STARTWO, WEDNESDAY 18 JULY 2007

T11

YOUTH

Gratifying pursuit
R.AGE is for everyone, we've made this
unique college pullout accessible to everyone.
All you have to do is log on to
www.rage.com.my to check out the interesting stories, exciting contests and other fun
bits and pieces we have for you.
Our daily cover stories are in there, and so
are most of our regulars and feature stories,
including some extra goodies that only work
online.
Check this panel out every week to be in the
know of what's on R.AGE.

My2Sen Worth

When was the last time you had your heart

pumping and pulse racing at an exciting event?
If it's been too long to remember, R.AGE is
organising a new competition called My2Sen
Worth, happening on August 5 at Genting
Highlands.
Just grab your best pal and form a team of
two, and register for the competition, which
will test your financial management skills - the
entry fee is RM20.
Get your forms from todays Youth2 and
R.AGE or go to www.rage.com.my to download
them.

Mother Dearest
We've all definitely felt irritated and impatient
with our ever-demanding mothers, but have we
ever stopped to appreciate what they've done
for us?
Resident blogger Kyels shares how she came to
realise how important our mums are, and how
they suffer to make us happy. Give her entry a
read and maybe drop a line or two about your
very own 'mum' experience.

Old but good

Remember the 80s? If you are 'old' enough to
remember those hideous shoulder pads, big
hair and polka dots, perhaps you'd like to share
which elements you'd like to see make a
comeback.
TV shows and fashion are our poll for this week,
so if you miss the 80s (or are just curious about
what went on during that era) let us know by
joining our poll on www.rage.com.my.
Choose which element you would like to see
come back, and if you have any ideas for a poll,
we'll be happy to hear them!
Contact: alltherage@thestar.com.my

By NIKI CHEONG
niki@thestar.com.my
EPORTERS from eight different
countries from all over the world
were on hold for over 30 minutes
due to technical glitches as they waited
to interview musician Jared Leto.
I feel like Im at the United Nations,
Leto joked as he was introduced to the
reporters on conference call with him
recently. Maybe we should address the
situation in Darfur for a few moments.
That was just the bit of humour the
group needed to ease the tension after
the long wait.
I know you are shooting a film in
Brussels, so Im a little bit frustrated not
to meet you ... a reporter from Brussels
tells the 36-year-old lead member of
rock band 30 Second to Mars.
Without skipping a beat, Leto replies:
Ive spent a little bit of time in Belgium
but I dont start shooting there for
another month. So right now, were still
just working on 30 Seconds to Mars and
wrapping up the European part of the
tour.
Such quick responses from Leto are
not unexpected. He is an industry veteran, and talking to reporters is probably
second nature to him.
Leto made his name in American
teen-soap My So-Called Life alongside a
very young Claire Danes. Soon after,
Leto made a successful transition to the
big screen starring in such movies as
How To Make An American Quilt, Urban
Legend and Girl Interrupted.
He was most praised, however, for his
role in Requiem for a Dream, which was
released in 2000.
It was at the time when his
Hollywood career was blossoming that
Leto, together with his brother Shannon,
decided to start a band. That was in
1998, way before the trend of
Hollywood stars delving into music, and
vice-versa, was set.
In that sense, Leto was a pioneer, and
non-conformist. But that has always
appeared to be the route Leto was destined to take. Critics have drawn parallels between Letos career and Johnny
Depps in that both are known to make
less-mainstream influenced decisions.
Its fun, you know, not to think for a
while, but I just operate from a position

Jared
Leto:
When I was
a kid I was
always
interested
in bands
that really
put more
into their
music than
others.
that I would hope is as true to myself as
possible and these are just the things
that Im interested in and it seems to be
slightly more to the left then to the centre.
Indeed, Letos decision to give both
his music and acting career equal
emphasis is also an approach that can
be deemed unconventional.
An acting career could potentially be
more financially rewarding than singing
in a band. But Leto gets his thrills from
doing both, and finds balancing his time
to be the only downside.
Creatively its fine, and its really
inspiring to do both, but it can be challenging to try to find the time to be on
tour so much, and to make a film
because we are very much a live band,
Leto says. So, I dont make many films;
I tend to be very selective when I do
make a film and Im not about to start
making, you know, five movies a year
and I like the way that things have been
going.
The actor and singer do merge. There
is a lot of theatrics in the bands perfor-

mances and music videos. Their latest

music video, From Yesterday, off their
second album A Beautiful Lie was
inspired by, surprise, surprise, a movie
The Last Emperor. It is believed to be the
first music video by an American band
to be fully shot in China.
Not surprising considering that it was
directed by Leto an actor himself.
Then again, 30 Seconds to Mars has
always come across as a performers
band, as opposed to just being about the
music.
When I was a kid I was always interested in bands that really put more into
their music than others. Bands, from Led
Zeppelin to The Doors, and artistes like
Bjrk or Radio Head, didnt just make
music, but really had a lifestyle, Leto
explains.
And as for the bands habit of wearing
make-up when performing, Leto says:
For us, things like make-up are just for
the stage. Im not sitting here right now
at the interview, wearing lipstick or
something, or eyeliner or you know, or a
bra for that matter.