Have U Heard recently had the opportunity to tour the set of Pan Am and interview Michael Mosley (“Ted”), Margot Robbie (“Laura”) and Christina Ricci (“Maggie”).

With the season finale set for Sunday, February 19th, I wanted to share a behind the scenes look at both the set and the actors.

The set is every bit as amazing as it looks on television.   A majority of the filming takes place on a 707 plane that sits in a hangar with a green screen used to create the view of the sky and the location of the week.   The wardrobe department along with the costumes and accessories from the 60′s was equally amazing.

After seeing the set the interviews took place.  I was in awe at being able to meet and speak with Christina Ricci.  Christina has always been known for her movies so one of the first questions asked of her was why television?

Christina: I have been looking to get into TV for a long time, actually. I have been doing this for a really long time and lots of traveling and different films. I have been looking for a more stable lifestyle, a regular lifestyle. A regular job. I thought TV was a great way to facilitate that and I also started seeing how the better writing was on TV. Better talent is on TV these days. So, I started looking. I always enjoyed guest starring on TV. I loved the work and how work was approached. So, I was looking for a while and I this just came up as an opportunity.

Other questions that were asked of Christina:

Question: What traits do you like about your character?

CR: I like that she is sort of like the ‘wild card.’ I like that she had to work her way to the top – that she doesn’t come from money or a traditional background. I like that she had to create herself from what she perceived to be nothing and I like the fact that she sees herself as inferior. She takes risks. A lot of people can relate to it. Those are the things that get us in trouble in life and destructive behaviors, but it makes her very human.

Question: How have you liked hanging out in NYC the past couple of months?

CR: Oh, I been having a great time. I have been living in Brooklyn and really enjoying it.  It reminds of the Lower East Side – where I lived as a teenager. Then I  moved away. I have been away for 10, 11 years. When I came back it’s so different…at least Manhattan is. Brooklyn reminds me of the way Manhattan was when I was a teenager.  I love living in Brooklyn.

Question: Do you like the trains?

CR: I’m not very close to a train stop, but I will be moving for this play so I will be close to a train soon.

Question: What play?

CR: I’m doing Midsummer’s Night Dream in CSC in March, so, yea, I will be taking the train on a regular basis. Look for me on the L.

Our interview with Margot and Michael was a bit longer – check out what they had to say:

Question: What have you learned about how it was for women at the time?

Margot Robbie We did a lot of research. The main thing I try to remind myself is that it should be expected because that is the way it was. You shouldn’t be shocked – that was the time period.

The whole feminist is similar to how we deal with the racism issue. Again, it was so prevalent. It was before the Civil Rights Movement so it was still the way society was. It is a fine line between playing the way the script is written and ignoring your contemporary views a little. It is an interesting aspect and I like that it is incorporated into the script. It’s fun. It kind of makes us feel more, you know, more powerful as women because we are fighting against that stereotype. That’s why the stewardess were going against the norm.

Question: Wasn’t it better for men in those days?

Michael Mosley: I’m happy in 2012. The 1960s wasn’t all happy. I mean, you watch a movie like the Help and it is so obvious that the world was not that happy. I mean learning about the brain drain, squeezed them out. One of the biggest perk is that we get to learn, an excuse to re-learn history.

Margot Robbie: It’s not just based on America. Pan Am is a global airline. Especially, the Haiti episode, it really shows the global picture of the times.

Question: Do you have a favorite episode?

Margot Robbie: I have two – the Raingune (Sp?) and the Berlin episode.  They were just – I love the scripts for Berlin. It wasn’t really a huge storyline for me, but for Collette – Corinne’s character, her parents are being killed by the Nazi’s and she is in Berlin. It’s so interesting how everything was played out and how everyone’s actions are justified because it’s fact and that’s what happened. Everyone has real reasons for what they did. It was also really well directed. And the Raingune (Sp?) episode was just a lot of fun. We were dancing on tables. It was a blast. What was your favorite episode (to Michael Mosley).

Michael Mosley: I think that moment with Collette.

Margot. I agree.

Michael: When she says, America is loved and back into the fold and forgiven.

Margot. It’s so powerful.

Question: Do you have a favorite outfit?

Margot: I mean, I just love the uniform. Yesterday was my last day in it, so I open we come back for another season. I miss it already. You hold yourself differently. It’s really fun – all of the outfits.

Questions: Does playing these roles (as stewardesses and pilots) make your feel differently about them in real life?

Michael: (laughs) Yea! Flying used to give me the willies. I don’t know why. But learning about it has been so fascinating. I mean between you and me, I think once they get everyone in the air – about 500 feet- they sit back, go into autopilot and have coffees. And they are up and coming down and out of autopilot.  They have been doing it for 100 years, everything is repeated. It is fascinating.  Vogel, the guy who plays Dean, is actually training to be a pilot.

Margot: Is he still training?

Michael: Yea, he is flying by himself. He said he peed his pants just a little bit. You have to naturally want it. It works out.

Question: How did you fall into these roles?

Michael: I needed a job?

Did you audition for it? What was the process it?

Michael: I got to read the sides or Dean. I read it but then I saw the role of Ted and really liked him. So, I read for Ted and I got it.

Question: How much are you like your character?

Michael: I think Ted is a smart ass – I don’t think I am like that. I think he is sloppier – bumps into people. Very clumsy. Doesn’t think before he says things.

Margot:  He’s very funny.

Michael: Hopefully!

Question: Do you see the weird fan comments on Facebook? Have you had any weird fan encounters?

Michael: No, I haven’t yet.

Question: Do you get recognized?

Michael: I don’t know…maybe once in awhile. Maybe some kid in the mall will say, “Hey, man aren’t you from Scrubs?” Maybe a couple of times for PanAm. A guy bought me a drink in a bar.

Mitch: That might have been for something else.

Michael: You’re right. So, no, I haven’t.

Margot: Yea, I have. A little bit. It’s not as much as when you play a contemporary character cause you just look so different. I sound different, too so it really separates me from the character, which is good. My family came to visit from Australia and we were in Times Square with the huge posters of us. Mom made me take pictures in front of it – really embarrassing. It was mortifying at the time but the person that was taking the picture didn’t understand why we were in front of the poster. Afterwards, my mum was like “it’s my daughter!” The person kept saying, which one? I saw like, it’s me! They couldn’t tell. So, I guess there is a separation. When I do get recognized, everyone is really lovely.

Will you be tuning into the Season Finale??