BuddyTV Exclusive Interview: Austin Nichols of ‘One Tree Hill’
This is Don from BuddyTV and today I’m talking to Austin Nichols, who plays Julian on One Tree Hill. I was wondering if you could talk about how the role on One Tree Hill came about?
Yeah, I don’t know. I mean, Mark Schwahn kind of called and said they were interested, but they didn’t know if I would be interested. I went in and had the meeting with him and I fell in love with the guy, the guy is really, really smart and he’s a great writer. We started talking about this guy named Julian Baker, who is a movie producer and comes to town to buy Lucas’ book and make it into a movie. Anyway, I really liked the way he described the character. He’s kind of like Jack Nicholson, he’s this funny, snarky kind of guy you love to hate. So I said heck yeah man, that sounds fun.
Is he going to cause some trouble for Lucas and Peyton on the show?
Yeah, I think he’s going to cause trouble for a lot of people. [laughs] But definitely those two, and he may cause some trouble for Brooke and who knows who else.
What was it like going on set? The people on that show have been together for six seasons. Was that weird, or was it pretty natural?
I’ve never been in this situation before and it is a little weird. Like you said, they’ve been here six years, they’re in the sixth season. Everybody is very close, they know each other very well, they’ve been through a lot. Yeah, it is weird, you kind of feel like an outsider. But everybody has been really nice and I’ve become friends with everybody. They made it pretty easy on me.
What has it been like working with the One Tree Hill cast members so far?
It’s been great. Everyone’s been really nice to me and this town is really fun. Wilmington, North Carolina is really, really fun. I’m living at the beach and it’s been great. I bump into people from the show out at restaurants and bars and stuffs. Yeah, I don’t have any complaints. I don’t miss L.A. at all.
Are you filming the noir episode right now that Chad Michael Murray wrote?
Yeah, we just finished that episode.
What was that experience like?
Oh, it was really fun. I think that’s going to be quite a treat for the viewer, kind of like dessert for the audience. Obviously, everybody who watches the show is very used to it — it’ll be the same characters and similar storyline, but in a completely different period with different hair and clothes and cars, and different manners of speech. I think the audience is going to really dig it.
What kind of role is Julian going to play in that universe?
When we get to that episode, I’ve really just arrived and Lucas is pretty unsure about me and angry with me. In this dream sequence of his, this dream episode of his, I am a henchman. [laughs]
Having worked with producers and directors over the years, has that helped you get into character?
Yeah, for sure. If I didn’t work in the field I worked in, I would have no idea what a producer is or what a producer does. I remember when I first started acting I literally asked this question a hundred times: “What is a producer? What do they do?” I had no idea. And now I definitely have an intimate understanding of what a producer does. It’s still a strange profession, but it definitely lent lots of ideas to playing Julian.
Does your character want to turn his book into an indie movie, or is it a big a Hollywood movie?
No, it’s a studio movie. I’ve got a studio interested and I buy the book and I go and get the studio attached. I tell the studio executives about this writer and how great this book is, and they sign off on the deal. It’s going to be a studio movie.
I was a big fan of your role on Friday Night Lights last season.
Oh, good.
I know that set is more improvisational and different to work on. What was that experience like compared to One Tree Hill or John from Cincinnati?
Yeah, on One Tree Hill we definitely stick to the words on the page. Definitely have more people coming up to you saying, “Yeah, but the line is written like this.” [laughs] And I’ve always, in every job I’ve ever done, kind of tailored it to something more comfortable to me. I’ve always had a lot of leeway and freedom, I’ve been really lucky. This is the first time where I’ve had a lot of people coming up to me telling me to stick to the book. That’s been weird, but I’m fine with it, I totally get it.
I was reading online that you have a degree in creative writing, is that right?
That’s right. My major was English and my emphasis was student learning.
Do you want to move into writing in the future, is that something you want to do?
I write, I’m always sort of writing. I wish that I actually wrote more but I spend so much time — I make a living as an actor, obviously, so I don’t write every day. I’ve always wanted to write every day and spend more time writing, but I find it hard because I spend so much time reading scripts and developing characters. I’m actually writing a movie right now, but I don’t have any sort of plans. I really enjoy writing, I love writing, I think it develops me as an actor as well and somehow makes me more well-rounded in filmmaking and stuff like that. I just really love to write, and someday I hope to make something that I write.
Do you have any other projects aside from One Tree Hill coming up that you’d like to talk about?
Oh yeah, there’s this movie The Informers, which is fantastic. You can watch a trailer online at YouTube or whatever. It’s an incredible movie from a Bret Easton Ellis novel. It has Kim Basinger and Billy Bob Thornton and Winona Ryder, Mickey Rourke. The cast is just endlessly — there’s like ten more people who are fantastic actors and big names. I think the movie is going to come out in February.
Is that movie going to be as twisted as other Ellis adaptations like American Psycho or The Rules of Attraction?
Yeah, definitely. [laughs] It’s very twisted, it’s very, very dark.
48 Responses to “BuddyTV Exclusive Interview: Austin Nichols of ‘One Tree Hill’”
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October 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
the only troble for Brooke i want him to cause is with lucas and making lucas jealous… haha
October 24th, 2008 at 3:16 pm
So it is going to be Lucas’s dream. I knew it.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:17 pm
*trouble
October 24th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
The trouble that Julian is probably going to cause for Brooke is to mess things up with Owen, when their just starting to fall back into place little by little. I’m starting to hate Julian already. And as for Leyton, Julian is just gonna get in the way, and make Lucas jealous, but their going to work it out.
October 24th, 2008 at 3:21 pm
that is fine too make trouble for both Owen and Lucas with brooke works for me……
October 24th, 2008 at 3:24 pm
ahah B.
huge HUG *
I never thought I would say this but …
I wish this for you
cause lucas jealous no matter with who he is or not
he is just toooo HOT !
October 24th, 2008 at 3:29 pm
hahaha… Thanks P I just think that if julian causes trouble for brooke by flirting etc with her… Lucas will get jealous… causing extra leyton/breyton drama which I love in oth…..
October 24th, 2008 at 3:33 pm
ahahahh right right….
still I’m thinking a jealous Owen wouldn,t be that bad
Joe is hot and jealous joe = HOT for sure.
ANyway seriously I’M such a Browen diehard fan they have so much chemistry and there hot together… I can’t help it !
.
I use to love the triangle but it’s getting old we need a new one
October 24th, 2008 at 3:42 pm
no we dont we need the original one back haha
please dont shot me deanna hahaha
October 24th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
your talking about pms B.
what do you expect from her it’s says it all PMS !
she sooo will.
LMAO. You really want the triangle back honestly I just want leyton no + brooke
or Brucas no + Peyton.
they are “ADULTS “ ( like Peyton said hilarious scene by the way)
no … ?
October 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
i do cause if the triangle is back brucas is back and well we know how i feel about that
October 24th, 2008 at 3:59 pm
Oh hot Julian!!!!
were going to love to hate him..hes gonna be a bad ass oh well I love a bad ass lol…. 
he just better not hurt Brooke…and brucasfan I love your thoughts on julian making lucas jealous… 
October 24th, 2008 at 4:06 pm
i knew you would did you get my video i left you hahaha…
I love it julian/brooke making lucas jealous leads to the triangle and then to us with hot brucasness hahahahhaha CHARLENE I MISSED YOU
October 24th, 2008 at 4:10 pm
Bring on the drama! that’s all I have to say!!! wooo
Hi girlies <3 u all! 
October 24th, 2008 at 4:11 pm
ahahah that is why I love
MY brucas fan you girls crack me up ROTFLMFAO
I missed you both -xxx- ahah
julian is hot and I don,t know why
but his voice grrrr so SEXY.
i can’t wait for MONDAY EPI.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:12 pm
AHHH TW
missed you
and i love you too.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
So, he basically just confirmed Kristen’s spoiler. It should be interesting. I can’t wait for the next episode. So, we’ll be able to see jealous Lucas for a few episodes, and then jealous Owen for the remaining episode that he is in! Score!!
October 24th, 2008 at 4:13 pm
OH MY GOD H. is gonna be so angry when she’s gonna find out she miss all 4 of us. ahah
but i know she would say
I missed you and love you to all 3 of you
so i’M gonna say it for her. LMAO.
October 24th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
tutor wife.. i was thinking about this morning hahaha….
and i love you p sawyer………
and i did mean pms when i said deanna cuase she is gonna give me good one over wanting the triangel thing
October 24th, 2008 at 4:17 pm
hahah its totally what she would say
October 24th, 2008 at 5:07 pm
He really is a nice guy. Very quiet and reserved. And is an avid reader.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:13 pm
P Sawyer, you said peyton said “they are all ADULTS” which is why you wouldnt want the triangle back
im sorry, was peyton being mature when she laughed at what lucas said about calling lindsay? was she mature when she made fun of that photo/lindsay situation? i mean the poor girl was hurt and just lost lucas. could u be more mean? i honestly think peyton is either
really insensitive or harsh immature. so no i dont think it would be wrong to bring the triangle back do you know how high the ratings would go!!! all the Leyton fans just dont want the triangle back because lucas is with peyton. im sure everyone else would love the triangle. you know you’d like it.
and brucasfan, i would also love to see the triangle again, things might have been “lost in translation”
(words from lucas) and we get brucas back of course i would be happy! lucas being jealous is the best case scenario!
brucas ftw!
October 24th, 2008 at 5:21 pm
Where do you people come up with some of this stuff?
That scene, where Lucas was joking about calling Lindsey, solidified Lucas and Peyton’s relationship. There wasn’t an ounce of jealousy or resentment from her when he said that. Because she is secure with him, just like, at the moment, he is secure with her.
And how would you feel if you moved in with a guy and found a photo of his ex-finacee’? Lucas was the on apologizing for her finding it, but Peyton was just worried that the house didn’t feel like hers. She felt like a guest.
When Lucas and Peyton are TOGETHER, they are together. End of story.
And after talking to the set designer and learning how careful and how much thought they put into moving Peyton into Lucas’ house, how they wanted it to stop being Lucas’ house and start being Lucas and Peyton’s house, they aren’t planning on doing anything drastic to their relationship anytime soon.
They, the OTH powers that be, are treating Lucas and Peyton as a couple with kidd gloves. Making sure everything is perfect, and I think that really tells you something right there.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:23 pm
well he is going to cause some trouble for leyton!!!!!
well i love that!!!!!finally some good drama!!!!
of course he is not going to break up leyton but he definitely will make lucas jealous and insecure!!!!!
October 24th, 2008 at 5:41 pm
thats what im saying, lucas shouldnt have to apologize to peyton for her finding a picture of lindsay, he did almost just marry her so obviously she was a big part of his life. peyton just seemed really insecure about his past relationships, she even had a dream where lucas called brooke hot. i just dont like how peyton thinks lucas should only and only love her because thats not the case. hes loved all 3 and just right now hes with peyton. and for the record, it hasnt always been lucas and peyton. get over it.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:43 pm
You people crack me up. And YES it has always been Lucas Peyton. For Lucas it was Peyton for most of his growing years. It is just that people and circumstances sometimes got in the way.
Apparantly Lucas felt he DID have to apologize. Peyton did ask for one. She even said she wasn’t concerned about the picture she was more worried that her stuff was still in boxes.
October 24th, 2008 at 5:44 pm
Sorry, Peyton didn’t ask for an apology. (Wish you could edit your posts here) LOL
October 24th, 2008 at 5:53 pm
peyton wasn’t immature she is just very secure with her relationship with lucas and she isn’t at all jealous of lindsay!!!!!!
i really love ehr for that.
brooke and lindsay were always jealous over peyton but peyton she isn’t jealous because she know lucas love her and that nothing will break them up after all when leyton broke up it wasn’t because of a 3rd person it was becasue peyton wasn’t ready to get married.
you can’t call someone insensitive or harsh immature because she is not jealous of his past with other women.
she is sure about what she has with lucas.
lucas feel the same thing.
well ok he will get jealous of julain but who wouldn’t be jealous!!!
i mean the guy who wants to turn your book in to a movie happens to be the ex of your fiancee!!!!!!
please!!!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:16 pm
Yes brucasfan I got the video I loved it thanks….and I missed you to…I don’t were ever on here at the same time…
October 24th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
god..i’m jealous…sophia always gets all of the hot guys. ALL of them:P damn it..i would really love to have her job! and i totally agree…bring on the dramaaaaa!
October 24th, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Oh maann.. Julian sounds like a big trouble maker… hahaha just like what everyone else said.. BRINGG ON THE DRAAMMAAA!!
heheh
Ps. hahah does anyone else find it funny that he was trying to alter his lines as the Julian character but they said for him to stick to the script! hahaha thats funny..
October 24th, 2008 at 8:26 pm
lol the only jealous Lucas we’re going to see his him being jealous if Julian and PEYTON! in the newest episode description of 6.10, “even fairy tale characters would be JEALOUS”… it says that “tension fills the air backstage at Peyton’s USO show, as Lucas deals with PEYTON and Julian’s romantic past.” so with that description, and the title of the episode… he is clearly jealous about PEYTON, not Brooke!
i really don’t think Lucas would ever get jealous about Brooke and any guy. Brooke has been with both Chase, AND Owen since Brucas broke up… and Lucas has never been jealous of that. he has Peyton and according to Lucas HIMSELF, “that’s all that really matters”! There is no triangle concerning Leyton anymore… Leyton is just Leyton, they’re engaged and AWAY from triangle drama… finally! and if there WERE a triangle at this point, i would even consider Lindsey to be more involved with the Leyton triangle than Brooke… Brooke has been out of the picture for a while now! so bring on Lucas being jealous about PEYTON!
October 24th, 2008 at 9:09 pm
There is also a Lucas/Julian sneak peak, I guess its not up on this website yet. You can go to the following link to check it out:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DcxRCRq7AzU
October 24th, 2008 at 10:08 pm
e …..
brucasforever03,
Yes they are adults like i said and i stick to what I said
They are adults and I don’t want the triangle back cause
#1 it’s old
#2 we had one for 4 seasons…
#3 I always thought it was hot but annoying LMAO.
Like i said they are adults wich is why I said in my comment that all I want is Leyton + No Brooke or
BRUCAS + NO Peyton. I really don’t care if Brucas end up together or not all I want in the end is everyone happy and no triangle. I honestly want Leyton together without Brooke or even if Brucas happen then I don,t want peyton in the middle. DO you understand my point better now.
I really don’t care about the rating honestly… i don’t even know how it works LMAO. ALl I know is that One tree hill have a really good rating this season without any Brucas scene … so either we will never find out or we might will but still I really don’t understand your point. The triangle was hard on Brooke and I honestly don’t want her to be hurt. If Brucas is too Happen Peyton as to be in love with someone else and to not want Lucas anymore and same for Lucas. IT’S my opinion, you can disagree with it or not I respect it
what I don’t like,
it’s this… :
“all the Leyton fans just dont want the triangle back because lucas is with peyton. im sure everyone else would love the triangle. you know you’d like it.“
No I wouldn,t like it you can’t talk for myself.
Cause suprise I don’t feel that way at all.
IT’S not true and don’t use “All the leyton fans“
you don’t know it and you can base your thought on one or 2 leyton fans. lol
+ i don’t know why but I prefer listening to mark
saying himself that the triangle is romanticly over
so to me the triangle is dead for a long time now.
But, i respect the people who want it back but I can’t want it cause I stop beliving in the triangle romanticly after Mark says it was over. OS I can’t imagine one.
DON’t assume things … I never really loved the triangle. In season 1 I didn,t like it. and I hate when Breyton fights but in s4 I like when Leyton get together because there was NO triangle involve. Brucas had broken up and got there closure ( I know for a lot of Brucas fans it wasn’t but for me it was).
to answer your questions :
Yes, Yes and YES she could have cause to me it wasn’t even mean at all what she said it was just true. lol
and last but not less,
Did it ever came up in your mind that I was only joking around with My friend B ?(who is by the way a Brucas fan LMAO) just asking. You shoudln’t take it like you did.
But since your new here, I’m just gonna warn you.
I like joking a lot and I love Leyton and PATHAN and My brucas, Naley and Leyton friends i’M just not a fan of Brucas.
By the way, welcome to the blog Brucasforever03 !
October 24th, 2008 at 10:13 pm
hehe…who’s ur naley friend? eh p sawyer?
lol
WHO IS IT???
ITS ME!!!!!!!!!
HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH
October 24th, 2008 at 10:18 pm
Yeah it’s you H.
who else ? I gave you the ultimate nickname LMAO.
October 24th, 2008 at 10:19 pm
hahhahaha
YES I DID!!!!!!!!!!!!!
October 25th, 2008 at 2:53 am
brucasforever03- “i just dont like how peyton thinks lucas should only and only love her because thats not the case. hes loved all 3 and just right now hes with peyton.”
Are you serious? If you were engaged, would you not want the complete love and attention of your fiancee?
And obviously during certain phases of the show Lucas has been in love with all three women, but Brooke was back in high school, and after a long period of wallowing and regret Lucas mended his broken heart from being left at the altar (even though I never truely saw “love” with LL). The point is that Lucas and Peyton are about to be married and make the commitment to spend the rest of their lives together. My point is that from everything that we have encountered this season regarding LP, they are in this for the long haul and it is not just fleeting or fading in any respect. So, it’s not “just right now hes with peyton”.
October 26th, 2008 at 1:06 am
ok lucas is with peyton at the moment. the thing is lucas and peyton have only really known each other since junior year in high school. so they have known each other what 6 years total? so my question is how to peyotn and lucas know they are ready to spend the rest of their lives together, given then the fact that lucas just broke off an engagement to another women just a month ago, and said yes to her at the alter in front of peyton. the fact is lucas says a lot of stuff and never means it or takes it back. mark better come up with an amazing ending if this is truly the last season
October 26th, 2008 at 1:42 am
Well actually if you think about it
it’s the same thing for Naley … how did they knew ?
It doesn,t matter for how long you know each other.
You just know it deep down in you. You know it feels right.
i can’t explain it cause it depend of the situation.
i agree Lucas does says a lot of stuff.
but to me is action speaks louder than his words.
He wrote 2 books about his love for her he had move on but kiss Peyton and go propose to lindsay. (seriously hilarious). remember he propose to her first then got with Lindsay cause he thought it was over with Peyton. LMAO even more hilarious.
But to answer your question Amelie your not a fan of leyton and even if i was writting a novel to you about how wonderful leyton are and soo ready to spend the rest of there life together. At least I wont cause it’s not worth it. I’m not a fan of brucas and LL and never will and no matter what people will tell me I can’t like them and it’s not like i didn’t try too. So it’s the same for you. And don’t worry Mark won’t let us down the ending is gonna be amazing for sure no doubt about it.
October 26th, 2008 at 2:36 am
im sorry but how is leyton the same thing as naley? naley knew right away their love was strong enough to last the rest of their lives. leyton on the other hand….lucas chased after brooke(peytons best friend i might add) twice then went back to peyton after getting dumped by brooke then went to peyton after peyton announced her feelings for him, then when peyton and lucas didn’t work out, lucas immediately went for lindsey. just seems lucas goes back to peyton after one of his breakups. that doesn’t seem like a “meant to be” story
October 26th, 2008 at 11:49 am
well to me it does.
It ALWAYS comes down to Lucas and Peyton in the end.
That is how I see it you don’t? fine. But that is exactly why
I really don’t want to argue with you Amelie.
and like i said in my previous comment not a single leyton fan can
answer your question, because you will always have something to disagree about cause we see things differently. And it’s okay.
SO like i said Naley and Leyton is the same cause you said they know each other for what 6 years and soo does Naley.
thats what I meant by the same. LOL
+ Lucas wanted Peyton to become Peyton Scott and it was in 8 grade.. how did he knew? Lucas words : “I guess I always knew“.
you can’t explain it you just feel it in your heart.
Who knows if it is a meant to be story… ?
well only mark knows guess we’ll just have to wait and see. That the beautiful thing with this show we never know what can happen. SO I’M enjoying my time left of Leyton being happy.
October 26th, 2008 at 7:17 pm
I think i see how u compared it p sawyer!
In a way, in my opinion, LP is like naley cuz they know who they wanna be with…EVen tho they did the whole lucas with brooke and then peyton and everything like p sawyer said they always come back to each other in the end…they always somehow get back to it…
but who knows whats gonna happen next? who knows where the story will lead to? nobody but mark does so I guess For LP fans they are just enjoying it and living in the moment of LP….
And yes, it is a beautiful thing not knowing what may happen next! i hate shows where u can predict whats gonna happen or u know that something gonna happen…I love how at times mark leads you to a point where you think you know what is going to happen and then POOF he turns it all around..after all it is a DRAMA show!
October 27th, 2008 at 2:48 am
The only conclusion I can come to is that Mark wanted Leyton, went with Brucas for awhile, then did a crappy job getting back to Leyton. And yes, if Leyton was supposed to be endgame from the beginning, he did a really mean thing by making Brucas so amazing. It would be different if all Brucas fans saw was great chemistry and a connection, but to have all of this dialogue, and all of these actions that just makes it so frustrating that Brucas is so forgotten.
I’m over that fact that Leyton is together now, but, I just think that Mark has some massive explaining to do. LOL.
October 29th, 2008 at 4:16 pm
amelie, Mark put Brucas in the show for a reason… to make the show realistic. it wouldn’t be realistic for Leyton to not ever date other people, even if they are meant to be. that’s why i’ve never really liked Naley… because it was always JUST about Naley… no one ever really came in between them, which is just too unrealistic. For Lucas to get side tracked at some point by being with Brooke, and Peyton to get side tracked by being with Jake, i think that just makes the whole Leyton relationship that much more realistic… and shows that much more that they are meant to be.
i can’t think of a single person that only dated ONE person throughout high school. when you’re a teenager, you go back and forth between DIFFERENT relationships all the time, that’s just how it is. and the fact that Lucas DID have such a serious relationship with Brooke (and even Lindsey), and that Peyton DID have such a serious relationship with Jake… and Leyton STILL managed to find their way back to eachother in the end, just shows that no one can come between them!
so you saying that “if Leyton was supposed to be endgame from the beginning, Mark did a really mean thing by making Brucas so amazing”.. that just isn’t true in my opinion. Mark “made Brucas so amazing” to make the show more like real life, and to show us that even “amazing” relationships don’t always work out in the end… just like Brucas didn’t. even if Mark did know that Leyton was going to be endgame from the very beginning, it wouldn’t have been realistic at all or him to not put Lucas or Peyton in ANY other serious relationships other than with eachother… that never happens in real life lol
October 31st, 2008 at 12:18 am
i can kind of see what amelie is saying though… for those of us who DON’T like Leyton… it’s hard to see Mark introduce a couple, and have us fall in love with them, then have them just get taken away as if they never existed. even if it is unrealistic for Lucas to just date one person, i would rather Mark have just made it Lucas and Peyton the whole time that way ALL of us could warm up to them, and not get distracted or preoccupied by him being with someone else.
when he introduced Lindcas in season 5… i fell in LOVE with them. i was SO happy to see a mature, healthy couple on the show. then they broke up… and now i’ll be bummed about it forever lol. life would just be so much easier for the Brucas/Lindcas fans if they were never brought into it. i feel like ALL of the fans could be happy with Leyton ending up together if he hadn’t thrown in great couples like Brucas and Lindcas to change our minds. now all the fans who don’t like Leyton are kind of left in the dust while Leyton fans will be thrilled. it’s just kind of unfair Mark!!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 12:25 am
just because Naley never dated anyone other than each means nothing! They had other things that they had to surge through. Leyton has always been Mark’s fav, that is just fact!!!!
October 31st, 2008 at 10:09 am
no i know that IzzylovesNaley&Leyton… i’m just saying that it would have been TOO unrealistic to have BOTH Naley AND Leyton not ever date anyone other than eachother. so i think Mark did the right, and realistic thing by bringing in other people that would come between Leyton every now and then, because that’s what happens in real life. i didn’t mean to insult Naley or anything, i just think if Mark had made TWO Naley couples, it would have been way to unrealistic and over the top. so i think we needed people to come between Leyton, to show us that much more that they were meant to be when they ended up together in the end, DESPITE of all the previous relationships