Hannah Montana: The Movie

The cast of the long-awaited Hannah Montana: The Movie sat down with Buzzine to tell us all about the excitement surrounding the film, what Miley Cyrus is really like, and what they all look forward to doing in their careers.

Emmanuel Itier: Billy Ray, how do you make sure Miley keeps her head about her and behaves and does the dishes?

Billy Ray Cyrus: I didn’t see her do the dishes. We both love what we do. She loves acting, she loves singing, she loves writing songs, and I think, for the most part with Miley, it’s staying real and remembering who she is, where she comes from, and what she’s all about. That’s part of the magic of this film. As my dad told me when I was a little boy, it’s important to always be aware of your current surroundings, where you’re at in any crossroads of life; always be looking forward to the future and knowing where you want to go. But most importantly, never forget where you come from. That’s the theme of this movie — getting back to your roots and remembering who you are and why you’re here.

EI: There’s so much life imitating art and art imitating life here. How much is Miley different in real life from on screen?

Emily Osment: That’s a good point because, when we made the movie, we went back to Franklin, Miley’s hometown, and I got to see her farm and where she grew up, and the movie was sort of parallel to that because it’s about her going back home and regaining her roots, so it’s pretty similar.

Jason Earles: I think Miley is very similar; at least my relationship with her is very similar in real life to the show. I look at her as an annoying little sister sometimes. It’s always been the same since we started this. She doesn’t really have a filter with what she says.

EO: It’s what makes [her] very interesting.

JE: What she says is what she actually means, so you always know where you stand with her, and there’s something very charming about being that honest.

EI: Any wardrobe malfunctions or bloopers on set?

JE: The thing I was most nervous about in the movie was the scene with the ostrich, because it’s a six-foot-tall prehistoric bird with a brain the size of a bottle cap. I knew I was in trouble when the animal handler gave me the leash that was holding the ostrich and said, “Don’t pull on that. He doesn’t like it.” I was like, “Please, dear God, don’t let it bite me.” And the very first day, it bit me right in the face. I had the rest of the day to look forward to with the ostrich…but we got some funny stuff out of it.

EI: Lucas, what was your screen test like with Miley?

Lucas Till: I remember when I first found out I was going out to Los Angeles to screen test and I was so nervous that I didn’t eat for a freaking week beforehand. I was expecting a little more of a different attitude. She was just a normal girl. It made it that much easier.

EI: What do you think about Miley having to be a role model?

JE: I think it’s unfair to expect a 16-year-old to raise your kids. So while she does occasionally make mistakes, that’s a good opportunity for parents to educate their kids about different decisions that they can make. So while you can look at her and look up to her and there are things that are very inspirational about her, anybody who thinks that she, 100% of the time, should be the shining example for your kid, you are misleading yourself as a parent.

EI: What kind of roles are you looking for after Hannah Montana, and what do people offer you now?

EO: Every actor wants to hit every angle of art, and I’ve been playing this character for almost four years now, so I think it’s natural for me to want to play something different. I think everybody does.

LT: Actually, a year ago, the last thing I thought I’d be doing is this right here, Hannah Montana: The Movie. This is a lot different than what I would normally go for. I definitely want to go for something a little bit more edgy, something a little more that my friends back home can watch. But this is definitely a good movie to be a part of for my family to watch.

EO: I want to be slaughtered or something — in a movie.

LT: It is a bunch of fun being slaughtered!

EO: I think it would be fun.

EI: What would you say to teens who have a dream of coming out to Hollywood and pursuing their dreams out here or going to college?

LT: Go to college, live your life, and be a normal person.

EO: Definitely.