Actor Jason Biggs, who is widely known for his role as Jim Levenstein, the teenage pastry lover in the “American Pie†film series, now stars in the new family adventure “Eight Below.†In the film, Biggs plays Cooper, a cartographer, who is working with a science research team and a group of lovable snowdogs in the depths of Antarctica.
You’re originally from New Jersey, so does that mean you adapted to the cold a bit easier than someone like Paul Walker, who is from California?
I would imagine I am a little bit more adaptable when it comes to snowy and colder conditions. But I’ve been living in L.A. for awhile, and it sounds so trite but you’re blood really does thin out because I go back and I’m like, “Man, this is pretty extreme.†But I love it. It’s a nice change of pace. I love to snowboard, so I’m up in the mountains a lot.
Did you get a chance to snowboard at all while you were filming in Canada?
Actually, I did. There was one Saturday where this great storm came through and I didn’t have to work. They didn’t need me so I got some “powder turns†in. It was actually awesome.
So, are you watching the Winter Olympics now?
I haven’t watched a ton of it, but at night before bed I’ll throw it on or I’ll check online. I like to see the U.S. snowboarders are continuing to dominate, which is cool.
You get to work with Siberian Huskies in “Eight Below.†Are you a dog person?
I’m a dog person. I have two dogs – a Beagle mix named Edgar and a miniature Pincher named Harry. The mint pin, we just got about a month ago. He’s a new addition to the family.
In the film, your character is not a big fan of dog licks. In reality, are you okay with a pooch’s passionate kisses?
I’m into the passionate kisses, closemouthed of course unless I’m a little drunk and it’s a weekend night, but not on the first date. But if things are comfortable and relaxed I’m open to the idea of a little mouth. I’m just kidding, of course! Actually, what really grossed me out in the movie was not the dog licking my face. It was the stuff they had to smear on my face so they could get the dog to lick me. It was like this chicken/liver gelatin crap. It was gross. It really got the gag reflexes going. Ugh!
Did you get a chance to see the Japanese film that “Eight Below†is based from, “Nankyoku Monogatari?â€
No, but I hear that it is pretty intense. I hear they actually, like in that scene with the dogs and the leopard seal, let the dogs go and attack a leopard seal. I’m curious to see it, but a little afraid to see it.
Did you learn anything about the Husky that you did not know before?
I hadn’t met too many Huskies. I thought they were much bigger to be honest. They are small dogs, incredibly powerful, really smart and worked really well together.
How much time did you spend in the snow and what was the most difficult part of working in those conditions?
We were up in Canada for about six weeks. The most difficult part was when the wind would come in and it was biting cold. But we were dressed for it and we were a bunch of spoiled Hollywood kids so we would get hot chocolate brought in.