Broad Ideas with Rachel Bilson & Olivia Allen - The Halloween Special with Kevin Lewis

Episode Date: October 27, 2025

Rachel and Olivia chat with Kevin Lewis about the craft of creating and directing horror films (including Pig Hill, starring Olivia!), the importance of fostering a positive set environment, and the lasting impact of storytelling through film.Watch the video of this episode here!Like the show? Rate Broad Ideas 5-Stars on Apple Podcasts and SpotifyAdvertise on Broad Ideas via Gumball.fm See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This is a Headgum podcast. Hax is back for its fifth and final season, and so is the Hacks podcast. Join the Hacks creators and showrunners, Lucia and Yellow, Paul W. Downs, and Jen Statsky as they unpack the Emmy-winning comedy series. On each episode, here's stories from the set, what goes on in the writer's room, and how these beloved characters close out their final season. Watch Hax streaming exclusively on HBO Max and listen to The Hax podcast. on HBO Max or wherever you get your podcasts. The director of Pig Hill, Olivia's movie. Do you know how long I've been looking at her face? She's changing the subject because she's uncomfortable.

Like, I know what her movie, Big Hill. She's a star. I know what your face looks like better than my own face. That's how I feel about your face. That's true. Yeah, I look at you all the time. Isn't that weird? I'm really lucky, though.

I'm really lucky. Kevin's the luckiest. We all got candles from the guests. Not enough guests giving us gifts afterward. And nobody's ever given us. This was awesome. I was so sweet. I know.

Very nice of him. So sweet. I know. Nice candles. Precious. I know. Have you been doing podcasts and stuff for? I've done some, yeah.

Yeah. I've never done a live one. Oh, really? Really? Oh, this is so much better. My daughter was so happy. She's 19. Yeah.

She's, you're going to go live dad? I was like, yeah. How cute. She's 19. Yeah. Dustin said, did she watch the OC? Yes. Yeah.

Oh, really? She loves you. Yeah. That's so sweet. Dustin was like she actually cared. It's funny because like younger kids are watching it now. Totally. Isn't that cool?

That is cool. Yeah. Yeah. Makes me feel old or less old. I don't know. Both. I am both. I took her to the Cure concert.

And she loves the cure. And at the end, Robert Smith was the, he was like surveying the crowd. And he sees her. I swear he looked right at her and he smiled. And the fact is, and what he looked at her. was to me was the generations yeah of the music and so that was the coolest thing and then the like the people that was with us they looked they're like this and it was just and then they're like oh it's so cool you're taking your kids and did a whole concert thing and just yeah it was great so for you know

it's generational it's awesome you're passing on to the next generation I mean I think it's really cool I do and the fact you know some things that you watch back and you're like oh oh I don't know if we could do that now but yeah the cure that is so cool yeah and I have to to say, I don't know if your daughter likes Olivia Rodriguez. Yeah, we're recording. Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. Yeah.

Olivia, she brought Robert Smith out. Yes. Did you see that? Yes. Yes. See, that's what we're talking about, right? She's the new gym. She really appreciates music, you know, and she's bringing all this.

There was someone else. Oh, God. Is it the lead singer? Oh, crap. I'm forgetting. Whatever. I remember. I know what you're talking about.

Yes. Is it, um, David. Byrne. David. Yeah, thank you. David Byrne. Yeah. And we're going to see David Byrd.

Oh, I can't believe that. Yeah, yeah. So cool. But she's bringing that. It's great. It's like so cool for my daughter who's a, she's turning 11 next week. Oh, well, cool. Loves Olivia Rodriguez, but then she's getting exposed to these.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. I love that. So I have four kids. My son's 20. My daughter's 19 and I have two boys who are 9-11. And I was playing stairway to heaven the other day. And my 9-year-old and taking him to school.

And my 9-year-old's like, Dad, what song is that? That was good. So, you know, I mean, it's just. He appreciates good music. Absolutely. I took him to Oasis in London when we had Pig Hill screen there. Really? We took them all there.

You had to Croke Park to see him in Ireland. That was amazing. Oh my God. Yeah. So special. Yeah, it was cool. What does he pick on his own? Like when they pick their own music, what do they pick?

Oh, that's really good question. So, you know, they like, well, they like kind of rap, of course. Yeah. Yeah. And they like also. Beatles. Oh, amazing. That's great. That's good. Yep. And Cole play. All right. And what else? You two. I took them to you two concert. It was their first concert. You're a cool dad. Yeah. I try to be. Yeah. That's awesome. Yeah. So, but they love music and films and they're in there. They love horror movies. Do they? Yeah. They didn't see Big Hill, did they? No, but they've seen the pig mask and they keep wanting to check. out, check it out. And I'm like, no, no, no, no. But some little clips here and there of the pig

mask, you know, they see Willys Wonderland, Ford, to throw some stuff, but they love Willys. And what's funny is they love FNAF. And I was like, what, what dad, how cool is your dad to actually did Willys, but you let you enjoy Fanaf, you know. Yeah, exactly. I've had issue with it because of that. Yeah. Like, I feel protective over you. Yeah. You know, you can't, no, you can't like five nights at Fridays. You have to watch Willie's one. It's all a great way. It's all. It's great. I mean, everybody, they're, they're different movies, to be honest, you know. Completely. Yeah. And so, yeah, I mean, one's the other, it's fine. And the kids love it. So, yeah. Well, yours is better, but that's okay. Right. Well, we're, this is our special

Halloween episode and it's super appropriate because, you know, you've mentioned Pig Hill a few times. Yeah. But that's where you and Olivia met. Oh, yeah. Yep. Your movie. She did a fantastic job. She did. Thank you, Kevin. I have to tell you, I taped her audition for this. movie. Yeah, we did it together. In my house, in like one of my bedrooms, she was screaming about pig blood everywhere on the floor of my bedroom and just went for it. And I was like, oh my God, this is yours. And she got it. She did say that. Like, we did the audition. And then right after we were done filming, she was like, you're going to get this. And I was like, Rachel. And she's like, you are. Positive manifestation. That's right. I love it. But she didn't say

that about a few other things. Would she worry that you would get it? You're like, oh, no, you did get it. Yeah, she's like, oh, fuck, you're going to get it. Every time I show the movie to people, I'm like, okay, hopefully you'll talk to me afterwards because it's a pretty intense movie, but. Well, it's based on an urban legend. I mean, would you call it an urban legend or actual, like?

I mean, urban legend, I mean, yeah, I mean, it's been stories for decades out there in Meadville, Pennsylvania where these pig people abduct. And what's interesting, and Olivia, you'll attest to this, you go to the bars, and things and they've got missing women photo like on like yeah no serious like photos of missing women and everything like what and it's a small town you know so um yeah so

this whole story's been passed through and they've talked about it and it's just gotten this kind of myth they've got to maybe have a beer at the the place we shot at the bar 33 taps I believe they have a pig beer you know it's like a sensation it's like it's kind of like the feel of like the town and lost boys.

Yeah. Right? How like all the girls were missing and there's this kind of like lore around it. But when you go, it's real. People are like, oh, I've heard. Yep. Mm-hmm. Yeah.

That creeps me out. I get scared so easily. Like I'm still the person if it's dark in my house, I have to run from room to room because I'm convinced that, you know, like if my door bell rings, I don't answer it because I'm convinced someone's there to kill me. So I get scared so easily. scary movies? I do. It's the only ones I can stay awake for at night. So I love a scary movie. Okay. But I definitely like, it freaks me out. And it's not the best thing for me, but it's,

isn't it interesting that we love these movies, but yet they freak us out and they kind of get us to this edge, you know, but it's like, and it's, it's so weird because it's like we do this to ourselves, but it's that feeling, you know, that near death kind of feeling or you're not going die like a roller coaster you get in you know whatever but it's like you're going on this this ride and it's like it's any moment you know and then it's like okay no this is just a movie you know right so yeah right yeah but it's so interesting because it's such a huge culture right yeah the horror fanatics and oh yeah the genre films and stuff but they're so fun they're great they're the best fans you know i mean that's what i love about it it's like you make a film and people just embrace it you

know, and they're not going Siskel and Ebert on you all the time with the critic. And it's like, you know, they just come into the club. They want to have a good time. I love it. Although all the critics, I will say, they talk very highly about the acting in this film. They do. Well, they should. They do.

Very good. Amazing. Amazing. It's really good. I was like, that's right. But the weird thing I didn't realize until doing a movie like this is that there's different subcultures within horror. There's the people that are into

slasher's, then there's the people who are into jumps, like, and they each have their own... So where does this one fall, would you say? Well, to your point, horror was great because it transcends a lot of genres. So you can do sci-fi horror. You can do psychological horror, found footage horror. To me,

horror is good drama. But it has this kind of mystique about it. that, you know, it has, aesthetically, it's great because you could do interesting lens choices and colors. That's what I like about it. But it's really drama. It is about the human condition at the end.

Right. I mean, the shining is a drama. Psychological horror, right? But it is a drama about this kid. And you think about the abuse with Danny and how that transcends and manifests itself. So, yeah, horror has a. a lot of different levels and subgenres. That's what I love about it, you know.

Yeah. Growing up, were you big into horror film? I liked horror. I actually liked dramas. Really? Yeah. Peter Weir is one of my favorite directors. Yeah.

You know, I love the human condition. That's why I liked about this film. And I like actors. And I love just working and trying to figure out, like, why are we here? What's the meaning of life, you know? And in that, you have this horror where it's a phantasmic movie or It's a feel real, whatever. But you can explore that.

And that's what I love about Pig Hill. Yeah, that's what I loved about it too. When I read it, I was like, pig people. Like, what the actual? Because I just got the audition and we read it. We're like, what is this? But then when I read it, I was like, oh, no, this is my bag. Because it's more psychological than you realize.

Absolutely. And that's what I love about it. And also, Kevin did a brilliant job with the colors and the way it makes you feel. and it's got like throwbacks to like is it like clockwork orange and punk rock music like it just feels so cool and specific that you wouldn't really be able to do that in a different genre the way you did well you know it's funny because when I read the script you know the third act is what I really loved about it and I was like wow I really want to do this movie and Jared did a great job Jared Burris on the script And what was interesting is like Jacob's Ladder was a movie that came in.

I love that movie. And that kind of, and Salvador dolly, you know, like all this. And it's just like that stuff just really got me going on the script and really like, all right, we could do this. And yes, it's kind of a crime procedural and everything. But, you know, we can go to different spaces and different places on it. And so that was kind of, so the whole thing like with the colors, they kind of represent what's going. through Carrie Rainey. She did a fantastic job.

She killed it. What's going with her mind and what she, her space. And so everything was kind of specific on that, you know. And I want to make this kind of, like you said, punk rock fever, dream, surreal poem. Yeah. And talk about the human condition and what's going on in this world now with like, we talk about gas lighting and things like that.

That these these kind of code words now have become kind of. part of our culture. And it's interesting too, because I think a lot of people, before, you know, decades ago, it's like, oh, therapy is, you know, you don't do therapy. It's just weird. You're something wrong with you. Sweep your problems under the rug. Now it's good to do it. And it's good to look at things and pick apart things and figure out why and what am I doing or what are they doing to me or what's going on. And we're all better for it to me as people. And that's with this movie, I feel, deals with that, deals with that pain. You know, I don't want to give things away, but.

Please don't. Yeah. Yeah, I'm going there. I feel like I'm like that. Yeah, no one I'm not going to let you. I know, but is there a way to like give a synopsis or so. You can do it, Olivia. Yeah, give us.

Let's see. I do become chat GPT sometimes. We joke. She really does. Okay. A synopsis, this is a story about a young woman's journey on, she grew up in a town where there were people going missing. and the lore was that it was half pig, half people,

and that somehow they got crossbred. And so she goes on a journey, somehow, I don't know how that happens. She goes on a journey because she's writing a book. And in that she discovers some really dark truths. And we're not going to say that. But the thing is, is that like, what I like is that, yes, it's scary, but it's not just cheap jump scares. It's not that.

You know, it's more interesting than anything. And Rainy did. Phenomeny did phenomenal. She's so. Carrie. Yeah. Margaret sister. She is.

Yeah. We had her on. Yes, we did. And Shiloh, Fernandez. Amazing. Amazing. And Shane. Shane West.

Yeah. He was so lovable in this. Yeah. And he is in real life, too. Yeah. You're like in the movie, he was so lovable. No, they're all lovable. Yeah.

That's nice. Like, you know, when you shoot a movie, it's like your family on location, especially, right? For sure. We were there for a long time. Olivia was like really sick when she got there. I remember FaceTiming and you're like in your hotel room. But then she's like, I just went to boot barn with everybody. I got sick.

Thank God I had a few days off. Yeah. It was like I got there, did one day of shooting and then got violently ill. Yeah. And stayed in the room and was podcast. casting with you. Oh, wow. I was so sick and I was like, please, dear Lord, like, let me get through this. And then on day three, I was at Boop Barn, and I was fine. I have a question for you guys. So when you read a script, like, when you're talking about doing a character, audition, read a script,

like, what do you look for? Does it, does you feel like an emotional feeling like, I connect with this part or, oh, I got to do this? Or is it the full story? Like, what, like, what is it for you guys. Yeah, I mean, I think it's like a mixture, you know? I mean, when you get a script, there's usually things that come along with it that already give you some kind of preconceived idea whether you're going to want to do it or not. Okay.

Right? Like, who you're working with? Yeah. Very important. All of that. So that is like a little bit like weighted there when you're going to read. For me, like if I am reading it and automatically I'm like, oh, I can absolutely, like, this is connecting with me.

Then I'll be like, oh, I'm like, oh, I'm going to be like, like, oh, I'm reading it. okay, I need this. Like, I can do this. I get excited. Okay. So it is a connection for sure. But, you know, writing is important. Yes.

And there are times where you're like, I don't know if I can, I don't think I can say that. Do this. Yeah. Yeah. Like, it's not really naturally flowing in my brain. Okay. Yeah. I think for me, I, unfortunately, there's not a lot of things where I read and I'm like, I want to do that.

a lot of things I watch, I feel that way, where I'm like, I have to do that one day. Right. So whether it's certain characters like a detective or a therapist or, you know, people that are on the same track of discovering human behavior, that's when I get like totally lit up. And then things like, you know, I like drama. Yeah. Like we both love to laugh. We love all the messing around. but like I love like, give me a reason to cry.

Yeah. Like any of those things I'm in. Yeah. Yeah. I love drama in my movies. I don't live it in my real life. Same. Right.

No, I don't want to laugh in real life and cry on screen. I totally do Pig Hill all day long, but they hate my life, man. No, no, no, no, no. No, totally. But no, I agree. Like, when I read a script, too, or I work on a script, whatever, it's like, there's that, it's just, I sometimes I have these images and it's like, I, can't get them out of my head, especially the third act, where I was just like, I got to do this.

Yeah. This is why I'm making this movie. And even through the whole hardship, and you guys know how hard is to make movies and shows and just put yourself out there, the grueling every day, shooting and keeping that narrative, like, why, why am I here? Because you can get lost, right? You know, okay, this is the story. This is what pulled me in.

This is what made me want to make this movie. And to just continue. And I kind of make a lookbook for myself, personal kind of diary. I always like if things get down, if I couldn't get the shot I wanted or whatever. It's like, you know, I look back, I go, okay, I get that little boy feeling of the kid wanting to make that film again. Right. And that's what pulls me through. What movie did that for you knowing you wanted to make films?

So it was interesting. Raiders Lost Dark was a movie for me was just like, okay, I could see what a director does. You know, Star Wars, of course, as a kid, was like handed down by God, you know. It just happened. You know, let there be Star Wars. But Raiders was like, okay, I could see the editing. I could see this. And then the high-octane adventure and what Spielberg was doing.

So I was like really, I loved it. Like most kids, Evil Dead was a movie where I really started seeing the camera and what you could do with the camera. And funny story. So the video store opens near me when I'm a little kid. And my mom gives me money to go get some milk and eggs. And I go and I go by the video store. And they had Evil Dead. and Nightmare Elm Street.

And I only had enough money. And I was like, I'm in. Nightmare at Elm Street. I go back. My mom's like, where's the milk and eggs? I said, they ran out. Yeah. They ran out.

And she's like, what? And I was like, yeah, but I got Nightmare in Elm Street and Evil Dead. Of course, my sister's like, he's a movie fanatic. He's got problems. You need to ground him and all that. But that was the thing. It's like I watched Evil Dead constantly.

Saw what Sam Ramey did with that camera, learned, you know, when they're in the cabin, what they did for days. And I just, that was a movie that really, you know, for me, it's filmmaking was just 101, you know. Right. And then just made movies on Super 8 with my friends, on VHS. I made a movie that was a, it was called The Real World. And it got a scholarship to USC Film School from the local station, Channel 4 in Denver.

It's amazing. Yeah. Yeah, I just did that. It was hilarious because, like, during high school, everybody. would go and they would skip the class, they would ditch and they go to Burger King. And I was like, wow, I could get all this crowds going to Burger. I could do like a crowd. So this ending, we did like this epic shot of like all the people chasing the league

character and it was they were going to Burger King. But then I realized like to manipulate how you could take things and use it and make it, and make an image. And it's only on the image here. You don't worry about what's on the sides, what's going on here. You worry about what's here. And so I just was, you know, so yeah, I was just obsessed. I love that makes me it's like getting me excited I'm like I know I'm in my head I'm like damn I need to go on set again yeah let's make a horror movie let's do it yeah that's what it's making me like oh on to me also it's make it's committing to the body of work and that's where I'm at my life right now you know before it's a whole what movie I'm going to do or who's it going to be with or what's going to what's it going to get distribution or I'm at that point now commit to the body of work I love the end of the day and just enjoy the work and enjoy the process right right

Right. Yeah. You got it. You know, my dad always said to me, because he's in the industry. And when I started working, he said, do your job and do it well. I'm like, that was all. That was the only advice, right? So it's like you're creating this and you're showing up to do this job that we're so lucky to do. Lucky to do. Yeah. But it's just like, you know, but there's so many people involved. And I think people who want to make movies or whatever and maybe some people who aren't aware, all that goes into it and how much. is behind the scenes and like everyone working as a machine and together and a family and all of it. And I just think it's one of the coolest things that we all here have been lucky enough, you know, to do. And it's funny because you're saying, you know, the movies growing up and directors and everything else. And you said The Shining. And so for me, like even as like a little girl, a younger girl, I wasn't that little watching The Shining. But the directing, I know.

And I mean, I know. and you say that and you're like, yeah, no shit, you know. No, no, it's great. It's, it's amazing. It's so unbelievable. Like, to me, that's, like, number one for me. Well, even, like, the, the shot of, like, the push in when, when Jack's at the window, just staring, you know, that one moment, you know, you still, you see you have in your mind,

you know, and that, as a filmmaker for me, it's like, if I have any of my movies and I can sear some images like tat with people, like I've accomplished something, you know? And also for me, For like, especially like with Willies, like I had, I've, I've, I've, I've, people come and say, I want to make movies because I saw Willies. Yeah. That makes my day, man. Yeah. You know, that's the coolest thing.

You know, again, passing it on. Right. You know, so, yeah, that image of the shining. There's, of course, Rosemary's baby, Exorcist, you can go on. Right. What's interesting with the exorcist, too, it's like, you know, you think about it. It's like, okay. That one I can't do.

Well, see, the thing is you have the head spinning and the puke and all that stuff, and that's fine. That was the gimmicks. But really what it's about, it's about this kid who's good. When you rewatch it, what's really scary is, A, the priest questioning his faith. That's the scary part. Because, again, it's human of where are we, who are we, what do we belong. Also, it's the kid who's going through this traumatic deal. It's going through tests.

She's going on to that. And, of course, as a father, and you guys can test that as a parent. Like, that is just horrific. That's what gets you in The Exorcist. Because I was always wondering, why do these movies stand the test at time? They do. What does it, you know? And of course, to make a film, it does need to stand the test of time where you can judge it or, you know, critique it down the road.

And these things hold up. These movies hold up. Why? And it's the, and that to me, again, it's the human condition. The exorcist is all about the human condition. Yes, again, the head and everything. That's great. But it's about this little girl and which it ends in what the priest is going through.

And that's what gets you because it really touches something that we all have with about faith, right? and being a parent and being a child and being, you know, we always talk about movies. Everybody usually says, well, I saw this when I grew up. Like you asked me, right? Yeah. It is. It's about childhood. It's such a precious thing, childhood.

Oh, my God, I know. Right? Yeah. And so those things that happen to us, you know, and it really creates who we are. And again, that's what's fascinating and that's kind of Pig Hill, right? Oh, yeah, for sure. Yeah. I was thinking the other day because Elliot asked me, he goes, what do you think is

the most popular horror film of all times. And I was like, great question. And he's like, do you think it's scream? And I was like, hey, screams up there. I said, it's really popular. I said, let's talk about all the ones that are on the table. Because he hasn't seen any. Do we know?

I don't know. Kevin, what do you think? Number one most popular horror movie of all time. You know what movie you fucked me up as a kid? Pet Cemetery. Oh, yeah. Yeah, dude. It gives me the chills.

I love animals, right? Yeah, no. It really fucked me up. Like, I'm still traumatized. I want to do something having to do with the cemetery. So I love cemeteries, like in a weird-ass way. So Jeff, when he's out of town, he'll take pictures. He'll send them to me.

Like, if you see a good cemetery, I want it. When we are in Maine, where Stephen King was from, people just have people buried in their backyards guys all over the place it's amazing and we turn down this street and it was dark and he goes oh shit olivia you're gonna love this and he shines the light and it's just cemetery and it's all behind people's houses

I want to do something there oh yeah there's a movie for right I want to film something there having to do with the cemeteries There's like people's own cemeteries. People bury their loved ones in their backyards. And it's their cemeteries. Yeah. Behind their houses. Well, I just got back from Ohio because Pig Hill played the Nightmares Film Festival.

And it won. And it was cool. But the number one thing was cemeteries. Drive by cemetery. Wow. Yeah. I mean, I go to the Amish cemeteries. You know, and it really goes like, wow, okay.

My pop-pop would always say people are, dying to get in there. I find them to be really comforting because I feel like if you're going to haunt, like, let's say ghosts are real. Yeah. They're definitely real. Okay. You're not going to haunt your own gravestone.

You're going to go fuck with your loved ones. Or like, Sally, who pissed you off. You're going to go haunt her. You're not going to be like, oh. Also, cemetery is a safe space. That's what I mean. Oh, all right. Yeah.

Party at the cemetery. It's a safe space. And people usually only go. go there with the intention of love in their heart. To a cemetery? That's true. Why else would you go? That's true.

You wouldn't go. I hate you, dad. No. You know? There's a lot of love there and a lot of peace at a cemetery. Wow. And a lot of story. Of course she does.

She's my soul mate. I know. No, yeah, I've never been like scared of it. So have you ever had any ghost encounters in your life? Oh, boy. No. Damn it. Darn.

Well, I could tell you a. cool story about my mom. Yeah. What you do? So my dad, he, he was in the military. He was a Green Beret, Vietnam and everything. And she said to me one day she was making the bed. And she saw my dad walking and she was like, Wayne moved to the left.

Well, my dad was in a platoon in Vietnam. And he was talking to one of his guys. And he just moved to the left. And there was a mortar and it blew everybody up, saved him. yeah wait what yes and he said that he just heard like he was talking

and he just like moved over and then yeah he heard a voice in his head say moved to the left and then my mom saw it and she said and I believe my mom was very spiritual yeah you know so I believe it

so yeah so there you go she saw she was behind she saw my dad she just saw the whole thing and Wade moved to the left you know wait what like she had the vision

of it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Oh my God, that's remarkable. Wow. That's a cool story. See, to me, we're always doing, no matter what, we're always like, oh, that's a good story. We love it. Like, that could be a good movie. A mom who has visions and communicates with her son, there you go. Yeah, there you go. But, okay, so going back to what I love about what you were explaining in the filmmaking, do you see it as image or? in your head is it because I feel like music has a lot to do with your vibe like sure yeah I love music um when we were making pig hill like I was playing the cure and goblin yeah you know um but yes but it's imagery imagery and music really but yeah there's things like I say I read the script or something

and and you guys you guys in test this too it's like if you find a good piece of material if you write it you work, you know, get the script, whatever, and you latch on to it, you get kind of obsessed with it. And this business is really hard because like you said, Rachel, it's like there's so many levels of it, right? The people are going to work with, the money, you're going to be able to make it for that budget, all this stuff? Yet you have this vision and that's, that's me. It's like, I just, like, I got to get this out. Right. And it's not, filmmaking is not a solo effort where you can go paint or write poetry and feel good and then put in the drawings. It's like, like you said, it's with a lot of people, cost a lot of money, a lot of time, you know.

And so for me, it's like, yeah, everything that, you know, when you read something or what it's like, you have that, that, that image, that thing. And then you go, oh, you get with the AD or the line producer or the DP, oh, I can't do that because I don't have this or that, oh, you know. And so, but it has that, that image that and that kind of theme that I want to explore. And that's what I love is just the idea. Like I said, with Pig Hill, it was a drama. Oh, yeah, for sure. With phantasmic elements to it. But, and that's the horror lets you play in the sandbox aesthetically, which I love.

Because like Ridley Scott, Darren Aronoski, these directors, you know, Danny Boyle, they're some of my favorite directors. And they're very visual San Ramey. Right. You know. Completely. How do you trust the people, like Dustin, for instance. He's great.

He's fantastic. He does such a good job and he cares so much about everybody involved. He was the casting director. He was. Yes, he was. And he is so special and so good at what he does. But how do you as a director work with actors and casting directors and DPs? Like how much trust do you put in the people and how much do you feel you have to have your hands and everything? Well, that's a real good question. There is a level of trust. I call it. I call it. I call it. I call it. I call it. I call it. I call it. I it, you know, faith, you know, it's kind of like when you're raising money for a movie or with, you know, with the producers or whatever, you're going on this kind of journey. And it's like, you've got to have faith. And if you don't, that's where things, you know, break down. So I try to or surround myself with people I have faith with. I have trust, okay? And so what I like to do is I like, I've always been someone, you know, it's like, I know the script. The script's here,

right? I've thought about it. I have these ideas, whatever. but I want to know what you think because I don't know in your head so I want to know so Olivia you remember we talked about your character I was like well what do you think about Beltrain what do you like what do you I like that because that's inviting

to me for directors to work with actors for me is the number one I think a director needs to do is create a safe space so the actors feel confident and they can explore and they can be open and engaged And so for me, that's what I like to do.

Because I think that's when everything comes, really great things come. Now, when you do indie films, you don't have all that time, as you know, luxury to shoot. Let's try this. So the idea is try to get it before, right? Prep, prep, prep, prep. And you're on the same page. So when we're shooting, it's like, what's like mine. Like, I read you, you read me.

It's like, okay, let's try. And now you're cooking, you know. So that's kind of what I like to do. So I surround myself with a lot of people that I trust and everything and I work with them and I talk with them and I make sure we're on the same page and then we go for it. And the best idea wins. I love that. You know, it's like everybody's a filmmaker. You know, everybody that works on a movie, especially indie films, you know, you can't someone just bolts and leaves from the crew.

It's like, oh my God, what's going to happen? You know, everyone is so, we need everybody there. And to me, as a good director, there's a lot of direct, it's so funny because you'll see, like, on YouTube, and it's like 100 inspiration quotes on directing, you know, and it's like, you know, Quentin Tarantino talks about, you know, always be by the monitor, you know, or always be by the camera, but with the actor. And it's like, well, sometimes, like, I just, this movie called Driver, where it takes place mostly in the limo. And it's like, well, you can't always be by the actor because you only got your cameraman in there.

You have to do that. Right, right. So, like, everything's, it's an interesting thing because, you know, you can read Christopher Nolan quotes and all these amazing artists. But at the end of the day, directing is a very different, everyone has their own way of doing it. For me, I like a happy set, as you know. Yes. I like people excited and happy who come to work and engage and let's do their best. I feed off that.

I don't feed off negativity. No. If I have to go there, I will, but I don't want to. I try not to. How would you handle if that was coming from one of your actors? I would have to pull them aside and talk to them. Yeah. You know, you don't do it in front of the whole crew.

You don't want the crew. Crew doesn't, they need to keep going. Yeah, because they're also thinking, you know, two steps ahead, like the next shot, the next setup. So that's what I would do. Right. And I have done. Yeah. And it works.

And it's like, you know, I've, I've had some hairy things, experiences. but at the end of the day, it's all worked out. And I know sometimes, again, it's like, you know, people have a process. And maybe their process isn't jiving with mine. Cool, you know, but let's figure we're here. We're only here for that. And that's what I always like to say to people. It's like, you know, everybody's like, hey, can you shoot me out, you know, in an hour?

I was like, okay, that's fine. Only here for this time. Yeah. That's it. We'll never come back. You know, Pig Hill's not come back to Meadville, you know, like that. Unless we get a sequel. No, not joking.

But no, seriously, it's like you're only there for it's like, let's do our best work. Yeah. You know? Right. Yeah. I definitely, it's funny because you say that. I'm like, oh my God, have I done that? You know, but sometimes you kids at home or whatever.

No. Yeah, totally. But yeah, no, it's true. Life gets in the way. But yeah. Very lucky to be doing any of it. Yeah. Well, the kindness too.

Yeah. Oh, yeah. At the end, I got Kevin a hat that says no bullies on it. worn that so much. Have you? Because he's just, he was just about kindness and respect and no bullies and he carried that the entire thing. I love that. Me too.

It's what I, you know, my kid all the time. It's like, you know what? If you're kind, you're a good person. You know, like you've made it. No bullies. No bullshit. Exactly. No bully shit.

No bully shit. And I think it's good. Like we talked about like we're at a time now where people are calling it out. Yeah. You know, and people can't get away with the things that they used to get away with one. It's a good thing, you know, because we have to be kind to each other. And that's all we have is, you know what I mean? That's it.

Especially right now in this day and age, right? Yeah. Do you get nervous? Like, when you're working with different actors, like, let's say Nicholas Cage, when you worked with him, were you nervous? Were you like, how am I going to tell? Like, he's an icon. He's incredible.

Come on. Nick was the best. He was like the best. He's a filmmaker. So he gets it. And he, I mean, he's just an awesome partner to be with. I mean, yes and no. I mean, yes, of course. But why wouldn't you be? I get nervous working with you. You know, it's like I, you know, when you're making a movie and you're putting yourself out there, you should be nervous or you shouldn't do it. But then you grab it, you grapple it and you like pull it. And it's like, okay, now you own it. And it's like, no. So then when we're making willies, it's like, no, I'm not nervous because he was my partner and he saw the same movie. And yeah. So. I have the funny, I just remembered. So you brought it, like, Darren Aronofsky, right? Nicholas Cage was attached to be, was it called the wrestler?

The wrestler. Yes, thank you. And I was brought in to read with Nick Cage and Darren Aronofsky. Yeah, you know the story. No, I don't remember that. I was a crazy back in like 20 years ago, almost 20 years ago, whatever it was. And at the time he was attached as a wrestler, and I'm reading with him. And, you know, I'm playing his daughter in the scene.

And he does it and whatever. and I'm like, you're just so like Nick Cage, like with the wrestler. And he was like, what, what are you talking? Like, it's hilarious. What are you talking about? He's a Nick Cage. Yeah, I'm like, it's so Nick Cage, you know, like, you talk my head. Like Moonstruck was in my head.

And I'm like, you're doing the Nick Cage thing. No, I did that with, so when every time he would destroy an animatronic, I call it Rage Cage. And so we shot like 18 frames per second and we shine a flashlight in it. We just did all these crazy stuff with the camera. and was like rage cage. I love it. Different evolution of the rage cage. Oh my gosh,

that's so funny. That is so good. I met him again later, though, because my partner at the time was doing a movie with him, and he was so nice. Yeah. I mean, he was nice then, too,

with the audition. I just insulted him, I guess. Did you watch the Charlie Sheen documentary? Yes. Okay. Yeah, wild. I'm going to bring it up every day for the rest of my life.

It was one of the best thing I've seen. Yeah. I have not. I'm happy for him, though. He seems like he's getting it on track. Me too. He's so talented. Yeah.

Look at his movies. Come on. Yeah. I was a big Major League fan. Damn, Major League is great. All of it, Platoon, like going back through that body of work, I was like, Charlie Sheen is so incredible, but Nicholas Cage makes, what? He's in the documentary.

Oh, so I'm not just like, anyways. Charlie Sheen. Back to Charlie Sheen. I wouldn't be surprised, though. What are some of you guys' favorite movies? What do you, like? well the the best movie I've seen recently I just went and saw one battle after another have you seen it oh my god was that good that was fun I haven't I don't really see movies you don't like I don't go to the movies

okay which is a little weird I guess but I don't often make it to the movies I did see the Taylor Swift okay okay all right good for you yes that's what I've done but favorite movies oh god it's so hard You know, like, give movies that, like, when you see it, it inspires you, we're like, yes, that's why I want to act. Yeah, for sure. Like, what are those movies? You're asking me to remember right now what they are. That's a whole other thing.

That's a whole other thing. But I feel like we watch something not on your door. Steele Magnolias does that to me. St. You know what? That's great. Does it to me? Who?

Eight Mile. Eight miles. Oh, yeah. Eight miles is amazing. Always. It's such a good movie. I watch that. I love that movie.

Yeah. I'm like, phenomenal. Yes, I'm like that. Yeah. That for me. Okay. That is, very cool. I'm with you on that.

I go major league and I go eight mile. Just love it. All over the place. Don't worry. I ground it with the shining. The shining is actually one of my favorite movies. It's just so, yeah. What's the one?

Why is my brain not working with Jody Foster? Sonsalance the Land. One of my favorite movies of all times. That's an incredible. Lost Boys. is one of my favorite. That is one of your favorite. I live for it.

But I was, as a kid, I grew up watching all the old movies and like musical. Doesn't say like Audrey Hepburn. All of that stuff. And my car or like my dad would sit me down at like nine years old and be like we're watching how the West was one. And I'm like, I don't really think we don't want to do that. Or like Lawrence of Arabian. I'm like, I really like, you know, Looney Tunes is on.

I feel like that's more my. That's more my vibe. You know, any of that stuff. But see, what's cool is, and I believe in that is, is you, younger kids, maybe you're not understanding everything that's going on, but there might be that kernel. Something hits you, like you just brought that title up. And it's like, it'll stay with you.

And therefore, it will permanate and you'll start watching these other films. So I'm a firm believer in that, you know, showing the kids. It's huge for me. I should show my boy's Terminator. Did you? Yeah, they loved it. It's so fun taking the kids back and showing them. Like we did E.T.

Because that's what Elliot's named after. Yeah. Very good. Love it. Yeah. Back to the future. Back to the future. All of those.

Yeah. We haven't done those. I'm trying to show. Oh, well, Goonies. Goonies. Obviously. Love goonies. My daughter won't watch it.

Yeah. And Princess Bride. Love it. Yeah. I mean, all of these are just. My daughter did that play. She did the play of Princess Bride. What was she?

Oh, she was the princess. She was that. Yeah. Buttercup. Oh, my God. What a great movie. I mean. Yeah.

But do they, okay, now the question is, do they make movies like that anymore? And why don't they? Yeah, you're like, actually the answer is no and why. I actually miss movies, to be honest. Like, I watched something recently, and I don't remember what it was, but it was a small film. And I was like, this is it. This is why I love acting is because of the simplicity of it. What was it?

I don't remember. It was something for class, but I don't see that anymore. I know. Is it me or is it not there? I feel like everything's so big. Yeah. Can I ask you? Did Legends of the Fall do anything for either of you?

It did a lot for me. Yeah. She, Tristed. She loves it. Oh, yeah. Cannot. Okay. Just checking.

It did a lot. It did a lot. Yeah. It's still doing. It did a lot for us, ladies. That's for sure. Yeah. Yeah.

Interview with a vampire. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Just, I don't know. Like, growing, you're thinking back, it's kind of like, what compares to all of these classics. I know I've been saying some ones that might not be considered classics,

but it's really true. Like in the past, I don't know, 10 years, if I could think of one, that impacted me as much as the ones did when I was a kid. Because I feel like these movies now, a lot of them are just empty calories. You used to go see a film like at Sunset 5, you know, and I'd call them like, you know, coffee shop movies. You'd see a movie, then you'd go to coffee and talk about it. And it would stay with you for days and weeks,

and you'd bring that movie up. Now it's just like, stream. And I think it's that to do with streaming. Like we used to go to the video store. Right. It was tactile. You pick up the video. You look at it.

You'd flip around. You read it. It was, you'd have to walk over there and, and purchase it for rental or whatever. Now it's just like, it's just this mind-numbing scroll, doom-scrolling. It's just instant. Instant gratification. And therefore, it's just empty calories. Yeah.

It just goes through. Yeah. I think you're right. But how much of that, and this is the kind of, of depressing thing in earmuffs for children. All the children that listen to the podcast. It's like finding out the tooth fairy doesn't exist. It's like.

Olivia, the tooth fairy absolutely exists. Children, please do not listen to my co-anchor over here. Co-anchor. Co-anchor. But what I mean is like, you know, growing up and watching film and being so deeply obsessed with the art of it and the music and the way it, books and the score and the feel and all of that and being like, okay, I have to be an actress. Yeah.

And then getting to the point where you see what actually goes in to making a movie can be quite depressing. Yes. When you see like at the end of the day, a lot of the time, it really just comes down to marketing and to money and to they're going to use these people because it means this. And so many artists on all levels aren't getting to play in the way. they used to play. Well, and also just, you know, to that point, like, what Warner Brothers did did that back girl movie, just wiped it off at existence. Right. Did a write off, you know?

I did a film, uh, called Oak and it's not even out yet. And I did before Pig Hill. Like that, I have nothing to, you know, like, you know, that works still needs to be seen. If you could do these movies or do these things. And then it's like nothing, you know, they're waiting. Like you say, marketing, whoever, or if they cast some, but like, so many things are out of your control on That's what I realized too. Like you got to, I call it the movie gods, but it's like Zen. You have a Zen like approach. It's like, look, I can control the things and some things.

And I can't. And that's it. And that's the way it goes. And do the best work you can, you know? Right. And so it's, I agree. I think that it's like the man behind the curtain with Wizard of Oz. Yeah.

On things. And I'm at that age too where it's like, and things have changed too. But it's like, okay, now you can. see what's behind it and again you you could do anything if you have good marketing you know you can do a little movie or something you have great marketing you know like that so but we are also in this this this this age where again it's just so fast and things are going they used to promote movies four five six months before now it's a week you know what i mean like it's because then you're on to the next on to the next on to the next you know and it's like when do we stop and like okay like like

Let's just slow down and not always consuming, right? And just kind of just let it simmer. Watch a film and then think about it and let it cook and ferment a little bit. But it's not. It's like because it's the streaming episodes, right? It's like another episode. Another episode. Binge watch.

Binge watch. Okay, done with that show. Think about Game of Thrones. You could watch and binge watch Game of Thrones in three, four, five days. And that took them 10 years to do that whole show, right? So insane. That's why I do like acting class because at least whether it's current shows or films like you sit there in a room of people and our teacher at least Wants to know what you thought wants to know what you got from it. What did this story mean to you? Why did it move you? What do these characters like and we'll get into it and I'm like where do people get this if they're not

in some sort of community like that? Because even on a set you're not getting that. You're you're busy. Yes. Right? And so that's what I do love about being in a class is like, oh, you get to like dissect it with fellow humans that live for that kind of deeper introspective work, you know? That's great. Yeah. That means you have to watch things that really make you think. Well, she'll do it on anything. She won't, it's not just, she'll do it on a popcorn film. She'll be like, but why? Why this? Like, what was that for you? And you're like, oh, yeah, there was meaning to that even though. I thought it was two big people fighting each other and blowing things up. There's deeper meaning if you look, right? Rachel's like, I'm not watching. I'm like, I'm not a thinker.

I don't go there. No, I'm kidding. No, I do. I mean, but if I, if I'm being honest, I do watch reality television to decompress. Do you? Oh, yeah. To decompress. I get it.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, it's not like, not really my thing to just put a movie on. Yeah. You know? Well, because you probably. be attentive when you watch a film and input and like you say like you want to decompress. Yeah, you want mindless. Yeah. It's like focusing. I almost need to motivate myself to sit down

for a movie or I need someone else to motivate me. Okay. Why I don't go to the movies. Do you read? Yes. Okay. That's good. Yeah. You're like, you're the only one. Yeah. We have a book club now because of it. Okay. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. Okay. But I think it is important. I think that everything's so bite-sized now that if you don't read a book or watch a movie or let your attention span grow to actually take something in, that we're rewiring our brains to not be able to do it, and that's scary. I agree with you there. Right? Yep.

Yeah. Yep. There was a question I was going to ask about horror movies in particular. Oh, I was going to say, I have my theory on why we like the murder mysteries and horror films and stuff, and I think it applies to scary movies across the board is, I think we have so much on our mind, and it kicks up our fight or flight so that we have to be present because it. Keeps us attention.

Yeah. And that's why you were saying. That's why the only ones I can watch. Yeah. And so that is why we as humans crave, because people are like, what's wrong with us? Like, why do we want to be scared? We don't necessarily just when we want to be present.

And it trips that part of the brain that puts us in the present moment where we're like, we have to follow. Yeah. Right? So if you could just scare us in some way right now. I'll be here. It is true, though, and I think it's really interesting. What do you think the scariest movie is of all time?

Oh, my gosh. Well, you know, I'm a firm believer, too. It's like not what you see, but what you don't see. Because, like, I can, I mean, yes, okay, we can make. images things like that but again like just shining you know it it it penetrates a little bit into your brain like with the whole like you know going through the house and the the monotony of that right so like and then but then it's like okay but then what's you know you just see the flash cut of the girls or whatever but it's like okay what's after that you know so I'm a big firm

believer of of you know hinting at things and then letting you you know because maybe you're sicker than me. You know? She is. And so it's like, okay, I can shoot this way, but Rachel's going to come up with something whack-a-doodle in her head. So I got to get her there. I got to hint at it, get to the point, and then let you take over.

Right. Now that is scarier, right? Yeah. So I believe that. I saw a really crazy movie at the festival called, it was called, it was called, F my son Yeah It was wild

And fuck my son And it was at Toronto And so And I drug my poor wife there And she was like I'm gonna kill you And It went to levels like

Whoa Wow But what's interesting on it was There were times where it kept going It's like okay now you get used to it And to me it wasn't that You know But like jaws

Jaws hints at the shark It's scary But if you think about it it's not that shark's not even it doesn't show up to the second act you know and it's all the hinting of it right you know so so so um whereas like if my son there ain't no hinting like it's right there um so i don't know this what's the scariest movie i mean you could do a texas chainsaw masker you know yeah because that movie felt like documentary style yeah and um so you felt you really like there

Yeah. You know, but I don't know. I guess it would be so many different people. It said, ah, it didn't scare me, you know, stuff. But then there's movies like Killer Clowns from Outer Space scare people. Oh, my God. Right. That's traumatizing.

Anything with kids, right? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah. What about the one of the cave where they're like? Descent. I don't know if there's, the Descent? Yeah. Neil Marshall's The Descent.

Maybe. I don't know. That one was really scary. Oh, that was good, too. Yeah. What's the scariest movie to you? I don't know I don't know

I'm probably pet cemetery pet cemetery that's cool really scary yeah I don't know all of them nightmare at Elm Street

that was scary because you're asleep fuck me up and you're vulnerable yeah I don't like it and when you're you know that is scary right

so big time nightmare is up there what about you I'm trying to think there's like I know that I was not thinking of it and there's one for sure

I feel like the scariest movies for me are usually the ones that could be real. Right. Right. So that's what I. The strangers? People just showing up at your door. That's scary. Yeah, that was scary to me.

That scares me. I don't think I can't watch those. No. I definitely got freaked out by that. And did you see recently this freaks me freaking out the three people that showed up at someone's door in the mask? Yes. Yes.

They did it. And they killed people? No, they didn't kill them. But they threatened and stuff. It's crazy. You're watching this and you're like, oh, my spot. This is why I don't answer my door. Yeah.

Oh, you can't answer your door. I don't ever answer my door. No. She's got security. Good. Literally, these three people in costumes and masks show up and they're knocking. They're like, it's your worst nightmare. Yeah.

And they're doing it. And it's like the mask and the head. And it's, I get the chills. It's so terrifying. So yes. Yeah. Something like that. I'm toast.

Well, and also, I'll take a movie that wouldn't be in a horror section, but like irreversible. Did you ever see that? Which one's that? With Monica Balucci, Gasper, no. I don't know. That's a scary movie. You guys see that movie. It's crazy.

I don't know. It's wild. But there's movies like that, like touching on the real, and you're like, oh. Yeah, when it's real, I'm like, mm-mm. Or there's when it's a really bad movie. Those are scary, too. That's true. I also like seeing them in the movie theater, though.

Yeah. But lately, I mean, this is a little dark. I saw strangers in the movie theater. And, like, part of me was scared of the people in the audience. Like, who would go see strangers? You know what I'm like, want to replicate it? I'm just like, what if there's, like, creeps? Yeah, that's scary.

There's something about that that, like, makes me uncomfortable, but it's kind of fun to be scared. It's fun to be scared. My favorite, one of my favorite thing. It's like not scary farm or any of the amusement parks they do the scary where you go through the mazes and people jump out at you. Yeah, yeah. I've always loved that. I've never done that and I need to do it.

You need to do it. It's scary. It's right now. Yeah, I need to get some of my juju thrown back at me, scaring everybody on my movies. That's right. Yeah. No, it's so, take your older kids. Not the younger ones.

My daughter went. Oh, she went. Yeah. She loves it. I love it. Like, I get so scared and I laugh my ass off. Like, I think it's so fun. That's cool.

I want to fight them. You would have. She would knock them out. That's why she can't go because she would have to be a squirted out of the park. I literally want to physically be like. It's in her. You know what scares me the most about those things is, again, real people. It's not that those things scare me, but I'm like, what if this isn't really one that's supposed to be here and it's like a psycho?

Well, don't. Now you put that in my head. That's what's scary. Because you're like, what if it's someone pretending to be someone that works there and it's really. Listen, if the fucking Louvre can be robbed within a few minutes and, like, people just walk in, definitely someone could be hiding and is a real killer at one of these places. So I will not be doing it. Do your kids dress up as scary things for Halloween? Oh, yeah.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. You know, even my little boys, they like love monsters and stuff. So, you know, but monsters are, it's like Frankenstein. It's like, you know, Frankenstein's monster. It's like, you know, you feel for them.

They kind of has pathos, you know. Even though they're scary, it's like, if you think about it, like, you know, there's a lot of humanity to monsters, you know. Yeah. But when you talk about more of going on this vein of like these serial killers or something, like, that's a whole new, you know. Yeah, I just started watching the show Monster. Did you? Yeah. And I've watched all of them except this one.

and I'm only on the first episode, but it's exactly what you're saying. But I think Edgain was like the most. Well, I haven't gotten there yet. I've just seen the first. And there is like, for some reason,

there's that instant empathy of like someone's so broken. You know? Oh, they do a good job. I don't know. They do a good job. And we try to do that with Pig Hill. Yeah.

Right. Yeah. So where can people see Pig Hill? So Cineverse picked it up, which is great, and it's going to come on December 9th. I think it's going to be Screenbox, Siniverse Screenbox. Okay. So, yeah.

That's really cool. I'm so excited to see it and so excited that you were here to talk about it and everything else. Thank you guys for having me. It's been awesome. So much fun. You got me so excited about films. I'm like, I know. Me too.

I'm like, shit. Movies again. Yeah. I should watch a movie. I should do a podcast. No. I got a question real quick. How did you guys like the podcast come about?

What was the origin? Well, it's just kind of a boring story, but no, not boring, but I was doing a different podcast. Okay. For the OC. And then it's just kind of morphed. No, that's not true. I went on a podcast as a guest and I told a story that maybe I shouldn't have told and it kind of like, you know, spread. And so the producer of that podcast was like, seems like you talk shit.

Why don't you have your own podcast? And I was like, you know what? I do and I will. No, and I was like, well, I'm not doing it without Olivia. So then we met with the producers and the rest is history. The rest is history. That's wonderful. Herstery.

Herstery. Yeah. It's fun. It is fun. We get to have conversations like this, which is awesome. I know. Exciting and going to make me go back and watch a movie. Watch a scary movie.

Yeah. Thank you so much. Thanks, Kevin. Thank you. You're the absolute best. Yes. Awesome. You're so, I mean, she's told me the whole time.

I did. So I'm happy to see for myself. Okay. Shut. Up in running. I like the glasses. You do. Yeah.

Okay. You're giving like secret undercover hot girl vibes. You know what I mean? I'm giving a she's all that moment. Yeah. Thanks for saying that. That's very nice of you. You're giving like, I'm going to go for the smart girl vibe.

Don't be fooled But then you take off the glasses She's not so smart She's just pretty That's nice You're calling me pretty She's like Did you just call me not so smart

That's nice you called me pretty I know you're like you're really dumb but pretty You call me pretty Yeah Anyways So Kevin just got back from his first Baby trip First baby trip. We did five days in Pittsburgh and five days in Chicago. And I was so anxious about flying with the three-month-old. But both of you were 100% correct. Leah fed him at takeoff and he was totally fine. And then he was full and slept literally three of the four hours. He kind of like woke up in the middle a little bit and was like, where am I? This is insane.

And was just kind of like looking around and the white noise of the plane was like very soothing to him, you could tell. So then he like fell back asleep pretty quickly. And then we descended and he was like totally fine. We did like one diaper change in the middle. But I was so relieved because I just assumed it was going to be horrible for some reason. And honestly what was harder was, you know, and I'm sure you both know this is like the four-year-olds and stuff, like even three-year-olds, like they're way more chaotic on the plane than the babies were just like,

if I can just eat, I'm good. And I was nervous about the guy next to us. Like if he was going to be pissed off and he was like, oh, my God, you have a baby. I remember when my daughter was that age. I'm going to her, you know, college parent thing right now. Like, oh, those were the good old days and stuff. And so we had a nice conversation with him. And then, so that was amazing.

We had a lot of fun in Pittsburgh. and then I wanted to drive us from Pittsburgh to Chicago, and that was like a seven, eight hour drive. And that was good, and he was really good for that. And then the flight from Chicago to Pittsburgh, same thing was great. It was just like, as long as we could time out the eating, sleeping diaper chain stuff, it went very smooth. So A plus, very fortunate that Desmond was a very good traveler.

This is actually the time to do it. Yeah. Like do as much of it now as possible. Once they start walking, like one and a half to three is dicey. Yeah, it's crazy. It's very dicey. Very dicey. But then at three they can kind of sit and watch like a cartoon or whatever, you know,

and then you're like, okay, I'm chilling again. And then you forget that it was even a thing. Like you forget to remember how lucky you are that they're not doing that anymore. It's hard. You have to keep them occupied and only a yite. There's a chapter there that's a little rough. I remember this is so random. I remember Jessica Alba telling me, bring a car seat, strap them in on the plane.

They can't go anywhere. If you need to go in the bathroom because they're crying or whatever, you stay in that bathroom with the baby until they're done. She's like, don't even, she's like, don't even worry about it. Like, I remember there was a third thing, but I can't remember what it was. Anyway. Remember you had to get all the things? Like, we'd have to get like the stickers that go on the windows and the things that stick to the same. Food, too.

Like, once they're able to eat, you're just like snacking them. You know what's a really good thing for your future? Yeah. If you get the little like snack bento box type style, compartments and little snacks in each compartment that keeps them busy and they're like, you know, that's like a good snack thing. Yeah. That's great.

And surprise snacks. Ooh, that's like ones that they don't normally get. I'm going to start doing that for myself. I know. I'm like, I want surprise snacks. Her boys, especially Elliot, like when he was little, was obsessed with snacks. Is he still? Yeah.

Obsessed. He might still be. Or not as much. She went through a snack phase that was like next level. Mm-hmm. I think they're both constant snackers. Well, they eat off all day long. Yeah.

The whole day. Tell them, tell, it was raining in L.A., which it never is. Tell Shep's reaction. It was raining, and we drove out of the driveway, and it was like a huge puddle, and then when cars would go by, we'd get doused by water. And Shepard's like, holy fucking shit. And I was like, Shep. And, like, first of all, I don't even know where he gets it.

And I said, what did you say? And he goes, I said, holy fucking shit. Holy shit. And then later, I tried to video him. And I was like, Shepherd, what did you say when we were driving? And he goes, oh, hell shit, no. And I was like, oh, my God. That is not okay.

Yeah. But he doesn't think it's not okay because I laugh every time. And Jeff loves. Like, it's, we were all, Elliot was laughing. It's like, how do you not laugh? I know. Hearing a kid's swear is really funny. My sister-in-law is going through a similar thing with her a six-year-old and the teacher's like, uh, we got to tone it down with the shit in front of the, uh, kindergartners.

It's hard. And when they do it, so accurate, like, yeah. It's hard to deny the greatness, you know? It's tough. he's yeah also his dance moves are next level

just giving you guys we took him to a hip hop class yesterday it didn't go fun what happened he wouldn't participate

he wouldn't join in really he was like I'm scared he didn't like that it was all girls he was only guy so we're going to try a different one

but we were a little bummed dang it wasn't the break dancing one it was hip pop Okay. So we're going to take him back to break dancing.

He needs to find his dance spot. The kid needs to dance. The kid just needs to dance. The kid needs to dance. Yeah. I need to dance. That's awesome. You should dance.

I just want to dance. Yeah. I'm watching dancing with the stars with Breyer. Yeah. For her first season and she loves it. And like we're having so much fun together watching it. Did you see the boy meet the star? Swirled one with

like Mr. Feeney and stuff. Yeah, he's like in his 90s. Yeah, 98. That's so cool. Wait, is he 98? I think so, yeah. Oh, yeah, and he was there. I love it.

Did you have a crush on to Pinda? 100%. I feel like she was so many people's first. So many people. Yep. Oh, we should have her on. Let's talk to her about it. We should 100% have it.

Would it get really awkward? Kevin's like, I can't be there that day. Hi, Tepanga. I'm, oh, man, it's hot in here.

I mean, she's an icon. Yeah, she rolls. Totally. Big time. Yeah, we'll have to have her on.

That'd be fun. That would be fun. Also, who was your first crush as a kid, Kevin? Hillary Duff. Oh. Oh.

Mm-hmm. Okay. My sister's watched Lizzie McGuire, and I was always just like, I'm just hanging out because, like, they're watching, like,

I don't even care about this kind of stuff, but they're just, it's whatever. I don't even care. But you were like, would not leave. That's so cute. That is really cute. Really quick. We just need to touch on Halloween, right?

A little bit. Of course. I got a skeleton in the door behind me if you can see it. Oh, yeah. I do see it. Oh, I do. Do you guys remember your favorite childhood Halloween costume? Yes.

Blue Power Ranger. I would walk around the neighborhood in the costume like two weeks before Halloween. I was just too amped to not rock the fit. How about you guys? I love that. What was yours? What was yours? Here you go.

I think my favorite was, well, the fun part was my mom's really good friend owned a costume shop. Yeah, that's amazing. So we used to go and like they were all like original, not in the bag costumes, but like original, you know, pieces. And we would dress up in them and stand in the window and pretend to be mannequins. I love it. And that was like my favorite thing on earth. But I think my favorite costume was my mom made it and I was half boy, half girl. That's fun.

That's really cool. Yeah, I loved it. And it was original, like, she made. made it. It was like a t-shirt and jeans and tennis shoes with my hair slick back on one side. And like I had like a black eye, I think. It was like a rough and tumble boy. And then that was sewn to like half a dress and tights and like little Mary Jane's with my hair done and makeup on half of my face. That's very cool. Wow. What was yours, Rachel? Actually, I'm going to speak to a costume in, well, maybe even at like 19 or 20. Olivia and I

dressed up as Yankees but we were such assholes that any of our other friends are like nobody else can be a Yankee but they were all other baseball players and just none of them were allowed to be Yankees We were such assholes

We were like only Olivia and I are Yankees True mean girl spirit Like that was so mean and so stupid And they didn't like that they were like the cubs and they were mad but also looking back like clearly we should have been dodgers like what were we even yeah i think it was like why were we so weird i think it was like heavy j z era and like new york was just like all i thinkies were really cool then and so i think that was probably why but we went new york to do again i'd be a dodger a hundred

100% 1,000% be a Dodger. And why didn't we put the black stuff under our ass? We did? No, why didn't? Well, because baseball players don't

wear that so much. Football more than baseball, but... Oh. Okay. So maybe that's why? I'm dead. I'm like, why weren't we wearing masks? Why didn't we have shoulder pads?

Yeah. I'll spoil the picture now, but Leah and I just decided on our Halloween costume with Desmond. We watched Austin Powers with my best friend when we were back home. And Leah was like, by the way, this explains YouTube's like entire personality. And I was like, we should go as me as Dr. Evil, Desmond is mini me and Leah as Austin Powers, like in the 70s suit, like with the blue and stripes and stuff.

So there's going to be a very fun picture coming soon. Can't wait to see. I love it. I love it too. Do you guys have your fits? Your costumes planned? Briar and I are matching squish mellows. Fun.

Do you know what a squish mellow is, Kevin? I think so. It sounds familiar. They're like stuffies that have been popular for the past like five years or so. Yes. Something like that. And they're very cozy. Yes.

I have my own that I travel with. Like, Great. This does look comfy. Remember, and then I had mine Dolly, and we left Wally and Dolly in San Francisco, and we had to get them shipped to us. Wait, you left Dolly, too?

We left Wally and Dolly. I thought I just left Wally. No, I left Dolly. Which one is Dolly? I don't know. She's brown. You don't know what kind of animal Dolly is? No.

What kind of Squishmallow owner are you? One that, like, squish mellows based on the way they feel, not the way they look. I don't... But we did. I judge based on what kind of animal you are. We had to have the hotel ship the squishmelons back to us. They're like, oh, did your kids leave their squishmelons?

We're like... Yeah. Yeah, totally. Totally. We even took pictures of Wally and Dolly together in bed. Listen, don't get any ideas out there. Yeah. It was strictly platonic.

No fanfic. No. I think that our best family Halloween costume is behind us, and it was E.T. They were very few. I was Gertie. Shepp was E.T. Elliot was Elliott was Elliott, and Jeff was like the space person that came and got E.T. And I don't know if we're ever going to beat that.

I never loved E.T. as a kid. I was scared of it. I don't even want to talk to you. I know. I was scared of it. It was not my thing. It scared me. My son's named after it.

You know what else wasn't my thing? Never-ending story. The horse and the quicks, nope. Couldn't do it. We just watched it last week. Nope. What did you think? Sebastian say my name.

Sorry. No, I know. It's very, it's very, what's the word I'm looking for it for? Dark. No. No. Well, maybe it's, maybe you're similar to Breyer. She doesn't like anything with scares.

Darkness. Darkness. Yeah, she doesn't like any darkness. What's the latest with the book club? So everyone is reading Hart the lover. Olivia, what page are you on? 49. Oh, you got three more pages in.

Hey, great job. It's hard, guys. I know. Oh, I got to go. I finished it in a night. Anyway, okay, you have to go. Bye. Bye.

That was a headgum podcast.