Q: What was it like working on the set with legendary comedians like Harold Ramis and Catherine O’Hara? Did you feel intimidated at all?

Jack Black: Well, I wasn’t intimidated by Harold Ramis by any stretch of the imagination. The man’s a rank amateur. [laughter] No, just joshing you, dude. Yeah, I was intimidated. I was more just stoked to be around them, and hanging around them. I was worried that I was annoying them with my questions, I’d be like, “Hey man, I really like that thing that happened in Stripes, just thought I’d tell ya.”

Q: Did your college experience have any affect on your role in the film?

JB: My college experience was brief. I went to UCLA for two years, and I was probably the worst student in the history of the school. I wouldn’t make it to a class if it was before noon. I was into doing theater, but not studying theater. I would just fall asleep immediately as soon as the class started.

Q: How much of [your character] Lance was on the page, and how much did you come up with yourself?

JB: I’m going to say 95.6% on the page. I always do a little changing of words that don’t sound right coming out of my mouth, but for the most part, that script was great. I loved that part so much, I wanted to just do it like it was. Mike White, he’s a tremendous writer. You see Chuck and Buck? The guy is awesome. He should get some prizes. He will get prizes.

Q: It looked like you got to do a lot of lounging in this movie. How did you prepare for that? Did you do a lot of napping?

JB: No. That’s fake lounging that I did there. It’s actually very high tension lounging. When the cameras roll, there’s just incredible tension. Even if you’re just sleeping, it’s really intense. You need a deep tissue massage right afterwards.

Q: You’re in your underwear throughout a big chunk of the film. What was that like, having to wear nothing but underwear for twelve hours

a day?

JB: When he’s at home, why would he wear anything more? But it was only when the cameras rolled, and then an immediate robe was thrown my way. But I didn’t mind. It was a little chilly.

Q: Was that the same pair the whole movie?

JB: There were two pairs. There was one and a stunt pair. No, I think those were the same ones. But they cleaned them every day, so don’t worry about that.

Q: What are some of your upcoming projects, on the screen or off the screen, that you’re really proud of?