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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW UPDATED: Trump, Sanders victorious in New Hampshire primaries ... Man jailed after allegedly groping jogger on Bear Creek Greenway ... Oregon man who killed officer had long criminal record ... UPDATED: Trump, Sanders victorious in New Hampshire primaries ... Man jailed after allegedly groping jogger on Bear Creek Greenway ... Oregon man who killed officer had long criminal record ... Dwayne Johnson rocks in a new way in 'San Andreas' Comment By Ed Symkus More Content Now MailTribune.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted May. 21, 2015 at 11:33 AM By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted May. 21, 2015 at 11:33 AM » Social News Very few people still call Dwayne Johnson The Rock, as he’s pretty much retired from playing that role in the wrestling ring. No more does he drop the People’s Elbow on his opponents. These days the big fellow with the shaved head, dazzling smile and imposing tattoo is working full time on his big screen acting chops, as well as starring in the upcoming HBO series “Ballers.” That career started in 2001 with a bit part as the Scorpion King in “The Mummy Returns,” evolved into leading roles in films ranging from “Walking Tall” to “Tooth Fairy,” and blossomed with supporting parts, including “Get Smart” (his funny side) and the fifth, sixth, and seventh entries in the “Fast & Furious” series (his tough side). It was while he was in Budapest last year taking on the lead role in “Hercules” that he was approached to look at the script for “San Andreas,” in which he would reunite with Brad Peyton, who directed him in “Journey 2: The Mysterious Island,” to play a first responder trying to save his family in the earthquake-laden “San Andreas.” He almost immediately said yes. The genial Johnson spoke about the new film last week in Los Angeles. It opens on May 29. Q: This is a wild action movie, with incredible visual effects, but most of the characters and even the events come across as pretty real. Was there a lot of conversation about that going into the project? A: Sure. There’s so many different moving parts to making a movie, it’s such a collaborative effort. I think when you’re trying to construct a heroic character, one that can be an anchor in a big movie like this – a real-world movie, playing real men and women, who live and exist today – the level of detail and deep diving we do is really extraordinary. I think there’s a great responsibility when you play a first responder. There’s also an expectation from the audience, and we want to meet that expectation, in terms of heroic characters. Q: The film has Paul Giamatti as a scientist who keeps warning people about impending earthquakes, and it shows some of the most rampant destruction ever seen on film. Do you know if it was based on any scientific evidence, or is it just entertainment? A: Prior to Paul coming on board to play the part, we had the top earthquake scientists, the best seismologists at Cal Tech pore over the script, challenge the script, then ultimately walk away from it saying, “This could happen; we hope it doesn’t, but it could happen.” I think when you have that in your script and you have the top scientists say that and give it that stamp, then you have to have someone like Paul, who can come on board and apply it and enact it with such conviction and heart. Q: You’re a guy who stays in pretty good shape. Was there anything you had to add to your physical regimen or any new skill you had to master for this role? A: The training part was pretty consistent. The difference was participating in something I’d never done before: spending time with first responders, and LAFD (Los Angeles Fire Department), and helicopter rescue pilots. Studying the processes with these folks for a good amount of time was pretty different for me. It was exercising a different muscle. Q: When you were a kid, did you ever imagine yourself growing up to be this hero icon in the movies? A: Well, when I was 8 years old, I saw “Raiders of the Lost Ark” in Charlotte, North Carolina. I loved the movie. I walked out of there and I was so inspired I said, “I want to be THAT guy – charming, kicks ass, cool with the ladies.” But I had no connection to Hollywood. So to be sitting here today makes me happy and very grateful. “San Andreas” opens May 29. By Ed Symkus More Content Now MailTribune.com By Ed Symkus More Content Now Posted May. 21, 2015 at 11:33 AM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... 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