group includes Jake Gyllenhaal, the lead)   All of a sudden, severe flooding begins and I give shelter to these kids because they cannot catch a flight out of the city because all flights have been cancelled.  There is a girl with them, Laura, played by Emmy Rossum, who I am immediately attracted to, but Jake's character, Sam, is in love with her too.  So, Sam and J.D. have that immediate competitive flare to win the girl right in the middle of a disaster, the end of the world.  The weather that ensues is triggered by global warming.  This warming melts large amounts of polar ice and the oceans heat up and cause the currents to change direction.  This major shift causes an imbalance in the atmosphere and giant super storms are generated.  They look like giant hurricanes over land.  There is also a giant tidal wave and tornadoes.   Everything you can think of happens.  So when all this happens, the four of us take shelter in a library and just try to survive.  There is an exciting occurrence with wolves, but I cannot say any more.

(Insert the part about Wimbledon)

WSC: Many will guess that Hollywood is a world away from the skiing scene, but how often do you keep in touch with what's going on with the sport? Do you ski yourself from time to time?

AN: Strangely, Tony, the water skiing world is incredibly similar to Hollywood.  Hollywood is just bigger and more famous, the egos are a little bigger and there is more money.  Skiing has its own celebrities and endorsement deals, contracts, photo shoots, awards ceremonies, outrageous parties. I have always thought that the water ski world was like a shrunken Hollywood.

I do keep up with things a little bit through my parents.  And I call Ryan Fitts and Dana Hinman from time to time and check in.  I really want to come back to the Masters and play a little golf, watch the tournament, and crash some golf carts.  Strangely, TDAT opens Memorial Day weekend, same as the Masters.

I really don’t do much skiing.  Recently I went out and ran 2 at 41'..........on my trick ski.

Surfing seems to keep me in the water and pretty happy

Click for larger

The story

A romantic trifle set amid the glamour and competition of professional tennis, "Wimbledon" boasts appealing leads and dazzling court play, but the film never rises above its by-the-numbers plot to generate emotional heat. As a genial crowd-pleaser, it looks likely to achieve a midrange ranking.

In his first romantic-comedy leading role, Paul Bettany is highly watchable and makes a likable rooting interest -- to the extent that the film generates viewer involvement. He plays Peter Colt, a thirtysomething tennis player who has never quite realized his potential. Once the No. 11 player in the world, the Brit is now ranked 119th and ready to retire in defeat. But before he starts his new job as tennis director at a posh country club -- where the older female members are more than eager for his instruction -- he gets a final, wild-card shot at Wimbledon.

His last hurrah quickly turns interesting with some off-the-court action. After meeting cute, he and rising star Lizzie Bradbury (Kirsten Dunst) begin an affair. She believes that "a little fooling around can be good for your game" and goes after what she wants. But while their romance proves a boon to Peter's game, it has a less-than-salutary effect on Lizzie's. Her protective manager dad (Sam Neill), sensing that this is more than a fling, warns Peter off -- to no avail.

As he moves up the rankings, Peter must face off against his practice partner, Dieter (Nikolaj Coster-Waldau), and a nasty young American (Austin Nichols) who used to date Lizzie. He also deals with a collection of mildly quirky characters, including his wealthy, bickering parents (Bernard Hill and Eleanor Bron) and his layabout brother (James McAvoy), who has made something of a career out of betting against Peter. Jon Favreau shows up in the stock role of an endorsement-minded sports agent.

Wimbledon's official site

'Wimbledon' Stars Saw Their Share Of Tears, Stray Balls, Scotch On Set (MTV Movies)

Guess who had the scotch and who was in tears on the set.

At the premiere, Paul Bettany admitted that while his tennis swing may look flawless onscreen, things weren't always so smooth off-camera. "I hit the cameraman with a tennis ball three times," he said.  "On the third time I bought him a bottle of single-malt scotch to apologize."

Co-star Austin Nichols said he too had little tennis experience when he signed on to play Jake Hammond, the rude American tennis player who previously dated Lizzie and competes against Peter in Wimbledon. "I had three months to train and it was every day for six hours," he said.  "There were days when I was crying and I didn't want to do it but I just kept going."

Paul Bettany on Austin:

TeenHollywood: What was it like to step out on Center Court at Wimbledon?

Paul: It was as close to how I imagined being a rock star feels. You walk on and everybody is screaming your name. I sat down to take my racquet out and I remember thinking 'I'm so pleased that I don't actually have to play a match because I can't walk'. There's actually a photograph somewhere of Austin Nichols carrying me or helping me walk off Center Court because, literally, my legs were like jelly. 

Larger

Austin on Wimbledon (an interview):

WSC: Wimbledon the Movie - tell a little about your role in that film and what it was like to step out onto the hallowed grass at Center Court.

AN: In Wimbledon, I play Jake Hammond, #3 in the world (strangely like my water ski ranking) in tennis.  Sort of an Andy Roddick type.  I used to date Kirsten Dunst's character, but apparently I am not such a nice guy, so we break up.  Then she falls in love with Paul Bettany's character, who is the hero of the film, and I play him in the Wimbledon final.  I cannot leak any important info, but it is quite an exciting final.  I did get to play on Center Court for three weeks.  It was quite amazing. If I could, I would only play on grass.  It is like only jumping at Jack Travers, The best in the world.

I also calculated that I may have spent more time on the center court grass than Pete Sampras.

WSC: You describe your part in "Wimbledon" as that of a "bad boy" - did you draw any inspiration from other people you know to play that kind of role?

AN: To tell you the truth, I tried to make Jake Hammond as good a guy as  that happen.  I was trying to make him a little more interesting, more  layered, so he wouldn't come off so black and white.  But I certainly have experience with 'bad boys' from my skiing days.  Ryan Fitts was the King. Michael, Patrick, and Daniel McCormick were always infamous when I was growing up.  Dana Hinman and I were always doing something wrong, the only difference was we never got caught.  Or rarely.  I love all these guys and miss getting in trouble with them.

WSC: I imagine that there was a rigorous training schedule to prepare you for that role - anything like what you had during your skiing days?

AN: Yes, rigorous is an understatement.  I had two-a-days and sometimes three-a-days for three months.  I trained in Los Angeles with Murphy Jensen (1993 French Open Doubles champion with brother Luke) for two months and Murphy kicked my butt.  I was sweating and bleeding everyday.  I had to go to the doctor a couple of times for my back and tendonitis in my fingers (in the movie you will see tape on my fingers - it is not just for show). There were lots of massages and icing and heat pads and muscle relaxers.  Ankle braces, medical tape.  I felt like a veteran skier with two ACL surgeries, a few concussions, and a torn rotator cuff.  Then I went to London for a month and trained with Pat Cash (1987 Wimbledon champ).  He was wonderful, but kicked my ass even harder.  We only practiced on grass and occasional clay, just in case there is a French Open sequel.  I also worked with two bio-mechanics.  So I had it all.  I felt like a professional tennis player for seven months.  I also was in the gym everyday with a trainer to beef up my skinny legs.  I have a slalom body, so I had to do quite a bit of work to look more like a tennis guy.

WSC: What was it like to work alongside the likes of Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany? Most will know of Kirsten from "Spiderman" but not too many know of Paul by name until they see him and realize that he played Geoffrey Chaucer from "A Knight's Tale".

AN: Working with Kirsten was lovely.  I have always been in awe of her ability to remain balanced.  She started so young.  In “Interview with a Vampire" she is co-starring with Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt.  That has to be strange for a child.  She is incredibly sweet and giving.  Paul Bettany is quite a trip.  Nicest guy in the world.  A great drinking pal.  And on top of all that, he is one of the most talented actors I have ever seen on a screen.  Be warned, he is going to blow doors.  Win Oscars, the whole bit.  I feel blessed to have been able to share a stage with him.

WSC: Who would you be taking to the premier of each movie?

AN: I will definitely be taking my lovely girlfriend Claire Oswalt to the premieres.  She is a brilliant artist and children's book author.

From Water skiing’s contribution to Hollywood – Friday 28 may, 2004

Finaly – did you know this?  Kirsten Dunst plays an unbelievable tempered woman and it was lucky she could pull it off. In my opinion they should have got a more athletic actress to play the romantic lead - but hey they could have done worst. They actually wanted Reese Whiterspoon! - Jon’s Weblog, 26 september 2004

"BraceFace Brandi," a fictious short film that spoofs the media, was shot on campus from Wednesday through Friday last week.
 
"The filming took place for educational experience," said producer Bonnie Curtis, who has worked with Steven Spielberg for many projects, including "Lost World," "Amistad" and "Saving Private Ryan." 
 
"The project was to learn how making a movie works."

Curtis also said that she personally knew people from the campus film department, which led to the movie being filmed on campus. The film, however, was meant to be more of a learning experience than an actual movie to be produced for public consumption, she said. 
 
"They let us shoot free as long as we filmed with the CSULB film students," she said. "All the equipment was donated from various people."
 
Kent Masters King starred as BraceFace Brandi.

Austin played the part of Matt.