Lizzy Caplan is probably best known for her role in “Cloverfield,” which documented a group of people on the run from a monster in New York City through the lens of a handheld camera. When I spoke with her for an interview at The Trades, she credited the enormous popularity of the film partly to the way in which it appeals to the “You Tube generation” (a term which she admittedly hates). “It’s a very current film,” she said. “It’s drawing on all the stuff we deal with now.”

Caplan added, “Everybody has a camera, and it’s this generational thing where everybody thinks that their videos are worth showing to the public. A lot of times, there’s a million terrible You Tube videos that are pointless.”

More importantly, Caplan expressed her opinion that “Cloverfield” reflects the capacity of citizen journalism. “I think [the movie] struck a chord with people, because if there were to be some huge, terrible disaster – whether it be a real disaster or a monster attacking the city – there would be some excellent footage. We’re prepared to document anything that happens.”

As for Caplan personally, she said she limits her use of online communication tools. “I’m not on Facebook or My Space,” Caplan told me. “I can’t really commit to something like that. I grew up in Los Angeles, so I know most of the kids I grew up with. There’s probably a group of 20 or 30 of us who have been friends since we were little kids. There is not a whole bunch of people that I really wish I kept in contact with. So, I don’t really see the point of Facebook for me. Plus, I’m also very guarded with any personal information. I don’t want people to know what I’m up to every single day.”

Texting is the new communication medium Caplan seems most enamored with. “I’m a huge text message person. I can build and sustain meaningful relationships with people over text messaging.”

Plus, she added with a laugh, “And you get dirty looks from all the people you’re with, which happens to me everyday.”