The Big Picture - Bo Burnham’s ‘Eighth Grade’ Captures the Experience of Middle School and Right Now | The Big Picture (Ep. 77)

Episode Date: July 20, 2018

Ringer editor-in-chief Sean Fennessey sits down with comedian and first-time filmmaker Bo Burnham and actress Elsie Fisher to discuss ‘Eighth Grade,’ their perceptive film about the cringeworthy experience of middle school. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

I kind of really just wanted to make a movie about now. Like, I did not set out to make a movie about young people. I just set out to make a movie about, like, how I was feeling and how the current culture feels to me. And then it felt like, you know what, like, the culture and the moment, and I think it's being most purely experienced by kids. I'm Sean Fennessey, editor-in-chief of The Ringer, and this is The Big Picture, a conversation show

with some of the most interesting filmmakers and actors in the world. Remember eighth grade? Awkward, insecure, completely aimless? Bo Burnham remembers that, too. It's changed in some ways since we were kids, but not as many as you might think. The stand-up comedian Bo has a new movie. It's his first as writer-director, and it really captures the feeling with a perceptive and empathetic style. The single biggest reason for this is Elsie Fisher, the preternaturally gifted 15-year-old lead of the movie. I thought it'd be fun to mix things up on this week's show, so I decided to sit down with Bo and Elsie to talk about the new movie. So without further ado, here's Bo Burnham and Elsie Fisher.

I'm really, really excited to be joined today by writer-director Bo Burnham and star Elsie Fisher. They have a new movie coming out called Eighth Grade. It's a wonderful movie that I've seen twice. Guys, thanks for coming in. Thanks for having us. Before we get too deep into the movie, Elsie, is this your first podcast? No, I've done a couple.

Oh, man. Elsie has her own podcast. No kidding. Come on, let's plug it right here. Go ahead, fire one. I have a Dungeons & Dragons podcast. First episode just out. I haven't given it a listen yet, but I'm excited. It's in my queue.

You better because you're going to be on it. Oh, boy. What's the name of the show? Extreme D&D, but also extreme is spelled with an X- trim. It's pretty cool. Very cool. I must say. So listen to this podcast, then immediately go and download Extreme

D&D with Elsie Fisher. Guys, I want to talk about 8th Grade. That's why you're here. Yay. You ready to do it? Let's do it. Okay. Bo, let's start with you. This is a movie about a young girl. You're not a young girl. Yet. But obviously there's a lot of you in this character.

Yeah. Why'd you decide to make a movie about a young girl in 8th grade? A couple reasons. I was watching a lot of videos of young kids online talking about themselves. The boys talked about Fortnite and the girls talked about their souls. So it was like, okay, gonna to be a girl, I think. The other really was like, I didn't want to make a nostalgic movie.

I like nostalgic movies, but I didn't want this to be like a memory or an exploration of my past experience. I wanted it to feel current. So it being a girl sort of insulated me from projecting my own experience onto her. Because my disconnect is twofold. I was never a 13-year-old girl and I was never a 13-year-old girl,

and I was never a 13-year-old now. And both of those things, I think, lend themselves to a specific experience. So the hope was to just approach it like, I don't know what she's going through, but I feel what she's feeling. Did you have any concern about the generation gap that you have from the character that you were writing?

Totally. I mean, but it was more just like, I wasn't writing a novel, I was making a movie. So I knew I was going to work with the kids and I'd have the kids to tell me if I was off base or not. I wrote a bunch of DMs for her where she was on Facebook and then she read the script and was like, no one uses Facebook anymore.

Is this about my aunt? And I was like, whoops. And then so I actually had a kid say no one uses Facebook anymore in the script and all the Facebook was changed to Instagram. Amazing. Elsie, when did you first become aware of this movie? When I went to the first audition.

Really? Yeah. And that was a while ago. The first audition was the opening monologue. And I'm like, this character talks like I do. So I got really excited. And also, I was a huge fan of Bose. Oh, you knew about his work beforehand?

Yeah, what was that like then meeting him in this context? It was weird. My face was just red. I got embarrassed The first thing she did when she read the she's like the the first thing it's like hey guys It's Kayla and she said hey guys. She knocked the script off her lap And I was like it's perfect. It's perfect It's all good. that's something I loved about the auditions. He was just like, he was chill and he was nice and he was like, willing to work with me

I guess. Whereas like a lot of auditions if I had done that, they'd be like, get out. But just because she's so open and we wanted to do, the story of being young is being inarticulate and a little all over the place and so a lot of young actors try so hard to polish everything about themselves so they come in sounding like what they think kids are like in movies,

which are like little poet laureates or whatever. And Elsie's just able to kind of be free, which is a very tough thing for an actor to be. How many actors did you see? A lot, a lot. Dozens and dozens, a hundred or so. Was the LC audition instantaneous? Yeah, yeah. Pretty, pretty instantly that. I saw, I tested her seven times. I only saw, I never saw a kid one once. As a young actress, I don't

actually know what it's like for somebody in your position. Do you get sent a lot of scripts? Are you talking to your family about what's the best choices for you? It must be a little bit different than for an adult performer. I mean, I don't know. I've just been going to auditions for my whole life. It sounds weird, but I've never overthought it, I guess. I just go to auditions and I was like, you got it? Cool. Yeah.

I mean, I don't know. Now I'm trying to be more considerate of what I take and I don't want to lock myself into a seven year contract with some show. But like,

I don't know. I just talk to my dad mostly about it. And the autonomy of a child actor is probably very similar to the autonomy of an adult actor

which is none. Exactly. That's right. Truly, I was acting for a while and auditioned and like, I'm saying

it's very very hard it's very hard to be selective as an actor because there's just nothing being written and there's so few roles going to so few people it's just crazy it's incredibly frustrating I imagine but can you tell me a little bit about how you guys then collaborate

because Bo this is a very auteurist thing that you're doing, you know, writing and directing your first film, you have a very specific vision. But Elsie also is the person living the life in some ways that the character embodies. So how much of what she's communicating with you about her life then finds its way into the story?

Yeah, I mean, my vision wasn't specific. My vision was just something that felt true and honest. So I the whole time was relying on her to author every single moment. And the process really was like not a lot of talking about it. I don't really like to talk about stuff, despite what I'll be doing. I just mean with an actor, I don't like to sit around and go, okay, so this scene, what your head space is this, and what's your backstory? Where did she come from?

I just wanted to get it on its feet and was really just trying to rehearse with her to make sure the script made sense. And if it didn't seem to make sense for her, we would change it. And also just try to give her permission to be free and comfortable and learn what she responded to and not. Did you feel free in that environment then? Yeah, totally. Comfortable.

You don't need to be coached up that way. Exactly. And it's also nice that we didn't talk about it too much because I would overthink it. And if I overthink it, I can't get into the character in my own way, I suppose. Yeah, it's not good to be in control, like to be too in control as an actor, I think. I want Kayla to be in control of me.

You know, I want to just let her loose, I guess. Yeah. Interesting. Did you guys ever come to loggerheads on anything? Was there anything you were like, I think it should be like this, and I think it should be like this? Well, she's a Trump person. Wow, that's tough.

And I, of course, am a Jill Stein boy through and through. No. Complicated election season. Do we ever? No. No. No, I mean, that's the nice thing about this is like we just, we kind of thought the same types of things.

Yeah. There was a lot of stress for me on the set. It was never her. Yeah. How would that manifest? What would you like? I would throw a paper cup. It was like,

when the stress of the movie was bogging me down, you know, like the production and the technical aspects and all that stuff, I would just look at the monitor and see her and be like, oh right, this is actually all I'm doing. Like, all I have to do is attend to her performance. And that'd make it much, much easier. Did you feel the weight of that responsibility, Elsie? I mean, like, actually all I'm doing. Like, all I have to do is attend to her performance and that'd make it much, much easier. So.

Did you feel the weight of that responsibility, Elsie? I mean, like, before we started the movie, I was, like, having actual anxiety attacks. Like, oh, God, I'm going to,

this is, huh. And then once we got on set, I, like, I didn't even know She was being method. Yeah. That's why.

And I told her, I'm like, this is a story about a nervous person. So if you're feeling nervous, good. Yeah. That's why. And I told her, I'm like, this is a story about a nervous person. So if you're feeling nervous, good. Yeah. It just means

you're getting in character. Bo, you recently said anxiety makes me feel like a terrified 13-year-old. Elsie, I'm wondering what it's like to hear a grown man

say that. How does it feel like to hear a grown man say these things? Yeah. How does it feel like to hear a grown man scream these things

from the sidewalk outside your bedroom window? It's nice to have someone to relate to. Because I mean, like, I don't know, whatever. I was related to people older than me. And then like knowing someone older than me also feels the same stuff as me is cool. But I'm also like, that's not cool, but I feel you. Not cool, but I feel you is a good tagline for this movie.

That is the eighth grade. Not cool, but I feel you is a good tagline for this movie that is the 8th grade not cool but I feel you what were the movies that you saw growing up that you're hoping people take from this movie that you made did you

because I feel like this is the kind of movie that people see and they're like wow that really captures my experience I've heard that from people of all ages

of men and women the most powerful thing in movies for me is I tend to personally connect with and have the sort of most profound emotional experiences with movies that I don't demographically align with.

It's very powerful for me to feel like I see my I see an emotional connection in someone that is nothing like me. That's just a very special thing that art and movies can do. So like Air Bud. Yeah, exactly.

No, but like I'm saying Moonlight. I'm saying Moonlight, Metal Eye. I'm nothing like the characters in Moonlight and I felt like this is me. This is a story about me who like can't communicate things to people and represses things and is scared. So that's kind of

the, more than it's like trying to be, I don't know, The Breakfast Club or anything. I love those movies and stuff, but like, I don't know, part of the idea is that like, I would think a 13-year-old girl can be a reflection of the human experience

as much as Private Ryan can be. I love like One Flew the Cuckoo's Nest. I thought that movie was so cool. And my father watched Con Air on repeat for my entire childhood. Did you most relate to Steve Buscemi in Con Air? He's watched a lot of Cuckoo's Nest. I thought that movie was so cool. And my father watched Con Air on repeat for my entire childhood. Do you most relate to Steve Buscemi in Con Air? He's watched a lot of Buscemi's stuff. He watched Armageddon 2, where Buscemi's character is Rockhound.

He watched it so much that he, to this day, when Steve Buscemi ever shows himself, he's like, hey, it's Rockhound. That's Steve Buscemi. He calls him Rockhound. He calls him his character from Armageddon. That's really good. My father also

watched the Divergent movie the first Divergent movie over 50 times before I told him that a second one had come out

over 18 months ago 50 times? yeah cause it's just like it'll just be on HBO and they'll just keep watching it oh my god

and he's just eating like peanut butter and Ritz crackers I'm really laying him out to dry. Your dad seems to lead a very interesting life. Yeah. Bo, I'm going to quote you again and then ask Elsie a question.

Elsie's laughing because she's met this man. He seems fascinating. Should he be here as well? Maybe that would make for a great movies podcast. Okay. Bo, you said- Let the laugh out. It used to be cool thinking I was funny.

Now you're repressing it. Sorry. Is this what it was like every day on set? She's over me. Yeah, basically. Hey, guys, let's take a quick break to hear a word from our sponsor. iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, Xbox One, Amazon Fire TV, Google Chromecast, Roku, and Android. All for just $4.99 a month or $49.99 a year.

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That's Shudder, S-H-U-D-D-E-R dot com slash podcast and use the promo code BIGPICTURE30 for a free 30-day trial. Okay, let's get back to my conversation with Bo Burnham and Elsie Fisher. You said the internet means a lot to me and no one is talking about it correctly, which I think is an interesting phrase. Elsie, what does the internet mean to you? Does it mean a lot? I don't know what the internet means to me. It's just kind of there.

And it's like this weird experience that you have every day of your life. And it's like, cool, this is probably not good for my brain. I don't know. I feel like it means everything and nothing to everyone at once. Not to be crazy. That's right. Truly, that's what it feels like to me. So it's like,

cool. I have no idea what I'm talking about or thinking about. And that's really kind of why we made the movie. Yeah. That's funny.

But that is why we made the movie. It's like, because I tried for a long time to like talk about the internet in terms of comment and gawning and satirizing it and all this stuff in my standup shows.

And I was like, if I'm being honest, I'm super confused. I don't know what it means and I have nothing to say and I this stuff in my stand-up shows. And I was like, if I'm being honest, I'm super confused. I don't know what it means, and I have nothing to say, and I don't want to do a TED Talk. I want to like, the movie is just us like presenting our feelings,

not, if we had a good answer for it, we would have, you know, co-written a book. Or just said it then. Yeah. Is there any part of you that wishes you guys could get away from it in some ways? I hear that a lot from younger people. It's like, I wish I didn't have to deal with this as much.

Yeah. For me, yeah. I feel like the internet is like show imprisoning in a sense. And it's like great because everything's on there. But then it's like, oh, everything's on there. I never would have found you though. Yeah. I never would be here without it.

You know what I mean? For sure. It also is a way for people to connect and a way for Oh, absolutely. people to get visibility. It's both.

That's the bummer. If it was just bad, it'd be so much easier to deal with. Yeah. Because it'd be like, yeah, we'll just all stop. Just ignore it.

Yeah. The problem is it's like It's so good too. There's amazing, beautiful things that happen there. It gives voices to people who don't have voices.

It brings together groups of people. Lonely people all around the world that would never connect with people. Yeah. So it does amazing things. But if it were an option, which it really isn't, to not be on the internet, I think personally, I might

not be on the internet. I suspect a lot of people will find out about 8th grade, though, because of the internet. Oh, for sure. Yeah, exactly. My answer is for like an ideal world though. I'm going to use it until I die.

Wow. That's remarkable. Beau, you also said that you really wanted to make a movie about 8th grade and right now. I kind of really

just wanted to make a movie about now. Like I did not set out to make a movie about young people. I just set out to make a movie about like how I was feeling

and how the current culture feels to me. And then it felt like, you know what, the culture and the moment, I think it's being most purely experienced by kids. I think the country is functioning at an eighth grade level. It feels like that, right? Doesn't a national conversation

feel like an eighth grade conversation at best? It's very pubescent right now. No, exactly. We're like, we're changing. And that's what I was doing. Like, okay, how do I feel about the current moment? I feel confused, unsure, like it's changing rapidly. Like I might die.

Like I have, like it's slipping through my hands every moment. Oh, eighth grade. You know what I mean? Kind of. And in the back of my mind, I had been thinking like, oh, there should be a middle school movie. So it just, they kind of came together and felt like, yeah, the right way to do it.

Elsie, you weren't yet in middle school or you weren't yet in eighth grade when you started making the film, right? No, I was past eighth grade. Oh, you were past it already? Yeah. You just graduated. So did it feel very accurate to your experience? It felt like I had a very prolonged eighth grade year, kind of. The second half was better, I will admit.

No, yeah.la's story is very true to my own not specifically but like emotionally and what's it like to be a performer while still going to school you know is it is it a topic of conversation among your peers does it i don't know like i wish it was well i don't but like it was funny because the movie trailer came out and like this is like two of my friends were excited and they got some of my teachers to play it and everyone was like kind of excited for like 20 minutes and they're like cool on to the next thing no one cares um and it's a curse and a blessing I guess um that must be so strange then to have a lot of adults

very interested in what you're doing professionally and your peers maybe not as interested. I went from Sundance and I went to school the day after I got back and that was just weird. That must be surreal. It's such a contrast. I mean, the real thing is she was the lead of the film. After we filmed, she went to school and didn't get cast in her school play.

I mean, that was the week after we wrapped. And Mr. Donia from Thousand Oaks High School, you suck. You bad at your job. Sorry to that guy. That's a real guy. Did you have to have confrontation then with people who overlooked you? No, I mean like.

Not your style. Not my style. I'll do that for her. Yeah. Mr. Donia. What's it been like to show the movie to eighth graders? I know that's something that you've done a few times. You're doing it, I think, again in the next couple weeks. I. Donia. What's it been like to show the movie to 8th graders? I know that's something that you've done a few times. You're doing it, I think, again in the next couple weeks.

I don't know. I don't think we've shown it to 8th graders yet. We've done a little bit of high schoolers. I mean, there have been 8th graders at screenings. Yes, that's the thing. There's 8th graders at screenings. And that's been nice. It's been good.

Like, yeah, it's been nice. I think they feel seen. Yeah, that's been nice. It's been good. Yeah, it's been nice. I think they feel seen. Yeah, that's always good because I feel like eighth grade is definitely an age group that's never put in media. Like, really, it's not focused on. You know, if it's, yeah, it's never a focused on group. And I think it's good to put some focus on it for once. Are you guys getting fact-check checked at all by the kids? Oh,

no, I thought there was one thing that a kid said, I can't remember. It was very funny, it made me laugh. I know there have been comments on the trailer that are like, this is nothing what 8th grade's like. Well, that's because they're looking at the trailer and they're going like, it's boys going, it's very funny, saying comments like,

8th grade's actually not emotional at all, it's boys going it's very funny saying comments like why 8th grade is actually not emotional at all it's actually really easy I'm like oh good luck I'm like yeah well

welcome get ready to break down in front of your father when you're 27 and not understand why yeah there's some very serious themes in the movie

and some very difficult things to portray and so I'm curious like what you guys had to do to collaborate to make sure that that was a safe and thoughtful way to approach that stuff.

Because it's pretty serious. Yeah, we approached everything like that. I'm saying stuff that isn't even necessarily serious, I approached very seriously. Like, stuff that is very, some things that are funny

in the movie were not funny on set. And I did not treat them funny on set, even though I knew they'd be funny on set. Can you give me an example of that? The banana scene.

I'm saying that thing. That was on a joke. Before she arrived to set, I took the whole crew aside and said, I know this is a funny scene. We're not joking about this. We're not laughing.

This is a closed set. No one's in this room except for me and her because it's just a vulnerable thing to do and it's also like she's 14. But yeah, the whole time was just being honest and communicative and making sure she was feeling safe.

And, you know, we structured certain scenes that were a little more intense towards the end. So it definitely wasn't feeling like you were hitting the ground with something difficult. But it was pretty quickly showed like, she was just so strong and sure of herself in it. And like, to the film's credit like

stuff registers in the film way more intense than it plays out on set you know like to that I'm saying like like certain color correction

and sound mixing can make something feel a lot more terrifying than it actually was in the day like a scene in the back seat is actually got seven people in the car

and she has her sides on her lap you know what I mean and she's like joking around and I'm being like Elsie please focus you know what I mean and then everyone in the car and she has her sides on her lap. You know what I mean? Interesting. And she's like joking around. I'm being like, Elsie, please focus. You know what I mean? And then everyone watches the scene

and be like, how did she get through that? I'm like, well, she's a really good actor. That's how she got through it. Like, she's convinced you that she was traumatized by that.

She wasn't. Right. If you had something, you know, she just, she's that good. I get though, some people watching it

and being like, her walk to that pool party must have been miserable. It wasn't. When we yelled cut, she would smile and laugh and jump into the pool

and like I was the one like staying in the emotions like a psycho that sounds not healthy yeah well that's it

he's given the peace sign I gave the peace sign yeah great podcasting Elsie what about for you what about some of the more complicated stuff I imagine that

even though the set was probably safe and calm and you're a professional performer, because it mirrors some experiences of your life, is it strange to be rendering some of those things

that are really private in a public and professional way? I mean, like, it was strange, sure, but it was never, I didn't feel bad or weird about it ever. Like, I was fine doing it

and it was my, it was my work and that was like, chill for me. Yeah. The only scene that sucked to film was after I get out

the back seat when I'm running up to my room. That like, literally that was like, people are like, what was the hardest thing for you, Elsie?

And it was literally just. Cardio. Yeah. Cardio up the stairs. Yeah. Like literally the hardest. Yeah. Literally the physically hardest.

Yeah, no. Like everything just felt good to me. It was fine to do. And I had fun doing it. How many days did you guys shoot? 27. And they're nine hour days because she's 13.

So it was nine hour. 14. 14, sorry. Gotcha. But yeah, she's like a, I just remember being an actor that age and doing theater and being like loving to throw myself into shit. You know what I mean? And take myself seriously.

It's like very fun. Like you have access to be a serious person. Yeah. So, so aside from that, I was just working with people I loved. So I mean like that just made my job easy. I'm saying I was also very aware of what I was dealing with.

It was communicating with her dad a ton. Oh yeah. Of course. Being very upfront about everything and, but also having conversations about the scenes and what they mean and what they'll function as and why they're in the movie, you know, which she totally understood. Even though you've been a performer in movies before,

was there anything that was significantly different or more challenging than you expected in this role? Oh, definitely. I mean, it's all, yeah. It was all challenging. I knew it was only surprising when it wasn't challenging, which was very rare. But the actual process of working with the actors

just felt really good and right to me. Yeah, the whole thing's a challenge and a learning process. And I'm just trying to like, okay, can I somehow learn, not learn so much that I just get to the end and I'm like, well, now I can make a movie. You know, that was the fear. And now, what is your plan? Will you now continue to make movies? Will there be a movie about being 17?

I would love to. It's sort of a project by project thing that I'll have to have an idea and then whatever that idea is, I'll do it. Hopefully it's a movie, but if it's a show, maybe. Or a stand-up show. I'm not great at multitasking, so once this is over,

I'll bang my head against a wall for a few months and try to write something. I'm curious about what you guys want for each other. Like Elsie, since you're a fan of Bo's, do you want to see him make more movies? Would you like to see him return to stand-up in an aggressive way? I want to see him just do stuff that makes him happy.

Oh, that's so political. Nice, for real though. She's so trained. Honestly, I think when Bo does stuff that makes him happy, Oh, that's so political. For real, though. She's so trained. No, I mean, like, honestly, I think when Beau does stuff that makes him happy, that's his best stuff. So it's like, just feel good about what you're doing.

Damn, that's a great answer, dude. I really, truly want her to be happy, for sure. I mean, that's actually kind of my only concern. I definitely don't want, like, the weight of what feels like a significant professional thing to have to determine the rest of your life. Like also have the freedom to be a

kid and choose whatever you want to do, you know, cause I had the similar thing happen a little later than you, which is easier for it to happen late, let alone when you're your age. Um, so yeah, like pursue this if she wants to, but also if she doesn't, and she wants to go be a zoologist, like go be a zoologist. You know what I mean? Like, that's what I hope,

you know, I'm not telling like, my hope is not like an Emmy for Elsie. Like, you know what I mean? Like, I just hope she does, you know.

What, have you given her advice on becoming an indelible and well-known person at such a young age? like, that must be an odd challenge. And I suspect when a lot of people see this movie, Elsie, that they're really going to connect to your performance and they're going to really feel like they know you. And I feel like a lot of people feel like they really knew you at a young age,

Beau. Yeah, that's a great question. I don't know. I mean, like, we haven't had, like, really long conversations about it. No. I think she's fine handling it. Cool. You know what?

Let's see the box office numbers first before we start talking about indelible sort of likability. All right? Let's deliver and then we'll adjust. That's a good segue, believe it or not. I mean, how important is it to you guys for the movie to be seen by a lot of people? Is that something you've thought about? Oh, I mean how important is it to you guys for the movie to be seen by a lot of people is that something you've thought about

oh I mean like yeah yeah we're only in it for the cash we're in for that sweet indie residuals yeah I'm gonna buy

a lawn chair no like you make stuff for it to mean something to people yeah I mean you make

to connect with people so I hope people see I'd love for everyone to people. I mean, you make, to connect with people. So I hope people see it. I'd love for everyone to see it. I mean, but also like, I'm not crazy. Since I did stand up, I know what a,

I know what a hundred thousand people are like. Cause I toured and I toured to a hundred thousand people, you know, 2,000 people shows at a time. That's a lot of people, you know, but if a hundred thousand people see your movie, you know, that's, you know, gross is only a million dollars and shows at a time. That's a lot of people. But if 100,000 people see your movie,

gross is only a million dollars and it's a bomb. So I would tell all my friends working on movies, be like, do you know that this movie that didn't make a lot of money and only made $4 million or whatever these numbers are, it's like, you realize that's like two stadiums full of people? So we are already in a very lucky position where people are seeing, even in the festival screenings,

we've had 1,000 people in a theater watching a movie. So you have to stay grounded in that sense and stay proportional and realize, yes, it would be lovely for it to be an on-paper success. I'd want that more than a lot of things. But people are going to see this movie. More people than we will ever personally meet are going to see this movie. More people than we will ever personally meet are going to see this movie.

More people that were, more than the population of my hometown has already seen this movie. So it's good. That's a great perspective. Elsie, you've performed in- That's a lie. Okay, well done.

This has been a great performance so far. Thank you. Elsie, you have appeared in big films and you've had a career before this movie, but this is a massive leading role. What has it been like to kind of go through the process since you guys finished production of being an avatar for something? And both times I saw the film, you guys were there together afterwards and talking about it. So you're kind of part of the machine in a specific way. So what has that experience been like?

It's been exciting. I mean, it's a fun thing to do. And it's like, I get to do this as my job. I don't know. I mean, it's weird to see my face everywhere, but, like, who cares? No, I mean, truly, it's been exciting. The pictures woman thinks the same thing. Her arm is tired.

But, I mean, like, I'm working for a movie that I really love. And like, to go back to the question that Bo just answered, like, it's awesome if a bunch of people see it. But also, I made the movie for me in a lot of ways. And I did it because I love it. So it's like, it's cool that I get to continue that journey. Even though you're a professional actor, do you think it will be strange to go to another role that doesn't feel quite so linked to some of your own experiences? Or is that not important at all in any way? I mean, I don't know.

It's nice to have that in a project, and this is going to be something special forever, always. But I mean, I don't know if it's weird, because I mean, acting is a job. It's not this fun experience you get to have every time. It's a work thing. Yeah. Do you have a sense of what you want to do next? Anything. I don't know.

You're taking calls? Truly. D&D episode two. Stream D&D episode two, I think. Pretty much. No, I mean, I like acting. I want to do something that's like genuine, I like acting. I want to do something that's genuine, I guess so. Because I feel like a lot of roles for teens are very stereotypical.

And I want to do another role for a teen that feels like a person. But also anything. Give me money. Hell yeah. That's a great way to go to the last question. At the end of every show, ask filmmakers what's the last great thing that they've seen. Since you're both here, I'd like to know what's the last great thing that both of you guys have seen. I saw Three Identical Strangers.

I loved that documentary. Talk about that a little bit. It's a documentary. Without spoiling it. It's hard. Well, the thing is, if you've seen the poster in the trailer and like, the title is spoiling it for you, it actually isn't. The title's, like, only, like, the first five minutes. That was really, really beautiful.

Scripted. I saw Blockers. I thought Blockers was really good. I thought really good. That was great. Did that feel accurate to you in some respects, even though it's only a couple years in the future for you? Well, it was about, like, high school school but I feel like they did a wonderful job of representing teens

as like actual good characters. Yeah, the three main girls were great. They were amazing. Yeah, they were great.

Like I walked into that expecting like, oh, this is just going to be another cool comedy, whatever. But it was like an actually amazing movie.

And it's a bright studio comedy. I mean, it is what it is. But like, Kay Cannon did a great, great job. It's just like, it's very,

it's like warm and lovely. Yeah, she was here a few months ago talking about it. And she said that she also did a smart amount of research, I think, to make sure that the kids seemed real, even though it was in the Sprite Studio comedy. Those three girls were absolutely incredible. Incredible actors, those three. Those are great recommendations. What about you? Sorry. Oh, yeah.

No, aside from that, love A24. I watched The Florida Project and Moonlight consecutively on a flight. Wow. That was a lot. Company woman. Yeah. And then another great A24 one I can't shut up about is Hereditary. Like, that is like my favorite film now. I'm a little concerned for you, Elsie. Yeah.

That's a very dark film. I wasn't like, I know a lot of people are. I was not very scared, although we went to like a midnight showing of it. Yeah, and I was terrified. She's just like eating chicken fingers smiling. I'm like, what have you been this whole time? My dad saw it with us and he would do like the little in the theater. And when I'm like truly, truly laughing, I will snort very bad.

So I had to like plug my nose in the theater. Because I couldn't laugh out loud during this terrible movie terribly scary movie terribly scary no I cannot

it is truly upsetting it's amazing it is amazing how upsetting it is God I love A24 I love that Bo went with a big studio comedy

and you went with three dark A24 I'm like I'm like blockers. Great job, guys. Guys, thanks so much for doing this. This was fun. Yeah, thank you.

Thank you. Thanks again for listening to this week's episode of The Big Picture. For more on 8th Grade, please check out Alyssa Beresnack's very thoughtful, insightful piece about social media and how it exists in the movies and how eighth grade deals with it so smartly and if you liked this conversation with Bo also talking to a teenage girl might I recommend the Bill Simmons podcast Bo was a guest on the show last week joined by Bill's daughter Zoe and they had what I thought was a really fun and also insightful conversation about what it's like to watch this movie as a teenager and experience it and understand it and you know see what Bo got right and what he didn't get right.

So check that out.