American teen drama “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” has been listed as one of the most important coming-of-age films of the twenty-first century. It has been continually praised by critics and viewers alike for its realistic portrayal of teenage struggles with family, relationships, and mental illness, which informs greatly how teen films have evolved throughout the decades.
Based on Stephen Chbosky’s 1999 novel of the same name, the storyline revolves around a high schooler named Charlie, played by Logan Lerman, who writes letters to an anonymous friend. He details in depth his experiences with depression and anxiety as he journeys through the last years of high school. Another central storyline is Charlie’s formation of newfound friendships with Sam, played by Emma Watson, and Patrick, played by Ezra Miller. Here, we take a look at 15 things most people didn’t know about the critically acclaimed coming-of-age indie.
15 The Cast Had To Wear Safety Wires For The Tunnel Scene
According to Diply, the cast had to strap themselves down with safety wires during the tunnel scene. This was to make sure that they did not risk the dangers of falling off the speeding truck. The crew was especially concerned for Emma Watson’s safety as she had to stand up for the scene.
14 Emma Watson Refuses To Watch Her Rocky Horror Picture Show Performance
Watson has revealed in several interviews that she refuses to watch her kissing scenes in the “Harry Potter” series. This also extends to her “Rocky Horror Picture Show” performance which she reenacts with Ezra Miller. Despite this, she still considers the role of Sam a blessing to her career and was glad to have taken it.
13 Ezra Miller Auditioned For His Role Over Skype
Charismatic and multi-talented actor Ezra Miller auditioned for the role of Patrick over a Skype video call. Unsurprisingly, the producers for the film were so struck by his natural acting ability and passionate commitment to the part that they immediately cast him within only five hours of the online audition.
12 It Was Set During An Ambiguous Time Period
The time period during which Stephen Chbosky’s novel is set is revealed through the dated letters to be from 1991 to 1992. The film, however, is more verbally ambiguous about the exact years during which the narrative events occur, instead utilising objects such as records and cassette tapes to indicate the time period.
11 Emma, Logan, & Ezra Lived Together During Filming
In order to keep to the film’s budgetary constraints as well as to form close bonds during shooting, Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, and Ezra Miller decided to live together in the same hotel. Lerman has described the living situation as incredibly intimate, stating that ‘we were kind of living in a dorm environment’.
10 Stephen Chbosky Convinced Emma Watson It Would Be The Role Of A Lifetime
Author and director Stephen Chbosky convinced Emma Watson that if she decided to act in the film, Sam would turn out to be the role of a lifetime for her. He also told her that she would remember the summer for the rest of her life as well as form long-lasting friendships with the cast and crew.
9 Ezra Miller Was The Same Age As His High School Character
During filming, Ezra Miller was the only actor in the cast who was the exact same age as his character. Lerman was two years older than Charlie at the age of eighteen, and Watson was three years older than Sam at the age of twenty-one. Their youthful faces therefore had a hand in helping them land their roles.
8 Emma Watson Was Cast From Her Crying Scene In Harry Potter
Chbosky decided he wanted to cast Watson after hge saw her performance in “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”. The specific scene that caught his attention was the one where Hermione cries to Harry about her romantic troubles with Ron after the Yule Ball. Watson herself has stated that she owes her career to the “Harry Potter” series.
7 Emma And Ezra Worked With A Choreographer For Their Homecoming Dance Routine
Emma Watson and Ezra Miller worked with a professional choreographer to come up with original ideas for their homecoming dance routine. The final result was an incredibly quirky and energetic performance which reflected perfectly Sam and Patrick’s eccentric personalities. Both actors have also confessed their long-term love for dance.
6 The Character Of Charlie Is Loosely Based On Stephen Chbosky
The film’s protagonist, Charlie, is loosely based on Chbosky himself. Similarly, the character of Patrick was also drawn from the director’s real life experience as he was inspired by one of his college friends. Mary Elizabeth was the only character in the book that was entirely fictional.
5 Emma, Logan, & Ezra Never Had High School Proms In Real Life
The four main cast members never experienced real-life high school proms. In an interview, Chbosky mentioned that ‘watching people like Emma Watson, Logan Lerman, Ezra Miller, and Mae Whitman who never had prom, never really had a proper graduation, because they were always working, and watching those kids get to have a high school experience that we all take for granted, was very special’.
4 John Hughes Was Originally Set To Direct
John Hughes was originally attached to the project, having bought the film rights with the intention to work on the screenplay and direct the film. Hughes’ vision of the story was more of a dark comedy, with Shia LaBeouf cast in the lead role of Charlie and Kirsten Dunst cast as Sam. The director, however, passed away before he could finish the script.
3 Charlie’s Card To Sam Was Actually A Directorial Note For Emma
During the Christmas party scene, Sam reads out loud a handmade card given to her by Charlie. A behind the scenes fact reveals that Watson wasn’t actually reading out the contents of the card but rather a personal directorial note that Chbosky had handed to her earlier that day before filming began.
2 It Was Influenced By The Breakfast Club And Dead Poets Society
Chbosky mentions in the film’s DVD and Blu-ray director’s commentary that the film was heavily influenced by the motifs and themes of “Dead Poets Society” and “The Breakfast Club”. He further reveals that they were two of his favourite coming-of-age films growing up and that they formed the basis of his love for the drama genre.
1 The Tunnel Song Was Changed From Landslide To Heroes
In the novel, the song used in the tunnel scene is ‘Landslide’ by Fleetwood Mac. Chbosky however, decided to change the song choice to ‘Heroes’ by David Bowie to increase the emotional impact of the scene in the film. Many critics, however, had trouble believing that the teenage characters would not be able to recognise the hit single.