AP Movie Writer
Mar. 17, 2005 12:00 AM AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Before he ever threw a punch in "Hooligans," Elijah Wood had to fight just to get the movie made.
The "Lord of the Rings" star helped secure financing for the film by Lexi Alexander, which made its world premiere at the South by Southwest film festival, about the violent gangs - or "firms" - associated with England's soccer teams.
"I read the script and loved it and then we met, and this is before it had any financial backing, before it was greenlit to go - quite some time before - and then we met, hit it off really well," Wood said. "In meeting her and seeing her vision and her passion, it was kind of infectious."
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And the reaction from Alexander, a former world karate and kickboxing champ turned writer-director?
"First of all, the fact that he wanted to meet on this, I was blown away. And then we met and not only that but I actually like hanging out with him," Alexander said. "And because it was before financing, the fact that somebody like Elijah said, 'I want to do this,' and then met with the potential financiers, sat down at the lunch table and said, 'OK, we have to do this, I'm as passionate about it as Lexi,' my God."
Wood stars as Matt Buckman, an aspiring journalist who moves to London after being kicked out of Harvard. While staying with his sister (Claire Forlani) he falls in with a wild crowd of fervent football fans led by Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) and transforms from mild-mannered student to butt-kicking thug.
It's a vastly different role for Wood, who's been etched in the pop culture consciousness for the ethereal presence he brought to the role of Frodo Baggins in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.
But having the 24-year-old star on the set also meant having the rabid British paparazzi. While shooting outdoors in London's Sloane Square, several photographers pulled up one day and ambushed the production.
"It was like an attack, like all of a sudden, black car drives up and it was ch-ch-ch-ch," Alexander said, simulating frenzied flashbulb noises. "In the middle of our shot! They're very aggressive. Like, I was always worried. Obviously, he's used to it, but I was so worried."
"At certain locations, too, they would literally go on the roofs of buildings close to us. And they would come on the set!" Wood added. "They walked on the set and, like, talked to people and hung out. Oh, it was so bizarre."
Being swarmed was something Wood didn't have to worry about while shooting the "Rings" films in New Zealand, and he said he refuses to change his life to avoid it now, despite being instantly recognizable worldwide.
"In Los Angeles, I live in Venice, and it's not a real problem unless you're in certain areas or unless you're at an event. I mean, there's paparazzi around Los Angeles but I don't really go to the places that the paparazzi hang out," said the diminutive, blue-eyed actor. "A lot of these people hang out in areas where there are, like, expensive shops, restaurants that are kind of known for having celebrities go to them."
Wood appears next in "Sin City," based on the Frank Miller graphic novels, which opens April 1. He also stars in the upcoming "Everything is Illuminated," the directorial debut of actor Liev Schreiber.
But first, he'd planned to stay in Austin for the South by Southwest music festival, which starts Wednesday and runs through Sunday, in part because he's starting his own record label.
"It just comes from loving music and wanting to release things that might not necessarily get released," Wood said. "My taste is pretty eclectic so I wouldn't say that my label would have a specific sound."
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