Drama Queens - In Case You Missed It: Bryan Greenberg

Episode Date: February 28, 2024

Bryan Greenberg has entertained fans on the big and small screen for over two decades, including playing fan favorite Jake Jaglieski on "One Tree Hill" . . . but now he is expanding his resume to include writer, producer, and director.  Bryan joins Sophia to talk about his new movie, "Junction," and how his own brush with opioid abuse inspired it, how he got such an impressive cast to join him on set, including Sophia, and the four-year journey to make the movie.  Bryan also talks about how and when he got into acting, how he and his lovely wife, Jamie Chung, juggle their careers and parenthood (they have twin boys)! Plus, a little 'One Tree Hill' behind-the-scenes chat you won't want to miss! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an I-Heart podcast. Hey, everyone, it's Sophia. Welcome to Work in Progress. Welcome back, Whips Marties. This week's work in progress is particularly special and close to my heart, not only because today's guests and I are going to talk about a movie we made together, but because today's guest happens to be one of my oldest friends from my first job. You may remember a little show called One Tree Hill, and today we are joined by none other than

Brian Greenberg. You may not know that Brian was born in Oklahoma, Nebraska, and then raised in St. Louis, Missouri. He graduated from NYU with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, and in his New York journey was on shows like Law and Order, booked his big screen debut in his civil action. he worked on several amazing TV series, including The Sopranos, also Boston Public and Third Watch. He came into my world via a wonderful movie called The Perfect Score, which led him to work on One Tree Hill and play our very favorite Jake Gigalski. He left us to go work on a show produced by none other than George Clooney for HBO, which we're all still a little sad about, but it's okay. He's gone on to make so many incredible films, like one of my very favorite rom-coms ever, Prime.

And casually, while doing all of this, has released a number of albums. He is an incredible singer-songwriter. He also is a wonderful dad. He and his lovely wife, Jamie Chung, have two beautiful little boys. And Jamie happens to be in this incredible film with us as well. The film is called Junction. It is coming out in theaters Friday, January 26th. Junction chronicles the modern-day opioid crisis in America from three different points of view.

the CEO of a pharmaceutical company, a doctor who prescribes the medications, and a patient who is addicted to them. Each character is going to have to come face to face with all of the decisions they've made, all of the complexities of their lives, and what their roles are in this epidemic. The movie is powerful and emotional and inspiring and at times scary and at times funny. Brian and I actually laughed a lot making this film, and I'm just so very. excited to talk with him about it because not only does he star in it, not only did he direct it, he also wrote it. It's been a passion project of his for the last four years. And I'm so proud to be a part of it. I'm so proud of him for getting it made. And I'm sure like me, you have so

many questions for him. So let's dive in and hear from Brian. Well, this feels really exciting. I can't believe that we're sitting here. You know, we just went to an event a couple weeks ago. It's, uh, it's a board season and, you know, everybody's out celebrating movies. And, and you posted that photo of us and you were like, our friendship is 20 years old. And I was like, oh my God, our friendship is almost old enough to order a beer in a bar. It's crazy. Our friendship could go to war for sure. Like, what is yeah. Our freshman is, I mean, our, yeah, our, our, our, our friendship is would be a small. sophomore in college or junior in college? Yeah, sophomore in college. I know we all do this because we've been friends forever. But you know you look around and you go like, are we really the grownups now? Is that a thing?

Who do we ask for help when we need it or like advice? Now people are asking us for advice. And something about you saying our friendship is 20 years old. I was like, we really are the grownups now. I know. I know. I always have to kind of pinch myself. Now I'm like a father too. I'm always like, oh, I have to be like the authority.

But in my mind, I'm still like, a kid, you know? Yeah. Even like being a director, you're just like, oh, you're the one that's supposed to have the answers. Like, I'm not used to be having that, you know? I know what you mean. I still, in my mind, I'm still like 20 years old. Yeah. I feel like there's just a perpetual state of being 24 that lasts through, I guess, most of your adulthood. I think what it is when you, you know, when you're our age, you realize that like, oh, wait, everybody's just kind of bullshitting. Like, nobody really has, like, there is no authority

figures like no one knows what's going on like when you're 20s you're like oh the older people get it they know what's going on but then you're becoming the little people you're like oh i'm just as clue this as ever yeah you really realize everybody's just kind of faking it till they make it perhaps forever yeah okay well we're old everybody knows it um thank god we spent our whole 20s locked in a sound stage so we have great skin but none of that is the point of why we're here the point of being here is to talk about really all of the things that led to this amazing project that we got to do together. But I actually want to go not just to the beginning, you know, four years in the making of you getting Junction out into theaters. I actually want to go way back.

Okay. Because like way back, because most people who will see that you're on the podcast this week will go, oh, I know him from this or I got introduced to him on that show or in that movie. But I like to go back to the beginning and talk to all of my guests about who they were as kids. Because I think everyone always says hindsight's 2020. It's really easy from wherever we are to look back and see how all the dots connect. And if we go back to you being a little kid, say like eight, nine years old in Omaha, were you into performing or did you think you were going to be an athlete? can you see how that whole journey got you here or does it seem like another life? No. Well, yes, it does feel like another life. And yes, I did think I was going to be an athlete. And no, did not become an athlete. But, you know, I think I really got into, at like 10 years, well, eight or nine, I just remember like running around Omaha, Nebraska with my shoes off. I never wore shoes. I never wore.

Really? Yeah, I would just like run around and like playing creeks. I was like, Huckleberry Finn or something, you know? Yeah, it was just like so Midwest. And I just remember my imagination was huge. I love building forts and creating stories and making little, you know, I wanted to be like, I remember I wanted to be a baseball player and a mad scientist. Okay. Yeah, that was just, I think back from the future just came out and I was really into like Doc Brown or something.

That feels right. Yeah. And then, and then I started doing like local. theater. And I realized at a very young age, like around 10, that, oh, if I'm an actor, I can do all those things. And so I'm one of those weirdos that I fell in love with it at a young age acting and in storytelling. And I've kind of dedicated my whole existence in life. I found my purpose and I was like, that's it. I just narrowed in on it. And I've never stopped. I have such like a, I've had an amazing life. I'm very grateful. But I do feel.

I feel like I've had a very narrow focus and point of view my entire life. Like, it's only through the filter of storytelling and being an artist. Like, I never pursued anything but that. That's so cool. How did you wind up doing local theater so young? Did you ask your parents or did you have a friend getting into it? What was the sort of bottleneck? I'll tell you the origin story, right?

Yeah. So my parents were, you know, like, we were running errands with my sister and I, my younger sister, and she was in ballet, and she had an audition for the local Nutcracker at the Omaha Ballet at the Conservatory, which they do every year. And I was with them, and they were, she was auditioning, and then they came out and asked me if I wanted to audition. And I was like, I don't dance. I don't, you know, I'm intent. I don't wear shoes. And they're like, oh, we need, we need boys for the, for the, for the, for the play. It'd be great or for the ballet.

And so I like went in there. I just remember like doing cartwheels and like I had ADHD. So I was just like bouncing up the walls doing whatever. And I got the part and of Fritz, which is like the main kid. And I got to get off school for three weeks and tour and perform and feel what it was like to be part of a troupe. Wow. I just loved it. I was like getting in board job.

I mean, I wasn't a great dancer, but I did love, like, the facade of, like, being backstage and then coming on stage. That was really cool to me. And so I didn't, when I came back, I didn't really pursue ballet. But I started getting into, like, local community. There was a theater called Emmy Gifford's Theater, Children's Theater, which in Omaha. And I remember doing Oliver the play there. And I just loved it. And then my parent, my dad got a new job.

and he moved the family to St. Louis from Omaha, so I was around 12 years old, and I didn't know anybody really, and I thought, well, hey, you know, when I did plays, I would meet new people, and that's a good way to socialize, and I love doing that. So I just kept doing it, and that's sort of, I was just like a theater dork. Wow. Walk through high school, and then I, you know, I moved in New York when I was 18 to get serious about it. And what was that like? I mean, did going for college make it feel a little easier? Or did you through theater and touring and the company, had you met agents? Did you know how to get a foot in the door? Or were you like, I'm just going to go figure it out? No, it's funny. I mean,

Mike, I was so ambitious as a kid. Like, I really wanted to do it. And I remember there was a talent scout that came through St. Louis. And he did this workshop in New Jersey where he would take young actors and then he would you would you would learn from acting coaches and teachers and then you could you would do a performance at the end of like the week or two weeks and and agents would be there as like a showcase and I ended up doing this this camp and uh and I remember getting interest from an agent in New York we performed on like an off broadway I was like 15 years old or something like that I'm performing an off broadway theater and there was some interest for some agents that I told my parents I'm like hey,

hey, you know, these agents want me to come to New York and, like, try to audition for the summer. I really would like to do that. And they're like, why don't you just go to camp and be a kid? And then if you really want to do this, you can do it when you're 18. And so, at the time, I was really bummed out and hurt by that. But looking back, I'm so grateful because, you know, I don't know. I just feel like the more life you can live before you become an actor, the better. Yeah.

It's such a hard business, too. was so, I don't know, there's, there's, I think they knew, I think they intuitively knew that, that, like, heartbreak was, was coming. So don't, why bring it out so early? Because this, this career is full of heartbreak in hardship. As much as it's full of, you know, amazing opportunities and, and we've been so fortunate to keep working in this business for so long, but, you know, we each, every actor has, it's gotten their heartbroken for sure. That's part of the job. Yeah, I think that's one of those truths that's sort of, um, hidden from, public view. People can look at careers and go, well, you know, you've worked so consistently,

or you've done so well, you made these things. And you're like, yeah, I can count myself one of the lucky ones. And still, most of my life and career is based on rejection. Yeah. Yeah. Even when you're successful, it's mostly rejection. It's a really, it can take its toll on you mentally, for sure. And living in L.A., that can, that can really, because you're always, it's really on how healthy to compare yourself to other people. And you can never, it's easy to never feel like you're making it or good enough. There's always another step. There's always another level. I think the key to happiness is just to try to get off that hamster wheel mentally and just try to pursue what's in front of you and do your best and not being competition for anybody except yourself. I think that's really

wise. And I think your parents had such a good instinct to say, let's at least wait until you're a legal adult. Give yourself just a moment to be a kid. Because once you grow up, you know, air quotes for folks at home, you never get it back. And it's cool to hear that your parents did that. Mine did the same. Yeah. Yeah. When I really fell in love with theater, you know, and I thought, I wanted to be a doctor. My big dream was to be a heart surgeon. And then I had an arts requirement at the end of middle school and I had to do a play. I was so pissed about it. I was like, this isn't for me. And then I went, oh, wait, a play is just a book that's alive, changed my whole worldview. And then I got so into it that by, I think the end of my sophomore year, I was asking if I could start, you know, going out on casting calls.

And my parents said, absolutely not. If you want to do this when you're 18, we'll have the conversation. And I'm really glad. I'm glad that I got to have a sweet, normal high school experience without all this pressure added to it. because there's enough pressure. Southern California, right? Yeah, yeah. You know, I grew up in L.A., like, you know, Miracle Mile area.

And then in junior high, I started going to school in Pasadena. And that's where I did junior high in high school. So it was nice to just, yeah, have a moment before the baptism by fire started. Yeah, so they were on the same wavelength. We'll be back in just a minute. But here's a word from our sponsors. So what happens when you get to New York? Like, are you a wildly responsible student at NYU doing all your homework and going on auditions?

Or did you just go crazy because you had moved to New York City from Omaha? And you were like, hello, world. What was happening? I think it was more of that. I was always a little, yeah, I like to get after it a little bit. And so, you know, when I got to New York City and there's no parents and, you know, there's no campus. You're basically just a kid running around New York City. That's, you know, from the Midwest, that was, like, such a shock.

So, yeah, I mean, I took on, you know, I definitely had a lot of fun. But I was a pretty good student, I would say. I mean, I was focused on the acting stuff, for sure. And I was in a conservatory type of environment, three days a week, like nine to five, you know, acting class. The undergrad program, anyway, was fantastic. but I was very ambitious and I started auditioning right I found an agent started doing commercials started doing like little guest stars like I got like a word on the Sopranos I got killed in law and order um you know I got a movie you know a civil action so I started getting on sets

and I was like doing extra work um so I could I was like one of those kids who was like working and also going to school um I didn't get a series or anything like that but just like little enough to like learn what it's like to be on a set and enough getting enough credit so after i finished college um and i came out to l.a i had i didn't i didn't come to l.a with nothing i had like some some new york credits which was super helpful to get it um even though i had one word on the soprano as they were like oh he's sprainedas i was it yeah yeah it was really cool yeah you walked it if you blink you'll miss me that's so great so what made you make the move to LA. I just thought that I went and visited over a summer. Um, and I got like two jobs in the first

week I was there. Remember I got like the X files, which I got cut out of, but for some reason I still get residuals for. Thank you for the 30 cents. Wow. Nothing like a 34 cent check. Oh, boy. And there was a Boston Public. I got that. Um, remember that show on Fox back in the day? Yeah. I ended up doing that again as another character. Um, but uh yeah and then i went back to new york and i was like bartending and struggling and i'm like i remember one day i was like living in this small apartment and in the east village on seven between b and c and um and like i heard some water running and i opened my bedroom door and there was just like brown water falling from the ceiling and someone's the neighbor above us their

toilet overflowed and just i was like i'm out i'm done i'm done I'm in New York. There's coming from the sky. Like, I bow. Yeah. You're like, congratulations, New York.

You broke me. And then, yeah, I made the move to L.A. And then, yeah, but it's, oddly enough, like, a few years later, I started working a lot in New York. And so I've kind of been by postal ever since. Yeah.

That's always the interesting thing. You know, people have asked, oh, because you grew up in L.A. Were you in the business young? No. You grew up in L.A. you must have been working there all the time. No, nothing shoots here.

Yeah, I know. We go everywhere but here. And so it's kind of interesting to realize that this is sort of the heart of it all, but it actually takes place essentially everywhere but Los Angeles. Yeah, I've been fortunate. I've actually gotten a few jobs out there, which I've been lucky, you know. Yeah, it's the best. When you get an L.A. and New York drive on, like, which isn't so bad.

well Chicago has the best food that's a good place that's a good place to shoot because you can go out and just eat delicious things all the time except if you have to do a scene with your shirt off which I do coming up oh yeah I thought I was aging into a character actor I had to do this again you're like oh but I've been eating deep dish every night this week oh no yeah it's not ideal okay so talk about we we're going to talk about our project but we have to give the people what I know they want to know. Okay. Talk about where One Tree Hill fit into your life. Because that's where we met. I mean, you turned Jake Togelsky into such an iconic character. We've talked about this a lot on Drama Queens.

Everybody knows, by the way, including your wife, who I love so much and who's such a good sport, when we're like, oh, yeah, you know that, like, everyone was in love with your husband, and we all cried when he left. She's like, I know he's the best. Jamie's the coolest. She still has to sing Woonter Hill, though. I mean, who has? Like, who that's with any of us has seen it?

Jeffrey's never seen it. Hillary teases him all the time. I don't know. I don't know what it would be like to be in a relationship with someone who is like, oh, yeah, I was a huge fan of that show. It might be weird. Yeah. It might be weird.

Yeah. All right. So how did it come about? Well, I was in L.A. after New York. And I was like, you know, bartending, catering, you know, struggling, a couple jobs here and there until I got this one movie for Paramount called The Perfect Score. And, you know, starring Chris Evans and Scarletor Hanson, Erica Christensen, Leonardo Nambor.

Casual. Totally casual cast. It was a huge. That job really did. I thought it was going to change my life even more. Like I thought I would never have to audition again. That was so funny. But it did actually change my life because it was my first studio movie, like a lead in a lead

role. And then the writer of that wrote One Tree Hill and also the director was the producer of One Tree Hill. So they sort of I think they wrote this character. We really got on and they wrote this character, Jake Tegelsky, and they were like, hey, you want to come in and kind of recur? And this is the, I was like, wow, yeah, this is great. I mean, I think I did like a like a faux audition, but like I think they were setting

it up for me, you know what I mean? They were like, so I think I did, I think I did read, but kind of knowing that like it's mine to lose, which is almost more pressure. I hate when that happens. It's like, right. And you're like, oh, you got it. Just auditioning. And you're like, okay. And then I've done it this so many times where I've just blown it because. Because auditioning is terrifying and nerve-wracking and I don't know why we do it. Oh. But yeah. And then I ended up doing One Tree Hill and they wrote this great character, like the most endearing character of all time you know a single father in high school

who's you know doesn't he has a Zen like Buddhist quality to him just really well written character I mean honestly people give me the credit but I'm like I did I just showed up and said the lines and was the guy you know I didn't I didn't write it

so it was it was almost impossible to not root for Jay Tegelsky so it was like it was such a it was great and I don't think any of us knew that this show was going to be as iconic as it is still to this day it's crazy it's like definitely the most uh the biggest thing i've ever been a part of that's like lasted the test of time it's crazy yeah it's pretty wild because we really didn't we didn't have a clue i think when i think back what really sticks out to me is what great chemistry we all had yeah like like it felt like there was some magic in the air

whenever we were all together. And, you know, earlier today when we were doing some of the prep for the premiere of our movie this week, I remember I was saying to you and Jamie that it was always really interesting to us because, you know, we started in July. Hillary and I both have our birthdays in July. She and I had just turned 21 a week apart. And we were still, like, buzzing with excitement that we could actually, like, walk right into bars. We didn't need to figure out how to sneak into comedy shows or whatever.

And you were so cool. You were just like, yeah, come on, guys. You were kind of leading us around, showing us how to do things. And you said it today. You were like, you were 21. I was only 24. And my brain kind of broke because you really did. Like, I know we were all friends.

We've always felt like the same age. But you had this very stoic sort of coolness to you that we all were like, Brian knows what he's doing. Like, we should, if we don't know what to do about something, we should probably ask Brian. Like, he'll have the answer. And it's so crazy to me that you didn't feel that way. I didn't feel that way because I only, I had some experience, like, we just went over. Like, I had a couple things out of my belt, but I was never a series regular like you were.

And, I mean, I did like one big movie and, like, it wasn't even that big. It didn't do that well. So it's just like, it's just funny that you thought of me is that way. And I just felt like just a kid. But when you're 24, there's a big, in 21, there's a big, that feels like a big age difference at that time. Now, not a big difference. But at that time, yeah, I can see how I look at somebody's 24. Yeah, well, now we just all feel like the same age, but it is.

You sort of go like, oh, you've really been doing this for a while. And, you know, you were coming off that movie. And for me, I think, you know, I'd done projects and some indie movies and some TV stuff. I think the longest arc I'd had on a show was on nip-tuff. But this was my, yeah, like, this was my first series regular job. And so I was just looking around being like, okay, just do what everybody else does, pretend you know stuff. And I think I got a little bit of a past being from L.A. People assumed I knew things.

And meanwhile, I was sitting there like, guys, three years ago, like, I was in all-girls school wearing a uniform. I don't know anything about anything. I do remember, like, it happening very fast, like the success of the show. I remember, like, it was only a few months. Like, we started shooting, and then we aired, and then all of a sudden, like, we're doing TRL, and I was like, oh, this is, this is happening. Like, this is a phenomenon that's, like, actually connecting with an audience. And it happened quick, right?

Yeah, it happened really, really fast, especially because our show, so we started filming in July for our friends listening at home, our show, our show. was supposed to be a mid-season premiere that January and one of their shows wasn't working and they canned it and they put us on in September. Oh, so we only had like an episode or two in the... Yeah. So we got thrown on the air really fast and then the show took off and by the time we went to TRL, like the folks at MTV were like we had to hire extra security, we haven't had

a crowd this big since Eminem came and we were all like, what? Eminem, us? Like, we had no idea what was happening because we were all just, you know, in Wilmington, like getting peel and eat shrimp after work. We had no clue what was happening out in the larger world. For my point of view, like, I wasn't a series regular. I was a guest star.

I was a recurring. That's so weird. So, like, I was like, I'm going to your hell? Like, I'm not even, like, you guys were the, I was getting paid nothing. Like, I was just like. Bro, we were all getting paid nothing. It's okay.

Yeah. Well, more than me. And I didn't even know how else could be the next episode. I was dying to be a regular. I remember I was like, oh, man, maybe they'll make me irregular. And I, and they're like, the writers were like, oh, just wait, you know, it's looking good, but we don't know. We don't know. And I was like, I was still auditioning for other things and meeting for the things. Remember, I got that other job on scripted. Oh, yeah. You mean that George Clooney show, casual. Guys. Well, you can't even find that show now. Which is weird. It's like evaporated into the ether, but it was one of the coolest things I've ever worked on for sure. It was a HBO show called Unscripted that George Clooney and Steven Soderberg and Grant Hasloff created. And it was about actors making it in Hollywood. It was like a faux reality show where like I was pretending I was playing myself, but it was like a version of myself.

Yeah. But I remember like HBO was like, we want to make you a regular. We want to do this series and we're going to make you regular. And then as soon as, like, the WB at the time, heard that, they're like, oh, we want to make Brian a regular. I was like, too late. I'll get this. I mean, I came back and we, you know, up for a year, you know. Well, you, that was one of the things that was so much fun is every time you had some time in between gigs or things, you would come back.

And, you know, I remember when you went and did Prime. And if you haven't seen Prime, like, rom-com fans, what are you doing? It's such a good movie. it's Brian and Uma Thurman and Meryl Streep like hello what an insane thing and we were just like our friend is a movie star and then you would still come back and hang and it was really special I think to all of us that you know you always made time where you could for the show and I know that it really did create such a really special like lasting effect for all the fans too I loved you guys I love the character and I just loved working on it It was, you know, I wanted to do it until I actually couldn't, you know what I mean? It was like, I felt like, you know, I was on Montreal for three seasons, and I felt like, yeah, maybe Jake could have gone on and done more, but I felt like it was a really good arc. I feel like I did, you know, I felt like his story was told and it was, I mean, that show has like so many different iterations, like so many different cast members coming in and out, but, yeah, I don't know. And then, you know, I went off to do other things, but I was, I tried to make time and come back when I could.

That was just a crazy time in my life. Like, there was so much coming at me. And it just came to a point where, like, it wasn't feasible anymore. And I also felt like the story was told. Yeah, I get that when you really feel like. something has, has come to the end of its track. Yeah. It's nice to go out on a high note.

And I'm sure your knees thanked you that you didn't have to play basketball for 18 hours a day in Converse anymore. Yeah, they put me in Congress, All-Stars. My feet were, I remember you, like, we would have days in the gym where by the end of it, you were just hobbling. And I was like, we are too young for you to be in this much pain. Somebody get this man some insholes. You have a good memory. Yeah, that was, uh, that was brutal. being on a real sports team

yeah well it was fun though because you're a good basketball player james was such a good basketball player obviously so many of the guys who came in like naryon and all the boys were were really good like they really did play and there were days i remember in the gym like watching you all from the sidelines being like god they really are having fun and it was sweet to watch because i think that energy was palpable on screen we love those days because we would just get to play ball and then we play ball all the time outside of shooting too

yeah it was great i have a lot of fond memories of that show it's um like i said i've been all in the world i've done a lot of different things but that's the one job that like you know i think people know me for in the most and um i'm really grateful for it and uh i've just it's so hard in this this career to like do anything that connects with an audience and uh and that continuing to connect with generations of audiences. So I'm just really grateful for the opportunity to play that character. I love it. And it let us the junction.

I was going to say, like, how do we tell folks what the fast forward looks like? Because for the friends... Well, you became a big TV star. You're very sweet. And a movie star. We're all just out here trying to do things we love. Yeah, yeah. Very successful.

Didn't return my calls for years. Oh, you wish. And now a word from our sponsors who make this show possible. It is actually really interesting, isn't it? Like, that we all went off and did so much work, but we always stayed connected. And do you think that being on sets like you were so young,

like going and working with producers of the Soderberg level, like watching Meryl on set, were you, do you really feel like you were kind of preparing yourself to write and direct, maybe even subconsciously? Or was it like something, do you remember when consciously you decided that that was something you wanted to pursue? You know, it's funny. I don't remember consciously. But I remember consciously like being. a sponge on at you know whenever I'm on a set I'm always like every day I have two goals like what can I learn and how can I be surprised and how can I surprise myself you know and that goes every day on a set you know I'm always looking to learn I'm always looking to surprise myself um and I think

that that will keeps me in the quest of being curious and and listening and and so I didn't know that I wanted to write, but I think, you know, when I went to NYU, they didn't teach us to write our own stuff. We were just training to be actors and interpret the writers' material and be vessels for the script, and that's it, and just, you know, do that. I think it's like five years younger than me, like the Donald Glovers, the Mindy Kailings, you know, Issa Rae's, like all these people like are the disease i'm sorry they all like started making their own stuff and i'm like oh that never occurred to me you know that wasn't thought like i thought i thought i was just in this lane you know and had to hyper focus on being an actor so um you know

the truth is there's a lot of ups and downs in a career and i was at a down point and i wasn't getting the the roles that i wanted and um i was working but not being challenged i was would say. And I could have to dig deeper. And I was, I don't know, this, this idea came to me for Junction because, you know, I went in for routine surgery a few years ago and I was prescribed oxycodden and I became somewhat hooked. I want to make it very clear that I'm not an addict and I'm an ally. But I just, but I did have like a little, scary time there, you know, that I was like, oh, this could go either way, you know? And there's a couple months I just don't remember.

And, and, and so I was, was wanted to, I wanted to kind of understand the crisis, the opioid crisis and talk about that in a film. How do I do that? So I don't know, I just, that's what started inspiring me to write. I think it was during, during COVID. And, yeah, I just was like really had time. and I just want to put all my energy into it and I enjoyed it. And then, you know, it's funny.

I told my mom, you know, that I'm writing. She's like, you know, you started as a writer. It's like, what? She's like, well, you know, when you're a kid, you used to write all those short stories and I was like, oh, yeah, I guess I did when I was a kid. And, you know, I wrote music and I was always writing. You know, I just didn't really think of myself as a writer. But, yeah, I forget the question.

No, I, I, the question was. just how did you decide to do this and, you know, with this project and to become a writer and a director? And I think it's really interesting because it kind of goes back to my first question, right? Like, who were you when you were little? You do, in hindsight, see that parts of yourself have always been there, that you've always been expressing this part of your creativity. And, you know, now you've got a movie that you wrote directed and started coming out, Hello? Love it's crazy.

I mean, you just, I guess being an actor for so long, I love it, and I continue to love it. I'm on a show right now just as an actor, and I'm very grateful, and I still truly love the craft of acting, and I'm very dedicated to it. But it is limiting in the sense of storytelling, like you can only do, use your body and voice and interpret these lines. And I just felt like I had other skills. to tell a story and I wanted to put them to the test and um and I thought that this is the story I want to tell and um and there's just so many tools like working with actors working with an editor

working with a DP it's like it's so fun and I I wanted to do set out to direct to see if I really could do it because I was like maybe I could do this maybe I don't know I there's only one way to know you just got a baptism through fire and just throw yourself into it um and I just wouldn't take no for an answer like I just kept people tried to get me off the project other producers I brought it to like maybe if you're not directing it we can get it to make because you're a first timer nobody cares don't knows you know that kind of thing I'm like no I think I can do this I think I I want to do this I want to do this I want to do this I just like kept that focus and you know eventually found the money and you know which was huge and that that that validated the project and then you know came on board and and all, you know, so many great actors came on board and here we go, you know. Yeah. It's so exciting. You put, you put such a beautiful cast together.

You wrote a really beautiful script, you know, when you first called me and said, hey, I would love it if you'd come and work on this and, you know, play my character's ex-wife and this is what it's about. I was like, yes. And you were like, well, read it. And I was like, I'm going to read it, obviously. But like, the answer is yes. Let's go do this movie. And it's just true, man. I think the people who know you and love you, not only, you know, do we love who you

are as a person, but like we know your taste level. And you are a really insightful, really talented human. And I knew that this was going to be really special. And one of the things I really appreciated about it when I sat down to read the script for the first time was the way that you humanized addiction. through your character. You know, this, as you said, you experienced, this guy had a routine shoulder surgery. And, you know, when you're getting your arm opened up or your back opened up,

these medications can really make the difference for people being able to recover and still be in their lives, to not be so immobilized by pain. And yet, there's like that razor's edge of this medication can help save your life after something potentially catastrophic happens, and it can also take your life. And I'm really curious, you know, you talk about how you didn't wind up in full addiction, but you wound up realizing that this medication was in you in a way.

It was making you sick. How do you think you identified the difference? How do you think you knew to make a change before? It had gone too far because I asked the question really because this is a crisis. This is an epidemic around the country. And I would imagine there's people listening today who have either been through this or have family going through this and are probably going, but yeah, how do I know when to say something? Or how do I know when to ask for help?

So being as in tune with your body and your mind as you have to be to be a performer, how did you know when you were on the kind of dangerous side of that edge um well my pill intake would just keep going up because it would work you know like started one three five 10 you know it's just like you keep popping them sip a couple beers help that hope that kicks in you know like and then you just all of a sudden it's like four or five months go by and you're like where am i what's going on what's happening and they just keep prescribing them to you until they didn't ah and it And I basically was cut off. And I, you know, it's not that hard to go and find the pills.

But, you know, I don't want to say that, like, I'm stronger than, you know, people who are addicted because I'm not. Because I was addicted. But I just didn't, and it does, the thing that people don't understand is that, like, when you're on taking those many opioids, It really does complicate and compromise your frontal cortex, so your decision-making. That's why you're like, why would you ever do something like that? It's because they're not thinking. Well, yeah, you're like, it's not me who did it. It was a diminished me.

It's a diminished person from the side effects. Your decision-making process is compromised. So I could have gone to the streets, found it, but I am a very, I don't know, I guess I'm lucky that I'm a very headstrong person. I mean, the same thing, I used to smoke cigarettes. And I just didn't like having that I needed it for when I was happy, when it needed it, when I was sad. And it was the same thing. Like, I just, I don't like having something over me, you know? Yeah.

That really, it kind of, I'm not good with authority. I don't like people telling me what to do. I don't like, you know what I mean? So I don't, I don't know. I just, I think there's something like this little bit of. of a fighter in me that wanted to just like fight that and it was hard getting off those pills i was sick very sick um for a few days and that's not a good feeling and i understand why people don't want to feel that way um and it's you're just physically you know you're sweating

you're feverish you're like it's like it's like the worst flu um and uh it's your nauseous throwing up it's like it's not a good feeling and you'll do anything to not feel that way and that's why people go to the streets and you know find alternatives but i don't know i guess i'm just uh i'm lucky i didn't get too far in too deep i got i had a brush with it you know yeah not to scare me um but not enough for a full blown addiction gratefully uh because i've lost friends and i know people that have fast and um it's a really scary thing so so yeah that's that was my personal experience with it but i'm very i'm one of the fortunate ones yeah Did that sort of full picture experience, knowing that perhaps it had gone another month, you would have been so sick that you might not have been able to stop, knowing that there's folks who you've known and loved who aren't around anymore because of this, you know, the, I would imagine the influx of the news where every day there's more stories and every day there's more horrible things happening. And, you know, we're watching the pharmaceutical lawsuits and we're hearing about the death rates around the country. How did.

all of that make you decide, okay, I'm going to write about this. Not just, I've been through this. I could advocate for a charity. I could go and speak to students, but like I want to make something about this. I want to get this story out of me. What was that? Yeah, I think at the time, you know, it takes a long time for these films, independent films to get made.

Even though I wrote this four years ago, you know, it took a long time to get it made and get the funding. get to get it out there but um you know at the time there were no stories being told about it and i think that's kind of what uh another thing that was pissing me off and you know since then we've been very fortunate i i i am i'm so happy that other stories are being told about this like dope sick i think as danny strong did an amazing job on that hulu uh uh mini series um but i just wanted to encapsulate it was it was one personally it was away from me to get my head around, this sort of overwhelming crisis and try to understand it.

And so I would cold-called journalists who were understood what was going on with like the Sacklers and Purdue Pharma. And, you know, I was writing this while the story was changing, you know, before they were found guilty. But, and they're still trying to fight it through bankruptcy courts but uh um but it was an evolving story and i i'm not an expert so i sought out the experts to to to help me understand it and um i don't know i just wanted to paint i didn't want to just do addict porn and just show like one because we've seen those movies um but you can't tell the story without telling that part of it um but i also wanted to show like all the cogs in the wheel um in the net in the in the in the ship in this

ship that is sinking um i just thought you had to tell three different points of view to to kind of encapsulate all of that and it was my way to bring awareness to the to the crisis that at the time people were speaking about to bring humanity to it and i didn't want to do like like i mentioned dope six i think it's great but we didn't have the luxury of you know seven eight hours to tell the story. We had 90 minutes. So I didn't do the exposition of this is now the opioid crisis. If you want to know how the opioid crisis started, don't watch this movie. This is not like an educational film, right? I try to make a character film about seemingly good people who get caught up in this evil machine. And now a word from our sponsors.

that's one of the things I love about the movie you know you structure this all in one day and we see these three storylines you know these three verticals if you will and each lead of their own storyline you know Ashley's character Dr. Davis this doctor who runs a pain clinic which is is it a pill mill is it not who is she why is she so motivated. What's going on with her kids? What's happening with her finances? We see, you know, the patriarch of a big pharmaceutical family whose companies being sued over their distribution of opioids. And we see your character, Michael. And your character, Allison. Yeah. You know, this man who runs a restaurant and has a beautiful life. But everything sideways. The restaurant is

at risk and his wife is now his ex-wife. That's me for our friends at home. You know, the relationship he has with his child is strained. And what I love so much about what you put into our storyline is that there's obvious pain there. Obviously, this couple has been affected by this addiction and who knows whatever else. But we vacillate between fighting and laughing. You see love between these people. You see across all, all these three storylines, you see who these people are. You see who loves them each. You see who they go home to. You see that anybody who we've made into a statistic or a villain or a victim is a whole person. Yeah. Yeah. And that's what I learned. I just think it was a really,

really meaningful way to show people how this happens and who it affects and what the ripple effects of this crisis are and even though it's a movie about a heavy subject there is love and there is joy and there are these things that you wouldn't necessarily expect yeah yeah because you know I was I didn't want this to be a tough watch all the way through like we know it's a it's it's we know what we're getting into what the subject matter is and it's inevitable like this is not going to be a comedy um but uh you know so i think to be true to the subject matter you have to be you know it had to be dramatic but you know in saying that i didn't want to make it hard on the audience you know like i wanted to like you'd fall in love with these people and enjoy being in a

room with them and knowing them and yeah like you said it beautifully like our relationship between michael and allison what i love about it is like they are divorced but they love each other They love each other so much. And I don't know. I haven't seen that. I mean, I'm sure that exists, but I haven't seen a lot of that maybe. And I thought that was a really fun to play with. And there was room for comedy and we're joking around.

Even in the lowest of the lows, there's still jokes being cracked. And that's real. That's humanity, you know. And I didn't, I just think if you want to be real and you want to portray an accurate, you know, characterization of these of these people like you can't paint them as black or white it's gray and sometimes they do bad things but they mean well and sometimes they you know it's just complicated they all have their different reasons even even Lawrence who's that so the quote-unquote you know evil patriarch you know he he's trying to protect his family he's trying to protect his family's

legacy he wants you know he's got his own reasons for doing this he's got his own ambitions and dreams too and those are human beings and we're all complicated and dup and it's not black and white and I just I'm more drawn to that that's what I'm that ultimately what I was most interested in writing about yesterday's placed within the in the world of the opioid crisis but really it's like these characters these nuances that I was fascinated by and then I wanted to explore yeah yeah and I love it and it really it was so special to finally get to see the movie because you know did you watch it last night Did you get a chance?

Yeah. Well, no, I watched it at home on Saturday. I was like, I don't want to see it with an audience for the first time. But it's just, it's really beautiful. And it was really interesting too, you know, because for me being in it, I love when I'm in something and I get swept up in it and forget that I'm in it. Yeah. That's always really special. And then I get to have this dual experience where I get to watch it technically and see what, what,

takes and what shots wound up in it and I just get to be an audience member and I and I had both of those things and it flashed me back you know when we first come on screen together where I was like oh my god I forgot how fast we shot this movie oh my god 17 days 17 days a whole movie in 17 days so for our friends at home you know Brian's talking about the fact that it took four years to get this movie made from top to bottom. And yet, we had to shoot it in 17 days. How did you get your head around? Starring in a movie, having written it, and directing for the first time, because you didn't have the luxury of a three-month shoot to do two scenes a day. We were jamming through stuff. How did you feel prepared for that? How did you keep your head screwed on?

Well, hiring actors like yourself who you didn't have to worry about. Like, I don't, like, if I didn't give you one note, I still know you would have been great. You know what I mean? Like, just knowing you could bring it, and I did, it just took such a relief. I mean, of course, I tried to, you know, in preparation, we talked a lot about the characters. And, you know, you just, in prep, you trust with your crew and your producers and your actors. And then with the scenes that I'm in with you, like, I wasn't directing those scenes. I was just in those scenes as an actor with you, you know?

And I don't remember if I gave you a lot of direction on the day, it's when we were working together. Because I feel like I was just kind of in the moment with you, you know? I mean, maybe we tried different things, but I don't know if you might remember more because everything was such a blur, but I feel like I just kind of like let it go and just was an actor. because I didn't want to be judging you while doing the scene with you. And it must be hard for you as an actress were different.

I don't know if you've worked with actors who have been directed before. I've never done that. I mean, I guess with Mindy Kaling, she was like the writer and I would work with her. That was different. She wasn't directing, though.

But yeah, so I wonder how that was for you as an actor. I will say, I think, especially when you're kind of guerrilla shooting like we were where everything's just so fast. It was really nice that we have such a history and a familiarity and a shorthand together because it's much easier for me to sort of take the normal pressures of the first day on set and throw those away with a trusted friend. Like when you have 20 years of fill in the blank chemistry, intimacy, knowledge, you know, language, inside jokes with people,

it changes your comfort level and so it was kind of cool I think that we were just like we have no time we've done the thing we've done the calls and the zooms we've got pages and notes in our scripts and let's just do this and you know when I think about our last day of shooting when we finished in the gym

and the kids had to be wrapped because they have their schedules and then we went and did our whole gallery shoot in the back room and then it was like we got two hours what can we shoot let's just improv a scene let's go. That was awesome. And it was so great.

Yeah. Well, we just, like, you were so great. And I was like, we have you. We've got two hours. What can we do? Like, let's just, let's use you. Like, in that, that's in the movie. There's nothing that we shot, there's not a scene that we, that was scrapped in this movie.

I didn't have a second to do overtime, you know? Like, it was so tight. Like, some of these shots, and they had one take to do it, you know? Yeah. It was a really tight, tight shoot. it's a miracle that it came together with the way it did but yeah I mean I think it's just like

having actors like yourself who are just so good and I remember you came up with and also like I really tried to not have an ego because how could I have an ego as a first time director like that's ridiculous I've never done this before

I was confident in the story in telling the story but I wasn't confident overly confident in pretending to know things I didn't know And my philosophy was best idea of women's. And I remember you had a line pitch that is in the movie that you came up with that I think. And I just thought it was like a throwback to a line that I said. I don't want to spoil it.

But it's just like it's in the movie and it's a really great moment. And, you know, that's all you, you know. I mean, I guess I'm credit myself for like letting it happen. But like that's all you, you know. I mean, you brought it. but well thank you that's the thing though it's when you collaborate well with people and to your point when everybody shows up and checks their ego and is just ready to go like it's so refreshing that's why you can if you have an extra hour on a day say hey let's throw three people in a car

and go make it up as we go along yeah you know that's what i think i love about independent films the most is that like nobody's showing up on an independent movie to pay the mortgage we're showing up because we believe in the project. Yeah. And it does give you, it's like Gooney's energy where you're like, we're going on an adventure and whatever happens. We're in it together. And it's really special.

Everybody has to be on that because like in the crew included. Like it's like, we want to roll up our sleeves. It's just like, this is going to be tough and no one's getting rich. And everybody get on the same page of like wanting to tell the story and how fun is this? How fun is this that we get to many movies? Yeah. And it's hard to get everybody on that page when it's like you're doing long days and And it's like, you know, like no one's getting paid.

But, you know, I don't know. I love making independent films. I love it because I've been on, like, huge budget movies. And I just feel like nothing gets done. And you're making a movie by like committee as opposed to like independent films where it's like a person's vision. And you just get in line with that. And like, you don't have the luxury of time to screw it up.

You just have to, it keeps you, there's an energy to it that keeps you on your toes. It's exciting, and I feel like that translates on camera and, you know, I don't know, I love it. Yeah. That's truly where my heart lies. I love that so much. How was it for you? I mean, not only were you juggling all of the biggest plates on set, but you were also making an entire movie in 17 days with two babies at home. And Jamie, you know, for our friends at home, Jamie Chung, Brian's dreamboat of a wife.

like, you know, again, we talk about all of this a lot on on the other podcast, but when we watch the show and we all gush about you and then we're like, can you believe we, like, we're so obsessed with Jamie, like maybe we even love her more than we love him. Who could ever love anyone more than Brian? Like, Hillary and I just giggle because, you know, we're obsessed with you guys. And and it was such a cool thing as your friend to like, every once in a while I had to sort of zoom out and go like, look at what he's doing. Look at what she's doing. Look at this character. she's playing that's so smart and thoughtful and different than something I've seen her do before and like hold on they have two twin babies that they also are dealing with right now like

how did you do it how did she do it how did you do it as a couple that is a lot this I got to just take a moment to thank my wife Jamie Chacon like this movie doesn't get made without her how passionate I wasn't telling this story and how hard it was to make this movie and when I got my chance to do it the kids were six months old twins yeah and uh that's a tough age and this shot in Rhode Island and we lived in Los Angeles at the time and she let me go off and chase my dreams and and held it down and and my and our family helped helped her out and not only did she held it down with the kids which at a really hard age um she came to Rhode Island and knocked it at the park in her role. And so, I don't know, I'm just, I'm eternally

grateful to her for, for letting me do this movie. I mean, she really did allow me to do this movie. She said, no, it's too hard. And I get it, but she didn't. She, she supported me. And it's amazing. Yeah, I, I like that you use that word aloud, because I know what you mean. You don't mean it like, in the parental sense of like, you're allowed to do this. You mean, like, She made the allowances. She made the space for you to take space for yourself, to go and achieve something. And that, you know, I mean, we've talked to each other through a lot of relationship drama in 20 years. And, like, one of the things that makes me the happiest as your friend is to see this really symbiotic relationship you two have cultivated in your marriage where,

you really can, like, flow and tip the scales to be this total package as a team. And to do that, to do that in the first year where you've gone from a team of two to a team of four is like an exponentially more impressive feat. And you manage to do this really impressive thing while also both giving incredible performances in this movie. It's like layers on layers of impressive love. But that's the other, that's like, it goes back to like, I, you know, you cast Jamie because I know she could kill it. You know what I mean? Like, it wasn't just because she's my wife.

It's because she's an amazing actress and she's my wife. But it's like, she's an amazing actress. And that's a really hard role to come in there and be that endearing and that, you know, heartbreaking of a character and just doing in a scene or two. It's like, it's not easy work for an actor to pull that off. And she did. And I knew she, I knew she had it in her, the depth in her. But yeah, I mean. Uh, it's, uh, it's amazing.

It's just, it's a truly grateful. And not just, Jamie, but like, everybody who came to play, McCabella Conlin, Ryan Eggles, incredible in this movie. He's so good. Oh. He's so good. Griffin Dunn, Josh Peck. I mean, uh, Eddie Kate Thomas, Hill Harper, Dash, My Hug.

I mean, everybody is so good in this. It's like, I can't believe I got you all in a movie, right? Because it's, I've worked with first time directors. it's a risk. I don't usually do it anymore, to be honest, because I'm like, I don't have it in me, you know? So I've had some good experiences. I've had some bad experiences.

But it's usually a turnoff if I hear first time a director. And so for you all, it's to come on board and just have the trust and faith in me to tell the story. It's like I'm eternally grateful, so I owe you one. Oh, man, always. And now a word from our sponsors. How is it now? You know, we fast forward, I mean, almost two years from when we shot the movie.

Yeah. How does this feel to be on the precipice of it coming out? And what is it like to now have toddlers? And like, does it feel crazy? Like no time has passed, but so much time has passed? Oh, man. I know, it's like, I've been very. busy since the kids have been born. I mean, Jamie has been very awesome. I'm in Chicago right now

shooting a series, not with my family. And again, she's holding it down. And so I am just like, we have waves. Like, I've had waves where I've had to sit down for a few years, you know? Right now I'm standing up, you know? And then I'll have to sit down and she'll stand up. And it's just, I think that's the beauty of being married to an actor. And she's also not one of the crazy one. We sure do. We're all crazy. But, you know, I feel like she's pretty grounded for being an actress. And, like, I don't know.

I think she just knows it's my time to do this. And so she's been very helpful and supportive. But, yeah, it's been crazy watching the Journey of Junction. I just keep pinching myself because it's been no the whole way. Like, no, no one's going to make a movie about the opioid crisis. No, no, no, no, it's going to make your first time director. No, you're acting in it, too. no you know you know it's like no no no no no and then all of a sudden it's like we start

winning festivals you know like whoa oh I wasn't crazy you know this is awesome you're not crazy can see what I was seeing like it's not not about the awards or any of the accolades and stuff it's more just like validation of like oh yeah this story did need to be told and and you know I feel like it's connecting with an audience and and it's so exciting like the press we're getting is amazing and I can't wait for the premiere on Wednesday and we're going to be doing the today show and it's like all this fun stuff it's just like this is this is the fun part you know this is where you get to enjoy the ride and celebrate the hard work that we all put into it so I'm really pinching myself I'm saving the moment because I know after this it's like I don't have

another movie lined up to direct like I don't you know what I mean I don't know what's good I might be super depressed at like in a week but right now I'm like on cloud nine love that. I love that. And you know what feels cool, too, is you're going to get this moment. Like, you're on the ride and it's all celebration from here. And then, you know, you get a beat with your family. You get a beat with your babies. And it's so cool as your friend to watch you in this phase because you're being celebrated in your career in the way that you deserve to be. And it's been so fun to watch you be a dad because you wanted to be a dad for such a long time. Is it? It's Is it like everything you thought it would be and all the things you didn't know it would be?

You know what? It's given me a purpose like that I was always, I felt like I was waiting to be a father for a long time. You know, I played a lot of dad. I think I had dad vibes, you know, early on. But, you know, it took me a long time to become a father. And it's so weird. I feel like in a weird cosmic way, like I've just kind of cracked the code. And, like, I feel super grounded.

I feel like I have an extreme purpose in my life. I love my boys so much. I'll do anything for them. And it's, I do it. And I do it. It's like, it's completely about them now. As much as I have all this stuff going on. But it's like, my focus is, you know, as actors, it's all about you.

Can I get your coffee? Can I do, do it? It's so nice to, like, live for something else, for something more. Like, I was bored. I was, how many concerts could I go to? I mean, you know, vacations can I go on? And, you know, I was just getting a little, I just felt like selfish. I was like living my life only for me.

And now I get to go, like, I hate Disneyland, but I went to Disneyland. And it was great to watch it through their eyes, you know? Yeah. And I get to see the whole world through their eyes and then light up when they play with the train set. And it's just like, I don't know. I feel like I've been enlightened, I guess is a way to put it. And I feel like the person I always wanted to be, I feel like instead of like trying to be that person, I feel like I am that person. I don't know if that makes sense.

And like you and art physically, I feel like a confidence that's like in an emotional depth that I can really lock into now that I was always hoping for. Now I have as an artist. I do feel different. I do feel like I'm a different person. I love that. Yeah. maybe in a way you're actually just more yourself like you've grown into the fullness of yourself I'm still growing yeah but yeah yeah yeah that's another way I put it yeah I do feel like I've grown

into the fullness of us yeah I love it I don't know it's like it's a lot you know I mean having twins at this age and working and doing it's it's a lot of hats and um but I'm not bored yeah I'm not bored I love it all right well we're in this phase obviously where you know you said it you're kind of floating like we're at this end stage where it's all celebration for this project that's been years in the making and well that yeah but they're really great so far um you know and you're at this point where your boys are just getting big enough that they they can play with each other and you're in this groove but what whether it's looking back at this last year or perhaps looking forward into what's coming in the spring like what do you think right now

your life feels like your work in progress. It's a good question. I like how you brought it around. You know, all the way around to the title of that project. This is the last question. I love the title of that, work in progress. It's great because I do, I don't feel like you ever make it. I always feel like you're growing and learning.

I need to put Junction like in a week. I just feel like I can't write or think of the next story. or, I mean, even this show that I'm on, like, I'm having trouble focusing and just, like, escaping into the role because I'm so still in Junction World. And I just need to close the chapter on this and celebrate it. And I think after, you know, we do our little press tour and we do the premiere, I'll be able to just kind of put it, put it down. And really, like, I can't, it's hard for me.

I'm trying to write something, but I'm having a lot of difficulty because I'm still a junction world um so yeah i think i'm gonna and i'm gonna allow like i'm a big believer in the subconscious and just letting that you know it's nice to have deadlines but it's also nice to just dream and just walk around and have thoughts and like listen and see where those thoughts take you and i'm really looking forward i mean as much as i would love to have my next project set up and ready to go in you know in the summertime and you know keep that keep that hamster world going i don't have it Honestly, I don't have the next project set up. So I'm just going to, I'm just going to clean and just find it and know that this.

I prove to myself that I can do it and I will do it again. It's just going to be a lot harder because now I've got two kids and they take up. It's hard to write when you get two kids. Yeah, nap time. That's what that's for. Yeah, that's exactly. Well, I love it. And I.

How about you? Can I ask you? What, my work in progress is? Yeah. Oh, gosh. Yeah. You know, it's interesting. It's like, I think for me, there's been this coalescing of things that I know.

I love to learn. I love research. I love social science data. I love to know why we function the way we function. What things everyone's going through that feel unique, but they're actually universal. What's finally started to click for me in a really interesting way is I feel like all the knowledge I've been collecting for a long. time has gotten out of my head and into my heart. And I didn't know that I wasn't like in my body. I didn't know that I was intellectualizing a lot rather than feeling a lot. And to be in a in a phase where

I'm like, oh my God, do other people feel like all the way to their toes? Has everyone just been living like this? This is crazy. You're coming into yourself. Yeah. Yeah. So I think I think I did a lot work and I think the I think now I'm I'm like in progress I'm embodied and it's it's wild I think what it can take to get there in a life but I'm immensely grateful for how present and whole everything feels right now and for the first time of my life I don't feel like I'm in a rush like I'm just moving slow and and happy. Yeah. And that feels nice. You seem happy. And, you know, as your friend, I'm so proud of you and just the leader you've become and the woman you've become and just like how you've always been championing social justice causes. And you're just such a, you're a born leader. Like I look up to you as a friend. Like I'm like, you're sweet soul.

You know, and your curiosity is is what keeps you going. And I don't know. I'm just so proud of you. Thanks, but I'm very grateful that, you know, 20 years ago we got thrown on a basketball court together. You're a real one. Who'd have thought? I know. We did good, huh, kid? All right. Hey, I'm still a work of progress.

I know. I know. I can't wait to see what we're doing in the next 20. I got to write it. You write it. Let's go. Okay. Let's do another one.

Oh, it's still a comedy now. Oh, God, please. Let's do a rom-com. Actually, that's what I'm working on right now. the rom-com. I want to light it up. I'm like, done. Don't it was good and important, but I'm, I'm ready to just not be so serious. You know what? I want to say forever, every time we make a movie, I want to be like, yeah, I said yes before I read it. So I say yes, let's go make a rom-com. I'm in.

All right. That helps. That helps right. Right with your voice in mind. Okay, great. Oh, buddy. I love you. I'm so proud of you. Thanks for coming today. Thank you for having me. This is so cool. Yeah. I have a ball in Chicago. I can't wait to see you at the premiere. If you sneak some deep dish home on the plane for me, I won't say no to it. What's your favorite one out here? I mean, I feel like I always get in trouble, but like I really, I was always a Lou Malnadi's girl. So I got to try that next. Oh, it's so good. I'm going to try all the deep dish. Yeah, yeah. After you're done with that and you don't feel the pressure, I'm just, I'm going to send you my restaurant list with my like my star items on the menu at every single one.

Yeah, yeah, I got you. I know of some things that are off. menu at Oshavall that I can't talk about on the podcast, but I will text you. That's the best burger I've ever had, by the time. Ever. That's crazy. Ever. Hey, you're here for Chicago? There it is. Yeah. Oh, I love it. All right, buddy. Take the time to talk to me. This is awesome. Thank you. And you're fantastic in the movie. I can't wait for everybody to see your performance. I can't wait for everybody to see what you made. I'm honored to be a part of it.

All right. Love yourself. Okay, honey. I love you. I'll see you soon. Right. This is an I-Heart podcast.