Happy Sad Confused - Anna Kendrick, Vol. III

Episode Date: July 4, 2016

This is a historic moment for Happy Sad Confused. Anna Kendrick is now officially a 3 time guest on the show! She joins Josh this week to talk about Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates, writing her book Scrappy Little Nobody, and much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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or go to explorevolvo.com. This episode is brought to you by Square. You're not just running a restaurant. You're building something big. And Square's there for all of it. Giving your customers more ways to order, whether that's in-person with Square kiosk or online. Instant access to your sales,

plus the funding you need to go even bigger. And real-time insights so you know what's working, what's not, and what's next. Because when you're doing big things, your tools should to. Visit square.ca to get started. Hey guys, and welcome to happy, sad, confused. Happy July 4th, guys, if you're downloading this on July 4th. Otherwise, I sound insane.

Oh, my God. Happy July, Happy birthday, America. I'm Josh. That's Sammy. That's not me doing a voice. What if that was revealed? The whole time, it's just been like this really weird character that you do. Yeah, notice we never speak.

at the same time. Yeah. Now I'm perpetuating madness and sanity. Everyone should see the puppet that you made for this voice. This week on the show, this is history. This is what I don't want to like, you know, overstate this, but we've kind of- This changes everything. It changes the world.

Brexit, eat your heart out. Anna Kendrick is the guest, and that marks a three-timer. Not one. Not two. but three times. It wasn't so long ago that we were only doing one-timers. Not only were you only doing one-timers. It was something that you were like really thought about.

I was. It wasn't like a light decision. Guys, I wrestle with the show. I think about what the identity should be, what the format should be. Right. So you were big on like, I think I'm only going to have people on once, unless you're Anna Kendrick and then it's unlimited. No, that first was Miles Teller.

Miles Teller was the first two Peter. Yeah, but he was like two and a half, or one and a half. Right. This is full on. This is full on. Look, everybody likes Anna Kendrick. Everybody loves Anna Kendrick. She's got a lot to say.

She's got a lot to say. She's got six movies out this year. We just did the math right before we started here. Who's busier than Anna Kendrick? Nobody. That being said, we actually talk about at the outside of this podcast, I mentioned how odd it is that she has nothing coming up, i.e., she's not actually scheduled to shoot anything. And part of that reason for that. is that she's been working on her book.

So next time she's on the podcast, which will probably be in two to six weeks, who knows. But please, she's always welcome. She's got her first book. So it's called Scrappy Little Thing. And it's like a collection of like, I think, little essays and stuff. We actually talk about it quite a bit in this podcast because we've talked about everything else. And so there's a nice little sneak peek at the book and the subjects that she tackles and her process and how difficult it was.

And I think it's going to be, I mean, of course it's going to be really funny. She's super funny. We love her. I mean, she's, she's wonderful in film. She's wonderful in 140 character bursts on Twitter. And she's wonderful in 45-minute conversational podcast form. She's wonderful in music. And music and film and television.

She does it all. Wow. Oh, man. Wow. I feel useless. Yes. She is promoting Mike and Dave need winning dates, which is a super raunchy new comedy. Does people say raunchy anymore?

No. Okay. It just happened. It's got, it's full on raunch. Dead on the raunch scale. The raunch scale. Rotch-o-ch-ch-ch-o-ch. Very funny movie, though.

I will say that. You can always tell if I don't like a movie because I'll just say it exists as opposed to me actually liking it. A little hint into the jazz terminology. You need that secret already. No, this is actually a very funny movie. It's her, Zach Ephron, Aubrey Plaza, and Adam Devine. Is she with Zach? Zach or Adam?

She is, she and Zach are co-are love interest for each other and they're good together and honestly all four of them are great. So definitely check out that movie. It's kind of an antidote to the summer blockbusters of the season.

There's actually a lot of cool different kind of non-blockbustery stuff out there. I've just, you know, last week on the show we of course had Nicholas Winding Refin of neon demon fame. There's also Swiss Army Man with our buddy Daniel Radcliffe.

The one and only. Yeah, which I just saw for the second time recently and is really good, really unique. Based on you, right? The farting corpse? Yeah, I started life as a farting corpse. But it's a very unique movie and I think we'll have a long shelf life. I think it's a movie that people will be talking about for a while. You were going to say something else.

I love what Daniel Radcliffe's done with his career. Isn't it wonderful? I really love it. He's actually about to be on stage. Hopefully I'll check out that. He's doing a play called Privacy, which sounds really interesting. Privacy is, I believe. Pravachi.

Privatia. Privatia. That's going to be, I think that's like at the public theater. It's like a smaller scale thing. But, yeah. You know what else started at the public theater? What's that? Hamilton.

Haven't heard of it. All right. How many times have you seen Hamilton? I've only seen it twice. You've seen it twice. Before... You are privileged. But I haven't seen it since...

It's been a year. I haven't seen it since last August. Did... I haven't seen it since Pete, everyone else started to order to do it. Was Lynn Manuel in both productions? Yes. Was he amazing? Because I've heard that, like, the understudy is just the...

I've never seen... I'm seeing the understudy coming up. Oh, my God. You're seeing it for a third time. Yeah. Wow. I am. Josh?

I'm passionate. I would love to see it. Like, all I'm saying is... You saw Mad Max 700 times. Well, I would see Hamilton's 700 times if it was 10 bucks a ticket. Well, I told you. Well, I told you. you about Hamilton a year ago. And it's like, no one cares until you only cared once

Beyonce went. Then you were like, oh, now I care about Hamilton. That's exactly it. Yeah. That's exactly it. Um, why are we talking about Hamilton? And everyone's talking about Hamilton. They don't need... Anna Kendrick probably loves Hamilton. I feel like we've probably talked about Hamilton at some point. You probably lied and said you saw it. No, I'm truthful. I own up to my, my, my sad life. You probably asked her for tickets. Give me tickets. That's why I keep bringing her back. I'm waiting for her to offer. hasn't happened yet. Oh, by the way.

You seem like a guy who would love Hamilton, Josh. Enough about Hamilton. I hope you enjoy this conversation with Anna Kendrick. I know you will. I'm trying to you, Sammy, but I'm also talking to America because it is America's birthday. And I'm talking to the world. Yeah, not just America.

No. Everyone out there. If you're not from America, ignore the first couple seconds where Josh says, happy July 4th and then Bruce White. They can still have a happy July 4th. No, it's different. the whole world. All right.

Happy Sack Confused is a global show. I've always said that from the beginning. Hello, Netherlands. They love me in the Netherlands. They probably do. I'm worshipped as a god there. Hard to believe. Enough about the Netherlands.

Here's Anna Kendrick. Yay. She's so wee. I can't believe she performed music right when you stopped. Yeah, she did a full on one woman's shows. Trust me, guys. It was amazing. Oh, so good.

But this is good, too. Okay. Bye. I'm ready for you. I'm ready for you. Ms. Kendrick will see you now. Is this just recycling or is this? It's anything you want it to be.

Great. Welcome. Great. Have a seat, Anna. How's it going? It's so good to see you. Oh, were you reading the choice and me before you? Yeah, we're going to read to each other.

Oh, great. You weren't told that the podcast was taking a turn. Have you ever read a Nicholas Burke's novel? No. Have you? No. I'm not judging. I mean, I'm sure they're...

I'm sure they're very engrossing. Yeah. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Stephanie laughed. Oh, yeah. My brother, abutting Donald Trump, right? Actually, he doesn't care much about money and never has.

I mean, sure, he earns a living and pays his own way. But anything left over goes to new boats or jet skis or trips here and there. It seems like he's been everywhere. Europe, Central and South America, Australia, Africa, Bali, China, Nepal. Really? You sound surprised. I guess I am. Wait.

Wait. Who says... It seems like he's been everywhere. Europe, Central and South America. Like, I understand saying that in like a speech. Right. But Europe, Central and South America. That's not how you talk.

In casual conversation. Like Central America, South America. I've seen the world. I've seen South America and Central America. But I would say it's South America and Central America. Not central, both Central and South America. It's just such a written thing. For those just tuning in, that's Anna Kendrick criticizing Nicholas Sparks.

Oh my God. I know. I know. And I just like... Just because you've written one book now that hasn't come out yet. I know. I know. That's what I'm thinking. I literally just handed in like my final, final draft.

Here I am with the audacity to criticize something like that. No, no. The audacity of Kendrick. That's the new name of the book, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. I'm sorry that we're off and running. We had no pleasantries. It's good to see you, my friend.

It's so good to see you. I thought that that was just implied. It's always good to see you. Is it? Okay. Well, that's nice to hear. How's it going? It's going really well.

Give me a status report. It's been like, I feel like a month or two since I've seen you. I like went into a writing hole. Yeah. I'm trying to figure out how to finish the book. I'm never going to write again. I don't want that to be like a, like, it's not like I'm not proud of the book or, you know. Yeah, it's like it's one of those things where I feel like you have to be careful about saying that because it makes it sound like reading it's going to be an unpleasant experience or something, which is just not.

It's like, it's not how I feel at all. It's like reading Mobe Dick is going to be like reading your book. It's actually the, I think like the contrast is the thing that surprised me that like the book is so light and fun and all I ever wanted it to be was just like something. entertaining. And the fact that like it drove me to distraction is like just ironic. You know, it's like if I wanted to run a marathon, I would expect to be miserable and wealthy. But but a light frothy book is killing you. A light frothy book. Yeah. Just a summer, just a summer read. I mean, it's coming out the fall, but that's right. It's coming out. Paper back in the summer. Paper back in the summer, maybe. Yeah. So have you, so you've delivered the final or a draft?

Yeah. The final, except the final, I'm learning is never the final. Wait, you need punctuation? What? Yeah. You've rid it on free verse. They've been sort of threatening the word final for a long time. So I think it's final and like it's in the copy edit phase, which does mean I'm allowed to still change stuff. Like they would really prefer that I not change a lot.

But I'm still allowed to like switch out jokes and stuff, which is where I get into like crazy zone where I'm like calling up friends. I was going to say which is funnier. Like it's hotter than a monkey's ass or hotter than it. Like, you know, just I don't have any jokes like that. But, um, just like, just like, hits monkeys ass. Nicholas Sparks loves a good monkey's ass analogy. You got a, uh, go low brow, you know, go blue, monkeys asshole. If you want some of that 50 shades, uh, green.

Oh, yeah. Shit. There needs to be more, uh, more sex and nudity in your book. There's, there is a section called nudity. So there you go. Sold. And there are there, I, I am actually, there actually, um, there's a section where I like, uh, I, was told I was allowed to like not make my decision just yet even though I was told it was the

final draft where I'm like debating between using sort of euphemisms or saying the actual thing in a section about you know an X so an X or two so I I'm I think I'm probably just going to like close my eyes and say like just say the real stuff but I obviously then you're going to have to read the book you're going to have to do that I'm going to have to send my my mother and father a copy that's, like, specially, like, redacted. It's going to look like... The Pentagon Papers or something. Exactly.

Jesus. They're not ready for those words. They don't even understand what they mean. No, I mean, I, you know... You came from a stork. As far as they're concerned. Yeah. Until I'm pregnant, I've never had sex.

Well, I'm very excited to read the book. Thank you. You should feel very proud. This is an accomplishment. It's huge. Thanks. Yeah. It's very...

It's strange, man. I don't know. It's also weird because I think... feel like when people ask me what I've been up to, I don't have a lot to say because all I've been doing is like writing about myself, like my experiences, which is weird. Yeah. And then like in the fall, I'm going to have to promote the book, which means I'm going to be talking about myself writing about myself. So I think I might end up biting a reporter by the end of just losing it and going like feral cat. Maybe I'll skip you on that press store. I don't

want to die. I don't want rabies from Anna Kendrick. So So here's, I'm a little concerned about you. Oh. Wait, are we getting serious? No, of course not. But no, I was like, as we were sitting down to talk today, I was like, okay, what's 16 projects that she have coming up next? I don't see anything that you're actually shooting next.

Well, I, I feel like maybe we, we, we, have you stumbled into a, we raised this subject the last time we talked, but it was, um, the fact that pitch perfect was supposed to shoot. at the beginning of the year, and now it's going to shoot in the fall. But they keep pushing it back in these, like, month increments, the way that, like, when you're on a plane, they're like, ah, it's going to be another 15 minutes. And, like, it's two hours. And they know it's going to be two hours, but they tell you, like, every 15 minutes. So I haven't been able to do anything else, which does mean that I have been, like,

climbing up the walls. Yeah. Because, yes, I am. You crave structure. I do. I crave structure. You're a crazy person that way. I crave a schedule and like a call time and stuff.

It is a weird thing to be living in the chaos of like not working and sort of like writing. And so I've had to like set like alarms and lunchtimes for myself. Like I'm my own tyrannical boss. So yeah, because I myself, I'm someone that needs like way too much to do in order to like be happy. Because if I have too much time, I just don't, I just sit and do nothing. I'm worried about that, but I got to tell you I am more worried. about being really happy with time off because I've handed in the book. Right.

And now, like, you know, pitch isn't going to, a little press, little press, a little press. But pitch isn't going to shoot until, like, September. Right. So I'm actually, like, a little bit worried that I'm going to be like, oh, why would I do more than one movie a year? That is crazy. Right. You could go Daniel Day Lewis on us. You could suddenly start to get a little selective.

Like, create, open a shoe, cobblery? Is that the correct? I think it was called Dan's cobblery was the store that he opened in Italy, right? Yeah, so I am slightly concerned that I'm going to get really into gardening and, you know, TV shows and stuff. Well, you've already done that. TV shows? Yeah. Yeah.

It just might add more to the repertoire now. Wait, you mean doing TV shows? I'm seeing watching. Watching. Yeah, yeah, yeah. That's what I meant. Yeah, there's, like, I've never watched The Americans supposed to be really good. Good, yeah, yeah, yeah.

But, I mean, you watched Game of Thrones last night? No, you don't remember this. I don't watch Game of Thrones. We always talk about this. You're obsessed. I've never seen it. It's insane. And yet every time I come in, I'm like, that can't be true.

I know. And you're having a stroke again. It doesn't make any sense. That can't be right. I must be mistaken. And we're going to talk about Game of Thrones. So this is going to run after the finale, which I think is next week. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So, apparently. Can you believe that thing that happened on the finale? Oh, that's what I'm going to say. Well, I mean, watching as I do on the Twitter sphere every Sunday night, I made a stupid joke last night. Like the generic tweet is always like, oh my God, can you believe what happened? Going to take me a while to process that one. Like, I mean, that basically seems to be the pattern every week of Game of Thrones. Yeah, a little bit.

But I do feel like there was actually, I hope I'm not like being really shady right now. But there was an episode this season, which was I think everyone agreed was a little subpar. It just was one of those episodes where everyone went, well, I don't know. Like something in every scene felt a little like, that was weird. But I swear, I think that they got to the point where we're so used to high quality. Yes. That they had to do one where like even the camera moves felt too deliberate. Right.

They were holding on things. Like the editing felt a little sloppy. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know, I don't know if everybody like thinks of it like that or if they just feel like, oh, something about that episode was a little off. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And I feel like they just had to throw one in to be like, yeah, this is what most TV shows feel like. Remember normal TV?

Right. It's not TV. It's HBO. So let's see. Nicholas Sparks, you've already shot on his writing. Oh my God. What's wrong with you today? Game of Thrones.

Kind of a lesser show, you're saying sometimes. Sometimes they just tank it. You're saying, no, I'm not putting words in your mouth, but you're saying sometimes they just throw it away. No, I'm saying it would be a brilliant strategic move on their part to have like one episode, a season. Yes. That was just a little like a very good normal TV show. To remind you how great it is. To remind you that every other episode, they just bring it to you.

I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening. No, it's good. It's good. So I thought you should, I was going to say, you're by the way, the first, you know how SNL has like the five-timer club of hosts? Oh. You're the first three-fer on Happy Sadd Confused.

Wow. I don't know if that's a badge of honor or if it's. I feel like, okay, I'm processing that. I know I'm gonna I'm gonna decide to feel really good about it no I don't feel your face isn't saying that your mouth is saying but your face it seems really sad Well it I it hadn't occurred to me that that could be the case so now I just feel like oh am I just up in your grill No that's not it at all here's the thing only in the last six months have we started taking A guess on a repeat guess and I didn't want you for a while and then I was like oh I might as well if I like people and they like me and we have a good time whatever And then it just so happens you've had a couple of movies in the last few months that's all okay okay but we're gonna need to take a little bit of a little bit of a little bit

Yeah. Enough. Enough. I mean, I'm sure the accountant will sell tickets without me. Oh, yeah. Did you see that thing? Yes. I mean, I saw you tweeted it. I tweeted it as well. So for context. For context, there is a video that someone must have just unearthed. Like, it must have just been around for the last 10 years and someone just unearthed it and tweeted it. And this person who's got like 600 followers or something, like that, that video is up to like 16,000 retweets or something. As it should. They just found, like, this one section of Ben Affleck's commentary of Armageddon. And I'm, like, no joke.

I have watched it four times and, like, howled with laughter. It's amazing. It's delightful. He's kind of being brutally honest about Michael Bay, as people should. Yes. And, oh, God. Afflecks, I mean, you know. You've worked with him.

He's a smart, funny guy. He's a smart, funny guy. Like, like, that's what I love about it is that he's being sort of a smarty pants. Yes. And, like, kind of, like, loving that he's being a little clever. It's so great. I'm trying to think of. There are a couple, because I used to, like, love director's commentaries and actress

commentaries on DVDs for a while when people still bought DVDs. There was a really good, oh, here's a good one. I don't know if you ever will have the desire, you probably won't. But if you want to go down the rabbit hole, the Arnold Schwarzenegger did a great commentary for Conan the Barbarian. I heard about this one. But it's a little bit more, like, the appeal is more like the room. Yes.

Yeah. Yes. It's him and John Millius, who's also like this, like, super masculine, crazy dude. And it's, yeah, I mean, I don't know if they'd realize that they're being funny or not. Right, right. Also, I always enjoyed the Kurt Russell John Carpenter commentaries on all those movies that they did together. Big Trouble Little China and The Thing. Those are good. Okay.

Have you done commentary stuff? I have done only one commentary, and it was my dream to do a commentary because I love listening to commentaries. And I did one for Scott Pilgrim versus the World. And I have not done one since. I think I had an offer to do one for Mike and Dave, and I was busy. And I also felt like, do people still? That's my thing. I don't know if people still listen to commentaries. They should. They're really fun.

I know. They're so fun. And with that group, that's a fun group. That is a fun group. We're going to be talking a bunch about Mike and Dave. We're going to go off to the fun Apple store for additional chat about this. It's a very funny movie. Thank you. It really is. It's funny. I'm like, I'm not the lead of the movie. It's like a four hander. Yeah, yeah.

So I feel like I'm allowed to be like, it's really funny. Like my name's not in the title. I'm not Mike or Dave. I'm allowed to say it's good. Yes. I'm not Mike or Dave. But here's what I was going to ask. If you were to start a podcast, what do you feel that you have expertise in, Game of Thrones? You could certainly do a Game of Thrones podcast. I can do Game of Thrones. It's funny because I feel like I would get myself in a lot of trouble on a Game of Thrones.

Because I very much enjoy after the throne. Yes. Is that the HBO thing they do? Yeah. I think it's after the Thrones. Anyway. And they have like experts come on and talk about content. text, you know, for non-book readers and it's so fascinating. It's great. But I also go on Reddit

Game of Thrones. And it's so interesting to me. I feel like sometimes, you know, I am of the same opinion as a lot of the users who post on Game of Thrones on Reddit. But sometimes, like, there was one thing where people were like, oh, that performance, that was so great. And I wanted to be like, you're just responding to the camera move. It's not like, which is like, I don't need to do that. I don't need to get myself in trouble. Why do I need to do that? You're an insider perspective. You can give some context for the folks that aren't thinking about things

like that that you're in the no. So basically, it's just what would I be a real pedant about? And I should do a podcast that everyone will hate and I'll ruin my own career. If we've discovered nothing in the first ten minutes of this conversation, you're at your best when you're saying horrible things about other people. That's true. Just embrace

it. I have. I've made a career out of it. Join me in the dark side. So, okay, so you're about to perhaps have some time off while you wait for the pitch perfect three thing. Yeah. Are you one of those actors that, like, daydreams about, like, you know, opening up your own general store or becoming like a neurosurgeon in your spare time or? I really, like, I went through a period where I really loved baking and I, like, mentioned it sort of in passing in the book and I was thinking about it. And I really want to get back into it. So I had like, I was reorganizing my kitchen and I was like opening all my cookbooks and like remarking my favorite recipes.

And there's like a flowerless chocolate hazelnut tort with a spiced caramel sauce that I cannot find the recipe for. So I'm in a small panic about this. Oh my God. I am too. I know as you should be. But I really do want to get back into the baking world. The baking world. Yeah.

What's your best dish? What's the signature? What's the Kendrick? Well, I mean, I definitely remember the hazelnut tort going down well, but there are, I think, like, it's not the most elegant dish, but people really, like, come back for it and request it. It's just these, like, peanut butter oatmeal squares that are very, like, you know, Betty Cracker kind of potluck passed down recipe. Right, right, right. There's Crisco in it. They don't make it and sell Crisco? Like, they're so good.

I hope so. You stockpiled. You went to Costco, you're like, give me all the rest of it. I need it. Yes, for my earthquake preparedness. It's the 10 Cloverfield Wayne sequel you won't ever see. Anna, just baking oatmeal squares. Yeah.

It would be the tastiest bunker ever. We get so fat in that bunker. It can be the popular bunker. And when the shit hits the fan, everyone's going to want to get into that bunker. Seems wrong. So, okay. So what's wood pitch perfect right now? So we don't even know who's directing it, right?

Are you going to be directing it? Have you decided to throw your head, I think, you know, we all have our fingers crossed that a certain person will come back to the franchise once again. Is it rhyme with Mason Bore? It does. But, you know, I'm not behind the curtain on this particular thing. Okay. So at this point, you know, we've talked a lot about sort of like the exciting opportunities you've had in recent years, etc.

and seems like, the world is at Anikendrick's feet, yada. I mean, that's how I feel. Right? Every day you wake up, you're like, I did it. But are there frustrations? Are there career frustrations at this point? Do you feel like what? Because you can't be possibly just blissfully happy.

Yeah, no, that's not really in my emotional range, blissfully happy. So you've hit the nail on the head. But I was thinking recently that, you know, there, like no one will ever be totally satisfied. And, like, if you have any ambition at all, it just is a, it's like a, it's a sort of never-ending fuel, I guess. But at the same time, like, there are so many talented women in the industry right now who are around my age. And I feel so grateful to be in this, like, generation of actresses who are just, like,

just blowing the game up. They're so good. And the fact that I have, like, carved out a corner of the world in that space is amazing. Yeah. Like so in a way it's like who am I to say that like I wish this or I want that when like I am in the company of such amazing talents like so there's never a moment where I'm like really her like that's not even it it's just I I feel like I should be counting my blessings that like in that in this excess of talent that like you're still getting up pretty yeah yeah it's so great so you're saying you didn't like punch your fist through a wall when brie larson got captain marvel oh my god did she I didn't even know that I don't know if it's a official, but sounds like she's going to. Oh, that's amazing. I mean, like, Brie, but Brie is someone, because I worked with her and Scott Pilgras.

Brie is someone who, like, for years, I've been like, when is this girl going to blow up? Like, what's, like, I'm just like looking over my shoulder. Like, how am I not like, how is she not the biggest thing in the world? And then it happened. And I was like, well, there you go. Well, then it was like, like, what, like three or four years ago and short term 12 happened? And everyone's like, okay, this is it. And then it didn't kind of happen.

And you're like, oh, shit. Like, what do you need to do? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, in the same kind of way that you experienced with like your early kind of Sundance successes that like were seen by industry people, but like nobody actually saw them. That's exactly right. Yeah. Like rocket science was seen by industry people. Short term 12 was seen by industry people. Right. And yeah, it's like it's always kind of the next one and the next one that is the one. Exactly. So yeah. I mean, Bree is just like going to set the world on fire. She's so fucking talented. I can't stand it. So her head is spinning. You can't see it. But she's like to literally actually angi. how talented she is, turning red. No.

So I was like I'm going to say, oh, yeah. One thing that struck me, like, in terms of, like, the opportunities you've had and the kind of films you've had. And I guess this came up probably when you did it into the woods is, like, that's, like, the only film I can think of in recent memory where you've, like, it's kind of a period or kind of, like, something that's, you've done a lot of contemporary roles. Yeah. You're kind of, like, like, Kate Winslet was corset woman for years.

And you're kind of contemporary. Is that, does that feel like not to create, like, a, a limitation for you, like. But, like, does it feel like that is, are there certain contexts you don't even see yourself in? Well, I do think when you're American, generally speaking, people are more comfortable casting Brits in period pieces when it's British. And even when it's American, it seems like they would rather cast, both male and female, they would rather kind of cast Brits and have them do an early American accent. Which does Kate Winslet do an American accent in Titanic? Yeah. Yeah, I guess. Yeah. I mean, like, yeah, so example number one.

Yes, she does. And it's just, because it just seems like they are, you know, that they have this, like, lineage that dates back and back. And Americans just seem very, like, hopelessly young and. Just came from the mall. Yes, exactly. Like, hopelessly contemporary as a nation. So I do think that, like, there's a thing where we lack a certain credibility almost. Yes. But. But you don't see yourself that for yourself.

You obviously can... Yeah, yeah. But I do feel like, by the same token, I think, that they must, you know, British women must face that thing where people don't see them in comedies, like, even if they're really funny, like, Kate Beckinsdale is someone who I've never seen her in a comedy, but I met her, and I was like, you're like the funniest person I've ever encountered. Yeah, I've noticed that. So, I mean, but for all I know, she's like, I don't want to do comedy.

Like, I don't know. But it did make me think, like, oh, I wonder if some girls have the opposite thing where, like, they're like, I just want to be, like, in the current time period, like, with a baby working a job, figuring it out or whatever they want. She's stuck in leather fighting vampires every three years. Although that new movie, apparently, that what Stelman movie she's in is apparently really good, love and friendship. Oh, yeah, I've heard that's really good. And especially really funny, too, actually. So, I mean, are there kinds of films that you appreciate that you don't necessarily see yourself wanting to be in? Like, I mean, we talk about, like, Game of Thrones or, or, you know, we've talked ad nauseum over the years about War of the Rings, et cetera.

Like, are those kinds of things, things you just love so much from a distance that you almost don't want to see yourself in? Well, I mean, this is a very specific example because I wouldn't say that it's a genre in and of itself. Not that it couldn't be, but, like, maybe just right now it isn't it? I was watching Sons of Anarchy. And Katie Segal is, like, at the beginning of the series, she does this line where she's like, I just want to. make sure that my son is following in the right father's footsteps and like it's this really bold choice that she makes to kind of draw I'm doing a terrible impression of it it's like very kind of scary and like you know compelling but but then they keep showing it as a previously on so that you

know like what has happened and I was just thinking like I would just never make that choice like and so it's not like biker genre is a genre but just that kind of like you know that that that, like, tough matriarch role is just, like, a Jackie Weaver in Animal Kingdom kind of thing. Like, I just think, you know, it would be the kind of thing that I would want to, like, push myself to do. But I would really have to have a great director on my side because otherwise I would be like, I just want to make sure you're following in the right father's steps. I can't do it. If you can't take yourself seriously, you need someone else to instill the confidence in you, right?

Darren Aronovsky would be like, no, you can do it. You got it. I'm terrible about you. Exactly. Who's your favorite filmmaker right now? Oh, right now. I don't know. Or going back.

When you were growing up, did you have, like, who's the first filmmaker you geeked out on and, like, went back and watched all of their stuff and that kind of a thing? When I was younger, like, when I was probably too young, I saw Boogie Nights. Like, when I was, like, 12, I saw Bucky Nights. Right. So, I, like, really enjoyed watching Paul Thomas Anderson do his thing. Yeah. But when I was, like, 19 or 20, I got really into Berkman. And I just, like, think that there's just no one who can really touch that.

And, like, I mean, admittedly, like, I went through, like, you know, certain, like, certain, like, Italian filmmakers and, you know, French New Wave, like, maybe too quickly. Like, because I was just like, what's this all about? What's going on here? And, but I definitely left feeling like, ah, true foe, schmufo. And I was like, wait, how do I? which is obviously, that's obviously an exaggeration. But like, you know, Bergman could just eat everybody alive, is my feeling.

It's tough too because, like, you know, even like, you know, a self-professed, like, film geek like myself, it's like I have huge, like, holes in my knowledge. Oh, God, me too. Like, I mean, like, Asian cinema, like, don't even get me started. And I feel like an idiot because it's just like it's endless. And it's, it's where do you begin and there's not enough time and you're keeping up with everything. I, when I was like 25, I, I, I tried. to explore a little more Asian cinema and I felt like even watching like a couple films I mean like I have seen like Rushman and like you know but but basically

everything outside of Curacao I hadn't seen so I watched a couple films and I was like oh I don't get this this is not for me and I need to like research a little bit of context for me to even be able to appreciate this like I really felt like oh I'm too stupid to get this at the moment I can't remember the name of the the film, but it is like one of the most famous, like, I acknowledge this is probably good. I'm just not there yet to it. Like, I have, there is no doubt in my mind that like this is not good enough for me. Like that is obviously not what's happening.

I was like, I'm not good enough for this film yet. I need to revisit this later. Do you ever go to, I mean, Ellie's much better, frankly, the New York revival houses. Do you ever get a chance to go to stuff? Yeah. Well, I used to go to New Beverly and Silent Live Theater a lot. The last few years has have been harder. I've just, you know...

You're working lady. Yeah, my life is... The Atlanta revival houses aren't as good if you're shooting there, et cetera. Yeah. But I do miss that because they put on some amazing programming. Like, I remember going to see, like, my favorite programming at Silent Movie Theater. They did an evening of bizarre and inappropriate children's cartoons. Amazing.

And they just compiled, like, all of the children's cartoons from, you know, from every everywhere from like the 20s to the 80s that made animators go, what? So everything from stuff that didn't make sense to stuff that was like really domestic violencey and like just like, why is this for children? This is so alarming. This needs to be burned right now. But it was so much fun. I'm so happy because here in New York, I don't know if you heard, they've opened a place

on the Lower East Side called the Metrograph. Like we really have not had a legit like revival house that's open to New York that actually shows stuff on the regular. in years and like they're showing all Brian De Palma's movies right now it's like it's like we need that yeah you need that kind of resource yeah De Palma is uh what you think of diploma oh here I go um I mean De Palma is one of the one of the ones where uh I had to like go back and revisit like dress to kill that kind of stuff because I was like I don't what's happening right like what's happening and then like kind of had to like go back and be like okay I get it I get it yeah well he's an interesting

one, there's that cool new doc about him. So much split-focus lens. Yes. So much flip-focused lens. A lot of that. And some of the stuff, frankly, is like, I mean, look, just to kill, like the serial killer is like a cross-dresser, which frankly is not, doesn't feel really appropriate in 2016.

And, you know, he's definitely been accused of misogyny and some of that probably is valid. But in terms of filmmaking technique, he really, I mean, I would say, and he would probably agree is like the heir to Hitchcock. He really, like, studied. It's tricky because, like, when you're looking at, like, film history, when, when it's like Dario Argento or Brian De Palma, it's like I have to try to put out of my mind the, like, you know, the sexism issue and the feminist issue and go,

this is a person acknowledging his most base instincts. Yes. And if what he wants in his, you know, primal self is to strangle women with a black glove, you know, it's like I would rather that that exist in the world and that I know that that is, you know, that that is his artistic expression of his most, like, animal self, like, rather than go, I wish this didn't exist.

So it's, you know, when there are themes in films that are a little squicky, in the technical term. It's a film comment official. Yeah, I just, you just try to go like, okay, this is like, this is a part of who we are as a culture. Right. I'm curious, this always occurs to me, like, you know, when I, when I meet people, especially, like, at junkets when I used to do more of junkets and stuff, the impulse when I'm talking to somebody, and this is kind of random, but, like, when I see an actor is to kind of, like, validate the film that they're promoting, et cetera, right? Like, I mean, you just, it's like, it's just common decency to be, like, congratulations, et cetera. Yeah. But I'm curiously, from your perspective, like, when you see someone you know, like, you run into an actor that's, like, promoting something, like, do you, do you invariably compliment?

compliment them on something even if maybe you didn't like it? Does that, like, what? Like someone, like, that I have a relationship with already? Or, like, we're meeting for the first time and there's that mutual, like, oh, I know you. No, I'm thinking more somebody you actually know. Yeah. Yeah, I think in that case, yeah, I would definitely say, like, you know. It's part of the deal.

You just have to kind of like. Yeah, whatever it is, it looks great. I mean, particularly with, like, directors. Right. You want to do that. This is a good tip for inspiring actors out there. You love, Brian's of Palmer. Your latest work was amazing.

No, I just ran into Stephen Merchant, and we were talking about that problem when someone, a friend wants to screen a movie for you before it's finished. And you never know if they're in that phase where, like, they've done everything that they feel they can do. Like, do you actually want constructive criticism? Or do you want? They really just need people to go, like, it's great. Because at this point, there's nothing they can do about it. So, like, why would you, you know, or if they're in that point where they want notes because they want you to be helpful?

or if they're in that point where they're saying they want notes and really they do not. Just validate me. They do not want it. What about for you? Have you been in that case where you've shown somebody?

I mean, you're obviously not directing something yourself, but you've probably been in situations where you've had friends or family see something early. What are you looking for in all honesty? I am not great about seeing my films until they're pretty much finished, which is kind of a catch-22

because at that point, If you do have a suggestion, it's kind of too late. But I find that, I don't know why. Like, I can watch other movies when they're not finished and go, oh, I see how this. Yeah, and that scene's going to get tightened up in this all. And when it's my films, I'm just like, well, it's awful. It's, I just can't get past it. And then I'm like, well, it's an unmitigated disaster.

Yeah. Like, at least if you're seeing the finished product, you're like, resigned to the fact. No, it's not even that. It's like, if it's the finished product, I'm like, oh, it's a movie. Yes. And when it's not, and I'm in it, I can't shake that feeling that, like, oh, this isn't a real movie like who am I and what like just that perpetual feeling of like why would anybody let me be in a movie so obviously like it's not like a real movie it's like a student film or something like so

but I I don't know uh that I've had like quite that experience so I am certainly not one to say that like I wouldn't be the guy who was like give me notes and then be just like well what the fuck do you No, I don't know. So I can definitely understand, like, just wanting someone to be like, it's great. Sometimes you need that. Yeah. More importantly, the psych gag of you and Stephen Merchants must have been wonderful. Oh, it is so fabulous.

The man is, like, 12 feet tall, hysterical. And, yeah, I felt like we did this movie together, and that's going to come out next year. And it definitely felt like a wasted opportunity to not have, like, a big psychaggy moment. but the other two guys in the film were pretty tall, like not Stephen Murchintal because no one is. But they were quite tall, so I was in massive shoes for most of the movie, and we didn't really want to make it look like I was the, like, you know, the Hobbit thing.

Even though I am kind of The Hobbit. So we never made like a specific joke out of it. But I mean, like I could just stare at Steve's face on camera all day. I know. He's just, like, so lovely and wonderful. Genius. Yeah, he needs, has he directed films himself yet? He, uh, I know that he's directed a lot of hello ladies.

Yes. But I, I actually don't know. I'll bet you he has and I'm a jerk and I don't, and I don't know. Oh, you're not a jerk. He just needs to do more of it. Yeah. Um, so the writing process that you've just completed and maybe you'll do a little bit of rewriting if they make you in add commas and apostrophies, et cetera.

Um, has that sparked? I mean, it sounds like it's, it's, it's not, it's not an easy thing. But is that feel related at all to any other? kind of writing? Have you dabbled in screenwriting? Is that something that you want to do? I haven't. And Edgar always encouraged me to do that. And I just, I find reading screenplays so boring that, um, even though like, you know, it's obviously part of my life. It's, it's, it's just unfortunate that reading screenplays is what, why is that? It's just like you're not seeing it. It's just like the bare bones of, like, I wish you could have like a novelized version of like a

screenplay. It's just like she walks in. Like, it's, it feels incredibly, like, non-descriptive. And then suddenly there'll be a moment where they're like, a fight ensues. It's the craziest fight you've ever seen. And you're like, is it going to be? How do you plan to accomplish that? Promise pinky swear? Because just writing it on paper doesn't make it so.

So it's just that, that weird combination of those two elements. And, yeah, I don't even know, like, where I would begin with that. And directing, have we talked about this? in terms of directing aspirations? No, I'm not great with camera. I'm getting better, but I'm not great with visualizing, even like still frames. I'm not great visualizing it before I can basically see the finished product.

So I think I would feel I have worked with directors who are not great with camera and are better with actors. And I feel like you can't help but feel like you're not, You're doing half a job. Yeah. So that's why I would be hesitant. I would want to be really confident with camera before I did that. So, yeah, because that's interesting because, like, yeah, I've talked to all stripes of directors

and some are, you know, own up to the fact that they're, you know, they really just enjoy most of the process of working with actors and some rely on the DP. And if you surround yourself with the right people, it can look, it can look great. But is it just kind of a trust thing? It's like if you don't, if you're the guy or woman that doesn't really know the shot, why should I put my trust? Yeah, I mean, I guess as an actor, if you really trust the director and you really trust the DP, you're like, well, you guys have got it covered. It's just, you know, there's just not always necessarily that. And it doesn't mean, like, because DPs can be a little cold.

So, like, sometimes they could be the best in the world at their job, but they're just like. They're not going to explain it to you. Yeah, they're not, like, touchy-feely the way that, you know, actors are so touchy-filly. But, yeah, I don't know. It's, it's, I feel like maybe, maybe because I'm a lady, it feels like I, I, I would never want to give anyone the opportunity to be like, oh, well, you know, her DP, you know, chose all the shots and, you know, picked every lens and frame and stuff. Right.

And, you know, I think the feeling that you have to work a little harder as a lady is not unique to filmmaking or anything, so, but I, but I think that might be part of it. I know what you're excited about. What am I excited about? You're excited about Comic-Con. I am excited about Comic-Con. I'll see you at Comic-Con, I'm sure. You'll be there with, I assume, Mr. Timberlake,

perhaps I'll be showing up to you for trolls. Is that the idea? Yeah, I think so. Yeah. It wasn't Scott Pilgrim. Again, I was not gonna, I didn't think I was gonna be able to go until recently because pitch pushed again. So, yeah, I'm going.

Was Scott Pilgrim the last time? It couldn't have been. No, it was Scott Pilgrim. I went with Paranorman and End of Watch, weirdly, was one that went to Comic-Con. And I don't know. I feel like I must have gone more recently. Maybe not.

I don't know. Well, that'll be fun. You had a good time in Cannes. I heard you were a little under the weather when you were saying, right? I was so sick in Cannes. And like I had to sing true colors, like this tender, tender arrangement of true colors. And with, you know, music superstar Justin Burling. That's how you'd to refer to him.

So that's a great time to feel really, really. really sick and there was a moment right before we went on stage when Justin was you know playing the guitar and you know just kind of singing the song to himself and I even though I knew it at the time like he threw in this like a couple of little riffs like and even though at the time I thought I think he's just doing that to like you know warm up his voice and you know just you know shake out the cobwebs or whatever sure and I was like um Justin um are you are you kind of do it like that because if you I just need to know and he was like I'm going to do just how we did in rehearsals.

But yeah, I was just in such a state of panic that I had to go and sing with someone who is that famous for singing well that I had like a little... A little meltdown. Just a little panic moment. Sounds like it worked out. Just a mini panic moment.

It sounds like it was fine. And it was fine. Like once we got on stage, it was fine. You get that adrenaline and you're just like, yeah, here we go. It's going to be great. Let's wrap up with... I don't know if we've ever had time

to do some random questions from a minute. Indiana Jones Fedora, but it feels... How have I been on three times? I know, because there's so much to usually talk about, but since you have no future projects... But since it's my third time here, we've run out of stuff. That's all I'm good for is like... It's not true. It's like 90 minutes of chatter.

No, once I read the book, I'll know the inner you, the secrets that you've been denying me all these years. Just grab one right now. Russell, Russell. Worst injury I've ever had. I had stitches when I was... oh, I don't know, like five or something, because my gerbil bit me on the nose. Wow.

What kind of, that's, was it definitely a gerbil? Was it like a, I don't know, an angry raccoon that you found? No, they just got a little sharp teeth. And I was like, you're so cute. And I was like holding it near my face and it bit my nose. And yeah, that's the only time I've ever been to the hospital. I'm sorry to hear that. Yeah.

You're fine now. Well, actually, that's not true. There's another story about going to the hospital, but it's in the book. So you can't read it. Oh, you can't believe it. Please don't use that. voice don't I'm gonna use it the whole time one or two more oh great what can you eat a ton of I mean I mean I mean everything what do you want to eat a ton of what do you desire

in the bunker in the uh mm in the bunker with those crisco or whatever mac and cheese nice um just vanilla cake I feel like chocolate just is getting like a little like a little more credit than it deserves it's not the chocolate's not great I don't like chocolate cake. It's just like it's sort of everywhere. And vanilla with some vanilla frosting is just, it's nothing to sneeze at. No. I think the frosting is integral, though.

I do need a little frosting in my life. Then you're just talking to kind of like a pound cake, which is fine. Yeah, I mean, you know, I'm not going to say that pound cake is bad. You know what? When I was a child, my parents, for some reason, I was a very thin, tiny child. And I think they were worried they need to, like, fatten me up. So I would like have a serily pound cake that, they would, or I think I would do it,

I would drench it in chocolate syrup. And when I say drenched it, it was like disgusting. Like it was insane. And sadly, I think it caught up with me years later. But that's really fond memories of that disgustingness. Yeah. I recommend that to all the people trying to become diabetic out there. I definitely would eat, like we'd get those rolls of cookie dough,

the Pillsbury rolls of cookie dough. And my brother and I would just like lop off the top and eat out of the tube with a spoon. Yeah, you don't need to cook it. That's fine. Little salmonell never killed anybody. What is this? What is this?

The best vacation I've ever taken. Ugh, I don't know. I don't like this question. Okay. Favorite godfather movie? What am I a dude? Okay, fine. Favorite miscongeniality movie?

Number one. Don't tell me you don't like the godfather movies. I do like the godfather movies. That's not about gender. It's just, you know, I think casino is the one that I was like, it's too much. Like, I felt like a, like, I felt like a grandmother. I was like, it's too much violence.

Yeah, no, I hear you. But, yeah, I enjoy, I don't know, the first one, I guess. You don't, don't be apologetic about it. I like them, but it's not like a movie where if you, like, gave me three quotes, I wouldn't be able to go, like, that's from the first one, that's from the second one. So, I don't know. They kind of, I mean, the one and two, basically, they shot back to back. It feels kind of like the same thing.

Yeah. Do you want to shit on Coppola before you go? I know. What's happening? me today. Like, like, I'm just creating headlines for people to go, did it again or just throw shade? Just throw shade. That's the name of the book, right? No, throw in shade is the name of a podcast I enjoy. Is it really? Yeah. Well, I'll check it out. In 20 years, I will be I don't know. Pitch perfect eight. Pitch perfect, 17. Just rolling. You'll still be

waiting for the green light for three. Oh, God. I'm going to joke about that. In 20 years, I really hope to have like a lifestyle empire because I'm very put together. I'm very stylish and in the know. Yeah. And I feel like if I created a line of bed linens, I could just change the game. Yeah.

I would purchase, if there was any person I would trust with my bed litigins, it would be new. It would be me. I know. And vanilla cake. You think class, you think aspiration, he's thinking Anna Kendrick. There you go, guys.

I don't know what better way to end the podcast than that. Mike and Dave need wedding dates. It's an ensemble. She doesn't have to say this, but she's saying it because she believes it in 92. It's legit funny. It's super funny.

It's really funny. July 8th, check it out. And Anna, it's good to see you. Good to see you. Until next time. This has been an Earwolf. This has been an Earwolf production, executive produced by Scott Ackerman,

Adam Sacks, and Chris Bannon. For more information and content, visit Earwolf.com. Hey, Michael. Hey, Tom. You want to tell him? Or you want me to tell him? No, no, no.

I got this. People out there. People, lean in. Get close. Get close. Listen, here's the deal. We have big news. We got monumental news. We got snack-tacular news. After a brief hiatus, my good friend, Michael Ian Black, and I are coming back. My good friend, Tom Kavana, and I are coming back to do what we do best.

What we were put on this earth to do. To pick a snack. To eat a snack. And to rate a snack. Mentifically? Emotionally. spiritually. Mates is back. Mike and Tommy snacks is back.

A podcast for anyone with a mouth. With a mouth. Available wherever you get your podcasts.