MS: I would be the first person to watch a movie that put teenagers in a really realistic light. I think a sugarcoated view of teenage life has its place--a lot of those films are highly entertaining. But when you are doing a serious piece, and demonstrating that film can be art, the more real your portrayal is, the better.

THC: American Beauty is striking as a film that takes the idea of beauty very seriously. Has your sense or definition of beauty changed having worked on the film?

WB: When I first read the screenplay, I read the monologue about the beauty of a plastic bag blowing in the wind: "There is so much beauty in the world, you feel like you can't take it."

MS: That line gets me every time.

WB: It felt like it was overwhelming his body, like it was going to cave in. I had recently been finding myself finding myself fascinated by things that I would normally find disturbing. My ideas of beauty at that time had just started to change. I was wondering a lot about why I would find these things beautiful. I read the script and the speech spoke directly to me at the time. I think it is what I needed to hear.

MS: I can find beauty in the simplest things. Actually, I was thinking last night; I was looking at the title of the movie when I was at the party last night. "American" makes me think of things that are simple and plain, whereas "beauty" is more alluring, and exciting. When I think of "American Beauty," maybe it's this idea: finding the simple beauty of life, finding beauty in the plainest things, and in just being alive.

THC: I'm sorry, I've got to ask: Mena, is that your belly-button on the movie posters?

MS: No. Mine's an outtie. I tend to think it's Kevin's. I don't know -- maybe it's computer-generated. I wish it were my belly-button.