THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN

Opens In Theaters Everywhere: Wednesday, August 15th! 

Earlier today, I was invited to attend a private online Q&A with Jennifer Garner for The Odd Life of Timothy Green along with several of my fellow bloggers. We all had an opportunity to ask questions, watch Jennifer respond via. webcam, and talk about her newest release, The Odd Life of Timothy Green, which hits theatres tomorrow! 

Luckily, I was able to jot down most of her answers so that I could share them with all of you! 

From her first reading of the script, Garner knew this was a film she wanted to be involved with. She was taken not only by the storytelling, but also by the characters of Cindy and Jim Green who wish themselves a boy at a time when they thought all bets were off on having a child. "This is the most relatable film I have ever worked on," says Garner, "because I am a parent, but also because I am a sister, a daughter, a child." 

Keep reading and scrolling down below for my transcript from this exclusive Jennifer Garner Q&A for Bloggers AND the official movie trailer (bottom)!

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Q: What has been your favorite role so far, and why?

I love all of the movies that I have played in, but all for different reasons. Each of them offers a different overall experience. I’ve had a variety of roles: dramatic, lighter, broader, comedy, action. I love the variety and it would be hard to choose one as a favorite. 

Q: What was the most important aspect that helped you get into character in The Odd Life of Timothy Green?

It was pretty easy to get into character for this film. I do a lot of work beforehand. I worked with an acting teacher in L.A. prior to filming The Odd Life of Timothy Green. She told me not to mess with the character; it was easy to play this role since she was so identifiable to who I am and I could act natural. 

{interum; while we were waiting for the system to update questions!}

“So! This is a good opportunity to talk about bloggers! I love hearing about mommy bloggers and you are really… taking over! I love to hear how you are taking the power into your own hands.. and there are a lot of you! Congratulations to all of you and I know you work really hard, too!"

Q: How did you relate to the character as a mother?

I really related to her and that fear you get as a first time mom. I don’t have that nervous energy anymore that you get with your first baby, but suddenly she has a 10-year-old boy appear! She’s tried to get pregnant for long long, struggled with infertility, and suddenly she has a big kid! So, I related with her as a mom, but her fears were far greater! 

Q: What do you want the audience to take home after seeing this film?

Well, of course I want the to be entertained and have a good time! But, what I love is that this movie is really for everyone. Kids laugh and think the move is for them, but so do adults which makes for good family movie!

I would love if the audience would take away that we should judge ourselves, kids, and what we do as mothers/parents less. Realize that we’re not perfect and things will happen!

Q: Does this movie end on a happy note?

Yes, it does! It has a bittersweet ending, but it will make you may cry. 

Q: How did you like working with writer/director Peter Hedges?  

Yes, I loved working with him. I guess going back to best movie — best connection experience 13 going on 30 w/ Gary Winnig.. Gary’s good friend is Peter, so I had always heard about it and went into this project knowing I would love this. 

Q: How was it like working with CJ Adams?

It was fantastic! He is one of those big kids.. a great, fun kid! He isn’t sarcastic at all, or speak with irony when talking to you,  or the winking and nudging! But.. he is so wide-eyed, upbeat, trusting! He is a great friend and I miss him a lot. I love him and working with him was amazing.

If you could meet anyone dead or alive, who would you choose?

Oh wow! I would love to meet Benjamin Franklin, Abraham Lincoln.. However, I think I would have to choose Thomas Jefferson. I would ask him about the Declaration of Independence: what it was like being there… at that moment in history. I would love to sit with him and mommy bloggers to ask questions!

Where was The Odd Life of Timothy Green filmed?

 Atlanta, which was great because my childhood best friend lives there! Our kids got to hang out all day. If I got out of work and the kids were asleep, I could run out to meet her for dinner. It was heaven! 

Q: How do you juggle motherhood and work? How do you enrich your spirit?

Lucky for me, my work enriches my spirit. I don’t work as much as I used to, but I make sure the project makes me full. I also work with Save the Children a lot. We work to help kids in poverty grow from ages 0 through elementary school. 

Q: Why did you choose acting career?

I don’t know that I chose to pursue acting. It’s what I did to be myself and how I spent my time. I was a theatre rat growing up! You couldn’t get me out of the theatre, and I loved ballet! When I went to college, I initially majored in Chemistry and thought I would change later on to theatre, or thought I would just get another degree. I worked for free at different theatres during my summers growing up. Eventually one thing led to another….! I guess you could say that I was always working towards an acting career, but didn’t plan it. 

Q: What do you think of Joel Edgarton?

He is really smart. I’ve worked with a few Australian actors in the past. They are always really hardworking, hilariously funny, and easy going. Joel was all of those things! 

Q: If you had one word of advice for new moms.. what would it be?

I would say to just take it easy on yourself. It’s all going to come out okay! Someone once told me that “everything is a phase”. The good, yummy, and tough stuff — just get through it and don’t try to fix everything!

Q: How do you choose which movies you’ll play a role in? 

There is a lot of detail and decisions that have to be made when it comes to choosing roles. I have to LOVE the script and it has to be well written. The director is also VERY important; it makes a huge difference and can change everything about a fim. Where does it shoot? What about my kids? Will my husband be around? 

Q: Just as Timothy’s parents choose three qualities that they want him to have, hat would your three qualities be?

Oh, I dont have an answer! I have learned that your kids are who they are, so its silly to think about choosing a quality. I think that’s what Cindy learns in this movie… 

 Q; How difficult was the lightening flash scene?

Oh, it was very difficult! Difficult!

Which was your favorite scene to film in The Odd Life of Timothy Green? 

My favorite scene to film AND watch during The Odd Life of Timothy Green was the soccer scene. We have a huge soccer game in the movie that was a lot of fun!  

Q: Kids or animals: which one do you like working with better? 

That would be a hard choice! But… I do like working with kids!

Q: What did you think of wardrobe for this movie?

My wardrobe for The Odd Life of Timothy Green was designed by Susie DeSanto. I worked with her first during 13 Going on 30 – and six other films thereafter. I love the overall design of this movie, love it! It is very special and a beautiful movie! Movies these days are all about special effects, but this is just a pretty movie. The wardrobe isn’t what I typically wear, but it was just .. very appropriate for the character.

Q: How many hours did you spend filming The Odd Life of Timothy Green?

We filmed The Odd Life of Timothy Green for eleven weeks and throughout all of that I had maybe one day off! We worked 5-6 days a week. The days were long  - 14 hour days!