Q: Some people have described them as experimental filmmakers disguised as blockbuster directors. Is that fair?

Emile: That's totally accurate. A lot of the stuff in "Speed Racer" has never been done before, from it having a multi-tone, to it having a retro-cool family movie, to having the photo-realism with the CG-backgrounds and infinite focus and the way they worked with these digital cameras, to even the color experimentation. It's definitely one of the most colorful movies ever made. Hands down.

Q: Did you ever geek out with the Wachowskis over "The Matrix?"

Emile: Oh yeah. I'm like a hard core fan. I'd always come with questions like, So with Smith... I'm a hard core geek. I've seen those movies an unhealthy amount of times.

Q: What's it like having your own action figure now?

Emile: I look like Dennis Quaid on my action figure circa '95, which is kind of an upgrade for me.

Q: What's next?

Emile: I don't have anything coming up. I did this movie called "Milk" which comes out in the Fall. I don't have anything as of now.

Q: How has your career changed since "Into the Wild?"

Emile: It's cool. There's probably more awareness of me now which is cool. I'm just flexing my hands.

Q: When you were on the gimbal, did they say, ok, now you're Tokyo drifting. What did you hear?

Emile: Tokyo drifting? That's "Fast and the Furious." Now you're doing this really shitty movie.

Q: What do they say to you?

Emile: Stop Tokyo drifting, you're ruining our movie! No. No. No. I love that movie. (makes a face) No, they'd be like you're coming up on the turn, now slide! And I'd be like, errrrrr. Then I'd getting mad because I'd be getting whiplash, and they'd say, Now, backslide. And I'd just wouldn't go to church.

Q: Did you get knocked around?

Emile: Oh yeah. Matthew Fox got it worse though. I don't know why. I don't think he paid off the gimbal guy like I did.

Q: What do you want to do in the sequel?

Emile: I don't know. I'm so excited to see if the movie is a hit and stuff and if they decide to make a sequel, what would the Wachowskis do. Where will they take it? The first is about the Grand Prix and the races. I wonder what will happen in the second one.

What's it like working with Sean Penn as a co-star?

Emile: It was crazy. It was weird for me and him because we had such different roles in "Into the Wild. He was the director. I started not to think of him as an actor when I first met him but then I didn't even think of him as a director anymore. Then it changed very quick. We got along really well and had a fun time. It was all good (pause) except for this one time... No, I'm kidding.

Q: Anything about the physical stuff in this movie that you liked?

Emile: The training was fun. Chad and Dave the stunt coordinators are such badasses. And me and Kick would sometimes be standing around-the kid who played Sparky-and we'd be like hey, Chad and Dave, how many Hollywood actors' asses do you think you could kick at once? 20? 30? And Chad would be like, No, probably more than 30. He'd be like dead serious-more than 30. Then Dave would be like, Yeah, like 40.

Q: Did you learn anything from them?

Emile: I learned that when you get punched in the face how to roll with it. When they hit me, how to fall. They tough you up real quick.

Do you have any chimp tales?

Emile: Chimpanzees don't have tails.

Was the chimp cooperative?

Emile: Except for this one day, yeah.

Q: What happened?

Emile: It bit someone.

Q: Who got bit?

Emile: He asked for it though.

Q: Do you have lucky charms like the red socks?

Emile: No. I try not to be too superstitious because if you get superstitious about one thing pretty soon it's everything.

Q: Susan says you imitate anyone, even John.

Emile: Do I do Goodman? I didn't know that. I haven't done him in a while if I do.

Q: Give us your best.

Emile: No. Yeah, do that thing you do. (He says this in some weird New Jersey tough guy accent.) C'mon. Alright guys. See you later.