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The Wilson character in Cast Away-the volleyball-was that your idea?

Broyles: That came up when I was doing research in the Sea of Cortez. All the stuff-trying to open a coconut, trying spear a fish, trying to find water, trying to make fire-all those things, I went through, trying to go through basic survival. But when I finally figured all that out, I realized that the heart of the movie wasn't about physical survival, but the loneliness that comes after you have figured out how to survive physically.

After I figured that out, I went down to the water the next morning to spear some stingrays, and there was a Wilson volleyball. So I put some seaweed and some clamshells on it and started talking to it. And I thought, Wait a minute, this should be in the movie. It was one of those lucky things.

Back to The Polar Express. How many times have you seen the film?

Broyles: Complete through, start to finish in its final stage, twice. But in various stages, many, many, many times. I don't know how many.

Are you tired of it?

Broyles: Absolutely not. And I still get choked up at the end.

So take the hankies, eh?

Broyles: I'm such a sap. It just moves me. It touches something and I just can't get around it.

To learn more about The Polar Express, check out the official website.

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