My lab partner is an alien

Alien warriors who breathe through gills and hide weapons in their capes are approaching Earth for an inter-galactic war. But don't run to the panic room just yet. There is a hero among us and he could be sitting next to you in class

The latest Hollywood science fiction film to travel through space in a bid to document an inter-galactic war between Lorien and Mogadoria, I Am Number Four is the story of nine Lorien infants, who escape after their home planet is destroyed, land on Earth and disguise themselves as humans, each with a pre-assigned number of identity.


The Mogadorian characters are 7 feet tall and conceal large
weapons in their capes

But the bad guysu00a0-- the Mogadoriansu00a0-- follow the escapees to our planet to eliminate them. The catch is they need to kill each one in sequence. One to three are already dead. Now, it's time for number four.

Director DJ Caruso. known for his previous films Eagle Eye, The Salton Sea and chart topper Disturbia, took on the project as a personal challenge to create characters that looked intimidating but would allow a human connect. Researching mythological figures, and throwing in a cowboy influence came in handy.

The story of a young man searching for his identity on a planet where everyone else seems alien is what attracted Caruso to the film. English actor Alex Pettyfer, 20, plays protagonist John Smith, and Number Four.

As he grows up, he develop powers like telekinesis (the power of transportation) and lumen (the power to create light), but first he must face all the strangeness of adolescence, and of course, fall in love.

Shot in Pittsburgh, the film enters the domain of a teen-cult film series that usually have 14 year-olds around the world drooling over superpowers. Out in theatres on February 18

There came a hero

Alex Pettyfer plays the lead in I Am Number Four. How does it feel to have superpowers, and girls fans, we asked the model-actor

Were you nervous auditioning for the lead in a big-budget Hollywood film?
When I landed up for the auditions, I ended up trying to convince the director I wasn't right for the part. I thought I'd ruin the film. But later I realised I would be missing out on a really good opportunity, and ended up having a lot of fun with the film.

What was the experience of shooting the action scenes?
I like mountain climbing and I love cricket; I'm a batsman, so I like testing my body's limits. There was a two-month training before I began shooting. At one point in the film, I do a back flip from a waterfall. That was the coolest thing ever. And it's pretty good to have powers; I could get used to that.

We hear you are a prankster on set.
I used to stick microphones in peoples' trailers and speak to them in voices... as if I was their conscience talking. It really freaked some of them out. It was funu00a0-- at least, I thought so.

'The Mogadorians breathe through gills'

Director D J Caruso on shooting an alien fight scene, and falling in love with Ray's Pather Panchali

How did I Am Number Four come your way?
I was looking to make a science fiction film with broad appeal. DreamWorks offered me this manuscript, and I was immediately attracted to the plight of the character of Number Four. His journey from a 'young man' to an 'alien warrior' was compelling. Here was a hero, I felt, the audience would really root for.

Did working with a young cast pose a challenge?
Younger actors are usually in the process of developing their acting style. They tend not to be stuck in comfort zones that some established actors protect themselves in.

How did you create the look of the characters for this movie?
Number Four and Number Six have exceptional powers, but their appearance is that of humans.
The Mogadorians, the evil alien race that hunt down our heroes on Earth, don't blend in as well. They are over seven feet tall, have large feet and an odd gait. They have tribal tattoos on their bald heads that mark their rank, and their most alien feature is a set of gills; a breathing apparatus that lies on each side of their human noses.

I made sure their eyes were expressive and human-like so that they could convey emotion.
For the Mogadorians, I was inspired by the old Western trackers and their duster jackets. I wanted to create a strong, frightening silhouette. The jackets allowed them a viable way to conceal their large weapons.

How is the experience of shooting a sci-fi film different from another?
Every film presents different challenges, and I Am Number Four was my gateway into creating full, three dimensional, computer generated imagery characters. We had 700 visual effects shots, and that was more than I had in my entire resume.

What was the most memorable day on set?
The final one. We had live explosions, actors on cables, huge cranes and tough fight sequences to choreograph. The entire sequence was shot on a football field at night. And the weather was far from cooperative.

Can Indian film-goers look forward to you working on an Indian production?
The Indian film industry has vitality. The spirit of your filmmakers and their celebration of cinema is infectious. I would love to collaborate on a film that transcends continents. Satyajit Ray is a favourite. He showed a very independent side of Indian filmmaking that was groundbreaking. His film, Song of the Little Road (Pather Panchali), is pure poetry.

What's up next?
Sleeping, and spending time with my family. I have a wife and five great kids, who I missed very much while travelling for the film.u00a0I am developing a comic drama with a good twist and a cool character. I would like to start preparing for it in the summer.