Actor Josh Hutcherson plays Jess Aarons in Bridge to Terabithia. He recently spoke with Current Events' associate editor Sarah Caron about his role in the movie and life in general.

How did you prepare for this role?

I read the script first and, after I read the script, I read the book. It translated very well from the book to the script.

For me, I just imagined that I am Jess Aarons. I guess it's kind of method acting in a way. But method actors tend to stay in character throughout the whole process. When I am not filming I am just Josh.

Is this movie true to the book?

Yes.

The book was banned in some areas when it came out. What do you think of that?

I didn't know it had been banned. But it is very unlike a typical children's book. That's one of the reasons why I really liked the script. It's unlike a lot of family movies there are out right now ... it does have some deeper shades to it, though.

How is fantasy dealt with in the movie?

They used Weta Workshop to create special effects. They were the same people who did Lord of The Rings. They've used them a lot for all the special effects.

Did you do any of the stunts?

I did almost all my own stunts ... there were just a couple of them that were too dangerous. I did as many as they let me do.

What are the big issues of this story that are true in real life?

I think that there are kids who are outcasts and they get kind of picked on at school. They need to find a good friend to hang out with and create sort of a fantasy world like we did in the movie.

What advantages are there of boy/girl friendships?

I think there are advantages to boy and girl friendships because they can lead to other kinds of relationships ... at the same time they can lead to other kind of diversity. It widens kids' horizons on what they like to do, I think.

Did you become friends with your co-star, AnnaSophia Robb, in real life?

We were really good friends. We still are. She came here to visit once because they were going on a trip somewhere and were able to stop by here in Kentucky.

In real life who are your best friends?

One of my best friends is Kiefer Winings. We've been friends since I was 5. Shannon Wadda is my girlfriend and we're really good friends.

What is the message about bullying in Bridge to Terabithia?

The message is sometimes people aren't going to change their ways and you are going to have to find ways to stand up to them.

Do you think boys and girls often feel competitive with each other?

I think so, especially at the age we are in the movie, which is about 6th grade or so. It's really competitive. But once you get older there isn't so much. For me, I like to let girls win because I just feel like I should.

What kinds of books do you like to read?

I have to do a lot of reading for school for my literature class, so I don't have a lot of time to read ... but my favorite genre is the fantasy genre. It's different. I also love reading scripts. It's probably my favorite thing to read.

I'm home schooled. It makes it a lot easier as far as scheduling goes because you can do it all on your own time. Actually, I am a year ahead in school.

Is there one scene that stands out in your mind the most -- either because it's a favorite or because it was more challenging?

The scene that has the really, really long stunt sequence was my favorite. In the script it was a 6 or 7 page scene, which is really long for a script. It took like 2 and a half or 3 weeks to shoot that one scene.

What's been your favorite role so far?

I liked playing Jess quite a bit because he had a lot of highs and lows. He had a large character arc.

Read a review of the movie here.