Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum - HEATHER GRAHAM: Betting on Yourself, Boogie Nights Reflections & Valuing True Independence
Episode Date: October 8, 2024Heather Graham (Boogie Nights, The Gunslingers) joins us this week to share the addictive side to Hollywood and the pride she has in being able to be her own boss and create on her terms… like with ...the new film she has written, directed, and starred in: Chosen Family. Heather shares her experience in Boogie Nights, how she threw caution to the wind to capture lightning in a bottle and the fallout that came afterwards. We also talk about bringing women into Westerns, seeing something through that you believe in, and the Catch-22 of smarts and attraction. Thank you to our sponsors: ❤️ Betterhelp: https://betterhelp.com/inside 🏈 PrizePicks: https://prizepicks.com/inside 🌟 JCPenney: https://www.jcpenney.com __________________________________________________ 💖 Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/insideofyou 👕 Inside Of You Merch: https://store.insideofyoupodcast.com/ __________________________________________________ Watch or listen to more episodes! 📺 https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/show __________________________________________________ Follow us online! 📸 Instagram: https://instagram.com/insideofyoupodcast/ 🤣 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@insideofyou_podcast 📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/insideofyoupodcast/ 🐦 Twitter: https://twitter.com/insideofyoupod 🌐 Website: https://www.insideofyoupodcast.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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You're listening to Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum and Ryan Tears is in the house.
Ryan.
What what voice was that?
Oh, God.
I'm annoying people already.
I can't think of what the character is.
I don't know.
Don't you now?
Just a guy trying to make sure everyone at the party's having a great time.
I don't know.
It's a cross between William Shetner and Ace Ventura.
I don't know.
Anyway, thanks for listening.
thanks for making this podcast yours if you're here for heather graham all i ask is if you like the
interview and you're like no this guy doesn't suck please follow us and support us and listen to us and
subscribe that's it at the uh at inside of you podcast on facebook and instagram at inside of you pod on
the tweeter or x x as it's called so i hope you'll enjoy that a few things before we get
started i've got this puppy fresh product here it's online you can get it on
Amazon. It's my picture with my two doggies and you just put a cat full in your dog's bowl
and their breath is a lot better. I use it every day. No brushing. It's a dental rinse.
Just add your dog's water and it's tasteless odorless. I'll never know and they'll have better
breath. And last but not least, my new book, The Talented Farter. It is out. Please get one of these.
It's a sound book and it's wonderfully illustrated and it's about a boy whose only talent is
farting and this is uh him on the 4th of july because the fireworks fizzled and didn't work so he
created his own fireworks and uh well this is what happens see how they sound like fireworks he could
make his butt sound like anything it's pretty amazing the talented farter get it while
supplies last um i love the book and i hope everyone else will um i think that's about it
Go on my Instagram at the Michael Rosenbaum, Linktree for cameos and all that stuff and cons and all that jazz.
The inside of you online store is available with a lot of Smallville merch, lunch boxes, Lexmas scripts, and other cool stuff.
Without further ado, let's get inside of the very lovely, I've wanted to get her here for so long, so many years, and that's not a lie.
I did a movie with her and nobody saw that movie, but we had a great scene together and she's awesome.
And let's get inside of Heather Graham.
It's my point of you
You're listening to Inside of You
With Michael Rosenbaum
Inside of You
Inside of You with Michael Rosenbaum
Was not recorded in front of a live studio audience
You know, I'm sitting here with a writer, actor,
director
I mean
That's sweet, thanks
I mean, it's cool
It's like, you know, do you think that
I just get right in?
into it. Yeah, go for it. I mean, do you just think that you sort of get bored? I saw fly. Do you see it?
I've never had a fly in here. It's real life. Yeah. But do you ever feel like a lot of times
we get bored or it's the same all thing? We don't really have a lot of control. We, you know,
I want to write something. I want to direct something. I want to, is it something that you wanted to
just see if you could do it? Or was it something that you're like, you're really passionate about from
the beginning. I think it's just as a woman in the business, you know, I wanted to see more
female stories told by women. And so I thought, I'll make it. And I guess I made the kind
of movie that I'd want to watch. Chosen family. Yeah. Just something that was kind of inspiring
and just about my journey in some ways. And just as something that's meaningful to me. You know,
sometimes I love being in movies just as an actor and telling a story that's not really personal,
but I wanted to just tell a story that really meant something to me.
Yeah, because it is personal.
And was that hard because I know, like, you know, your parents had, you and your parents
had differences, you know, you wanted to do certain things.
They may have held you back.
There was a certain feeling that you had, I guess, as a child that you felt like eventually
I needed to let this out this way.
This is healthy for me.
This is therapy in a way.
Yeah, I guess, you know, movies I like.
A lot of directors I like, they tell stories that feel personal and there's something about it.
You think, oh, this feels kind of real.
So I get inspired by that sort of stuff.
So I wanted to make something like that.
Even though it's not exactly real, like a lot of it's made up, but something that feels like it comes from a real place.
Did you ever get any heat from your family members or anybody say, why did you depict us like that?
Because, you know, that's bound to happen.
Yeah.
Well, I'm estranged from them.
So there's no relationship at all.
No.
well there you go so you're not going to get any flag for that i'm not going to get black that i know of
but was it difficult for you you think to to to write this because you could tell it's passionate and
it's like it's heartwarming because as a child and we're talking about chosen family still
select theaters and on demand awesome um but i think as a child i used to escape to my parent to my
friend's houses because their parents, I always wish they were my parents. Wow. And a lot of ways.
So you can relate. You had some challenges with your family. And I love my mother and father.
But, you know, for whatever reason, I was drawn to my friend's parents and whether it was the cutters
down the street or the shepherds or the lorleys or whoever it was, the Idlemen's. I remember
these families and some i remember being at their house and mrs idleman once said does your mom know
you're here you've been here for five days i go well summer she doesn't care you know and i just now i
want to know more about your family i just felt like i was more a part of something and then i did
similar with you had more in common maybe or i felt i think i felt more liked right right right by other
and maybe that wasn't true maybe i'm sure they loved me and all that but for some reason i just felt like
an outsider in my family in a lot of ways. I just felt like I was sort of the dumb kid,
the not together, not that smart, not that tall, not that, you just in. Well, look, you've
proved them wrong. Well, I guess. You're very tall. And smart. But do you ever, do you ever think
that we still don't lose that, that feeling we had as a child, which keeps us the burning
desire to prove ourselves? Yeah. I mean, I feel like, I think I read like Leonardo DiCaprio say
something like, where you always feel like you're that kid when you were growing up, even if you're
not, like, because I was a nerd and I was felt like I was awkward and not really getting a lot of
attention. There's always that part of you that always still feels like that, even if your life isn't
like that. Yeah. Well, you say you're a nerd. I can't imagine you being a nerd. I should give
you a photo. Well, I can't look at like boogie nights and think that you were a nerd. But I had
helped by that point. I was like 26 at that point. But no, but when I was like 15, 16, I had some pretty
bad style, some pretty bad hair and makeup. I mean, I was so cute, but but I looked really awkward.
really i could i'll send you some photos please do yeah i mean i still was like a cute cutie but
i look really you could totally see the nerdiness for sure well people assume i had a mullet
you did yeah it was like a shirt and then little pieces came down and i curled them i had some
very bad hair styles and also very bad clothing my senior year from my senior picture my friend tom
called me spock he said you look like spock like spock took her his senior picture the people love
Spock. That's not so bad. Well, I mean, I'd rather not be called Spock, but we're you and you're
smart. Like you like people assume. Right. People say, oh, she's beautiful. She's talent. She's
gorgeous. She's this. She's that. They just assume. They don't realize that maybe you had a tough
childhood. Maybe you were a nerd. Maybe your grades were really good. No, my grades were so good.
And it's funny because I have a pitch with a friend right now about sort of feeling like people
don't really understand you, but what I grew up, not being seen as attractive and getting
like extremely high grades and being in advanced placement classes. And then I was getting
cast in these roles where I was like the pretty girl at school. And I felt like it was so
weird. Like I was projecting this thing that I wasn't in my real life. Was that hard for you?
It was fun. Because even though I was smart, I was like, I don't care about being smart.
I just want to be pretty. You know, and I just felt like the pretty girls got all the attention.
And I'm like, I want to be one of the pretty girls. But then if people do think you're pretty,
you're like, but wait, I'm smart. And now you don't see that anymore. And then I got a
And what did you do when you got annoyed?
I just was like, I would need to write and direct a movie.
And finally you did.
I finally did.
I don't think, because I've done it, I wrote direct and started in this raunchy comedy
that I wrote that I love.
And I had no idea how difficult it was.
It's so hard.
Being the lead in your own movie is, you're so tired.
Yeah.
Because you're doing everything.
And it's stressful.
It's so stressful.
What did you shoot, chose?
family how many days did you have oh we were supposed to have 15 which is like nothing and then we
ended up with 14 which is 14 days or 100 and something pages it was insane did you ever lose your
cool oh yeah every night I was like you know my brain was it was hard to fall asleep because my brain
was going like whoa wow wow you know did you ever snap on set what the fuck are we doing
uh not as much just yelling at people more like inside like oh you know like uh like like we need to go
again, we didn't get that. I mean, more like I was flipping out on the inside than like screaming
at people. Do you feel like it's difficult? Like you don't want everybody to think it's all about
you. So in the beginning, you're kind of getting focused on everybody else's takes. And
somebody did somebody say, hey, Heather, you're the lead in the movie. You have to give yourself
time. Well, luckily, you know, my best friend, Michael Nichols, he's actually was the producer,
a producer on the movie. And he, he would watch some of the takes that I was in so that he could,
you know, give me like, oh, you need another take or things like that. And one of the characters
actually is based on him, the character that Thomas Lennon plays of just like her best friend.
He's so funny. And he's so dry. I know he's so dry. Yeah, I've known him a long time.
We used to go bowling together. I love him. I mean, he supported me. He's acted in two films
that I directed where, I mean, we did not have a big budget. And he's such a huge successful guy.
And he's such a smart writer and actor. And I'm so grateful he was in it. Did you let him improvise? I
thought like he improvised. Yes. I mean, how could you like hire him and then not let him improvise? You'd have
to be an idiot. That's what I noticed. There's some scenes where I was just like, oh, this is,
this is Tom. I like this is like, no, I want it. But it's felt real. I wanted to leave in.
But then, you know, I didn't always get the last cut, but he's so funny. What would you have
changed, if anything, about the process or what would you have done to like a, to your, said to yourself
before you started filming? Well, I mean, some of the people, there were a few people I was,
I was working with that maybe weren't on the same page. We maybe just weren't the right, right match.
But I think just to stress less, because at the end of the day, there's some things in your control.
There's some things that aren't. You just do the best you can. And then just like, don't freak out.
I feel like the more I do it. I'm just like, I just have to like, you know, relax more. That's my goal in life is to relax more. Can you sleep while you're directing those nights?
No. No, no, it's terrible. You don't even sleep. No, I did. I did. Whatever. I took like whatever, melatonin or whatever.
Trazadone. Yeah. Have you ever taken that? I love trosadone. I'm not telling anybody to take it. I personally need it because my mind doesn't shut out.
I have to tell you that my friends take it and they're like, you should try it.
And the whole time I was shooting, actually, I don't take it every night, but I tell
I while I was shooting because I could not fall asleep.
That is the best.
How did you figure that out?
Because my friend has sleeping problems and they're like, hey, there's, you know, they
said it's non-addictive.
Is that true?
I mean, you know, they say, I mean, look, here's the thing.
That is the good.
Can we say shit on this?
That is a good shit.
It's like that.
We sound like drug addicts.
I can't believe that he said trazodon because I'm like, no one will know what this is
so I'm not going to say it, but while I was shooting, you were going to say Trousadone.
Yeah, I was.
So you saw the final cut of this movie and it's your movie.
Yeah.
I mean, you know, you wrote, directed it.
You didn't get the final call?
I didn't get final cut, no.
In fact, there was someone involved that took a lot of onus out of it that, you know,
started making decisions that was super frustrating.
That wasn't even the financier.
And, but no, I didn't get at the final.
There was a few things I really wanted to change and I wasn't able to.
I guess at the end of the day, like, you can't control what you can't control, you know?
But you loved it.
No, I'm proud of it.
Yeah.
Do you have an influence on the music?
I did have some influence, not total, but it's sort of like everything is like a
partial influence.
Yeah, right.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
It's like, this is my idea.
Or I heard this song.
Could we get this song?
I mean, on a movie like that, you're, but you don't have a lot of money.
So you're like, okay, I get some music.
Like, yeah, to like the music you have is a picture.
I can't believe.
I mean, it looks like a real movie.
Does it?
Oh, good.
For 14 days of shit.
shooting? I thought you were going to say like 30. No, no, no. I mean, honestly, to direct an
independent movie, you're just basically begging people to do things for less than they normally
get paid. You're just like, please, can I please have this location? And can I, will you please
do this movie? Even though you're the, you know, you're just begging people. You're begging,
what I liked about it is, it doesn't really hitch over the head. And at the end, I was surprised,
I won't say anything about like the decision. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Like they, like,
I, you know, it just, it, it, I teared up a little bit because it was just that sort of idea of
everything's going to be okay if I just go with my heart.
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Sort of thing.
Yeah, I like, it's sort of, it's not exactly a romantic comedy, but you think it is, but then it's, it's, it's not totally.
So I like that it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's exactly the way
way you think it's going to be.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
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Do you love this business?
I do.
I mean, it's kind of like it almost feels like you're addicted to drugs,
but you're addicted to this entertainment business.
Because sometimes it drives you crazy.
You're just like, I can't believe, like how hard this is.
sometimes. And other times, like, this is, like, the best, like, thing that's ever happened. Like,
I'm doing this job I love. I don't have to work all the time. I can work sometimes. But you kind of
never know when your next job is. And that can be scary. But also because great, you don't have to
go to an office every day. I had no idea you were on swingers because I haven't seen it for so long.
And it wasn't a big role, right? Yeah. But it was an important role. Yeah. Yeah. And you auditioned for it.
No, I knew John Favro, because we had worked together. And this was before he became the huge director he is today.
And, no, he just offered it to me.
See, I love offers, don't you?
Offers are the best.
No, it was cool because he was a really good swing dancer.
And he would take me to the derby before we shot, and he would teach me how to swing dance.
And we would just, like, dance so hard.
And I'd be stretched and sweat.
And then he would drive me home.
He had this cool, like, retro convertible.
And I got really sick because every night's sweating and then driving home and it was
whatever.
And then when we shot, I was really sick.
But it was amazing.
Like, I'm so proud to be in that movie.
Did you think it was going to be that much of a success?
You had no idea.
No, I mean, the budget for that movie was $200.
$150,000 for the entire movie.
Isn't that insane?
I don't know how that's possible.
Shot on film.
I know what we shot in the derby when they were open, right?
So when we shot the scene where I meet John, we were in an open bar.
Like, none of those people are extras.
And like, like, people were just, they didn't even see us filming because we didn't have
a very big crew.
There was like a camera.
We kind of blended into the background.
Like, they did that movie pretty much probably illegally.
Like, you know what I mean?
They didn't, you know, I mean, they let them shoot there.
But all these people were in.
in the shot that didn't even know they were in a movie.
Did you know, did you think Vince Vaughn, this guy's going to be a big star?
I mean, he's super charming and charismatic, but like you never really know, you never really know.
You never really know.
I mean, if someone pops, but it's true, but there's charming, as you know, there's charming charismatic people.
Not everybody becomes a big star, you know.
Yeah. No, I agree with that. I mean, look, we can get into it or not get into it, but,
I mean, is this something that you wanted to act since you were young?
Yeah.
How old were you?
Well, I started when I was a kid just playing like pretend games with my friends.
I got the lead in the school play of Wizard of Oz.
I played Dorothy twice, like in two different school productions.
Did you have dark hair?
I had like, no, I was kind of like dirty blonde, you know, but I was in school plays.
And I think I just, I had a dream.
I was like, I want to be a movie star and, you know, whatever.
You thought of that young you wanted to be a movie star.
Probably more like a teenager.
Or, you know, I saw the Wizard of Oz.
And I was like, oh, my God, I want to do what Judy Garland's doing.
That looks so fun.
See, I love the fact that you just said, I want to be a movie star because I think that's
the reality.
I don't think people go, at a young age, I want to be an actor.
And I just want to study theater.
And I want to, you know what I mean?
I think that whenever I decide, I'm like, I want to be in the movies, man.
But I mean, I think there are some actors that love theater and they probably think
I want to be in theater.
But no, I think maybe when I got more a teenager, I would be like watching Meryl Streep
and I'm like, I want to be a really good actress.
but definitely being a movie star looks fun yeah what like and your parents did they come to the
play yeah they came to the play did they think you were good that yeah no yeah yeah so everything was
okay at that point until it was like it came you decided to want to do movies that weren't really
their taste or your uh yeah sure heathers yes yes yes i got offered that part and they basically
said they would kick me out of the house if i if i did it and and i was like just about to graduate
high school and so I didn't do it how mad were you I mean it's I'm mad you know I'm frustrated
but but thank God I don't have to do what anyone says anymore do you think you have a certain
because I had you know I'm not all I'll say is I don't like authority right I don't like people
telling me I can't do things well this is cool you're you're your own boss now right you call
call the shots like authority figures like I think it's because I was always
told no you're not this you're not smart you're not that i don't you know people's tones who said
that they sound horrible just i'm not gonna i don't want to get into it okay okay but yeah when i was a kid
and and so i don't like when someone raises their voice with me i don't like when people
you get triggered i get triggered but i don't get like i just get like i don't like people condescending
I'm a very laid back person in that regard like I'm I'm I'm down earth as you could be I feel so condescending people are
annoying really annoying and um you know people that put you down but you know I just I don't like that
I like I always root for the underdog I always root for you know um but anyway I was you know it's
like I think that do you think you have any of that where it's that authority thing and like now
it's like I'm my own boss I'm going to make the decisions thank you for your input but I have the
final word.
Yeah, I wish I had that much power.
Usually when you make a movie, someone
is giving you the money so you don't end up
with all the power. But I mean, I think I
grew up and I had a pretty patriarchal
family where my dad was kind of domineering.
So I definitely
I'm like, I don't want that.
Was he loving? Was he
they give you unconditional love? Like, I'm proud of you,
Heather. I'm really proud of you.
Good for you. You're really smart.
He used to be like, when you're under
my roof, do you have to do what I
say and I'd be like, I will never be under a man's roof. I'm going to own my own house and I'm
going to own too. Right? Yeah. I understand that completely. Yeah. Like, okay, if owning the roof is
what gets me to like make my own choices, then forget it. I'm going to own my own roof.
I love that. So it did stick with you a little bit. It does. And the fact that I'm like,
I don't want anyone to control me because they're like paying for a house, you know? Have you ever had
That was in a past relationship?
I think that made me like what you're saying.
It kind of shapes you.
I'm just like, I'm never.
Not dealing with that.
I need to support myself financially.
I'm not going to ever be in a situation where someone's like, I'm paying for this house.
So you have to do what I say.
Do you think people ever just, I'm sure this happens with, well, it happens with all of us.
But do you think you've ever dated, started to see someone and then realized, oh, they're just really enamored by the thought of going out with Heather Graham.
They're more like, oh, look at me.
as opposed to, I really like this girl.
She's just a sweet girl.
Did you ever, like, not trust something and go, uh, you know?
I mean, I think sometimes I do have a problem trusting people, but I want to say,
you have a really cool voice, Michael.
I was listening to your podcast before I did.
You have a good voice.
Did you just naturally have this voice?
I guess.
Yeah, I don't put it on.
You didn't like take, like, voice classes or anything.
No, no.
It's like a good, deep voice.
Really?
Yeah.
I don't really think, I can't listen to myself.
I don't really like listening to myself.
I feel like you could do voiceovers, do you?
I do, I'm getting back into it now.
I'm doing a video game, but like, I really would love, I wish they still did trailers for movies.
Yeah, because I feel like you could be like, in a world.
A place of bones in theaters now.
You know what I mean?
Yeah, no, you could do it.
It's like James Earl Jones, but like the white version.
Yeah, the white guy version of James Old.
In a world.
Yeah, I can do it.
But you love the business.
I mean, do people approach, you must get a lot of offers.
I know you're going to be modest about this, but how many offers do you get, you think, a year?
I'm going to say 20.
Oh, my God.
Yeah.
I mean, I do get offered.
I do get offers, which is amazing.
And then, you know, sometimes there's things that you chase after, but it is nice to get offers.
It is good.
Do you turn down 90% of these offers?
I do turn down.
I mean, I do a lot of indies.
So a lot of indie's offer, I get offered a lot of indies, you know, independent movies.
But yeah, I do turn down a bunch of stuff.
Do you think your agents wouldn't tell you if there was a really cool movie, but it was just you're not getting paid shit and you're filming in like Albuquerque?
I mean, they definitely try to discourage me from doing jobs a lot because they're like, you need to hold out and you need to blah blah blah.
And, you know, they do that for sure.
So how did someone approach you about a place of bones?
Because this is a movie that I would want to do because it's a Western, it's cool, strong female character, taking care of her daughter and shit.
goes down yeah i mean um i read the script i thought it was great um my agent sent it to me it's
just you know a lot of westerns don't really have really good roles for women but this one does
which is cool and um i just didn't know what was going to happen it felt unique and um kind of
exciting that was i mean that was it but also you get to shoot guns no you get to beat people up
i wanted to be a badass you know well you were yes that's the thing i wanted to be a badass in a movie
and be like, don't fuck with me.
And that's who you were.
It's crazy because you really became that.
You were really a badass.
No, I could let out my angry side.
You think I'd let you have a loaded gun?
Do you really think I'm not stupid?
You know, it was just like, it was fun to watch you do that because I could tell you were enjoying it.
I was into it.
I was so into it.
It's fun that we had a female director.
Her name's Audrey Cummings.
And it was just fun, like, you know, working with her and just that role was a fun role.
When does that come out?
it comes out i think um august 24th a place of bones yeah a place of bones
yeah i'm i was jealous i was you know who i was you would be good you would have been good
in it actually i was envious of coran nemox part yes you was he was great yeah he did a great
you could tell he's like a real cowboy he definitely has that cowboy vibe and he's funny he's a good
sense of humor how many days did you shoot that one oh my god it was barely it was probably around the
same as my movie it was probably 14
days. So it's like two and a half weeks? I mean, it's spread out over three or four. You know,
what happened was we were shooting outside and ended up raining a lot. So we had to, you know,
we waited around a lot for the rain to stop. And you don't have any time really. So it was probably
like a month, but some of the days. Tom Hopper. Yeah. He's coming on the podcast next week. He's
really cool. He's really nice. He's really cool. He's very healthy. And he has a super, like,
he's in amazing shape and he eats this really healthy diet. And so I was like picking his brain.
like he really thinks about what he eats and what he cooks and I don't know it looks amazing I was
going on his Instagram he's like always eating all this really healthy food and cooking it and
whatever I can't I can't just can't his body is a temple no but him and his wife I don't know
it looks like they have like the healthiest lifestyle of anyone I've ever seen and I try really
hard to be healthy what do you do for your health well I try not to eat a lot of sugar I think
he doesn't eat any sugar ever you know I try to stay
away from sugar, too. But as you drink a Coke. Slurp, slur. No, I am stopping. I'm slowing down.
Okay. It's only like one a day, maybe. Well, look, you're a guy. You have a fast metabolism.
Well, I'm getting older, so that metabolism is not as, yeah. No, you have to be more careful.
Like, as you get older, it's like, okay, I can't, I can't go as crazy with what I'm eating.
Well, you obviously work out. No, I work out. I work out. How often? I work out five days a week.
I do yoga three days. And then I do either like the gym or Pilates, two days. Are you addicted to it?
do you love it or you just do it because you have to knock on wood it's it's it is a rush to I love yoga
the most you know it just isn't as toning sometimes but like yoga's the best I feel like I get high
off of it I feel like whatever I'm stressing out about I can like relax and just like you know get into
feeling good what about therapy do you go to therapy I go to therapy yeah every week I I did go every week
for a long time. Now I don't necessarily go every week. I've gone to EMDR. Yes, EMDR changed my life.
Really? Oh my gosh. Wow. I had one breakthrough that was enormous. Wow. It was an experience in my life
that I, you know, I started talking about it and I, but now after EMDR, I could bring it up and it doesn't affect me as much.
Wow. It's crazy. I know that's so cool. Another thing I love is
cranial sacral therapy. Have you ever tried that?
No.
It's great too. I think you would love it.
What is that?
It's kind of like a gentle massage.
It almost like relaxes your nervous system and it can allow you to like process stuff from
your past or just understand like patterns of tension in your body and how to like relax it.
And it builds up your immune system. So if you feel like you're getting sick and you go,
a lot of times you won't get sick.
Wow. I just, I love that you're so open.
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The moment we wanted to make sure counted to you was Heather discussing throwing caution to the wind on boogie nights and what it did for her career.
It was terrifying.
Terrifying.
I was terrified.
And, you know, as a woman, I have to say, even if you go, okay, well, maybe I know sometimes men find me attractive, you're like,
you look at all the flaws and you go oh my god they're going to see these flaws and blah you know but
it was pretty terrifying there's an aspect too when you're an actress where you want to get into the
character so you just try to like get out of your own head and just be like what is the character
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I was thinking, oh, she's not going to want to talk about her past at all.
She's not going to want.
And not that that's a bad thing.
It's just like, hey, let the past be the past.
But like, boogie nights.
You auditioned for it?
I did.
Did you have to show your boobs?
No.
Because back then, I thought that's what they did.
No.
I mean, I'm not saying that that never happened, but no.
I just would read, I read a few scenes.
With who?
With a casting director.
And then Paul Thomas Anderson was there.
I mean, they did make you, they were like, there's nudity in this role.
You have to agree to do it and sign this contract that you're agreed.
to do it. But no, they don't make you show your boots. Were you, how nervous were you? And did you
almost not take the role because there was nudity? I mean, at that point, so I grew up in a religious
family and they were like, don't do anything with any sexual content. But try to be a woman in
Hollywood in like your early 20s, mid-20s. And then to try to get no roles with any sexual
content, it's like impossible. And so I had turned down a few things where there was sexual content.
And then I saw other people like having really good careers. I just said, screw it. Like, I want to do
this. The script is amazing. They had originally.
offered that role to like somebody really famous who turned it down. And so then I got it and that was
just a huge great turning point in my career. Did your agent say this is huge? My agent was like,
yeah, do it. You know, I mean, they were into it. Were you intimidated by any of the other actors?
I mean, I think at that point, you're just excited to be working with famous actors. You know, I mean,
at that point, Mark Wahlberg was not a famous actor. Julianne Moore and Bert Reynolds were the famous actors.
And, you know, if you think about all those people like Philip Seymour Hoffman, Don Cheeto, they weren't really famous at that point.
No.
And John C. Riley, people like that. Yeah.
I mean so many great. That movie will go down as one of the best movies ever made.
It just will. And you were an integral part of that.
No. My role was so fun.
Such a memorable role. Did you know how to roller skate?
No. I had to take roller skating lessons. And I learned at this parking lot in Beverly Hills.
And every time I drive past that parking lot, I'm like, that's where I learned how to roller skate for boogie nights.
really yeah were you um i mean think about it though like you're with all these big actors
and then boom action take off your shirt and here i am roller skating in naked like it was
terrifying it was i was terrified and you know as a woman i have to say even if you go okay well
maybe i know sometimes men find me attractive you're like you look at all the flaws you go
oh my god they're going to see these flaws and blah you know but um it was pretty terrifying
I mean, you probably went to the makeup room and if there was anything wrong, you just go, oh,
blemish, just let's touch that.
I remember just sitting in my trailer, like, being like, oh, my God, I'm so scared.
But then there's an aspect, too, when you're an actress where you want to get into the
character.
So you just try to, like, get out of your own head and just be like, what is the character
thinking?
I'm just going to be this character.
That's the key, isn't it?
Yeah.
It's to erase those thoughts because you need to just focus on what you're supposed to say,
what you're supposed to do, how you're supposed to fit.
I don't want to be like Heather Graham feels nervous about this moment.
And I wanted to be like, I'm, you know, Brandy in this scene and this is what I do.
And oh, this isn't a big deal.
And these people are my friends and my family.
You know, it's just like, this is part of our life.
Like, you got to, I was just trying to think about it as the character would think about it.
How many takes you think?
Like, you remember your first take when you first went on and it's like, here I am.
How many takes did he do of that?
And what scene was that?
Do you remember which scene it was?
Which scene?
Do you remember which scene you shot first?
Well, I think.
think the one I was really afraid of, you know, was the main one was just where I, you know,
it's like the naked scene. And then it's when I, with Mark Wahlberg and Bert Reynolds. And,
yeah, it was scary. But then when it was over, you're just like, hmm, I did it. And you know what?
Watching you, it's like, like, I obviously know this. It's been talked about forever, but like,
you're so like chill like this is you this is you right it's not hather graham right this is this
character right and you just like it was amazing how you just like i was like i believe i mean there
wasn't a doubt in my mind that you're this girl i mean you know what it's like you're an actor
you just sell it you want to just be that it's so fun to get out of your own reality and out
of your own head and pretend to be someone else and just pretend you have this different life and
it can be so fun to do that yeah what's your favorite scene in the movie
that you weren't in?
That I was not in.
I know mine.
Which one?
Sister Christian know the time.
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
What was his name?
Yeah.
I mean, the one that I like the one with Julian Moore was like, will you be my mom?
If I ask me to be your mom, will you say yes?
Well, blah, blah, blah.
Like that scene, I really like that scene.
Yeah, that's a great scene.
But no, and I love the beginning, you know, the shot that's like that one long thing where you see everybody and it's a long tracking.
shot steady cam shot i love steady cam shots when you saw the movie were you blown away like
were you honestly like this is fucking awesome yeah i was and at the same time you know when you're
in something it sometimes it's hard to be like totally objective because you're in it but yes i was
super proud of it and excited to be in it i mean it changed your life right yeah that was the movie
that changed your life i think so yes yes yes because you probably weren't getting a lot of offers
at this no it helped me go from like i'm auditioning to try to get jobs into like i'm getting offers
and I'm getting paid more money and I'm buying a house, you know?
Was it?
I got to buy my own house just like you, Michael.
Yeah.
Was it the happiest time in your life, you think?
One of the happiest when that movie came out?
I mean, it was very creatively satisfying because I felt like it was a moment where I felt like,
oh, I'm people think I'm a good actress, you know?
And even though I'd had other, you know, I'd done drugstore cowboy or I'd been in some other
movies, it just felt like, oh, my career feels like it's on a good track.
And was it hard to choose the project?
that you were getting offered?
It is hard, you know, because you can look back and go,
my God, I made a wrong choice or, you know, whatever.
But, I mean, I'm just grateful that I'm still working.
I just feel really lucky that my whole life I've supported myself as an actor.
I feel it's really lucky.
Have you ever worked with pains in the asses?
Oh, for sure.
Like people, you're like, oh, my God, I fucking don't want to work with this person again.
And what do you do?
And how do you go about your day when you're dealing with someone who's difficult?
Well, I have a few friends I call.
I'm like, this person did this, this person did that.
And they're like, they help me talk through it.
I vent.
And they're like, okay, this is the way to handle it.
Because sometimes when you're really triggered, you don't know what to do.
So it's like, okay, you can't do anything about this, but you can't do something about it.
I get good advice from friends.
They always say in this business, it's like the most important thing.
A lot of times is who you hang out with.
Right.
You got to keep your vibe good.
I was with the wrong crowd.
You seem like someone who's so popular.
Like, I feel like you have a lot of friends.
I think I get along with a lot of people.
I think I've developed, grown as a human being.
I like this person better than I liked myself five years ago, 10 years ago, whatever.
And I think I've just grown up a little bit.
I still have that kid quality.
I still do stupid shit.
Well, you're fun.
You seem like a fun person.
Yeah, I try to have fun.
And I don't need much to excite.
me like having people over watching a movie or going in the backyard and just talking for hours
and a glass of wine or you know going a bouquet of beppo you know I know fancy fans do do
do you like fancy stuff do you like fancy dinners and or do you like are you kind of like can
you grab a burger both I mean I really like sometimes I cook you know I like having friends over
and cooking in my new house and I like when people cook for me but of course I like going out to a
nice restaurant for sure yeah do you do stupid things anything that's
still you have the inner child, Heather, that we all do.
Like, you know, for instance, it could be like, I like to go miniature golf or go-karting
or top golf or do you like Disney World.
Do you do anything or you, that's not your kind of fun.
I'm really into food, you know, high brow, low brow, middle brow.
I just, I love food.
I think about food constantly.
Like if we're having breakfast, I'm like, what are we having for lunch?
I'm like, what are we having for dinner?
And I like plan it in my head and I get excited about it.
I get very excited about food.
what what do you get besides food what is it that excites you like a good script a good a good a good script my friends
I like nature. I'm like the ocean. Like, I love the ocean. I like being around the ocean. I'm looking at the ocean. I could sit on a chair reading a book looking at the ocean for like seven hours.
Do you think people, because you went to UCLA? How long?
I went for three years. It was a little bit challenging because I was getting acting roles and I was making money. So I was torn between like, do I want. And this was at a time where I like, I didn't have my own computer. So I had to go to the computer lab of the college and write my essays from the computer lab. I'm like, okay, do I want to be in this computer lab or do I want to be acting in movies with movie stars? You know, so it was a little bit. I didn't graduate. And you just one day say that's it. I just was like, I want to focus on my acting career. Really going to college doesn't really affect the work that I get as an.
actor though now looking back i wish i would have learned more how to edit and and do certain other parts of
the process i'm doing it now i'm doing it now i took like an editing i took a cinematography class um but no
i was an english major because i i just love reading so that was my main thing i was what would be the
next movie you'd want to direct what kind of movie um i like dark comedies um i liked a movie that has
an underlying kind of social message or commentary but hopefully it's kind of fun to watch in some way so
I was thinking of writing something that was like either a superhero movie.
I kind of want to write maybe a revenge story, like some woman getting some kind of revenge.
Yeah.
Yeah.
That could be good.
Yeah.
If you do it the right way and in a unique way.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yeah.
I like that.
Or like someone having special powers and being in these bad situations, but getting out of them.
Would you be, would you be the lead in it?
Or would you just direct it?
I don't know.
I could do either.
I mean, I could also just direct it.
I do have another script that I wrote.
It's called Triggered.
and it's kind of like a dark comedy.
I mean, you just don't stop.
Like, you're so busy.
Like, what happens if...
I optioned a book, too.
So from Leon Moriarty.
No, but the thing is, you know what it's like.
You're doing this too.
You can have a lot of things in development.
And then tomorrow, something could go or it could go in like four years.
You don't know.
But what happens if somebody, if you just, could you ever quit?
Do you ever see yourself saying, I'm done?
I just want to go relax somewhere.
I definitely had moments where I'm like, oh, this is too hard.
But now it's like, I've been in it almost like so much of my life.
I'm like, I think I'm in this to stay.
Like, I love it.
How old would you think you'll be before you say I've had it?
I mean, I want to keep going.
Really?
One of my favorite movies is Harold and Maud.
So my goal is I want to remake it and play the Ruth Gordon role when I'm like 80 years old.
Oh my God.
She inspired my life.
Like her spirit in that movie.
Get only here, you.
I love her little.
She had that, you know, now when.
And then she was like, there was that scene with all the flowers and she's like, the sad thing is some people think that they're like everyone else, but they're just there. Each is an individual and like just celebrating your life. I don't know. She was. She was amazing. So you're going to work till the end if you can. I would like to. I love that. I don't see that in myself. Okay. So what is your ideal scenario? Well, I have to wait till my friends with real jobs could retire. And when then those guys can retire.
We can hang out with them.
Then we could always hang out.
And this is like your perfect job for you because you can just hang out with your friends while you're
doing the podcast.
Yeah.
It's like, guys, what are you guys doing?
Working.
Oh, that.
No, but like, you know, I.
So you're waiting for your friends to retire so you can hang out with them all day.
Yeah.
Or just like my, you know, my dream has always been.
I'm sure a lot of people to have like a cul-de-sac with like five houses of all your friends.
And you're just like, you're just enjoying each other, walk to the beach, go play tennis, go eat, go.
Honestly, that sounds like a dream.
Like two of my closest friends, like they live in other places.
My dream would be like we would all live in the friend's like same neighborhood and we could just see each other.
Yeah.
Yeah.
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The Conjuring Last Rights.
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Does stuff like FHM's 100 sexiest women and all these stuff and like, you know, does that stuff,
do you think it's cool?
Do you think it's like, do you get a little embarrassed by it?
Do you embrace it?
Do you just like, just part of your career and part of what you do?
I mean, I guess it's flattering.
It's kind of fun.
Like, oh, some people thought I was attractive.
Thought.
That's fun.
Still.
That's nice.
I mean, it's flattering because, I mean, you grow up, you're an awkward kid, and I definitely, it's
funny, I remember having this dream where I was like, I hope one day I get boobs, you know,
like I was just like this like, you know, puberty.
I'm like, I want boobs one day because these people made fun at me at school and they were
like, you're wallpaper, you're flat and stuck up, which I really wasn't stuck up.
I was really insecure.
Oh, my God, I never heard that your wallplate, you're flat and stuck up.
Some people made fun of me in school and said I was, you know, flat or whatever.
And I'm like, one day, I really want boobs, you know.
and then then I got boob so that was kind of fun uh when you got the role in the hangover that
was an offer right Todd Phillips just offered no I audition I had to audition for it you audition for
the stripper with a heart of gold I did I had to audition one audition it was one audition yeah
with him yes and you nailed it obviously I yeah I got it from the audition yeah I mean how many
blockbuster movies can you do it is pretty awesome to be in sort of like an iconic comedy movie like
that and it's cool because at the time you know like zach and bradley weren't as famous it was really just
ed helms that was like kind of known that was known from the office so were they fun yeah they're
funny they're fun it was cool it was fun i mean that was during like it was like a writer's strike at
that time so it was really fun what about sex in the city i mean people talk about that that was
you know there was a lot of friction on that set was someone as a as a guest star that you came on
Did you see anything that was like, eh, this isn't, it's a little volatile, or I could see that people don't like each other.
I mean, I never was on the set enough to really feel that.
I was only ever worked with Sarah Jessica Parker and Willie Garson.
So I didn't feel any, any tension.
But I was obsessed with that show.
So literally, I still watch it today.
I'm obsessed.
So I want them all to like each other so badly.
Were you, you've heard that too.
Everybody's heard of course.
Were you nervous being on a show that you loved?
I mean, I had such a small part that I wasn't nervous.
But I guess, you know, when you meet your, your idols, you're just like, I hope you're
nice, but Sarah Jessica Parker was really sweet. And I was complaining about my high heels being
uncomfortable. And she got me a massage certificate to get like a foot massage. What? I mean,
that's above and beyond. Like, I think I'm a nice person, but I've never done anything like that.
No. That is generous. And of course, Austin Powers. I got to mention Austin Powers. You auditioned for
that. No, that was at a point where it was right after, you know, boogie nights came out. I got an offer.
I think I maybe met with them. I think I went to. You met with Mike Myers. I met with Mike. And
and Jay, and they just offered it to me.
Were you ecstatic?
Yeah.
I mean, I was, I was ecstatic and it was so fun to be around this comedic, you know, genius guy.
And obviously, Jay Roach is like amazing director.
And I mean, it's just fun when you go from like struggle, struggle, struggle to get a job.
And then you're like, I'm starring in like a big budget studio movie.
It's so cool.
And then so many people watched it.
And even today, like so many people like, it's so cute.
I met this girl.
She's like, me and my dad watch your movie.
That's how we bonded.
And I thought, wow, that's really touching.
That's beautiful, isn't it?
Like, she bonded with her dad watching Austin Powers.
Do you, when you're on set with a genius like Mike Myers, you're, do you see a lot of
different things going on like him trying to make it the best, a perfectionist, is he
intense at times?
Is he upset at times?
Is he elated at times?
Just observing a genius?
Do you, or does it just come?
effortlessly, Darren. Well, I think I wasn't as, I didn't know as much about comedy then. Now I really
love it and I watch it. I listen to it. I'm way more into it. So at that time, I did see him almost as
two people. Like, he's got this side where he wants to entertain everyone and he knows how to say
something funny. He knows how to make people laugh. He's on. And then behind that, it's almost like
a scientific mind where he's kind of like very serious and hardworking and thinking it all out in
advance. So not really, it doesn't really want to talk to people when he's behind the scenes. It's
when he just wants to save that energy from when he's on. I mean, he would entertain people when he
was not on. Like, you know, he would entertain everyone. He had so much energy. But you could
definitely see there's like a serious side to him where he's just a very hardworking person.
It's not just like, oh my God, this is all off the cuff. You know, it's just like he thought about
it. He planned it. He's extremely hardworking. Did he ever look at you while you're doing a single? Oh,
try it like this. Say it like this.
Do this. I don't think so. No, no. He would just like. He never gave you any kind of like, hey, try. Oh, yeah. Come on. Like, you know, if you wanted some, uh, you wanted you to try different things. I mean, maybe he did. I don't remember that. I'm sure they must have like given me some, you know, direction. I'm sure. But I just was more of like being entertained. And it was just a fun character. You know, the character that I got to play. It was very fun. Did he make you laugh all the time? We did a lot of rehearsal. So by the time we were shooting it and everyone was kind of laughing. Wait, you rehearsed all that? No, we rehearsed it a lot. So. So. We rehearsed it. So.
to be honest, I wasn't laughing by the time we were doing it because we would do rehearsals on
the weekend before we did a lot of rehearsals. So by the time we were doing it, we've already done
it like a million times. So whatever you're doing in rehearsal, you get it to a point when you're
on film, it's exactly how you've rehearsed it. Pretty much. So there's no improviser. He
improvises, you know, but he also, he plans it out. He plans it out in advance. He's extremely
hardworking. It's not just off the cuff. He randomly thought of it. I think he's extremely.
He's got 10 different ways to do something. He's got five different lines.
Like a scientific mind behind his like, oh, off the cuff. It's like he worked hard to get to that
point. That's incredible. Yeah. I mean, to just watch that. It's like, you know, like a Jim Carrey.
Well, because I know some comedians are more like, well, I was listening to your podcast with Camel,
Nanjiani and how he was saying, you know, oh, he does it off the cuff or he wanted to seem like it was
off the cuff, but he is really hardworking. I think some comedians are like, I just want to be in the
moment and I'll just do what I feel. But I think other people, they really plan. And I think
Mike Meyer seems like he definitely plans it. I mean, I'm sure there's an aspect where he makes stuff up,
too, but he's extremely, extremely hardworking.
What about Steve Martin and Eddie Murphy?
I worked with Steve Martin.
I did have like four scenes.
Yeah.
I loved him.
He was sweet.
It was a small part.
I worked for two weeks on that.
But the bow finger.
Yeah, yeah.
How were they?
I mean, they're amazing.
I love that movie.
I love being in it.
I mean, Frank Oz, too.
I'm a huge fan because, of course, the Muppet show.
But no, that's just cool.
You get to work with your idols and you're just kind of pinching yourself, like,
how am I like in the same movie acting and scenes are these people this is incredible let me guess
I bet Steve came and go oh sit with us at lunch he's really you know a lot of actors he always did that with me
every day you know a lot of actors don't eat lunch with the other actors but he would he would eat lunch
he always did I know yeah he always would have lunch you go go are you going for lunch well let's have
lunch or I was sitting by myself one day goes this seat taken obviously not you know and he would
sit with me and we would talk about stuff no he's warm and interesting
And he was really, you know, he'd written a script too, but he really was warm to us. And he didn't make us feel like, oh, you small, like whatever, whatever cogs in the machine. Right. But then there was Eddie Murphy. Yes. Was he nice? He's nice to me. He's nice to me. He's a more like kind of keeps to himself. He's not as much like, oh, let's all have lunch. He never had lunch with us. But he was always sweet to me. Really? You just would shoot the shit with you every once in a while? I mean, he's friendly. He's more like he stays in his trailer. When he works, he comes, when he's done. He's. He's
leaves. You know, he's a lot more like, I'm professional. But every, we would hang out and be in
scenes together. He was super nice. Oh, I mean, you work with so many star, other big stars. So you
don't get star struck anymore. No, I do. I still get totally starstruck. Who would make you? You
worked with Johnny Depp. Oh, well, I mean, every, I just, I love actors. Even if they're like,
you know, you know, younger than me and up on coming, I'll just get superstar struck by their talent,
you know? I mean, don't you? I get starstruck. I mean, yeah. I don't get starstruck. I mean, I don't
it's starstruck like I used to get star struck. I think because it's like, I don't know,
there's inside maybe. I'm sort of like, oh, wow, this is Tom Cruise in front of me. I'm talking to
Tom Cruise. He remembers me from a party. What? Are you serious? And I'm like, you know, wow,
this is cool. I'm not going to, I'm not like best buddies with him. Yeah, yeah, yeah. But, uh,
you know, I think I get star struck by people's talent. Like, you know, we're talking about that
Jeffrey Dahmer show, which I couldn't get through because it was too disturbing, but like Evan Peters. I'm
like that dude's a really good actor you get star struck by him well i've never met him but i'm like
that dude's extremely talented and then he's been all these other things that he was so good
like anyone that's got like that much talent i definitely you know get excited and then adam sandler
yeah jack nicholson yeah one story with jett nickleson no that was cool well basically so we were
in a scene where we're at like a restaurant we're sitting at the bar and he just started talking to me
and telling me all these stories and i'm like i can't believe he's being this friendly and
talking to me. What story is he telling you? Do you even remember? I mean, I feel like,
I don't know if I remember. I more remember like, like, you know, because when actors are done
shooting, you could just leave and go to your trailer or talk to someone else. But he sat there
talking to me just like a normal person, like just interested in having a conversation. And I remember
being blown away. Like, I'm sitting talking to Jack Nicholson. Like, this is incredible. Was he like,
is he doing Jack or is it, you know, no. Is it more like. Yeah. So what do you, what do you,
I'll say this about him.
He was interested in me, you know?
Like, he wasn't just like, let me just lecture you on all my stories.
He was really like asking me questions, like really just not in even that persona.
He just seemed really cool.
Isn't that awesome?
I had a conversation with him once at a Lakers game once.
What was he like?
We were back in the chairman's room and he was smoking a cigar.
There was nobody else in there.
And he looks at me and goes, well, you know, if Shaq could fix his foot, we might have a chance.
and I go, yeah, you know, and I'm talking, I'm like, you know, Kobe, you know, and we're just talking
basketball.
That's the thing.
It's like he's an icon, but he didn't act like, well, I'm such an icon, so let me lecture
you on Hollywood or tell you about my life.
He was more like, let's have a talk about something interesting.
Like, I want to know about you or like, let's talk about life or he really was just like
the super interesting person that was very generous.
Did you have any idea you'd be where you are now?
Did you dream that?
I did dream it.
I mean, you've dreamed it.
I wanted it.
Did you see it?
I saw it.
I did see it.
You see, I think that's the key we were just talking about that.
Yeah.
But if you see something, if you really see it, then you believe it.
Yeah.
So you got to see it.
You got to say, I am going to do this.
Yeah.
I am going to fucking surprise everyone.
Right?
I mean, I guess you have to on some level believe it, though.
I don't know.
Are there people that didn't believe it and they got there?
I don't know.
You've interviewed them.
What's, what do you think?
Yeah, there's a lot of people that I never believe.
No one can believe it.
Right.
Right.
Right.
I mean, there are people.
No, but I think there's moments where you feel confident, you can believe it,
and there's moments where, like, I don't know, like, how do they get here?
For sure.
Did your parents ever try to reach out to you?
They do, yes.
Still?
I mean, I changed my phone number.
Yeah, they've occasionally tried to reach out.
Is it hard still when you get messages?
You know, I think for a while I was confused, and then I realized, like, I have really
legitimate reasons for not talking to them.
that are fair you know yeah you just this is this is my life this is what i want to do it's like if
you're going to treat me like that then you may not have a relationship with me you know so that's
your choice it's not mine have they said oh but i'll change no no no they blame everything on me
they have no responsibility for anything they've ever done they always just passed past the buck
that's sort of narcissism i think maybe and i know what that is from experience um this is called
shit talking with Heather Graham. This is rapid fire. Fans ask you questions. Okay. This is fun.
Go to patreon.com slash inside you support the podcast. Love you. Uh, Jessica B, if someone were to give you
a box containing everything you've lost in your life, what's the first thing you'd look for and why?
Self-esteem. No, it's just a joke. The first thing I'd look for, no, I think having self-esteem is
the most important thing, which I have a lot of the time, but sometimes I lose it. So isn't that
something how you need to get it back? Isn't that crazy how we could be so confident
sometimes you're like, oh my God, I'm fucking devouring this scene or I'm devour I'm so. And then one minute
you're like, I know, we acted together. That was fun. Yeah. But I'm like, how, how does that happen?
Well, I don't, I think probably everyone's like that. I don't know. Is there anyone that's
confident like 100% of the time and never has any moment of insecurity? I think everybody has
insecurity. I think everybody out there. I think Jack Nicholson, there's been times on set where he's like,
there's got to be, right? Can't get it. Fucking can't get it. But I think the most important
is having the self-esteem because anything else who can get taken away. But if you feel good inside
yourself, it's the most important. Yeah. Still can't get it. You cannot handle the truth. Now that's not
it. Okay, here we go. Raj, tell me about a project where you felt the director went above and
beyond and make it a positive experience for you. Um, hmm, well, um, I mean, working on Boogie Nights
was fun. Like Paul Thomas Anderson is really passionate. Um, I mean, working with Audrey on place of
It's just fun having a badass woman wanting to tell a story that has a badass female
character.
That's really fun.
And then just being my own director is pretty cool, you know, cast yourself.
It's fun.
Dana S, what is your most favorite guilty pleasure?
Well, I like chocolate and peanut butter mixed together.
Me too.
Like a Reese's peanut butter.
Oh, yeah.
But so in the morning, sometimes I make oatmeal and I put peanut butter in and cacao nibs.
So it's like a little bit of like a peanut butter chocolate cookie.
Nikki L.
Now, my friend, Greg Beeman, directed this.
Do you have any memorable stories working with the Corrie's Unlicensed to Drive or Greg Beeman, my friend?
Oh, my God.
Okay, Greg Beeman.
We sold the show together and he directed Smallville's.
I know.
Okay, he gave me my first role in a movie.
Thank you, Greg.
I really appreciate it.
I think your wife told you to cast me.
Deirdre.
Yeah, Deirdre helped me get my first job.
So it was just so fun.
I was in high school.
I got to drive onto the 20th century Fox lot and feel like I was a movie star, baby.
And then Corey Hame and Corey Feldman, I just been watching their movies.
So it was really fun to get to work with them.
They had to have hit on you.
I actually had a crush on Corey Hame and he was dating Lala Zappa.
They were like together.
And they were all kind of wild.
Like I think they were, I'm not sure, but I think they were doing drugs.
I was very sheltered.
I barely drank, you know.
So I was just like, wow, you know.
And I mean, Corey Feldman might have hit on me a little bit.
Hmm. That's all right.
I mean, you know, it's a movie set.
Yeah, yeah.
No, he's a nice guy.
I occasionally still talk to him. He's a cool guy.
But Greg, Greg had a great energy, didn't he?
Yeah, he's awesome. Very enthusiastic. Yeah, I'm going to do this.
Everybody, you know, he was probably doing drugs too at that time.
Oh, really? Okay. I think so because he doesn't do any more. But maybe he wasn't. I don't know.
Nico P. says, can you explain transcendental meditation and how it helps? And you're amazing, by the way.
Oh, that is so cute. Well, basically, it's just that you can always find a calm place inside yourself, peaceful place that feels good.
And, you know, it's something when you're meditating, sometimes your mind is wandering.
Sometimes you feel like this total peace stillness and other times, you know, you feel nothing.
But it's just remembering that you always have that inside you.
I love it.
Leanne, what is the one thing you can't live without?
Sleep.
I love sleeping.
If I don't get sleep, I am not fun to be around.
Do you have a temper?
Not as, I'm not like angry, like yelling.
Easily annoyed.
I can be cranky and irritable.
But not.
I'm not like some kind of like rager but I can definitely be annoying all right so chosen
families coming out October 4th and you wrote directed starter in it uh you should see this
because it's it's poignant and it's I think a lot of people will feel what you felt and you think
you can relate yes I I fucking could okay I was surprised I could relate yeah I was like a man can relate
I was like, yeah. Oh, wow. It was just, it was really cool. I think people should see it. And,
and, uh, a place of bones. It's awesome because it's, I guess it's sort of like it's, it's,
it's good to see a Western with a strong female lead who just kicks ass and, you know, is,
is, you know, has this daughter that she's raising. And then these other bad guys come in and there's
some shit that goes down. Yeah, you would be good in that movie. Yeah. Great. And that comes out in
August and what's your Instagram? It's I'm Heather Graham just I am and then my name. Do you follow
me on Instagram? Not sure. I will though starting today. You will? I'm going to. Thank God. Do you have a
dog? No, but do you post a lot about your dogs? No. I just don't if you had a dog. I don't. You don't
you have a cat? I don't have any pets. You have such freedom, don't you? It's a lot of freedom.
That's the thing. One day I do want to get one because I do love a friend of mine has the cutest dog and I'm
really into her dog. You might get a dog? Might do. Yeah.
All right. Well, here's your first gift to get a dog. Oh, oh, that's your thing.
It's my new Rosie's puppy fresh breath. Those are my dogs. No, I was listening to your podcast and I saw
that. That's so cute. So what? They kind of have bad breath and I miss the puppy fresh breath.
That's cute. So you just put a cap in your dog's water, odorless, tasteless, and you'll love it.
You're such an entrepreneur. This is so smart. And I just was like, I said to my friend Tom,
I was like, oh, my dog's breath. I just wish they had puppy breath. I go, how about we do something like
Rosie's puppy fresh breath? He's like, dude, let's do it. And so we started it. And is it hard to get
the dog to take this or it's odorless and tasteless so it's just it's their water they have no idea
oh so you put it in their water that's it oh okay that's cool you might need it it might come in handy
you could probably take them too can humans use it like you might give that to your boyfriend are you dating
these days i have a boyfriend are you private um i mean i'm i post pictures of us together
how long you've been dating two years well that's that's pretty significant yeah is it fun i mean it's
significant i mean it's not like 25 years but but yeah it's fun what about you do you have
girlfriend? What's happening in your life? I don't talk about my love life on this podcast. So you just
ask questions, but you don't answer them, basically. Uh, yeah, it's about you. It's about you. I love
having you on this. This is about time. I know. Thanks for having me. I mean, honestly,
podcasts are the, the, the it thing to do. You're so smart to do this. I've been doing it for five
years, six years. Wow. Yeah. Oh, big shout out to Risa. Reza, Risa. We love Risa.
No, but, you know, I feel like they've taken over.
Now everyone's, but you're...
That's the tough thing, though.
There's so many podcasts to choose that you're hoping, you know.
No, but yours is like a success.
You've had all these cool people.
It's amazing.
Yeah, it's fun.
You were ahead of the curve.
You were ahead of the podcast curve.
Maybe.
I think that's true.
If I would have put one out now and I don't want to listen to it at all.
But I have such loyal, the patrons are so amazing.
They keep this podcast going.
So they're probably like, oh, this guy's so fun.
They feel like they're hanging out with you.
Thank you for being here.
You're amazing.
Thank you.
All right.
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That was great. She's incredibly sweet. And she's just cool. She's been around, man.
She just, you know, it's like she's not affected. She's like doing what she wants to do.
And I really admire her for that. She's like, I'm going to do a Western. I'm going to do this tough
character. I'm going to do a horror movie. I'm going to, I'm going to do what I F and want. And
isn't that what it's all about folks doing what you want um thank you for listening and uh i couldn't do
this without my patrons patreon.com slash inside of you if you want to support us and get back to the show
you could use your help and uh we will read those top tier names right now so i think we should do
it all right here are the top tier is nancy d little lisa or lel nisa Lisa Lisa
So, Yukiko. Hi, Yukiko. A lot of people showed up to my band, Sunspin, and supported us.
We played the other day, and I really appreciate it.
And little Lisa, thank you so much for courting it and sending it to Rob and I.
We love you and we appreciate you.
And I was yelling out so many people's names that were there, right?
It was pretty cool.
Brian H, Nico P, Jill E, Rob L, Jason W, Sophie M, Roshin, Jennifer N, Stacey L, Jamal F, Janelle B, Mike M, Eldon Supremo, 99 more.
San Diego M, Leanne P
Mattie S, Kendrick F, Belinda, and Dave Hall,
Dave Hall, Brad Dee, Ray Hauda,
Tabitha T, Tom, N, Talia B, Tia M,
Talia M, and Betsy D.
Come on, Ryan.
Get it together, man.
These fresh papers were stuck together.
Rian C, Corey K, Dev Nex, and Michelle A, Jeremy C,
Mr. M, Eugene, and Leah, the salty ham.
Did I say
After the salty ham
You did
And I also put a weird inflection on it too
Well it's all right
Keep going
The salty
Salty ham
Salty ham
Mel S Eric H, Oracle
Amanda R
William K Kevin E
Jor L
Jammin J Leanne J Luna R
Mike F Jules M
Jessica B
Caley J
Charlene A
Marion Louise L
Frank B Gentie
Nicky L April R M
Randy S
Claudia
Rachel D
jenn carolina girl nick w stephan evan stephen charlene a don g jennie b76 jennifer r tina e n g tracy keith bheather and gregg
ell elizabeth l ben b jammin p r c sultan ingrid c brandon c mrs lex luther and jessie jay
we love you thanks for supporting the podcast patreon dot com slash inside you if you want your get boxes
and sent to you and notes from me and blah blah blah your name shattered your name shuddered
out. We love you. From the Hollywood Hills in Hollywood, California, I'm Michael Rosenbaum.
I'm right. It is. Yeah, a little wave to the camera. I hope you enjoyed the interview today and
come back and see us next week and be good to yourself. We'll see you.
Hi, I'm Joe Sal C. Hi, host of the stacking Benjamins podcast. Today, we're going to talk about
what if you came across $50,000. What would you do? Put it into a tax advantage retirement account.
The mortgage. That's what we do. Make a down payment on a home. Something nice.
buying a vehicle a separate bucket for this edition that we're adding $50,000 I'll buy a new podcast
you'll buy new friends and we're done thanks for playing everybody we're out of here
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