Happy Sad Confused - Mikey Madison

Episode Date: December 9, 2024

If you've seen ANORA, you know what all the fuss is about. Mikey Madison is what's next. She stole scenes in ONCE UPON A TIME IN HOLLYWOOD, definitely made an impression in SCREAM, but it is as the titular Anora that she's made a mark and changed her career forever. She joins Josh here to talk about all of it and the wild ride she's on now. SUPPORT OUR SPONSORS! BetterHelp -- Go to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠BetterHelp.com/HSC ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠for 10% off Uncommon Goods – Visit UncommonGoods.com/podcast/HappySad for 15% off UPCOMING LIVE EVENTS 12/18 – Billy Eichner at 92Y in NY – Tickets here 12/19 -- Ben Schwartz at 92Y in NY -- ⁠Tickets here Check out the ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Happy Sad Confused patreon here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! We've got discount codes to live events, merch, early access, exclusive episodes, video versions of the podcast, and more! To watch episodes of Happy Sad Confused, subscribe to ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Josh's youtube channel here⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When you're with Amex Platinum, you get access to exclusive dining experiences and an annual travel credit. So the best tapas in town might be in a new town altogether. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Terms and conditions apply. Learn more at Amex.ca. The Twisted Tale of Amanda Knox is an eight-episode Hulu Original Limited series that blends gripping pacing with emotional complexity, offering a dramatized look as it revisits the wrongful conviction of Amanda Knox for the tragic murder of Meredith Kircher and the relentless media storm that followed. The twisted tale of Amanda Knox is now streaming only on Disney Plus.

What's the worst note a director has ever given you? To, like, be cooler. I remember one time a director's like, can you just do it more cool? And I actually was, I was very upset about that. And so I wrote, like, an essay on my computer. And I presented it to him, and I read it to him why I didn't like that note. How'd that go over? He was like, no, I agree.

It was a bad note. He was like, honestly, I can't believe I gave you that note. And after I said that, I was like, ah, what the fuck? Why did I give you that note? Prepare your ears, humans. Happy, Sad, Confused begins now. I'm Josh Horowitz, and today on Happy, Sad, Confused, Mikey Madison is here.

You've heard about Enora. I'm obsessed with this movie. It is fantastic. Everybody that has seen it falls in love with it, falls in love with her performance. She's been working a while, but this is a very special moment for Mikey in this film. So I'm so thrilled that's brought her to the podcast

for the very first time. Welcome. Thank you. Thanks for having me. It's great to meet you, honestly. I know it's been a journey and it's going to continue. This is, as I said to you when we sat down, it's all for a good cause, but it's a lot of work

to talk about a movie for six months on nonstop. It is. No, I'm good. It's interesting. I've never experienced anything quite like this. But, no, I'm lucky. I'm privileged to be in this position. And I've always dreamed of being in a film like this.

So to me, it's all worth it. Even if at times you're, it is a lot of talking. And it's a lot of meaning. Don't you know the story of Anora by now? Don't you know how I came to it, guys? I've said the story a thousand times, but. I know. And some people are so good at that.

Like some of my co-stars are able to kind of get into repeating the same story. I've noticed even with some of the same pauses, and I'm like, how do you do that? It's another acting exercise, isn't it? Because it's like, and I literally just had another, a very similar kind of conversation. So I talked to Paul Meskell at the end of his gladiator to Press Tour. Right.

And like, similar to you, this is a year of transformation, like a different kind. He's been working for a minute, but this is a whole other level. And it's, it's, it's different muscles. It's different energy. And it's, for those of us that have active minds, and it sounds like you have one like me, it's like you're in your own head. You're like, I've told this story. How can this be interesting to you?

But the truth is everybody hasn't heard it and we're spreading the good word, so it is what it is. Well, I think it's mostly, I mean, I'm very much so an introvert. And so it's just that emotional energy because I'm an introvert, but I do, I love people and I love talking to them. And so I want to connect with someone and look in their eyes. And then sometimes it just becomes a lot and it's overwhelming and you have to try to push through that. So I find myself with plenty of physical energy. It's just the emotional energy that at times starts to dwindle. Right.

Okay. Well, we're getting you at the beginning of the day. You can take a little nap after this conversation. No, I'm good. I'm very happy to do this. I just, yeah. I get it. Last night to set the scene for folks watching or listening was Gotham Awards, which is like one of those crazy rooms to be in.

And you're going to be in a bunch of rooms the next few months. But like, it's everyone from, you know, Angelina Jolie and Timothy Chalomey. and like legends and icons, what's that experience like for you? Are you able to enjoy that? Yes, I've made some nice friends recently that I've been seeing frequently, so it's always nice to see a friendly face. Everyone's been very kind to me, so I don't know, it's interesting. Who are the ones that have started to recur?

Like, I saw, I was watching a red carpet interview last night, and it's like, oh, Demi Moore just jumped in to say hi. Like, this is your wife now. I love, I love Demi. Demi is wonderful, and also we both, I mean, when we just talk about dogs and rescue, and she's just sweet, nice, very, very kind woman. So I always love seeing her, and Coleman won last night, and I'm so happy for him because I just recently saw Sing Sing Sing. It's amazing. It's amazing. And he is so, I mean, he is really one of those actors that just has this presence.

You can't take your eyes off. The voice, everything. The voice. It's this commanding energy and this deep emotionality that he's able to tap into. And then also he's just an incredibly kind, sweet person. So I always love seeing him. But yeah, to see his film recently, I mean, oh, absolutely incredible. One of my favorites this year, I think.

It's great to see someone like him who's, you know, a different stage in his life. And like in just in the last few years, it's like the world discovered. I mean, a lot of people knew Coleman Domingo's work, but like to see him now get these kind of opportunities. It's like it's his time and I'm so happy for him. I saw actually the other night I didn't met with Natasha Leone. And I saw them later that night, I see photos of you, Natasha, Coleman. Brian Tyree Henry again cool crowd to hang out with so such sweet people yeah everyone's been very nice I think a lot of people have sort of just swooped in and I think people can sense

my like vulnerable energy perhaps right protecting you it's going to be okay might be no but it's it's nice I do also feel generally that I've met so many amazing women that I look up to have looked up to my entire career and I feel this like connection through womanhood and just women like being there for me and I'm trying to be there for other women as well and I really feel that right and it's nice because I've always wanted that do you know what I mean to have that camaraderie and that sort of I don't know it's it's it's nice I I feel it. Yeah, you're going to come away from this whole bizarre experience with a lot of new friends

and mentors and amazing experiences, to say the least. I mean, when you look at your career, does any year hold a candle to 2024 just in sheer madness and energy and unexpectedness for you? Is this the year that stands out? I think so, yes. but I've had, like other years, that stand out in terms of growth, a personal experience, I think, things that make you who you are. I've had years that have been really difficult, but that's made me a better actor.

But I think just in terms of travel and changes that feel sort of like outside of my world, I felt I've been recognizing that a lot more, if that can make sense. It does make sense. It's a year of first. It's like, I'm sure you've probably been to award shows, maybe with better things or once. Never. Oh, really? No.

Oh, so that is a first. Yes. And like late night talk shows. And like it's like all these things again, you didn't sign up for early on. You were smart young woman. You knew this could potentially happen, I suppose, but it's not. I never thought any of this would happen. Well, no.

didn't, like, realistically, ever see that for myself. But obviously, I think, you know, you daydream about being in a film like this. Or I definitely did. And then all, like, these very interesting things that come with it. I was like, oh, I've been very pleasantly surprised by all of it.

Yeah. So let's, OK, before we get into the substance of the film, I guess the launching point was Cannes, which has got to be quite a launching pad for a movie. This movie won the Palm Door, the major prize there. What was your, I mean, had you seen the film prior to getting to Cannes? What was your level of confidence in what you had done? I had seen it a couple days before in its entirety in a very small screening room

with Sean and some people who are close to me. And Sean had invited me into the editing room because I was you know we were we were heavily collaborating for a long time on this film and he was like you want to come into the editing room and I was like hardcore avoiding it for like a year I was like no no and at this point I was like I can't go it's it's almost done and then there was a point where I was like okay I'm ready to see it and he's like well I'm not ready for you to see it now and so yes I'm driving to Burbank to go see it for the first

time I was oh my god I was so scared and nervous because everything so much had been building up to this moment and I like I put all of myself into making this film and I was like I hope I just I hope I did the character justice I hope I did my job I hope I don't I don't know I had hopes for it yeah and we'll get to kind of like the creation of the film I mean you're so invested obviously in all works, but you're a creative collaborator in this, unlike any other experience, fair to say in your career. So when you see the final product, it's not just you serving the director's vision, that's your vision on screen too, as it were.

Those are your ideas. So you've got to feel probably more heavily invested than you ever have before, I would imagine, as the images started to flicker. In a lot of ways, yes. And I think I also had sort of delved deeper into the process of bringing this character to life. And she was so different from me, so different from any character I've ever played. And I threw myself into some, for me, what felt like really big transformations. And so it was, I was like, I wonder what it's going to feel like to see this.

Because I had been avoiding it. So what was the sense? So it ends. You watch the movie. Is it a sigh of relief? Is it? Yes, of course, because the anticipation of anything is always more.

It's always more. I don't think it's a disaster. I think it's actually kind of good. Am I right, Sean? That's a good movie. I loved it. But I think just, I mean, that's just how anxiety works, at least for me.

The anticipation is worse than actually going to do something or to talk to someone or to see your work. But no, I love. loved it, but I think the first time I watched it, it was hard for me to get a sense of the film as a whole, because I'm sort of just, you're looking at certain things, and I was thinking about it more from an actor's perspective as opposed to as an audience member. But then when I saw it can a few days later for the second time, I was able to sit back

and I'm like, we already saw it. There's not going to be any surprises or shots. And then you get to see what we all weren't. and I learned the first time I saw it is it's a true audience film it's like a film where the audience goes on that ride and I don't know you feel it didn't you you must have felt it in that room and in subsequent screenings thank you yes I did but also I I had never been to a film festival before right I didn't really know what to expect and also I think I wasn't used to being in a theater like that

with that many people, all cinema lovers. And so it was interesting. People were hysterically laughing, cheering, and then completely silent at the end. And Sean and I looked at each other and we were like, oh, okay, I guess. I guess people are just silent. We were like, OK, that's that.

But I think it was just the shock of the last scene had sort of quieted the audience for a bit. Yeah, yeah. Okay, we'll get to that in a bit too. But, all right, so let's go all the way back, if you'll indulge me, okay? Little Mikey growing up, LA kid. Yes.

Acting didn't come first as the first passion, but were you an extrovert as a kid? Were you like song and dance girl? No, you weren't. Oh my gosh, no. No, no, no. I'm so painfully shy. Yes.

Were you extroverted? I was super shy. Really? This is the performance version of me. Okay. This is how we get it out. No, it's true. I mean, like you, it sounds like, I mean, when the cameras turn on and you have the material, you can summon that part of yourself.

Well, I think it's under the guise of somebody else. Right. You know, so to me, it doesn't feel like, it doesn't feel like me. Right. I mean, I'm all clearly the vessel for the character. Right. But I think in my head, the experience. is that it's somebody completely different for me and and there's this safety net

underneath you because you're you're making a film were you so you say we're shy kid like where are you in the sibling dynamic youngest oldest middle I have two older sisters and then I have a twin brother and I have a brother who's 13 months younger what about you I'm the youngest of three oh are you yeah so I think you know they weren't paying attention to me I can go read in the corner. Go see movies. Really?

I thought the youngest is always the baby of the family. Well, yeah. They definitely babyed me, but they also I feel like left me to my own devices for good or for bad. Interesting. Yeah. So a lot of, skipped a lot of school and watched a lot of movies while they weren't looking in high school. Did you?

But that served me well, Mikey. It worked out. So for you, shy kid, so when did you find an outlet? And I know it was horseback riding was like the first kind of passion. Yeah. Well, I've always loved animals and, I mean, it's still the biggest love of my life are animals. And so I grew up horseback riding. I was sitting on a horse before I could even really walk. And so that was my biggest love. Everything that I did was related to horseback riding and animals. And so I basically lived at the horse barn I wrote at Foxfield in my place.

And yeah, that was my life. And I even started homeschooling myself so that I could be at the barn more often. Wow, okay. So when do you feel like you found, I mean, found a voice, found a tribe of people, found like a community. Was it other writers? Was it when you shifted into acting? Kind of like when did you come out of your shell a little bit, you feel? Well, I think just as I've gotten older.

But even when I, I don't know if I ever really found my tribe necessarily until fairly recently. I think I've always just been more of a, that's the word I'm looking at. It sounds so weird to say like more of a lone wolf type. Yeah, I get it. But yeah, I think so. Wait, did you, this might be too, we're going down the Jewelie path. Were you about Mitzvud, Nike? No, I wasn't.

I wasn't. I wasn't. I'm like the only hardwoods that was not bar mitzvah. Maybe we should get a joint late-in-life bar in bat mitzvah, Mikey. Yeah, that wouldn't be embarrassing at all. You'd become a man, finally. I'd become a woman at 25. I'm thinking about this because my nieces are getting a double bat mitzvah next week.

Oh, are they? So it's a lot of pressure on me to learn stuff that I have never, I never went to Hebrew school, never did anything. I didn't either, yeah. We're bad Jews, but we're good people, just bad Jews. Yeah, I would always say growing up, I was like a proud non-practicing. I'm with you.

Culturally Jewish. Yeah, well, no, I'm a very spiritual person, but I just wasn't raised that way. But my dad, you know, had a big one in Israel. Oh, wow. Okay. But for some reason, we just, we didn't do it. I don't know why. It's okay.

Again, again, we're going to do it. Okay. Okay. day you finally ask for that big promotion. You're in front of your mirror with your Starbucks coffee. Be confident. Assertive. Remember eye contact, but also remember to blink. Smile, but not too much. That's weird. What if you aren't any good at your job? What if they demoed you instead? Okay, don't be silly. You're smart, you're driven, you're going to be late if you keep talking to the mirror. This promotion is yours. Go get them. Starbucks, it's never just

coffee. Oh, hi, buddy. Who's the best? You are. I wish I could spend all day with you instead. Uh, Dave, you're off mute. Hey, happens to the best of us. Enjoy some goldfish cheddar crackers.

Goldfish have short memories. Be like goldfish. Okay, so when do you start to perform and how does it happen? I think when I was maybe 13 or 14, I became really interested in film and I've always loved movies. And so something, some curiosity was sparked in me about wanting to explore, understand what that might feel like or who these people are that are making these films. And I had no, I mean, nobody in my family is in the industry. And so I think in my head, I loved John Hughes films. I loved, you know, like films from the 80s, classic coming of age movies.

And so I was obsessed with Pretty in Pink and 16 Candles. And so I had seen Pretty in Pink, and I felt so inspired by that film, so moved by it. And I was like, I feel like I need to connect myself to something within this. And I was like, well, maybe I want to be a fashion designer or seamstress. And so I took sewing lessons, and I was like, hmm. Maybe not, plan B. I made a Hawaiian shirt. Oh.

And I made my mom an apron. And I was like, this isn't it. This isn't. A lucrative apron business by Mikey Madison. It's actually, I wore that apron cooking Thanksgiving dinner just a couple days ago. There you go. You're still getting good use out of it. Yeah.

Once a year, it gets used by me making Thanksgiving dinner for my family. So you meant, yeah, I've heard you mention the John Hughes movies I've heard you clearly have good taste. You've mentioned Princess Diaries, Stand by Me. You run the gamut, Mikey. What were the films like you could recite by heart? Like if I caught you at 13 or 14, what were you obsessed with? Recite by heart. Well, I could probably recite almost famous by heart now.

That's a good one. I watched that film every day on my birthday. Really? That's a tradition. Yeah. Penny Lane, like just the whole. Oh, all of it, just all of it. All the characters, the women, and the band.

I just adore that film, and it's very nostalgic to me. Is there a film that you can recite by her? I mean, a thousand. It's the only thing I'm upset. This is my life. Yeah, almost famous is up there. Cameron Crow, early Cameron Crow is very special. Yeah, yeah.

I'm just thinking of like I've quoted that movie so many times. I'm just one of the out-of-focus guys. So good. So good. Yeah, whenever I'm, like, about to jump into a pool. Right, you're a golden god. Everyone's like, what? Are you, you have mentioned Princess Diaries.

Do you see a part for you in the long-awaited Princess Diaries three, which apparently is actually happening, Mikey? Is it happening? Yeah, I think it actually. Oh, God. I love those films. You like Royal Engagement as well. You like the second one.

Yes, of course. The first one, I think, is obviously my favorite. The second is great, too. We have Chris Pine involved, and we get that. I mean, if there's a role for me, I would be there in a heartbeat. But regardless, I'm just excited to see what they'll possibly make again. Can you imagine? Because I think it's, I mean, I grew up with those films.

Julie Andrews. The best icon. Yeah. So anything on the Josh Horowitzy-gey side of things, it will surprise you to no end. I'm sure to know that I was, of course, comic book, Star Wars, you know, Lord of the Rings, all that stuff. I mean, I love it all. Anything on that side of the ledger that you, were you a genre person?

Are you a genre person or is it not your thing? I do love horror film. I love to watch horror film. One of, it's, if like if I'm home alone, I'm like, I'd like to just put something on. Yeah. I honestly never quite got into, like, sci-fi yet. Okay. You're young yet.

You got time. But I do appreciate that, and it's interesting to sort of, I mean, there's such huge fan bases for those films, and I like that community, I think, is nice that people have created around those genres. Yeah, and then, of course, obviously, we can talk about this now, is going to talk later, scream, when you get involved in that, is that an odd one then almost an outsider entering that as an iconic part of that friend? Did that give you, was the distance almost helpful to not, I don't know, not have the baggage of pressure that it wasn't necessarily part of your DNA for those films?

I mean, I was completely unaware of the fan base, I think, ignorantly unaware. And obviously now I know how incredible that community is and how much people adore those films. those films. But for me, I was just like, God, this seems like a really fun character. And in the middle of the pandemic, I'm going to get to like leave my parents' house and go film this fun movie that's going to make people laugh and scream and have a good time at the theaters. Like, this is a no-brainer job for me. And then also that they were interested in me being like one of these, like the twist at the end. I was like, ah, this sounds fun. I would love to do this. So obviously, afterwards, I learned.

This is kind of a big deal. To be, A, to be in a screen movie, and then B, to be one of the killers. So fun. Amazing. Jack Wade's become a buddy in recent years. So you've got to. Isn't he the sweetest guy? No, if somebody has a bad word, say, about Jack Wade, question their humanity because he's the best.

Oh, of course. He really is. And I should reach out to him because he's, he's just like, he's like a good man. you know what I mean like just like a nice like grounded considering where he came from I mean his parents like superstars like how do how are you that well adjusted considering it all you know it's true because he is so completely unique Jack grounded I always forgot who his parents were right we just did a 10th anniversary event for my podcast at your Comic Con and Jack we had David Harbor on the panel from Stranger Things and I convince Jack I'm like What if you come out dressed as a demigorgon to surprise David? He's like, great idea. Sounds like something he would want to do. The best, the best.

Did you ever get a chance to see, considering the pandemic and all that, to see a crowd react to you being revealed as the killer in screen? No, I don't think I did. No. That's a shame. I'm thinking about all your films. They all have kind of what, they're great audience movies, especially pertaining to things that happen with your character.

All right, so let's backtrack, better things. the legend that is Pamela Adelon. Did you realize the opportunity, the uniqueness of that opportunity when it came around at first? I was, I think I was almost 16 when we shot the pilot and so I was auditioning, going through pilot season and auditioning, oh gosh, hundreds of times probably and I really liked the script of the pilot I thought the character was interesting and I was a fan of the creators of this show yep and so to me I thought oh this is something interesting I really loved it and I felt like oh maybe I actually have a real possible shot here yeah and then I got the pilot which was

an absolute huge dream come true for me. I remember getting it and like jumping up and down on my bed. I was like, this is, I cannot believe that this is going to be my life that I got this this job. And then obviously it lasted for so long and I was able to kind of, like I was like I started the show a girl and then I kind of left a woman which is quite interesting. But yeah, I'm so grateful for that experience because I think it, I mean, it gave me some security. I learned so much on that show. I learned what it takes to be an actress. Just the basics of being on a set, too, I would imagine, right?

Of course, yeah. And to have a model like Pamela is pretty cool, too, as a woman driving the ship of something like that. Fantastic. Well, to see someone who has such a clear vision of what they want to make. Yeah. It's completely her vision. Like she, in the end, you know, she was writing, directing, producing, and starring in it. And so to watch behind the scenes of how someone makes that work, I mean, that's her dream, her dream project that she'd waited so long to make.

And so I think it was definitely like, oh, I see that someone is able to do this. A lot of those descriptions could apply to someone like Quentin Tarantino, someone who is passionate, has a singular vision. I mean, it's an accomplishment, honestly, just to get in the room with Quentin and get that opportunity, right? Because, I mean, I've heard all the stories, and Quentin's been on the podcast, so I know all about his methodology and the unique way he runs auditions to the way he runs a set. I bet you guys had a wonderful conversation. He's the best. I mean, two film gigs talking for now. come on but um that audition process uh he's he's reading with you right he he loves

I mean he's an actor he's a ham and he's a good actor too actually so what were you reading were you reading the part you eventually played and who was he how was he interacting with you what do you remember no I I was reading a part that I was originally cast in so it was a different character which is a story for another time okay I yeah they they gave me some sides and they said Quentin, maybe we'll be here, maybe he won't. And I was like, oh gosh, I hope he'll be here because he was one of my favorite,

still one of my favorite filmmakers. I think he's, he is absolutely iconic legend, one of the most brilliant people I've ever met. So kind, so loving, and so I was very excited about that, very nervous. But I knew Vicky, the casting director of Betten's so, I remember sitting in the audition room and it was sort of like this room, it was all glass door so I could like see everyone that was walking in and going out and it was very interesting and I had brought this painting I made and I was wearing this like very loud 60s outfit

and I had no shoes and I really just committed to it and I was like maybe I can hide my painting behind the chair so I don't have to bring it in because I feel like maybe this is too much. much. And then I was like, ah, screw it, I'm just going to do it, whatever. So how does that play out the painting part of it? Like he walks in, you're like, I brought you this painting? Like, I don't know, I was 19 and baldy. I mean, I love it.

It got you the role partially, so good for you. Well, I think they had said, casting had said something like you, you can read the sites we sent and then also if you want to. do something else you're welcome to like if you want to write a monologue or sing a song I think they said and I was like well I don't want to do those but I'll do something else does he need an apron

perhaps I could do that if I was 12 maybe I could probably make him an apron in a sewing class a children's sewing class yeah but I was really into painting at the time and so I turned my parents garage into a little

studio and so I really made this sort of acid trippy painting and I was like, well, let's go a step further and I sewed a piece of my hair into it and I wrote this poem and just presented it to him in a very dramatic fashion and it was fun. You know, you don't get to do that in audition. Who is the painting now? Quentin has it, yes. I hope he has it. I don't know actually. I'm assuming maybe it's somewhere, but I knew that I had the role, because when I walked into the chemistry read, it was hanging up.

And I was like, oh, that means something. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So that's a role. I mean, everybody's so good in that movie. Talk about, like, a modern classic. Like, I've watched that movie so many times. I mean, you have to go for it, especially, like, towards the end

when you really get to chew on some stuff. Like, talk about an acid trip. You're high as a kite. You're out there. Yes. Like, what are his directions to you? Can you go too big? in that scene in the car

and in the house, what do you recall of what kind of approaching that? He's wonderful. He's so trusting of his actors, I think because he has that he just has this vision. And so he brings people into his films that he, I think he

lets us discover where the scene will take us as we go. And so we took a long time to shoot that car scene specifically. And so I had never, played a character like that before and I mean I was still a teenager and I think that as the scene evolved and as we were sort of playing with with it we were able to get it to this more frenetic place that just felt right and fun and I mean

in real life those people were in the backseat of that car which is which was a real replica of the car that those that group from the Manson family drove to to that home and so it was pretty eerie and they were snorting coke out of a baby bottle and so that's what was actually happening and so we were kind of talking about that and we're like well you know I was sort of getting into this different headspace and Quentin was like that let's just keep keep where you're at right now let's keep going with this sort of energy and God it was so fun to to play a character like that I had never I mean some of the dialogue you get to recite in that car.

Oh, so much. And there was so much, too, that ended up on the cutting room floor that was just absolutely bonkers and so much fun. More bonkers than what ended up in the film. To remember. I think there were some, like, just, oh, I mean, Quentin is one-of-a-kind screenwriter. And his...

Got away with profanity and any... everything in anything he can make it beautiful we can make it like gorgeous the listen to yeah but in a way that is it's it's so in his um there's a rhythm to how he writes yeah and you see it all over every page yes every page of his scripts and so i think there was this one line i can't remember but i gave him like an actual 60s like butcher knife at the end of production i think I think I inscribed one of these, one of the quotes of my character that was on the cutting room floor, but pretty, pretty nuts. But it's so fun and I think it really opened me up as an actress into a different kind

of acting that I, like more of more to be possibly more of a character actress at times. And I was also able to watch Austin Butler, who is so amazing and he, I had never seen actors work in that particular way in terms of like emotional preparation and I was able to watch him have the curtains pulled back and see how an actor like that works and it really inspired me and I feel that I learned a lot watching all these amazing actors do what they do and I was so young and so it was it was nice for me to be like oh maybe this is something I could right I don't know what I get to learn more about. There's a path there. Yeah. No, I mean, no surprise to see what he's done in recent years

to, another gem of a person, as you well know. Bankmore on course when you switch to a Scotia Bank banking package. Learn more at scotiabank.com slash banking packages. Conditions apply. Scotia Bank. You're richer than you think. Are you looking for a movie review show where the critics, is at the top of his or her game, meticulously breaking down and explaining exactly why a film

does or does not work? Well, good luck with the search. Because we're having fun here on Adam does movies. Each and every week, I hit the big blockbusters, I cover the streamers, and I even toss in some movie news for fun. Check out the show on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, on YouTube.

And hopefully, we can do movies together. Hot. All right, so let's get into some more meaty stuff about Anora, because this is, I mean, as we alluded to, and I'm sure most folks listening are watching, I've seen it by now, but, and they probably know Sean Baker's work and his unique approach. But when you meet with Sean, is it, like, what is the initial conversation? Like, it's not the typical audition, here's a script kind of situation. Were you surprised about sort of like how this came about?

I was, yes. I mean, there was no script at all when I met him. And so he had seen, I mean, he literally just, we had coffee. And he said, he just offered me the role right there. He said, he pitched me an idea for, it was more of like a Russian gangster film. Right. About a woman who marries someone and then finds out that she married the wrong person. Yeah.

And I thought it was interesting. And I had seen, loved Tangerine. It's still one of my absolute favorite films of all time. I think it's brilliant work. And I also loved the Florida Project. It was very moved by that. And then in the week leading up to meeting him, I went through the rest of his filmography.

So I read Rocket in theaters. And I was like, God, this is a dream filmmaker to work with. And it was, I definitely tried not to question too much about why he wanted to work with me. Don't second guess it. Don't make him overthink it. No, but then also for me, I think, well, I think I was just protecting myself because I, I was like, don't get too excited, Mikey, because maybe it won't work out in the end,

or I don't know. Right. But yeah, I had never had that experience before, and... So by the time you have this long, ongoing conversation with him, and you do all this research... Yes, yeah. And you actually start shooting the film. shooting the film. Is the script locked? Like, how, like, what is it, again, is it feel like another typical film by then? Or have you locked into what you're doing, or is there still

room to kind of figure it out as you go? So, I mean, he wrote a wonderful script. And so originally it was more of a treatment in a way, what I read. So it was like mostly a script, and then there were some things that we, we filled in. And then it evolved a bit more, and then it was put into script format and um so he he wrote a script he did an incredible one but then in the script there's there's all this room to to fill in the blanks you know he would write paragraph descriptions of a scene and then it's my job to bring that to life and so it was exciting and i'd never worked in that way before um and then obviously as we started shooting i think is our that's our collaboration because I had previously been doing all this work all these

months of preparation and hadn't really showed showed him anything that I was doing and I remember at one point I was like well I've been doing months of pull training maybe I should show him what I've learned like he had never even heard the accent until the first day of filming and so I was like okay like I hope he likes what I've prepared for him but I think that he just was very trusting of me and that we were in a similar headspace but yeah it was things things evolve obviously as you film and it's a testament to him as a filmmaker yeah that he's able to recognize those

changes things that are happening and adjust the film for the better I mean what he does as you all know from being a fan of his work and now a collaborator like he so humanizes and empathizes with all of his characters and often marginalized characters that we're not used to seeing centered in a film. I mean, you know, sex workers are not traditionally, have not traditionally been the butt of jokes or marginalized and all sorts of horrible crap. And like, no matter who you are, you go on the journey with Enora. You relate on some level, I think. I mean, and I know you met with probably women that had been in somewhat similar circumstances. Like, did you, I guess that

has to kind of bleed into your interpretation. What did you take away from the women you met along the journey. Oh, that was the most impactful part of my preparation for the character and was the most influential. I'm so grateful that we were able to bring on consultants to the film because these consultants guided me towards truth and authenticity. And I think that the character in the film

would just be different if we didn't have that, have these incredible women. that I was able to speak to. And so we had multiple consultants and then our chief consultant, Andrea Warehan, is a woman who wrote this beautiful memoir that I connected to. She had this like wicked sense of humor.

And I loved the way that she talked about her work and I felt like, this is like I was just like post-it noting it and like underlining. And I was like, this I feel like, Annie would connect to her. And so, I mean, you said, sorry, sometimes I go off. No, no, this is a podcast of tangents, don't worry. My brain works, too.

You said, what was what I took away from it? Taking away from meeting women along the way in the research process. I mean, I think I went into the research, like, quite open-minded, but Sean is really dedicated to authentic portrayals of sex work. and like you said we don't really get to see that we also don't get to see someone like enjoying their work which I think is nice to see she's Annie is good at her job

and I think she generally likes what she does and I think she takes pride in it too and she's a hustler and so it's you know we don't dramatize it and then we also don't we try not to sensationalize it and so I I liked that part of it. And I also was like, well, I want to go just as far as Sean

and dedicate myself to that authenticity. And so I think I also learned how, I mean, difficult of a job it is in so many ways. Like it's an emotional job, which was something that I didn't quite realize. It's not just physical. You're connecting with someone on this incredibly deep level that you meet right then and there.

have this intimate connection with them. And it's very psychological. And so it was interesting to understand that. And to also implement that into the film and see the way Annie is connecting to all of these different faces. And what that intimacy looks like, what those conversations look like. Yeah, I mean, it's a real job.

It's a difficult job. And I think it's one that deserves more respect, because it's also one of the oldest jobs of all time. Truly, truly. Back to the Bible, yeah, yeah. Literally, yet it's been demonized because of. Yeah. Yeah.

As we alluded to, this movie is connected with everybody that's seen it. And because of that and because of this amazing performance, you're in a really cool place in your career where I'm sure you're getting a chance to meet people that you haven't met before, see scripts, you never would have seen before. And I'm always fascinating talking to folks

like at these pivot points, because now you're going to have more choice than you've ever had before. And most actors have no choice. They take the job that's presented to them. So what's your guiding force idea? What are you chasing now as you make these pivotal next steps, you think? I think that I would love to follow along the path

of filmmaking specifically. Like to me, I think that at the moment, my biggest passion is acting in conjunction with filmmaking. Right. Finding collaborators like the Shans and the Quintons and et cetera. You know, I was never an actor who did theater. Right. I think that my biggest, I love all aspects of filmmaking and being a part of that.

And so to me, I would love to work with like-minded people who also, It's, I mean, working with Sean was such a once-in-a-lifetime experience. Yeah, it kind of spoils you a little bit. There aren't many Sean Baker's out there, as you know. No, there aren't. But there are a lot of, you know, I've been able to discover a lot of, like, a lot, there's so much talent and so many people who are dedicated and in love with the classic way of filmmaking and sort of keeping that alive and that's something I really love too.

So I think it's, for me, I just want to really, I want to keep that connection going. And there's lots of people I dream of working with one day. Are there a few that, are they the same kind of like, you know, people like Luca, Guadino comes up all the time with young actors? Oh, I probably say him too much. No, no. We can manifest things. I mean, I do love him and he's, he's a beautiful filmmaker. Yeah.

I mean, there's so many, sorry, I interrupted you. No, no, exactly what we're talking about. Just like, who are the, I mean, he's somebody had to make sense, especially for younger actors, because he sees all the facets of youth, I feel like. And most anybody, you know, the cliché is like 25 and under roles are pretty thinly written generally. And somehow he really like, I don't know,

gives the respect that everybody deserves the full emotional range that young people go through. So I get why young performers are so excited to talk to collaborate with him. It is true, though, what you said. There's, it's a, I mean, I've seen a lot of what is available right now for someone, my age, or somebody like me, and it's interesting.

I'm like, gosh, like there's such a curiosity and, like, focus on youth, and yet it's so one-dimensional. And I've played those roles before. And I always saw that as a challenge in a way, or something interesting. Like, oh, I've always been grateful for every job I've had. And I've been like, OK, how can I take this character and make her something more complicated, more complex,

more real, and honest. But I've been seeing a little bit of the flip side of that and been able to read some really interesting things and meet some directors who, who, it's, it's It's been different. I've definitely noticed a shift and I'm grateful for that, you know. Well, I'm excited to see what kind of things we're talking about in the future. I'm going to end with this, Mikey.

The happy second fuse profoundly random questions, a little off topic, some of them. Some are important to you. Like the first one, we were talking as you sat down, dogs or cats, controversial because I think you have both. Oh. Um. Um. She has love for both guys.

I do, I, dogs to snuggle cats to admire. Okay, okay. I mean, my cat is, she's very stoic, and she's sort of like, I call her my metronome because she just walks through the house and I see her and she's there and she gives me comfort and she's beautiful to look at, but she doesn't need me. Right. But my dog on the other hand would simply just dissolve into thin air if I wasn't. around and I like being needed like that um what about you you're a hardcore dog yeah I'm obsessed

my Instagram feed is all celebrities and Lucy my my beloved dog so yeah um what do you collect if anything I collect many things but you said collect yes yeah yeah what do you collect it's like a new one I'm incredibly sentimental and so um I I'm sorry many things. Just like I like little beautiful things, little antique things, so like trinkets and anything that evokes some kind of like emotional feeling. So my house is sort of filled with like vintage things, antique things. I used to collect seashells, I have some like jars of seashells, vintage clothing, pottery. Mikey's a secret hoarder.

We're discovering she, no, it's all beautiful things. No, but it's, no, but actually, I swear I'm not a hoarder. No, you're not. These things have sentimental. I am certainly not a minimalist. I will never be a minimalist.

It's just not who I am. What's the wallpaper on your phone? My, oh, my soulmate, my cat, who I had for 17 years, and I just, I will never be able to change that wallpaper. Do you collect anything? Again, I'm very on-brand. A lot of movie posters.

Okay, I was going to say, do you have, like, lots of Blu-Rays? Yeah, I wish I was that guy that could say, I've got a 10,000, you know, 4K, I don't as much as I should, given who I am. But movie posters. You don't need you. Movie posters, and they're thin, too. You could just...

But I had nowhere to put them. I live in New York City, and, like, real estate is at a premium. I need, like, a giant house. No, but you know what? you should get, you should get one of those architect desks where you pull out and they have all the space where you can lay the posters and put a piece of tissue paper in between them. I like it. I'm going to consult with my wife, I'm just going to be angry at you for suggesting that we had that. Sorry, it's actually going to leave more space because you can just collect them

and stack. I do have a lot of just like poster tubes, like spilling out of my like closets. But this is better you take the tubes away. And then they can be flat and they could be preserved. I love it. I love it. Last actor you were mistaken for? I've never been mistaken for another actor. Truly, okay.

There's only one. No, I don't mean it like that. But, you know, I've always wanted to like play someone. Yeah. And I've never been cast in those roles because nobody, I'll be like, oh, maybe I could play this person. And everyone's like, no, you cannot. Who is one? Give me one that you wanted to play. I'm trying to think.

You cast it out of your mind. No, there have been like real life people people are making films about and I just, everyone's like, nope. I don't see it, nope. Do you get mistaken for anybody? No, no, I don't. No.

What's the worst note of director has ever given you? To like be cooler. I remember one time a director's like, can you just do it more cool? And I actually was, I was very upset about that. And so I wrote like an essay on my computer, and I presented it to him, and I read it to him why I didn't like that note, which is... How'd that go over? He was like, no, I agree. It was a bad note.

He was like, honestly, I can't believe I gave you that note. And after I said that, I felt, I was like, ah, what the fuck? Why did I give you that note? I was, I don't know why I decided to read him. this monologue, but we're good friends, and he's a wonderful director. But it was just, I remember it was funny. And I was like, I'm going to sit down and write this.

Why I tell me why you wanted to be. I was, you know, being dramatic. Oh my God. OK, finally, happy second few is an actor who always makes you happy. You see them on screen. You're in a good mood. Oh, I love Alana Glazer. I love the Broad City Girls.

Yeah, yeah. And so every time I watch that show, I feel happy. Love it. Movie that makes you sad? Uh, whenever I'm asked questions like this, I'm like, I've never seen a movie before. Yeah, exactly, I get it. Pixar movie, a Princess Diaries to the Royal Engagement, make you cry. What do you got?

Oh, uh, uh, um, um, mom. Mama, I blew up the kid. Oh, wait, honey I blew up? Mommy, I blew up. Mama, yeah. No, not Mama. Honey, I blew up the kid. Honey, I blew up the kid.

So, not Honey I Shrunk the Kids, the sequel, Honey I blew up the kid. It's, yeah. I have to go back and I don't recall that being so emotional. Why can I say Mama? This is like a Freudian slip. Mama get me out of this interview, help. No, no. No, I think I remember because I cried to my mother after seeing none, so it's very, yeah.

We went deep. And lastly, a food that makes you can. A food? Yeah. You see it on the menu? Beats. I don't understand why people like them. Yeah.

But I know that they're good for you and I want... A lot of things good for you. It doesn't matter. Does it taste good? No. No. I'm with you. You're also confused me.

This is not a food. Sparklin water. Really? I don't like... I hate sparkling water. Are you against all carbonated beverages? No, I like... I like some like sodas sometimes. like sodas sometimes but I just sparkling water is disgusting it tastes like

batteries and I want to like it because I think it's very elegant yeah it's like spicy water it's classy water yeah but I don't like it right well we got to a special place that by the end no therapy session for you this week needed no thank you for letting me unload all of that yeah well anytime anytime it's been a long time coming I've been following your work for a minute and and And to see you really just kill it in this one and get all the accolades that you deserve is fantastic. Enjoy the wild ride.

And I'm sure I'll see you later on in this crazy cycle. But truly, thank you for the time today. No, thank you. It was lovely conversation. And so ends another edition of happy, sad, confused. Remember to review, rate, and subscribe to this show on iTunes or wherever you get your podcasts. I'm a big podcast person.

I'm Daisy Ridley, and I definitely wasn't present. Do this by Josh. Are you looking for a movie review show where the critic is at the top of his or her game, meticulously breaking down and explaining exactly why a film does or does not work? Well, good luck with the search. Because we're having fun here on Adam does movies. I talk to you like we just got done seeing a movie together,

giving you the pros and cons, and I'm digging in the trenches, in the mud and muck, on streaming services, Telling you which films are worth your time. Each and every week, I hit the big blockbusters, I cover the streamers, and I even toss in some movie news for fun. Because this show, as Adam does movies.

I'm obviously Adam. I probably should have led with that. But perhaps I have led you to check out the show on Spotify, on Apple Podcasts, on YouTube. And hopefully, we can do movies together. Hoo-hoo-hoo! Hot.