Sandra Bullock AOL Chat (2002)

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Host Susan: Welcome to AOL Live. Tonight we are chatting with actress Sandra Bullock, star of the upcoming release ‘Two Week Notice’ with Hugh Grant in theaters on December 20. Please send in your questions by clicking on the ask a guest a question button in the auditorium. We'll start off with our first question from a member. Could you tell us a little bit about your movie ‘Two Week Notice?’

Sandra Bullock: Not an easy question to answer. In a nutshell, I think like the subject matter, it's really hard to figure out how to explain love. But we narrowed it down to is it ever too late to tell somebody you love them? And I think people have really started thinking about that. I think the older you get the more fearful you become of putting yourself on the line. It's about two people who are relatively intelligent, who cannot manage to step up to plate. And it gets to be too late, almost. So it's the struggle with that. Plus a lot of humor.

Host Susan: Our next question is from lawoman 081: What were some jobs you had before becoming an actress?

Sandra Bullock: Oh, very menial ones. Of course a waitress. All actors are waiters or waitresses. Bartender, coat check. I was a cleaning lady. I was a fit model for two weeks, but I kept eating, so I outgrew the clothes. I was willing to do any job. I was literally planning on doing these jobs, I was OK with doing these jobs for the rest of my life, if I could do the other thing I loved, which was to act. You sort of assume you're going to do all kinds of other jobs while you act on your free time.

Host Susan: Jurkin 0 asks: What would you be doing if not acting?

Sandra Bullock: I would love to be an architect. I have an expensive hobby, buying homes, redoing them, tearing them down and building them up the way they want to be built. I think I would go back to school to be an architect.

Host Susan: Dane 713 asks: Hey, you're my favorite actress. What movies are you planning after ‘Two Week Notice?’

Sandra Bullock: I've decided to take a bit of a break. I'm going to work on the TV show I have, ‘George Lopez.’ But because I had such a great time doing ‘Two Week Notice’ with people that I just adored, I sort of feel like all right, I've done the best that I can do in a romantic comedy, for right now, so naught aside, and maybe take time off and later try other things I haven't done my best at. Right now I'm going to take a little bit of time off.

Host Susan: What are you going to do in your down time?

Sandra Bullock: Believe me, it won't be quiet time. I just don't want to be in front of a camera for a while. I think I need to give that a rest. I think other people might feel the same way, like remove yourself from in front of the lens for a while. I think that's exactly what I'm going to do.

Host Susan: Pamral 22 asks: Do you ever get into a character and realize it wasn't what you thought it would be?

Sandra Bullock: That's a great question. Yes. And often what happens, you begin working on a character, you spend months and months and months and months working on a character, you get on set and you can be in the middle of the film and realize the character is completely different. We have our entire lives to figure out who we are, and we have only three months when doing a film to perfect this human being that's supposed to have all these neuroses and problems. I've been in the middle of a film and realize I was doing it completely wrong. You try to figure out how to shift it. It's a weird thing we do for a living. I was thinking this the other day, I do a very strange job. My job is just strange. But that's the nice thing about comedy, it really comes down to have you made the audience laugh properly for close to two hours. And if you can get at least five good laughs out of an audience, that's an exciting thing. It's a really exciting thing. At least for me. It's a guilty pleasure.

Host Susan: Maryannbuster asks: Sandra, how old were you in the first role you played, and what was that character?

Sandra Bullock: Another good question. I think the first role that I ever had, which was a paying job, was when I was six years old, as the filthy gypsy child in my mother's opera ‘The Gypsy baron.’ That was the first hard cash paying roll I ever had.

Host Susan: Tinkerpanther101 asks: When you were younger, what were some of your favorite things to do?

Sandra Bullock: Oh, God. Boys, boys. Boys. And chasing and hunting down and kissing more boys. I was absolutely boy crazy. Yeah.

Host Susan: Has that changed?

Sandra Bullock: Not really. Some people don't mature, and that's where I'm just not very mature.

Host Susan: Vtwinshadow195 asks: Miss Bullock, where do you see your acting career moving? Are you planning on doing any stage work?

Sandra Bullock: I started out in stage work. I found lately, especially in New York City, you have the luxury of seeing so many great productions on the stage, whether musicals or straight plays, and I've started even turning in that direction to find projects that I think would be good having me on stage. I wouldn't do stage if I'm not going to lend to the production. I've actually started thinking about that again, because it's great to be in New York and I love the energy there, and that's where I got my start. And yes, I am planning on doing something.

Host Susan: Yankeesfanforlife asks: Sandra, are you really into technology, and if so, what gadgets can't you live without?

Sandra Bullock: I cannot live without my AOL communicator, which to the annoyance of everyone else has become like my third arm. You know, I'm an Internet junky because I do so much research and instead of annoying people, I decided just to annoy the laptop that I have. But my AOL communicator is something that has helped me so much, especially during producing this film. It drove Hugh crazy, because he would be having a conversation with me, and I would just be typing furiously on this little blue box. That, as of right now, is the thing that I can't live without.

Host Susan: Oh, great.

Sandra Bullock: I have plenty of other gadgets, but this right now is sort of attached to my hip.

Host Susan: Jrsts0901 said: How do you like working with Hugh, and what actor did you enjoy working with the most?

Sandra Bullock: Well, Hugh was somebody that once he appeared on my screen, wherever I was watching him, I was sort of in awe of what he was able to do and I wasn't able to do. Aside from the fact that he is beautiful and hilarious and charming and a very proper movie star, I find him to be the best comedian in these types of films that's been around in a long time. I always wanted to work with Hugh. So we discussed working together like three years ago, and this project was the first that we actually both agreed on. And working together was like going into the eye of a storm every day and you had no idea what was going to happen. That's what made it so exciting to get up. You could have three, four hours of sleep every night, and he made it so exciting to come to set, the crew, everybody. You had no idea what he was going to do. It made everyone around him better. And I feel very lucky to have been in his presence for -- not the past three years, but for the past year steadily working. He made me better. He made everyone around him better.

Host Susan: Chadwick822 says: Hi Sandra. I'm a theater major at Boston university graduating this semester. I was wondering if you have any advice for an aspiring actor just starting out. You're a very talented actress and I admire you immensely. Merry Christmas.

Sandra Bullock: That was sweet. I moved to New York, got Backstage Magazine, became a waiter and started pounding the pavement. I would barge into whatever I could, thinking I could do it. Because of that, I feel I'm sitting here on this AOL chat today. The one thing I regret that no one was able to fill me in on was at the time that I was auditioning for things, I was not the type that was wanted. You know, either on television or film or stage, whatever. I didn't have the conventional look. So I continuously doubted myself and tried to change myself and I realize now, looking back, if I had been anyone different, I wouldn't be sitting where I was. I felt I wasted a lot of time questioning my instincts. I feel now, just recently, the past couple years, have I honestly learned to trust my instincts, which I'm sure he understands and has as an actor. He just needs to protect those with everything that he has, because everyone's going to have an opinion about what he should do differently, from change your hair color, straighten your teeth, fix your nose. Don't listen. Just do what you were put on this earth to do, and appreciate what you have naturally.

Host Susan: Great advice. ChristinaHowell asks: How does feel to be a celebrity and do you ever wish you could have a normal life for one day?

Sandra Bullock: It's a weird thing. I'm not going to complain about being a celebrity, even though sometimes I do. But I have a normal life, and I think I take great pains to make sure I do all my crazy stuff out of earshot of the press. And a very wise friend once said, if you invite the press to your wedding, they should be allowed to come to your divorce. That really sunk in. I said, you know what? That's why I only do press for movies. That's why when the movies are done, I kind of go away. I've been lucky that I have a really normal life. And I love my life. There are some things frustrating about being a celebrity, but they are things that you can't really control. You can only protect yourself. I enjoy my life very much. Not because of the celebrity. I enjoyed it this much before I became a celebrity. Yeah, I'm sure, when I'm in the restaurant in the toilet stall and somebody slides a camera underneath, that's when I go, I really wish my picture wasn't that important.

Host Susan: Oh, man. A member, vmigraine asks: What keeps you motivated?

Sandra Bullock: I don't know. It could be a combination of self-doubt or confidence. I don't know. I feel I'm never satisfied with anything that I ever do. So that constantly makes me strive to work harder, educate myself more, learn more about everything else around me, try harder, take on roles that are harder for me to do, and that scares me. But the thing that motivates me, I think I've seen enough in life that makes me realize and that's taught me that life goes away really quickly. So I fortunately had that lesson at a very young age, and I get up every morning thankful that my eyes opened and that I'm still alive on the planet. Just the fact that I'm breathing is what motivates me.

Host Susan: That is a strong motivator.

Sandra Bullock: Breathing often works for that.

Host Susan: Rimshot75 asks: Sandra, how long does it take to make a movie like ‘Two Week Notice?’

Sandra Bullock: I thought he was going to say how long does it take to get to the center of a Tootsie Pop. It depends how involved you are. Most movies, three, 3 1/2 months, unless there's some really -- unless there's a lot of high-tech involved, or distant locations. For the most part, three months. This film took about 3 1/2 months. The pre-production we started -- you know, Mark and I, the writer/director worked on this since we were in post production for ‘Miss Congeniality.’ I'm still working on the film. I'm doing press. The minute we finished editing we were off on the press mill. I would say close to two years. That's why when you're done, everyone says it's a family, you're so close -- you're kind of like, be quiet. You realize you spent two years with these people, all of a sudden, you wake up, you don't see them anymore, so that's why it's an odd thing. Once again, it goes back to I do a very odd thing for a living.

Host Susan: Justethan asks: Sandra, what kind of movies do you prefer to work on, action, comedy?

Sandra Bullock: When I'm in a comedy, I want action or drama. When I'm in a drama, I want action or comedy. I'm a grass is greener, and I'm trying to get over that. I think I just prefer to work on a movie where everybody is on the same page about what movie they're doing, and everyone appreciates that they're there. When you get on set with a bunch of prima donnas and people have nothing butted attitude, one bad apple can go a long way. When you spend so much time together you want to take that apple and skewer it. I prefer to work on movies where everyone is equally excited to tell a good story. I don't think anyone sets out to make a bad movie. Sometimes they happen. I've been in some of them.

Host Susan: The one question, one movie you wish you hadn't made.

Sandra Bullock: I'd say ‘Speed 2’ but I'm happy I made that movie. What I learned, no one would have been able to teach me that, what not to do. It also taught me to speak up. When people say trust me that's not always the case. And I found my dog on that film. Good things come out of difficult situations.

Host Susan: Lilred asks: Have you always been a very optimistic person? What makes you happy and what makes you sad?

Sandra Bullock: I tend to be optimistic, because if I allow myself to think about things, I tend to think the worst. I constantly dwell on the worst. That's why the minute I set foot outside the door, I know the worst is going to happen, so have a really good time at this minute. Because it's going to get bad. Walking in a dark cloud kind of helps me enjoy the day, in an odd way. You know, once again, I like to have a really good time. I like to have fun. I don't want to be 80 years old thinking I was miserable and I don't remember what I did. That really scares me, the thought of not having enjoyed all the possible seconds I was given really bums me out.

Host Susan: Screen name pumpandjuicy asks: When you get scripts, what is the deciding factor that makes you want to do it?

Sandra Bullock: First, the image that comes to mind with that name is hotdogs. What was the question?

Host Susan: When you get scripts, what is the deciding factor that makes you want to do it?

Sandra Bullock: We get about 200 to 300 scripts a week at our company. It depends how they give it to us, is it just to produce? I produce everything. It's where do I want to spend my time? In terms of acting, it all depends. I could say, like I'm saying now, I've had such a great time doing this romantic comedy, I don't want to do those for a while. I want to venture off and learn about something else, get better at some other genre. I've stopped saying never. You know, if I'm past page 20, then page 50 and I'm still there, and I'm still moved and I find myself forgetting I'm reading a script, that's usually a good sign.

Host Susan: Jt pinch agatta asks: What do you enjoy doing when you're not acting?

Sandra Bullock: Eating. Eating. And eating. I like to play. I love to travel. I love, like I said earlier, ripping down walls and designing things in a house. I like hanging out. I like going dancing. I love playing. I just like playing. I just like to play. I work hard and I play hard too.

Host Susan: Caliocoroad asks: Would you consider doing an independent film? And I mean really independent, if the script is good.

Sandra Bullock: Absolutely. I constantly help with independent films. I'm in many independent films. I'm just not credited. I starting doing independent films. I have very many friends who are independent filmmakers. I'm constantly looking for a great independent film. That style of film making brings out the best in me, absolutely.

Host Susan: SpongeBob3116 asks: Do you have a technique for memorizing lines?

Sandra Bullock: I always panic when I get a script. Somehow in the rehearsal process in the actions and activities that you do, it somehow just lands in my brain. I don't know how that works. I often, when I question it, the lines go out of my head. I just -- I've been blessed with a relatively good memory, which as I get older I'm not going to be memorizing lines anymore, I'll just be doing silent films. For some reason, it just works for me. I seem to memorize them easily.

Host Susan: Bmrwhiskers2 asks: I admire how you keep your private life private. How hard is it to do?

Sandra Bullock: You have to be very covert. I swear I feel like I'm working in the CIA at this point. They need to call me if I'm not. I've learned it's really simple, don't announce you're coming. Just go. I love going on road trips. I have friends, we're constantly jumping in cars, going places. I'll be at the Motel 6. They say “you look like Sandra Bullock.” I go “yeah”. They go “do you get that a lot?” I go “yeah.” They go “no, are you?” I go “yeah.” They go “no, you're not.” I think just not announcing you're there, and not inviting the press into your home is the way to do it. I think you need to support a film, and you need to do your job, and I love doing my job. I also think you need to be very protective of your private life, really protective. You have to keep saying no.

Host Susan: Ideal5 asks: Do you ever get nervous in front of cameras?

Sandra Bullock: I get nervous when I feel like I'm going to go up on my lines. When I have a really difficult -- when I have lines that aren't linear, that don't make sense, you know, like in ‘Two Week Notice’ I had to ramble off this legalese, and I'm not a lawyer. I would find myself panicking. Pretty much, no, as long as I have somebody to work off, I'm pretty comfortable. The nice thing about film, they can always cut it and you can go again. Unlike stage work, when everyone's seeing the mistake and has made a note of it.

Host Susan: Bashtea123 asks the most important question of the evening: What was it like to kiss Hugh Grant?

Sandra Bullock: Hugh would want me to say excellent. I'm going to be honest with you and tell you it was -- it was really nice. You know, I have a really nice job. That I get to do that. I'd say 98% of the time it's not what you would think and it's not enjoyable. But Hugh and I tend to giggle a lot and laugh a lot. So we were either laughing or just -- it just made sense. I think most women in America would want to be in my shoes and I don't blame them. It's a good pair of shoes to be in.

Host Susan: Chileanmin asks” What was one of your favorite movies that you've done?

Sandra Bullock: I mean, I don't -- it's funny, the work experience, I have good work experiences here and there. What I always remember is the good time I had in between takes, you know, the things that made you crack up and laugh, when you couldn't pull it together or just the people that you worked with. This past film I have to say goes down as one of the most entertaining times I've had in a long time. There's just a lot of laughing and a lot of like -- a lot of ribbing and a lot of joke playing, and it was usually on me. But it was with people that I really cared, and I'd say this film was great. ‘Miss Congeniality’ was great, even though we were hot and sweaty in Austin, it was still a really good time.

Host Susan: Next member question that we have is: What music do you like to listen to?

Sandra Bullock: I'm pretty much an R & B, hip-hop, soul, Motown kind of gal. I'm pretty open minded to everything progressive. If I had to choose, it's always R & B, Motown, hip-hop, that type of stuff.

Host Susan: Great. What is your favorite holiday tradition? That's from readerfam90.

Sandra Bullock: We always celebrated German Christmas, which is the evening of the 24th. Even though my sister is married and an adult now, the whole joy of that Christmas, we would eat the same thing every night before, and the Christmas tree would be right there with the presents, but the greatest joy of that night was torturing my sister for as long as possible, not letting her get to the presents, so we would always chew very, very slowly. We would then have dessert and coffee at the table. Then we'd make her -- that's the only time she'd ever clean off the table, was that night. But even now there's great joy in talking at the table, eating. It's like you can see her like fogging over, and her eyes would just glaze. I would say Christmas Eve for me.

Host Susan: Here's a good one. Mike10813 asks: Sandra, I have an easy one, what's your favorite color?

Sandra Bullock: Black. I know it's a non color, but my entire wardrobe is black. I love red. I just don't like it on me. It draws too much attention. I'm a non color girl. I don't like too much color on me. I'm like I'm in a constant funeral the way I dress.

Host Susan: What is the one person that you would work with that you haven't worked with yet?

Sandra Bullock: There's many. There's many contemporary people. There's so many people who come out with good performance that I wouldn't expect it, and I go, wow, I'd love to be around that person. I think a person that I think is consistent, absolutely consistent, and I think has inspired a generation of actors is Meryl Streep. I would just like to be in a room to listen. I wouldn't even have to work with her. I would just like to be in a room to watch her work.

Host Susan: Great. That was our final question. Michelle966 wants to say: Hi Sandra. Thanks for being a class act. Keep up the great work.

Sandra Bullock: That's so sweet. Thank you so much.

Host Susan: I concur. Thank you so much. It's been a real pleasure.

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