NEW YORK, Jan. 7 (UPI) -- To prepare to play a drug dealer in the new film, "Alpha Dog," U.S. actor Emile Hirsch says he talked to the dad of real-life suspect Jesse James Hollywood.
Inspired by true events allegedly involving Hollywood and his friends, "Alpha Dog" is about a group of young Los Angeles thugs whose reckless, violent behavior leads to the murder of an innocent teen.
The real Jesse James Hollywood was considered a fugitive from justice when the film was being made. One of the youngest people to make the FBI's "10 Most Wanted" list, he has since been captured and is now awaiting trial in California.
"I never met Jesse James Hollywood," Hirsch said in New York recently. "He was sort of on the run at that time ... His dad was on set almost every day and he told a lot of interesting stories, and he definitely wanted to get across that he loves his son, and he's like, 'My kid is a good kid.' And it's complicated talking to a father about his son like that. Because you don't want to be like, 'Oh, my God, get away from me, you monster!' You have to be understanding and responsible and kind of deal with it."
