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Q&A: Tatum, Hill on their sequel satire ’22 Jump’

By WTOP Staff

JAKE COYLE
AP Film Writer

NEW YORK (AP) — The comic duo of Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill began with an intentionally bad idea.

Hill called up Tatum: “So I have this probably terrible idea, but I want to see if you’re interested,” he said. Adapting the 1980s TV show “21 Jump Street” was the pitch, and Tatum couldn’t resist Hill’s anti-sell.

The movie, a send-up of TV show adaptations while at the same time being one, was a hit. Now, Hill and Tatum are back this Friday with “22 Jump Street,” directed (like the first) by Phil Lord and Chris Miller, the maestros of turning shallow conceits (“The Lego Movie”) into self-reflexive satire.

Beginning with a “previously on” clip reel and ending with a slew of mock sequel teasers, “22 Jump Street” again showcases Tatum and Hill’s rapport in a self-aware comedy that sends up sequel-making and dissolves into such absurdity that, one point, it literally turns into “The Benny Hill Show.”

In a recent interview, Hill and Tatum reflected on their partnership in parody and what Hill calls “the most difficult week of my life.”

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AP: Did you know early on how good your chemistry together was?

Hill: I think we got lucky. We knew we would get along, but also the way we interact is luckily funny. It makes us laugh. I think it makes other people enjoy watching us hang out. When we’re on set and we’re hanging out and laughing, I can see people smiling.

Tatum: I definitely went into this, more than most films, with zero, zero ego. I was very insecure about trying to go do a comedy. I was just sort of like: “Tell me what to do.”

AP: You guys might seem quite different, but you overlap in many ways. You have director Bennett Miller in common (Hill received his first Oscar nomination for Miller’s “Moneyball,” while Tatum stars in the upcoming “Foxcatcher”), and you both have terrible things done to you in “This Is the End.”

Tatum: It was like 2 in the morning — they must have still been shooting — and I hear my email go off. I pick up my phone for whatever reason. I never do this. I don’t email with Seth (Rogen), but it’s Seth and he’s like, “Don’t be mad at me. We’re sitting here and we have a crazy idea for a cameo for you that involves you, Danny McBride, a retractable dog leash and a Mexican wrestling mask.” And I was like, “I’m in.”

AP: In the time you’ve been making the “Jump Street” movies, your careers have both exploded.

Tatum: When (Hill) got nominated (for “The Wolf of Wall Street”), it was so insanely … I felt like I got nominated. I’m not even kidding. It was one of those, like, “YES!”

Hill: I had a very similar experience with Cannes. I was in my bed at home and I got an email with the first “Foxcatcher” review from Cannes. It was like 6 or 7 a.m. in Los Angeles. And I knew what that meant for the road they’re about to go on. I was screaming and I called (Tatum) and Bennett. Neither of them picked up. They screened my calls.

AP: Following the video that showed Hill calling a paparazzo a gay slur, what has this week been like?

Hill: It’s been the most difficult weeks of my life, without any question. I’ll say this: It’s been the most painful week of my life. I’m someone who beats themselves up for their mistakes in life. I don’t want to keep giving a watered down apology because what I said on Jimmy Fallon was from my heart and what I wanted to get out there. But there is a silver lining to it if people who are young and fans of mine hear me say, “Use me as an example of what not to do.”

Tatum: Knowing him, it’s even frustrating. … He’s such a thoughtful person. Even when we’re on set and improv-ing and it starts skirting around anything racist or bigoted, he’s like, “I’m going to stop this before we go into any offensive territory.”

AP: How did the end credits sequence of fake “Jump Street” sequels come about?

Hill: We were screening the movie and it was testing really well and the audience was responding really well to it. We were sitting around going, “The movie plays great. I wish there was one more thing to send people off with a great feeling.” One last jab at ourselves, too. One more: “We suck.”

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Follow AP Film Writer Jake Coyle on Twitter at: http://twitter.com/jake_coyle

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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