Jacob Tremblay said it took 90 minutes to be transformed into August 鈥淎uggie鈥� Pullman, a boy with facial differences who goes to school for the first time in the movie Wonder.

The 11-year-old 91原创 actor was taking questions following the screening of Wonder at the third annual 91原创 International Film Festival on Sunday.

Tremblay spent about an hour answering questions after arriving with the dog Gidget, who played Daisy, his character鈥檚 pet in the film.

He said the makeup was originally going to take three hours, but the artist got it down to an hour-and-a-half to meet regulations that limit the amount of time child actors spend on set.

鈥淚t was really interesting,鈥� Tremblay said of the process of transforming into Auggie.

The makeup included multiple appliances, contact lenses, prosthetic teeth and a device that pulled down his eyelid.

鈥淚t helped me become Auggie,鈥� said Tremblay.

Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson play Auggie鈥檚 parents, and Tremblay had nothing but good things to say about the experience of working with the A-list actors.

Roberts, he said, 鈥渨as really nice.鈥�

His favourite moment in the film happened when his character kicked a bully in a sensitive spot.

鈥淚t was my idea,鈥� he said.

It was also fun working with his older sister, who has a brief scene with Auggie, he said.

Another high point was the moment when Auggie envisions seeing Chewbacca from Star Wars, and the actual actor who plays Chewbacca did the scene.

鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the cool things about playing Auggie, we both love Star Wars,鈥� Tremblay said.

He likes the original three Star Wars movies best, but he鈥檇 love to perform in one of the new ones.

鈥淚 could be an Ewok,鈥� he said.

His favourite character is Luke Skywalker.

The performance that got Tremblay recognized as an outstanding actor was the film, , for which he won the Critics鈥� Choice Movie Award for Best Young Performer and the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role.

Despite his impressive resume, he said he still has to compete for roles, and he doesn鈥檛 always get the parts he wants.

鈥淚 do get said 鈥榥o鈥� to, a lot,鈥� he said.

Asked how he got into acting, Tremblay said he got started when he was little, then corrected himself.

鈥淟ittler,鈥� he said.

鈥淎cting is my passion,鈥� he said.

鈥淚t鈥檚 what I want to do when I鈥檓 an adult.鈥�

If he wasn鈥檛 an actor, he would like to be a director or a screenwriter, and he鈥檚 already been doing some writing.

Asked about his training, he said hasn鈥檛 taken acting lessons and has no plans to.

鈥淚 don鈥檛 really do training,鈥� he said.

鈥淚鈥檝e been very lucky to have the skills I have. I鈥檝e been blessed.鈥�

He said he has learned from 鈥渢he amazing directors鈥� he鈥檚 worked with.

But he does believe in preparing. For Wonder, he spent time researching what life is like for children with conditions like that of his character.

Asked how much money he makes from film acting, he said it all goes into a bank account for when he鈥檚 older.

鈥淪o I don鈥檛 really know,鈥� an amused Tremblay said.

鈥淚 probably should know.鈥�

When one person complemented his stylish outfit, he said he couldn鈥檛 take credit.

鈥淢y mom dressed me,鈥� he said.

He said he stays centered by playing video games, hanging out with friends and playing rollerblade hockey.

In response to one questioner, he said one thing he and his family don鈥檛 do, is stage scenes for their own amusement.

鈥淣ot when we鈥檙e not being paid,鈥� he quipped.

One of his next movies will be the latest installment in the Predator science-fiction film franchise, but he can鈥檛 say anything about it.

鈥淚 promised everyone on the set,鈥� he said.

The third annual 91原创 International Film Festival, benefiting the 91原创 School District Foundation, featured six feature films at the Chief Sepass Theatre at the 91原创 Fine Arts School in Fort 91原创.

On Saturday, 91原创 Fine Arts, R.E. Mountain, Brookswood and 91原创 Secondary schools showcased top films from their schools to be judge by film professionals.

Winners received funding for their school programs in their name as well as a personal tour of Martini film studios.

All money raised from the weekend will go towards supporting film studies at 91原创 high schools.

The previous two years鈥� festivals raised $15,000 each.

dan.ferguson@langleytimes.com
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