Cozi did an interview with Leigha from Hollywood Jesus.
Leigha: What was it like working with Winter? Were you ever scared or nervous working with a live dolphin?
Cozi: Working with Winter was just an amazing experience. There was really never a time where I was scared at all; she was always really gentle, sweet and playful. The only time I ever felt scared was the scene where we’re all floating by on pool mats and the only reason I was little nervous was that Winter was having so much fun that when her trainer was lying on the mats too and were testing it, she would jump up on her trainer and like slam down on her trainer and she doesn’t know how heavy she is, you know; she weighs like 250 pounds, so I was little nervous she would do that to me but she didn’t.
Leigha: What part of making this movie will you never forget? What was your favorite experience?
Cozi: Hmm. Well, I had so many favorite experiences, it’s hard to name them all. It was a lot of fun shooting the night shoot where we were pretending to have a sleep over at the aquarium. That was a lot of fun. We were making a lot of jokes and Harry and Nathan made me laugh the whole time and it was a lot fun and we were all really tired so we were all having a lot of fun.
Leigha: So here’s a question that’s a little more random, but do you still keep in touch with Winter? Do see her, Facebook her, get updates on her or anything like that?
Cozi: Umm, that’s a good question. I’m actually going to go to the aquarium pretty soon here and do some publicity for the aquarium and stuff so I’ll be able to see her then. It’s a lot fun just to look; I look on her web cam every once in a while on the website and see how she’s doing and how the other dolphins are and things like that.
Leigha: Did you learn any good acting tips from Morgan Freeman?
Cozi: Oooh, yeah. I guess to always stay focused and to really take your job seriously to where even a glance can be in character. He taught me that, kind of. He doesn’t teach; like, he doesn’t give advice like just giving it, but you can learn so much from just watching him, it’s really cool.
Leigha: Okay, this is just something I’m curious about, how many times was your co-star Harry Connick Jr. asked to asked to sing a song on set and did you ask him to sing?
Cozi: You know what, he… there was… I can remember two times where he hummed a little bit of a song, but really, no one ever asked him to sing. I mean, he would sing but he would never like serenade us, you know? He’s a great guy who’s really down to earth so a lot times he’d just make us laugh and stuff, he’s so funny. Oh my goodness, he’s hysterical, and he had everyone just rolling on the floor with all the funny things he’d do, and so there was a lot of just having fun and doing, you know, whatever felt right.
Leigha: So, was it hard to do the scenes when you were in the water? Was it cold, did it effect you doing your lines while trying to stay afloat and that kind of thing?
Cozi: Well you know, a lot of the scenes, every one of my scenes I’m never just in the water. I’m always on a little stand in the water because that’s what the trainers do. They sit on this thing or platform and train the dolphins from there a lot. And so, it was more being really, really cold and not being able to tread water because that kind of spooks the dolphins, kind of like with a horse when you make a lot of wild movements. And so it was more about trying to stay warm while sitting, you know, just sitting in the water.
Leigha: Hmm, I wouldn’t have thought of that; treading water scaring the dolphins. That’s an interesting fact.
Cozi: And it distracts them too from what their trainers are trying to get them to do.
Leigha: Well, if I ever go swimming with dolphins now I will know staying still is better. What’s the one thing you hope people will never forget about this movie?
Cozi: Hmm. I hope they’ll take away from it to never give up hope and to remember that family is forever and you need to cherish the moments you spend with your family. And to just identify with Winter and always remember her story.
Leigha: Do you have any movies this year or are coming out next year that you’re really looking forward to seeing?
Cozi: Well, I just saw Hugo, which was really a fantastic film; that one’s great. And I’m looking forward to seeing all the fantastic movies coming out. I know Journey to the Center of the Earth 2 is coming out, and I loved the first one, so hopefully the second one will be just as good.
Leigha: Any chances of a sequel with Dolphin Tale?
Cozi: Umm, there are a couple of thoughts on it, but right now there’s really nothing major going on. I hope so, you know. We could use some prayer over here, that’d be so much fun to come back and see everyone.
Leigha: Well, on behalf of all of us, I’d like to wish you a Merry Christmas to you and everyone from the movie and thank you so much for your time today.
Cozi: Thank you so much.