With two movies opening in theaters Sept. 4, UF Alumni Jonathan Chase has definitely been busy this year. We got a chance to sit down with Jon and talk about his roles in The Gamer and All About Steve and what it’s like to walk through downtown Albuquerque wearing a mohawk.

CT: So tell me a little about your new movie, The Gamer.

JC: The Gamer is a movie that depicts a world where video games have evolved to a point where instead of logging into a video game, people are actually logging into and controlling other people. The characters in the games are all guys on death row who fight each other in these death matches but are controlled by other people playing the game. The biggest difference between these games and today’s games is when your character dies in the game they die in real life. It’s like a modern day Blade Runner or a real-life Sims game.

CT: Tell me a little bit about how you landed this role and how your character fits into the storyline.

JC: I met with Brian Taylor, who you may know from Crank, and read for the movie. I read the script and just thought it was unbelievable because video games have just taken over entertainment from movies in terms of generating money worldwide. I wanted to play the part because The Gamer is just a big-time guy’s action movie. Michael C. Hall’s character is the leader of the new entertainment gaming industry that allows people to log in and play as other people. I play his dark sidekick and the leader of the Geek Squad, but not like the kind at Best Buy. If anything goes wrong or anyone tries to cheat or beat the system my squad and I take them out.

CT: Was the cast pretty friendly on set?

JC: Everyone was so cool and so relaxed. Mark and Brian (The directors) are just cavaliers with the camera. They’re on their knees with these huge studio cameras and are just so in-your-face. They’re always cracking jokes and making fun of everyone and make it a really great experience for the entire cast.

CT: Who was the most fun during shooting?

JC: I would have to say Gerard Butler. He’s definitely the biggest prankster on the set. I can’t tell you what he did one time. I can’t. Man he would be so pissed at me. I was sitting in the makeup trailer one time and he really got me. I can’t even tell you what he did because it’s way too embarrassing for him. I will tell you he went really far to get people to laugh that day. You’ll have to track him down and ask him yourself. It’s just too embarrassing.

CT: Did you get a chance to use any weapons or do any stunts like getting blown up?

JC: In one scene I was holding up a black cube and with some of the lighting effects in the room it was as if we were electrocuting the people in the room just by holding up a black cube. We actually took out a couple of the leaders of the other side. I can’t say who we killed because I don’t want to spoil anything. There were a lot of real explosions, but I wasn’t at the location where they were doing them because the explosions were on the inside of the prison compound where all the matches take place. My character is on the outside of all that. I did get to see a couple car chase scenes in downtown Albuquerque.

CT: How was it working with a cast full of veterans like Gerard Butler?

JC: It was really a dream working with such a huge cast. Some of the stuff those guys have done to prepare for movies is just insane. I was in the trailer one day with Gerard Butler and we started talking to about the workout routine for 300. He said it was absolutely brutal. I’ve also been a huge fan of Ludacris and his music for years and Michael C. Hall is just awesome to work with.

CT: You also have a comedy coming out on the same day as The Gamer called “All about Steve.” Tell me a little bit about the movie and your character?

JC: It’s a romantic comedy where Sandra Bullock’s character follows this guy around in an almost weird stalker kind of way. I play a news anchor in this movie but unfortunately I was only on set for about a week. I was a lot more involved with shooting The Gamer at the same time this movie was being shot.

CT: From what I’ve seen of the movie the cast is full of very funny people. Who was the most fun off camera?

JC: The only person I got to work with was Thomas Haden Church who I’ve loved since he was on the show Wings and in the movie Sideways. His character basically interrupts a newscast I’m doing and really starts messing with me. It was great because we got to do a little improv together. I’m very curious to see how those scenes are going to play out.

CT: Of the two movies, which genre do you prefer to be in?

JC: To be honest I like those big-budget action films. Gamer was a blast to work on. You’re on location all the time and it’s really a lot of fun. I was in Albuquerque for almost three months and there were always gunshots at night, knife fights and cops were always arresting people.

CT: Was that part of the movie?

JC: No that was just typical downtown Albuquerque. It’s not exactly the safest place. It’s kind of like its own action movie. I actually felt safe walking around though because for the The Gamer I had a skinned head on both sides with a Mohawk down the middle. I also had a mustache and a soul patch so I looked like I was just absolutely crazy. I don’t think anyone was willing to mess with me when I was walking down the street.

CT: With all your roles, what’s surprised you the most about filming movies?

JC: I’d have to say it’s that you have to be ready to go at a moments notice. As the budget for a film gets bigger there’s less time to mess around or waste time. A good example was working with Michael C. Hall. They added some scenes and extra stuff and he would say, “Let’s just do it. Let’s run it and get it finished.” You really have to get into a mindset like that and be willing to do what it takes to nail that scene on the first try.

CT: So what’s the future have in store for you? What projects do you have in the queue?

JC: Right now I’m working on my own little web series with a buddy of mine called “Mantoge.” It’s really a good opportunity for me to learn about camera work and editing. It really gives you a greater appreciation for writers, editors and directors.

I also have another movie coming out sometime in October on The Hallmark Channel called “Always and Forever.” It’s about a man who owns a chain of hotels and a woman who is an interior designer. I play the lead character’s assistant and I fall for the lead female’s assistant. It’s one of those simple Hallmark Channel love stories.