Living the McDream

"It's a little cheesy, but that's fine.'' Australian actor Callan McAuliffe is talking from his Los Angeles home about his new film I Am Number Four, the Michael Bay produced blockbuster about an alien in highschool. McAuliffe's character Sam befriends said alien, play by Alex Pettyfer, and the pair team up to fight an evil horde of creatures invading the town. It's a fantastic role for the 16-year-old Sydney lad, who has spent the last year and a half trying to break into the Hollywood market after bit parts in Packed To The Rafters and Blue Water High.

His big break came during a 2009 holiday to LA when he landed the lead role in Flipped, written, directed and produced by industry heavyweight Rob Reiner (The Princess Bride, A Few Good Men, When Harry Met Sally, This Is Spinal Tap). After being called back to audition five times, McAuliffe said he ``didn't think they would want an Australian because of all the travel involved.'' He was wrong.

Not only did he get the part, but the role brought him to the attention of the I Am Number Four casting directors. With just one audition McAuliffe got the part and joined the cast with Pettyfer, Glee star Dianna Agron, Timothy Olyphant and fellow Aussie Teresa Palmer as alien number six.
``It was a fantastic experience,'' he said.
``I came from Flipped straight to I Am Number Four which was an extreme contrast.
``It was a multi-national cast with Alex being British and Dianna and Tim American.
``But having another Australian on set in Teresa was great because at least there was one person to laugh at my jokes.
"Americans, they just don't get our sense of humour, you know?
``She was hilarious and although we would muck around, as soon as D.J. (director D.J. Caruso) yelled `action' we would snap back into our characters.''
McAuliffe said fans of producer Michael Bay will be expecting ``explosions'' and they won't be disappointed, with plenty of stunts and special-effects. And although his character didn't get to do ``any dangerous stuff''', McAuliffe said he did get to shoot a gun.
``It was a real shot gun in special casing to make it look alien,'' he said.
``I did get to do all of my own stunts, which weren't too impressive because my character doesn't get into much action.
``But I was definitely looking forward to shooting that gun the whole time.
``It was an alien gun too.''

Palmer, on the other hand, was not only an alien in the film but got to perform some of the most dangerous stunts herself. The Aussie rising star said she relished the opportunity and played ``an alien who kicks major bad-alien butt'.
``We're getting pursued by the bad aliens, but my character is sick of running away so she turns around and the hunters become the hunted,'' she said.
``I got to do my own stunts and I had someone film this one amazing stunt I did.
``I was attached to a harness which was attached to a 60 foot crane and when they said `action' I had to run and the harness, that was attached to just my leg, would pull me back and I would go flying 60 feet up in the air.
``I had to act like this huge alien, a Piken, was pulling me up and I would be kicking and screaming and trying to stab it with this dagger.''

I Am Number Four is out tomorrow.