The Reel Rejects - Talking W/ David Henrie, Mel Gibson, Mason Thames, & More!! MONSTER SUMMER PREMIERE!

Episode Date: October 2, 2024

WHAT AN EVENTFUL EVENING!! Monster Summer Movie directed by David Henrie (Wizards Of Waverly Place) & starring Mel Gibson and Mason Thames (Black Phone & How To Train Your Dragon) - we went to the premiere where we got to Interview Mel Gibson where he talks Lethal Weapon 5, Interview David Henrie, Interview Mason Thames, & Interview Lorenzo Henrie (Fear The Walking Dead & Agents Of Shield Ghost Rider Season), plus the rest of the cast & writer. Monster Summer is a fantastic family horror movie. Monster Summer Plot: When a mysterious force begins to disrupt their big summer fun, Noah and his friends team up with a retired police detective to embark on a monstrous adventure to save their island. #MonsterSummer #melgibson #davidhenrie #horror #premiere #interview #MoviePremiere #RedCarpet   PATREON: https://www.patreon.com/thereelrejects Follow Us On Socials: https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/  https://www.tiktok.com/@thereelrejects?lang=en Support The Channel By Getting Some REEL REJECTS Apparel! https://www.rejectnationshop.com/ Music Used In Manscaped Ad:  Hat the Jazz by Twin Musicom is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ POWERED BY @GFUEL Visit https://gfuel.ly/3wD5Ygo and use code REJECTNATION for 20% off select tubs!! Head Editor: https://www.instagram.com/praperhq/?hl=en Co-Editor: Greg Alba Co-Editor: John Humphrey Music In Video: Airport Lounge - Disco Ultralounge by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 license. https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ Ask Us A QUESTION On CAMEO: https://www.cameo.com/thereelrejects Follow TheReelRejects On FACEBOOK, TWITTER, & INSTAGRAM:  FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheReelRejects/ INSTAGRAM:  https://www.instagram.com/reelrejects/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thereelrejects Follow GREG ON INSTAGRAM & TWITTER: INSTAGRAM: https://www.instagram.com/thegregalba/ TWITTER: https://twitter.com/thegregalba Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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with the number one AI powered email marketing and automation platform, Intuit MailChimp. Number one, based on publicly available data on competitors' customers. Plans vary. SMS available as ad on, visit Miltchim.com. I'm Coydronro with Greg Alba reporting for the real rejects. John behind the lens. We are sitting down with the cast, with the crew, with the team, with the people of Monster Summer. There's Greg. Magic Mind. This. Yes. What's going to be? What is he, dude? I had no idea. There's going to be this big of a deal. He showed up, and I was like, this is a real premiere. And everyone showed me. This is a real premiere?

Is your wife here? She's not here today. Okay, no reason. I want her to meet my wife and, like, And then they get along, and then we get along. They have something to do. They have a foundation of that work. They keep each other business. Hey, everyone. I'm with the Real Rejects now. David Henry here.

He's finally made it. I want to take credit for the Real Rejects real quick. I just want to take credit for the whole thing. So Greg and I used to hang out and John, and we pretty much were the real rejects, but I never got an invite. So he went and did his thing, and I'm just all, you know, you know, when you get big, you don't want to forget people. I'm not saying he did that, but I do feel a little effort.

No. Well, you have wizards back, so I figured I'll hit the David and let's see if we could actually here. David's relevant again. He seems like he's trending. So let's call him. I'm seriously the biggest fan of what you guys do. You're killing it. All of you, you John, your whole team, killing it. And I love to see everything. You're living the vision. I remember when we were young, David used to be obsessed when he started learning about directing. I remember this. Just came to my mom right now. There's some tutor would come over. And you were like, the cowboy shot, Greg. The cowboy shot. Is there a... Is there a...

They're like... You're obsessed with the cowboy shot. Is there a cowboy shot in this movie? There's cowboys... Beyond belief. I don't know, I said that like Thomas Trump. There's beyond belief. There's so many cowboys.

I saved the close-up for special moments. I feel like I might have said this publicly. I feel like I say this to people in private and they're like, eh, whatever. Him and his family. Is your parents here? Yes, they can't wait to see you. Jim and Linda are here. Is Lorenzo here?

Yes. Renzo's here. They're all here. They're all supporting. They were like my second family growing up, and they really took care of me a lot. There has been this thing in my brain that's been like, I want David to come by one day so we can see we've made it. We're all really proud of you. My mom, my dad,

everyone is so proud of you. They really took care of me. This is about me. It's not about David. We love Greg. Forget David's summer movie. We love Greg. We love Greg. I wanted to ask, but on my way over here, I actually saw they drop the Wizards of Waverly Place trailer. Yes. It was beyond Waverly Place.

Yes. And I was thinking because it had a kind of a surprisingly mature tone in the trailer with this reboot. And since you've had time to get creatively involved in it, what do you think is going to be different or perhaps better than the original series? It's a tough act to follow, right? I mean, people love that show. It's beloved. It's a tough act to follow. So how do you do it?

And my goal from Day One was like, make a show that will be a big warm hug to the original fan. So they'll know that, okay, we took care of them, we see them, we love them. But at the same time, make it an invitation to show it to a whole new generation. Pass the wand on to a whole new generation. So it's a fine balance, but we've worked really hard on that. And I think a lot of that, a lot of this stuff people loved about the original show. Kids can handle it. You can go a little deeper with themes.

You can go a little deeper with storytelling that most kids' shows wouldn't have. There could be some real heartfelt and genuine moments that can land. We have a lot of that in the show. There's a lot of heart there. So I can't wait for people to see it. Are you directing any of the episodes? I will, yes, yes, I will. I haven't yet, but I will.

Okay, that's awesome to hear. So I saw you on the George Janco podcast. And you were talking a lot about your faith. Is there any of this aspects about your faith influence inside of this movie? Absolutely. It's the air I breathe. It's what motivates me. So it's a part of everything that I do.

But there's a quote that came to mind when I was reading this script, and that was Evil Winds When Good Men Do Nothing. And that's very much at play in this film. And even historically, in storytelling, fairy tales, they always have a monster, right? And why is the monster there? The monster represents something in all of our lives. Stories help us how to deal with those things, right?

Why do Dragons Guard gold? Gold symbolizes your potential, right? And the Dragons Guard, you've got to slay that dragon. So there's a lot of that classic storytelling at play here that really motivated me as a filmmaker to want to tell a deeper story. Yes, it'll be fun, they'll be scares, it'll be laughter, all that good stuff. But there's a lot of play that I think is deeper. You also talk extensively about wanting to make a movie that's entertainment, that's like for families again. And this is like a family horror movie.

You have children now. Yes. What is the horror movies you would show your kids? I would show Goonies. Goonies would be the first one? Goonies. Although that's not, I wouldn't call it horror per se, but there's some scary. But there's some scary stuff.

There's some scary stuff. There's peril. There's peril. There's peril in E.T. Yeah. E.T.'s a good call. There's some jump scares when they're in the cornfield, you know, and like, E.T.'s there. So you want the horror with a sense of wonder?

Yes, exactly. Okay. Horror that's not just empty horror. Like, I just call a spooky family fair. Like, stuff that's not scarring. My North Star with this film will scare not scarring. Oh, that's beautiful. Don't scar.

Don't scar. That's beautiful. Yeah. Thanks, David. Thank you, David. He's going to get you. I got one more. Thank you, buddy.

I had one. One more question I can get to during the time sitting down. I have seen it, loved it. I should be so proud, man. Thank you very much. And assembling this cast, I have to know, you lived so much of this coming up. What was it like to kind of pass the baton

and give advice? Was there anything that Method and Red told you that you just don't on to them? I didn't go to film school, so I never went to film school. But I got into the business by making little movies at home as a kid, and people would see those and say, oh, you should try to be an actor. But I really got a high off being a filmmaker

in those little skit, skits and sketches that I would do. You know, I've been doing this now for 26 years or whatever, and you learn a lot working with different directors. So I just always paid attention. I always ask questions, and especially as an actor too, you learn a lot about what acting is and how that works with the director

and just their relation. So I saw a lot of the good, the bad, and the ugly, and I just seek to bring those strengths to the table and then hire my weaknesses. So I'm very aware of where I didn't have a technical formation. So I hire that, you know, know, skill set and try to work with wise people. But yeah, it's been a blessing.

This project has been a really, really good time for me. My favorite memories as a kid are me and my dad in a movie theater with a bunch of crunch, popcorn, soda, and that was our routine. And he would just, he would always surprise me. He'd pick me up and be like, hey, I'm going to take you to a movie. Out of the blue, I'd be like, yeah. So when I finished this script for the first time, I literally said, this can be kind of my love letter to my childhood for a whole new generation

and hopefully a movie where parents and kids can get together. and make memories. It definitely has a vibe of nostalgia for a new generation, and it's interesting hitting an age where 97 is somehow nostalgic, and that's haunting in itself. Like, that's the horror movie to me, is that element. But I love that it felt like a love letter specifically to Spielberg in so many ways. I caught hook. I caught the Eatsy's Pieces. I caught a few. Yeah, Jaws was like a prevalent. Was that something that when you were assembling this whole ideal, you wanted that to be a theme throughout? Oh, absolutely. Yeah. The way, the way Spielberg captures his vibe, his tone is just like how I think, probably because I grew up on

his movie. So that's just like how I see life. And especially the way he tells kid forward stories or stories from a kid's perspective is, that's how I look at life. I look at life. I feel like a kid and I look at life like a kid. And so getting to direct a movie where you have a kid lead and specifically studying how Spielberg would make a kid's perspective real, that was on the forefront of my mind the whole way, just trying to make the movie feel like it was Noah's point of view a little bit like that. Spielberg's done that better than anyone. So, you know, just trying to drift on that a little bit in our own way. And I feel like these kids are so grounded and real, and that's what you get out of Spielberg. You find those performances where the supernatural elements

can rest on the kids feeling grounded. With these kids, how did you cast? What were you looking for? What were these anchors you were going for with this specific team? Yeah, it was very much in with the question you just asked and what you pointed out about the supernatural resting nicely on the performance of a kid because Mason Thames really steals the show. He has that wonderful subtlety that comes across so powerful on camera. And he held his own against Mel Gibson. I was really, really proud of how he did that. You know, that's not an easy thing to do. Mel's a powerful force. Yeah. And Mason held his own. And Mason has that subtle movie star strength that even when it's different when you're sitting in person

versus on camera. Like, it just the camera, all the subtle things he's doing are hard to pick up in person, but when you see it on camera, it just comes to life. Yeah. And you can't teach that, you know, he's got that little quality in him, that sparkle in him. When I found out that right after our film, he was cast as

Hickup in the new How to Train your Dragon franchise, I go, yeah, of course. Yeah. He's exactly right. He has that just wonderful inner strength that the camera loves, and he's perfect for Hickokop. So, yeah, I couldn't be more proud of him. And his presence, I mean, he just reads as an old soul.

It reminds me of Heath Ledger in like two hands and ten things. And like, dude, I almost literally just said that before you. I was like, he's a little Heath Ledger. He really is. He's a little Heath Ledger. There's so much weight in those eyes. And there's a scene that I specifically love between him and Mel where it's dealing with a very intense subject matter where he has to be able to keep up with intensity and weight.

And that soulfulness has to come out. But for you as a director, what was it like to direct that much energy, emotion? Like, that must have been so draining emotionally and to rap and deal with it. like what was it like to direct mel and specifically those highly emotional scenes yeah those those highly emotional scenes i've acted with oscar nominated and winning actors in some of those moments and i know how stressed they can be in those moments and so i've seen directors do it right and do it wrong in those moments you kind of got to get out of their way sure and so for me i very much was like i'm gonna i'm gonna limit camera movement in the moments where there's something big for

someone like mel especially in a emotional moment where he's got to maybe get a little misty-eyed so for me I limited the camera movements, like drastically, and kind of let the blocking still the show. Like, just block it right, get the intention across and blocking, and try not to let the camera get too much in the way. Like, let them still the show. So I was very minimal in the scenes with them. I just did maybe a little push in. I had the camera on a slider and just a little moment where the actor wasn't even aware of it.

I'd just be on the mic and Video Village going push, and just a little subtle thing. And that was it. You know, I didn't really, I stayed out of their way so I could let them do what they do best. And that's casting. Like when you know your cast is that strong and they're absolutely powerhouses in this. I also love that there's that Goonies vibe of kids on bikes, that freedom.

And Martha's been... I'm a kid from Boston and grew up in the 90s. This was a love letter to my literal childhood. Oh, that's awesome. So watching this, I was like, oh, that's a house I passed. Like, and I love that spirit. And I love that you were able to shoot some, like, North Carolina for New England

because I love that they parallel each other and their sensibilities. What was the idea of using that specific setting beyond the jaws love? But, like, why did that feel like nostalgia for you for the movies you loved? You know, I'm a big fan of Norman Rockwell, and I just love his aesthetic. His optimism that he captures in his work, I think I just vibe with, right? So for me, I've always wanted to work in that aesthetic. And so just capturing a little bit of a Rockwellian, just a time before the weight of the issues that we deal with in our present day was around, I was just, I was going for that. Because I think I want people to feel like they can leave the problems of present day. and go back in time and just experience a less stressful, fresher time.

So all of that was kind of at play. And the location, I think, really helps you do that. And we found a good location that I think allows that kind of Rockwell feel. But in the 90s, you know, cell phones weren't really around. So, yeah, I think it helped me create that sense of optimism and maybe nostalgia. This is one of the first films where you and I are about the same age, and it's interesting to see what's nostalgic to us versus the generations we grew. up on and, you know, Spielberg loved the things from the 60s and 50s, and now we're,

oh, that's 30 years ago. And to me, this felt like the best of goosebumps and Fear Street and are you afraid of, and those things that we got to be afraid of and, like, our parents thought it was just okay enough? Yeah. Was there a line in the sand in editing or in test screenings? How did you walk the line between too scary for everyone and because it's family, but it's a line. How did you find that? You know, I, scare not scar was kind of my north star. Like, I want a scare or not scar. So I was, we did focus groups and test groups and we tested these things. And I also know that kids can handle it and kids don't want to be dumbed down. Like they, they, you know, kids want to be challenged. They don't want something to be too easy. It's like,

you know, anytime you tell a kid, don't do that, they're going to go do that, right? Yeah. So I wanted to push it a little bit, but not to the point where it was scarring. Sure. And I wanted to be a co-viewing experience. So I don't want it, I didn't want it to be a moment where a parent would feel like they have to cover their kids' eyes or be like, we got to get out of here. fine line, you know. I kind of, in my mind, I directed it before the PG-PG-13 distinction. Yeah, I like that. It's just like a movie where everyone could go watch and have a good time, but it's not R where you get like blood and guts and something that might be scarring or you should watch when you're older. I think a great example of that PG-13 line that surprised me was Mel Gibson's

signs where it's jarring how terrifying it could be, but be PG-13. Was the knife scene in there a nod to that? Oh, 100%. Okay, because I was like, he's in the next scene. There's got to be like, This has me attentional. The whole time I was like, there's no way this is a happy accident. Oh, yeah, 100%. All of that is, yes, nods to our things we loved. So now that you've done this, and I know your directing style is, I like that it's unique to you and you have something where you can homage but still make it your own.

Is there another aesthetic or vibe or love letter to something that you want to play in next? Is there another goal now that you've done this? You know, that's a great, that's a great question. You know, I would love to move a little more in an Edgar Wright direction. Okay. where Edgar Wright, I call Spielberg on steroids or on speed. Like, because if you slow down his camera movements, it's very Spielberg-y, like the stuff that he does with his camera.

So, yeah, I would love to move a little more in that direction. I love whimsical. I love irony. So, yeah, I'd like to move a little more in the comedy direction. But still, I love things that can entertain and elevate. So I love powerful, strong themes. Like, I love the theme, Evil Only Wins When Good Men Do Nothing. And to me, that's what this story was about,

and that's what I got me motivated and what I fought for. So as long as you have strong themes, I would love to move it into more Edgarite aesthetic, though. Now, there's a unique opportunity here since you grew up in the industry as it evolved and changed. You're working with actors

that are now newly in this evolving industry. What do you think is going to be their 1997 thing? Like, what is the 10 years ago thing that is prevalent enough that if Monster Summer 2 came out in 30 years? What's their goonies? That's a great question, man. It's so different nowadays.

It's so different. It's rapid and they don't, you know, technologies interlaced with everything. So they have such a different experience. Like, I don't even, yeah, I don't know. Because as soon as I saw the stripes on the Mason shirt, I was like, I get the setting. And as soon as I saw the bikes, I got the tone. And I can't figure out what 2010's version of that is. Yeah.

I mean, we're going to, you know, maybe it's looking back on a time where, you know, everyone's got their, I don't know, phones and scooters and, you know, no one's walking or biking anymore. it's all electrified and I don't know maybe maybe 20 30 years from now we're all in flying cars you know they got those things those those those octo or the what's it called the the jets in one yeah we're just nostalgic for four wheels 100% yeah look at them driving I think we're nostalgic for like yeah driving ourselves or like at a time yeah they're going to literally be like you used to drive yourself that's crazy you know so dangerous that was okay you guys just put a seatbelt on and hope for the best yeah how irresponsible this was one of the first movies where it felt like

the setting wasn't used as a crutch it was used as a supporting character and I really like that it wasn't hey this is nostalgic for the sake it actually served the story was there anything that you had intentionally removed so it didn't feel like a crutch to make it a character that was overwhelming the leads that's a good question you know in a this might not be a direct answer but but a way that what helped the film was just being aware of your pacing and trying to keep the pacing up and also making sure you couldn't guess who the monster was and and in

And that was, I don't think anyone's going to see it coming. I really don't. Like, if you see that coming, you're, you've watched too many movies. It's that line. It's, yeah, it's a hard one. We really tried hard to hide this. We had a lot of really smart people trying to figure this out. If you know, if you figure it out, you're really good.

But I don't know if you will. It is a very inventive way to go. I've seen these movies and yet, and I love that. Yeah. That was such a fun way to have that journey. Totally, totally. Yes, exactly right. Exactly right.

If you see it coming, man, so we were really trying to do that, trying to hide it. That was helpful to us. I think when we do reveal what's going on, it's a movie moment where you go, oh, crap, cool, no way, yeah, okay. So I got two more questions, and then I wanted to go there, like, a slight speed round, because I want to ask everyone the same ones. There were some lines that were so Mel Gibson, like Riggs era, like, I've got socks older than you. I think the woods been searched yet, not by me. There's some, like, really great gravelly.

Was there a moment for you as a director where you slipped out of director mode and you were like, I can't believe I just directed a scene with Riggs. Like, was that, did that happen? Every single day it happened, yes. But in particular, there's a moment where I don't want to give it away, but I'm trying to figure out how I can say this. But I wanted a moment from Mel Gibson and the Patriot where he says goodbye to his daughter and she doesn't say anything back to him.

And there's a really emotional moment in that film where Mel and his daughter have an interaction. And there's a scene in the film where I really wanted that Mel Gibson. Got it. And so I'm behind the camera. And it's time for this scene, right? And I've been dreaming of this scene and like, I can't believe Mel's doing this and it's amazing. And I've been dreaming of the scene.

I'm behind the camera and I yell action. And sure enough, Mel does it. He does it. He gives me that Mel. And it was, I like, you know, I started to cry. I was like, I got that Mel. And there were multiple moments where I was like, well, I want Mel from this movie.

I want the Mel from that movie. I want the Mel from this. And he freaking does it. He had fun, dude, because he has not done a family movie since Pocahontas. So this is like a very new thing for him. to get to do. So he had a freaking blast. He was like a kid in a candy story.

He had a freaking blast. I also thought that casting felt like it supercharged the 97 of it all. Yes. The choice also tied into our generation growing up with those movies, and he subconsciously makes you go, oh, right, that time, even though he's obviously older. That was perfect. 100%.

And before the speed around, the last question I had was there's a shot, and this isn't a spoiler, but it is near the end of the film. That is this incredible low, pulls out oneer that goes into a sky shot. And it is stunning. Was that a oneer? How did you physically do this shot? Yeah. Yeah, that is a direct callback to how the movie opens.

Right. Which is, I don't want to give away too much. But that was very intentional. I wanted to open and close the movie with mirror images in completely different ways. It was a oneer. It did require a very skilled drone operator. But that was how, yeah, I dreamed of ending the film. And it was, yeah, it was a crazy, we barely pulled it off.

We had trees in the way and this and that, but we had a really skilled drone operator who was able to do it, and yeah. Stunning, all right, so my speed round is gonna be favorite horror franchise. Oh, sheesh. Favorite horror franchise? Nightmare on Elm Street.

Great. Favorite individual slasher killer? Freddy Krueger. Okay, right? Sometimes they don't line up, like some people like Jason, but prefer Freddy. This consciously set in 97, what's your favorite decade in horror films?

Oh, sheesh. Uh, 80s. Beautiful. And lastly, if you could join the cast of one classic horror franchise, what would it be? Oh, scream. Oh, 100%. We talked a lot about pop culture and those influences, but what myths and folklore did you rediscover and have a different sense of after making this film that recontextualized for you?

Oh, that's interesting. That's a really deep question. I read a lot, you know, and a lot of Joseph Campbell compared to mythology. When I read stuff from him, I look back on a movie and I go, okay, we're in that spirit, you know, we're doing a lot of that. That's at play here, classic story. The hero's journey, telling the hero's journey, what things symbolize and represent in films, knowing that all of that matters, and that it should be intentional.

There's a lot of that here. Yeah. We don't have a $200 million Marvel budget, but we made it work. There's a lot of thought put into it that hopefully people will like. I didn't realize the budget until the writer mentioned it. Neil mentioned it, and I was like, that is insane. You accomplished a lot. Thank you, man. It is quite the experience.

I can't wait for them to see it. Thank you, brother. Thank you. Good to see you again. I'm so free guys to see it. My parents would love to see both of you. My mom and dad, they're around here. They'd love to see you.

Okay, we're going to leave. Okay, bye. Dude, good to see you. You're so good to see you. I know. You're on two whole movies since. Oh, my God. I love you guys.

I watch you guys like all the time. It's so cool. We met at Black Phone and it's like, real rejected. I was like, I'm here for you. This gentleman right here, I said with the Black Phone last year, had that old Solar Heat Ledger, and I don't say that lightly. That's the biggest compliment. It truly, it's shown here in this amazing scene with Mel Gibson. I don't want to get everything in a way forward.

I knew that moment was going to happen because the whole movie crescendos. Working in that scene with Mel, there's a scene where there's a story he tells. Yeah. What was it like for you to be opposite a legend like that? Great question. Watching him, especially in that scene, like watching him work, it's the little things he does with like a lip quiver and like an eye thing. He's so incredible what he does in his craft. It was such an honor to share the screen with him and even meet him. So, yeah, no, that scene itself was, I think, my favorite.

With this movie, you worked with an actor-turned-director who's lived through being a young actor. But you've also worked with, like, Scott Derrickson, who I love dearly. Very different directing styles. What did you learn most from working on this movie as compared to what you've done so far before it's it's such a big change from black phone which is a nice it's a nice pace change david is since he was an actor you know it's not to talk to an actor really knows how to make them feel safe i mean so does scott but you know it's nice david is probably like one of the nicest people i've ever met in my life that's what people keep saying we're trying to get

really they grew up together i'm trying to get the other side that's so cool no literally like i i like i could try to find something about on david and i couldn't squeaky clean this guy next time we sit down we'll talk how to train your dragon because i can't wait but congrats on everything man i'm so excited for you yeah and this is amazing. Congrats. Thank you. Let's talk about life. Life? What do you want to know? Anything. Let's start with this movie set in 97. Yes. What was your favorite thing about the late 90s that you think can form the spirit of this film? Greg Alba. Greg Alba? Yes. These are my two favorite. You don't understand. Are you serious? Yeah, we're my childhood friends. Oh, no way.

Yeah, we went to school together. Oh, I didn't know. That's amazing. How crazy is this out of focus? Is it something I can handle? How you guys been? Better now. Yeah. Okay, good. I came here because of you guys actually. Your brother was a waste of time, but this is something. I came here because I heard the star of this is the year was going to be here. I know. I mean, I didn't want to get the paparazzi all crazy, so we didn't say anything. We kept it under the wrap. My favorite little bro

in the Agents of Shield Universe. What do you have to say about that? Too soon. Too soon. Yeah, I mean, me and Gabe, we would have done another season. I've got to ask him a real question. All right, you ask him the real question. I'm on season five of Fear of the Walking Dead. Oh, man. I just got there. What do you think? I actually really

I'm a big fan of the Walking Dead universe. Okay. Your character, not your acting, your character. Okay, you hated him. Piss me off so much. Me too. It's so hard to deal with it. Do you ever look back on that moment?

I'm like, wow, that was a, what is the emotional response to that? So, season one, I really like season one. That was my favorite season. I thought from a cinematic standpoint, I thought that was the strongest season. Sorry, seasons five through whatever. Season two, like, as we got episodes in, sorry, they started going in a way different direction that I was not aware of or prepared for. Fascinating. And because I thought me and Cliff, the dad, we were going to be like badass heroes.

Yeah. And then they went this different direction. As the episodes, I was reading them, at first I was like, okay, this kind of sucks, I see where this is going. But then Cliff, he's an amazing actor. He said, enjoy it. So he was actually coaching me when I was doing my lines. No way. Yeah, yeah.

The scenes where I like pop that one kid in the barn, the chickens, Cliff was literally behind camera like this and he goes... No way. So then I was like, he told me, turn crumbles into cookies. Because I wasn't like the biggest name in the show. Sure, sure. But he's like, that's what made my career. At that point, I started embracing like this like crazy villainous character and they did what they did.

It's shocking because he's like one of the nicest guys you'll ever meet. And then he turns into like a full psychopath in the show. We all knew you had it in you. But it sounds like that weird experience where he ended up actually having fun in death tail. of it dude so much fun i mean clip was there at my very last episode when i like toppled over in the car do you believe chris is actually dead he's not dead there we go that's what i was ready for we did you heard it here we just it happened we just heard it counted yeah it's a memory it's just a it's someone recounting a story but they didn't see it 100% he's not dead yeah he's out there

exactly chris is coming back and me and gregg have a pitch for the next season yeah he's just a Psychopath murder. That's how they're going to do. It's a murder of the walking dead. You have a family now. I do. I got the fifth one on the way. The fifth one?

The family on the way. You said the fifth one on the way. Congrats. We're looking into sprinter bands. Oh my God. Yeah, little David is our fifth one. You're making me sweat. How old's your oldest?

He's eight next month. You have an eight-year-old? I know. I know. Are you guys going to form a family band? Absolutely. We're going to be like the sound of music. Lorenzo win the Henry's.

I would love for you to come over sometime. I genuinely want to hang out. Would you actually come over? This isn't because there's a camera pointed at you right now. You would actually come over. Well, I can't say where do you live, but I would actually go over. I will give my address if that means you come over. On air.

On air. Because this is live TV, Lawrence. Yeah. Sleep that out. I love it. No, I absolutely. I would love to have you guys over. I miss you guys so much.

We made the weirdest short films growing up. Yeah. And played the weirdest games. Played the weirdest games and the weirdest short films. Do you remember my dad? Do you remember my dad through the Xbox? You were playing so much Halo? He took the Halo disc.

And snapped it. He's literally, he cried. No, he crushed it. In front of us. Because he's so muscular. He was very muscular. He just crushed it. He still is muscular.

It was one of the most shocking things I've ever witnessed. No, no. So my dad crushed the disc. And then we had another disc, of course. Yeah, of course. We had back. And then we start playing. It's like, three in the morning.

He's like, you little freaking crap. And then he takes the Xbox and we lived on a hill. And he chucks the Xbox down the hill. That's so funny. It's still out there. Yeah. Just the Xbox bullshit. Yeah.

Did you know we were going to be here? Absolutely not. Yes. I was like, I don't think he got a heads up. The Red So Henry reacts. Because I was texting David. My night is made. It would be good, though.

Like, I feel like family accessible horror that isn't solely for young children is like underserved. 100%. Stuff that we grew up on, that was fun, that was entertaining. It, you know, it was safe. And still a little bit spooky for reels, but not too much. A real spooky, there's a little jump scare in it. If your kid is like seven years old, I would say, hey, you know, tranquil, like caution, but no, it's, you know, it's PG-13, it has a little bit of a scary element, but it's super fun. It's a great fun film for the family, and it's entertaining.

Mel's never done a kid's film. Here's my mom. Hey! You got to go. It's good to see you. Dude, seriously, thanks for chatting. We'll catch you up in a minute. You look so amazing.

You look so amazing. Oh, my gosh. No. I know. That's, yeah, that's how it goes now. Oh, hey, man. Coy. Coy.

Boy of the C. Oh, so I can. You get your own that way you don't have to do this action. Yeah, I wanted to say, yeah. Now, you played a character that actually has a legacy as it moves through the franchise with Riggs. I love that the injuries actually affect him. And I love that Max, like the knee that affects everyone to going forward. Sure.

What do you want your legacy of career to be looking back, going through a role like this, playing a weathered cop again? How do you want people to perceive the whole arc? Right. I think, you know, I put the leg in legacy. better especially with a limp you know but uh what if what do i want my legacy to be yeah my god just a little questions i'm being buried next week and that's why he had all the sexiest man alive questions they go on the other way i'm gonna be buried alive you know what you know you know you know what i'd be doing if i you know after i well never mind i'm one even saying you've got

this amazing scene talking about a very intentional moment remembering uh your wife in the film that's really powerful with mason and his performance reminded me a lot of a young keith ledger and i love how much souls in his eyes. And it reminded me of Heath and the Patriot. What was the first moment of connection between the two of you where you knew this kid was something special? Just when I met him. Yeah. And I already knew he'd been on the, he'd been on the boards. He'd done his thing with the Black Phone movie. Oh, incredible. It's a good film. Love Black Phone. Yeah. And he's got the good. He's got intensity. He's got intention. He's got talent. So, you know. I can't wait people to see it. Greg's got one question for it. Hey, Greg. It's a pleasure to meet you. I actually

We went to school with David in eighth grade of St. Charles. Oh, you did. And I remember actually leaving, I remember leaving class early to go watch Passion of the Christ. I left my own Catholic school early to go, I'm going to go to the theaters right now. You've done so many movies that are about people with faith during dark times that they have to stay resilient. Sure. So are there any movies that have personally influenced you outside of the ones that you have worked on that you feel are in that theme, they really connect with you? Oh, so many.

My God. I mean, they used to make those kinds of films all the time. They don't so much now. It's taken a different turn, but I think, you know, in the 50s, the 60s, the 70s, I mean, they were all really amazing films, you know, the Man Against the Machine, David and Goliath stories, you know, the hopeless odds, you know, and overwhelmed, you know, overcoming, you know, big odds. Absolutely. It's like, it's cool. I just heard about the Lethal Weapon Five thing. Yeah.

My curiosity about it is, like, so much of your films, I actually have really cool violence to them. When Lethal Wefton Five does happen, are you planning on doing something different with the violence as compared to the first four films? Oh, yeah, I think so, yeah, because I was involved in the writing. Oh, okay. I sat with the writer and we did like two or three drafts. After Richard Donner, he did the first big draft, a couple, and they were good. And then, of course, he passed away. So it wasn't finished, so me, the writer and I sat down and did the rest of the work.

And I think, I thought we got something special on this. I really can't wait. We talk about it. We talk about it so, we literally talk about, we literally talk about, I Google it off. I want to see that film, but it's all kind of tied up at weird legally. Totally understandable. It's very weird. Thank you so much for your time.

Thank you so much for your time. I speak super highly of you. I'm so excited, man. Thank you. Did you know that at Chevron, you can fuel up on unbeatable mileage and savings? With Chevron rewards, you'll get 25 cents off per gallon on your next five visits. All you have to do is download the Chevron app and join to start saving on fuel. Then you can keep fueling up on other things, like adventure, memories, vacations, daycations,

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than department and specialty store prices. But right now, it's clearance time. So you can save even more on everything you need to get active and outside. Visit your local Sierra store today. I've been thinking since we spoke. You guys are just hitting that age where nostalgia is happening.

I'm so curious for you. This was set in 97. What do you think your generation's 1997 things are going to be? This movie. This movie, for sure. Monster Summer. Yes. That's it.

Any clothes, any aesthetics, any music. Like, what do you think, like, Monster Summer 2 30 years from now I was going to use to set it today? Like, what are the vibes that are today's? Okay, you know those, like, big red boots? Yeah. That were really, like, viral, like, a year ago. I think, like, those are definitely some staple.

Yeah, going along with that line, like, tall black boots. Okay. Those are very in right now. Yep. Those are the AirPod Max headphones. Oh, those are going to be, like, what, the white strings were on those commercials back in the day. 100%.

I have the blue ones. I don't know. Exactly. It's so good. Change the sound. It's like being out of concert. Oh my god, it's so nice. Mom jeans.

Mom jeans. Which is so funny because that's this age too. It's like 97 and it's now back, so it's going to be one of those things that's. Everything comes back. Everything. It's crazy. I feel like the fashion right now is very 90s. Yeah.

So this is topical and nostalgic. I mean, I'm really wearing bag of jeans right now. Like Reebok shoes. Everyone wears Reeboks. Yeah. And, yeah. Oh, those headbands that kind of like push your hair back. in a fun way.

Because, I mean, there's some, like, iconic stuff. Why are you asking me about music? He's the music guy. I'm the music guy from, like, 90s, and then I go back. He knows everything. I know everything from back then. Now I'm like, kind of... Is this more your era, like, musically, like, when this was set?

Yes. Like, DeAngelo, Tevin, Cam. All those guys, friends. Also, very sleeveless era. Oh, the artists who just described. Heck, yeah. I love that you know. Oh, yeah.

But, no, I'm definitely. the music guy. He's the music guy. But she knows music. What do you listen to? I love Noah Kahn. I love Gracie Abrams. I'm going to see her.

I saw her. You saw her? I saw her. Oh, my gosh. At the Greek theater. Nice. It was so fun. I'm jealous immediately.

Now, I'm curious, you've been in this game a decade and crushing it for a decade. I want to know specifically how does he differ as a director, and what were some of the things you learned specifically from him? Yeah, I think I learned. not I think. I know. I learned so much from David Henry. Since he was a child actor and still as an actor now, he's really great at directing and just goes about it in a very unique way. He knows how to get across his points to me in a way that no other director has been able to because he is an actor. And there was a lot of collaboration we did with the character of Sammy. And it was

really fun. And the environment he had on set was just incredible. He's so intact. so talented as a director. Was that some of the things that you were anticipating going in? Is that one of the reasons you were excited to do it because you'd seen his work and assumed as a director?

I mean, he's lived this life now. Yes, when I got on the director's session or the chemistry rate, I can't remember which one, I was like, I cannot believe that is David Henry. He was in my living room

like all the time when I was growing up. Like, how is this happening? And all my friends felt the same way. They're like, wait, what? That's fantastic. He started seeing the movie. That's crazy.

David's amazing. He really is. I like how captivating he is as an actor to portray things, but also there's a director mode, even interviewing. You can see Switch on. You can see the hat change. He's like, ah, this is an actor question. Ah, director question. That's such a cool spirit.

He's been doing it for so long. He has so much experience. I think that helps him get through to us with our jobs on this movie. And you've got a crazy amount of experience, too, man. Whether it's Pete Davidson and SNL, the late show. I'm bringing it back. That is bringing back. 32 episodes of Wonder Years, Dune,

you're doing a run in Alma's way. Like, you're killing it too. Both of you hustling, and I really respect it. I got to know for you, how did this directing style of his differ that made you think of your next role differently? Was there anything that fundamentally changed since you've got experience?

You know, I think when I was working with him, this is the first director I've really worked with who was a child actor, other than, what's his name, Fred Savage, right? And Fred, I mean. Dude, another delight. So cool. Love him.

Right? I mean, David's just, he's so special in his own way. He really got through to us. I think there are many things I'm gonna use in the future. Like he would kind of, since he knows like the actor life, and like sometimes, you know, like you kind of like want to improv in a scene, right? You wanna say something else than what's really written

on the script because it feels supernatural. And he was super open to that, which I love, which I think a lot of actors are really into, because it's like when you can be like kind of into it and really get into this character, I think that's, you know, what he really showed me. I agree. So Small World, David Henry, and the guy that founded the channel I'm here for grew up together.

They literally went to school together. Wow. And so I got all the, like, how they grew up and, like, how that world was. That's so cool. And always he had been described, like, exactly how you're describing him. So I'm asking everybody, because I think it's fascinating that, like, there's a foundation of who he is that translates to you guys. He's like a big kid. He's like this big kid energy.

And that's what you want for a movie like this. And I feel like this movie really captures that spirit of kids shouldn't be dumbed down to when movies are being watched or made. Right? Like, when you want something to be scary, you shouldn't say, like, this is scary, kids. Like, you want it to actually have some things in there. Was there any moment on set where you were excited to see the dailies because you realized how scary it was on the day? Oh, yeah.

Oh, yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, there's some scenes in this movie that are pretty freaky. There are some scenes. Yeah, there was one day where I was like, oh, my gosh. Like, this is actually crazy. I can't wait to watch this. Oh, goodness.

And see how it turns out. And they took some pictures. from, like, behind, and that was so... Yeah. We can't give it away. We can't give it away. No, no, no. This is another here.

We've got to be careful. We're treading lightly. Of course. That's why we're being so vague. But when they see it, they'll know. You'll see it. October 4th. Yes.

Also, vague booking. Was there a stunt that you can vaguely discuss that you're specifically proud of? There is a stunt where we are all sitting in a row that's all I'm going to say. Yeah. And there's some pirate techniques on the side. And that was really fun.

That was really cool. Yeah. I have one stunt where something happens. Oh, something happens. It's a hard question because stunts are so, like, revealing. Yes, but it was really fun to figure out how to make it look realistic. I mean, you ride bikes in the movie, right? Oh, yeah.

That's considered a stunt. That was considered a stunt. We were supposed to, like, be very careful. That was really cool, because they had a camera on a truck. And, yeah. Trying to figure out how to bike at the exact right pace to keep up with the camera was so hard. So much harder than it looks, because you also track the camera with your eyes. So then you're looking like, ah, and you like break the fourth wall.

And we were supposed to be, like, talking to each other and looking at, I kept messing in it. It was not. It was good. But it was so fun. Now, Kids on Bikes is one of those staples of the 90s and earlier that I think will stand out as what sets this apart. is you know it's of a time, of a place, of a setting. How much research into this era of movies or lifestyle did you do when you accepted these roles?

So much. A lot. A lot. I mean, I love the 90s. The 90s is such a great era. I mean, the music, that's all me. I mean, watching on these movies, like, I know what you did last summer.

And I mean, movies, like, the 90s that are like this. I mean, there are so many, right? So I mean, just watching all these films with taking a little. pieces from it and putting it into this, and putting it into our characters, that definitely helped. I always wanted to be in a movie where I was biking. I know that's so random, but it's because it just gives that, like, nostalgic vibe. I think this is an 80s movie, but my girl was one of my favorite movies growing up, and I love the scenes where Veda and the boy are, like,

biking and singing songs, and I was so excited to get to do that in this film. I mean, the iconic, I mean, really the iconic shot of biking is with E.T. Yeah, 100%. With him and the bike and over like the moon, right? That's like super iconic with biking. And there's so much Spielberg love here that I really dug as a Spielberg guy like the Reese's Pieces and there's some little details.

Yes, yes, yes, yes. Noticed a poster and noticed a few things and I was like, ah, it's cheeky, I like that. Was there anything on set that surprised you as fans of 90s culture that you were like, oh, I'm doing it? Like, you always wanted to ride a bike in a movie, but was there a day on set where you saw a prop

or an item that you were specifically like, ah, my 30 years ago dream. Oh, my goodness. I mean, this is like, this is, I don't really say this is like 90s, but from the Conjuring series. Like, the actual Annabelle doll, like the one they are saying is haunted inside that case, was it's there when we're inside of his house.

Oh, that's awesome. I don't even know if it's even on camera, but it was there. And I noticed that the second I walked in the house, it was there. It was there. It freaked me out. It was cool. Yeah. I also, I wear a backwards hat throughout a lot of the movie and that just reminded me immediately of like so many 90s movies that I loved it.

So that's all pop culture was. Is there anything when you were reading the script or when you saw the final cut that reminded you of like myths and folklore and stuff that you love growing up that reminded you of those not pop culture side of the storytelling here? Oh wow. Myths. That's a hard one. Well, I mean, this is going to give it away so I can't say that because like that. can't say that movie. Oh, that's fair. Okay, we can avoid the vague film. I don't want to get you in trouble when it comes out on October 4th.

But you did have moments where you were reminded of myths and folklore you grew up loving. Yes, I think there's so many moments in the woods, especially with this monster. Have you seen this movie yet? Okay, so with this monster, we know what this monster is. Yes. In the woods, it reminds me of a certain

movie. I got you. We're on the same page. Yes, and I agree, and I thought the same. And then some camera angles later, I was like, I will tell you up to this interview. But we all, same page, I got you. There's also a really cool New England flavor that Spielberg loves and also like Stephen King, both of whom-loved Stephen.

I mean, this is very much in that vein movie. Is there anything when you guys were filming? I know there was some stuff North Carolina for New England and all those things, but this felt so iconically of that world. Did you guys feel like transported physically as well as through time when you're working on this? Yeah, for sure. We were filming in North Carolina on a coastal town called Southport,

Southport. North Carolina. And it was just the cutest town ever. But I literally felt like I was in Martha's menu. It feels pretty isolated. Yeah. Yeah. It feels like, I mean, there's not really that many people in this town.

So it felt pretty, like, compact. We saw the same people, like, every day when we were at the coffee shop and the same restaurants over and over again. And we, it was like during COVID, so we could only really hang out with each other. So we were completely transported into the world and kind of like, isolated for the amount of time that we were filming. That probably helped. I mean, it helped so much.

I love you mentioned Stephen King. It really is. I love Stephen, but it's like it, right? I mean, he's very, like, he's very compact in that movie, right? Or in that book. Like, their town that they're in is not really huge. It's pretty tiny, what's called Dairyville? Dairy.

Dairy. I think just Dairy. Yeah, dairy, yeah. But I mean, that kind of remind me. Now, I want to speed round you guys as they wrap me up. So I got five, six questions, and the quickest you can thinking the answers. So, who amongst the cast is the most like their character in real life? Noah, who plays Ben. Okay. Noah or Lorraine. Okay. What was your favorite stunt or

scene? Nope, you can't say stunt. What was your favorite scene vaguely you shot on set? I want to see if everyone has a similar. Um, towards the end of the film. Yep. Um, with prior techniques and that one. That was mine too. Okay, beautiful. Favorite horror franchise of all time? Franchise? Oh man. Um, my favorite movie about time, it's a Shining, but that's not only a franchise. I say what a franchise... Three or more installments, I think, is the rule. Oh, then the Conjurings.

Okay, great. Technically, Shining has two now, but yes. Wait, oh, yes. Doctor Sleep. Oh, my goodness. It took mine. I'm sorry. Conjuring, well, that's why we're doing a survey. Favorite individual slasher killer, though, whether it's Mike or Jason or Freddy or ghost face?

Okay, I know this is going after the time. We consider Jack Torrance as a slasher. Totally. in the Jack Torrance. Okay, what about it? Oh, 100%. Pennywise? I like you. You got your guy back in. You're really like... Oh, yeah, Pennywise. Okay, locked. And so this is consciously set in 97. What is your favorite decade in horror movies? Oh. Oh, gosh.

80s. 80s. 80s? All right, last question. If you could join the cast of one classic horror movie or franchise as you, to play yourself in that movie or to play a role in that movie, what would you insert yourself in? Wow, I know it's you last summer. Beautiful. Annabelle. Yeah you yes yes I can see it I can totally see that I like all these answers and I love the enthusiasm of ooze for the same thing That's exactly right I'm about rushmore Who's your rushmore from the 90s my rushmore?

Rushmore top fourth night okay are we including rap in this rap R&B hip-hop anything in that spirit So the film set 97. Okay, he is the 90s music aficionado We thought 90s music for most the interview heck yeah, we didn't get to rush more so I got to know okay we have DeAngelo for sure Oh my goodness Boys to Men

Nice Okay I got to think you Are you staying in just R&B Or do you want to branch into hip-hop NWA Oh respect Um Okay

We have four or five We can do five out of sanity Okay Great We gotta let's pick something else Um You mentioned one to me That I'm surprised you haven't said yet

Because I asked you East Coast, West Coast. I had the other answer. Oh, Biggie. Biggie. He likes Tupac. I'm a Tupac guy. No disrespect. But we had a reason. We both had different vibes. And we agreed spiritually on why. For sure. And then if we're going like, can you put rock in here? Okay.

Okay. Rage against the machine. Oh, and that's hip-hop spirit. So that holy play. Of course. Jack Della Rocha would consider that like essence in there. Yeah, Zach, bro. Amazing. Linguist and lyricist for days. So good. I'm going to go Pock. I'm going to go Rizza. Okay.

I'm going to go L.L. Cool J. I think is one of the most slept on MCs from the 90s. Yes. I'm going to go. Ooh, it is hard. It's tough. I'm going to go. Man, 90s is so full.

Like, it was like some of the best music. M&M. He's 97. Eminem. I know. I totally forgot about that. I'm going to go Eminem for fifth, so we're safe. So in our 10.

And Method Man. Method man. Oh, Eminem and M&M. Those are our 10. Heck, yeah. Now, speaking of this movie, not just about 90s hip-hop. Okay. So the movie is set in 97.

Yes. And you actually appreciate that era. Yes. What is it that you love? look back on as something you wish was more prevalent today that you would got like this is a trend choice like what trend would you like to come back from 97 oh my goodness I mean from 97 or late 90s to make it easier so it's not like something like on the wikipedia like that was 98 I think like kind of like I mean

Jordan's is really 80s but like still wearing Jordans in the 90s right Jordans and like big baggy jeans yeah Kangall hats oh that kind of stuff so LL yeah LL which is a prevalent 90s fixture I do that new track of them and Have you heard it? No. Is it in the new Eminem album? No, it's after. It just came out like this week.

Oh my gosh. It's so good. You and I talked a lot about your influences and pop culture from the 90s that you love that experience. Yes. But when you look at like the myths that shaped this movie without giving too much away, is there anything now that you've been in those positions scared and actually living them that you see myths or horror or anything else differently post-filming? Interesting question.

I think it made me think a good bit, the film, about these myths in different ways. Yeah. Folklore is always retold and archetypal. Yeah. But now you've lived it, which is like, you know, a few thousand people in the world in acting get to live that. Yeah. So do you think that'll inform your next role, how you perceive certain characters and myths?

I think so. I think it will. Are you excited for the world to find out again without any giveaways? Like, what moments are you excited to watch people watch in this movie? Oh, I just can't wait to see the interaction between the whole cast. Sammy and Julian's characters interaction and Lyle and. La Pate and Noah and Mason, just everyone. I think that's going to be really fun to watch the chemistry on the screen.

Was there someone who you met on set that you were surprised how quickly that was an interaction and like a total compatibility? Oh, I think Julian and I immediately clicked, which I just loved. We would sing musical theater songs literally every day, and we just had the best time ever. That is so adorable in such a dark film that you guys are just doing like show two's offside. We would film a scary scene and then immediately. start singing our music theater songs. I love it. I had so much fun with this movie.

And I really love that the 80s, 90s, let your kids and adults get scared. Yes. Just talking about that. It's so important to have that little bit of line. And I was wondering, was there a moment on set? You were like, is this gross in the line? Like, it actually is genuinely scary,

but it doesn't sugarcoat things. Oh. I didn't. I don't think so. I think we were able to perfectly balance between having these insane, you know, spooky, mysterious things happening, but also keeping the, like, the family aspect of it, like the friendship part of it. I think that's what makes the movie so great is that there's a balance between it.

It's like who comes together during these times. Right. And I think those moments when you're young are so important to experience, you know, and fall down a little bit. You know, like, go outside. It's a good way to put it. Be with your friends. Literally fall down.

Like, you know what I mean? Like, you need to. Off the lank you got to skin the leg. If you never skin your knee, you can tell. Yeah. And more and more, I feel like there are more skin knees. Yeah, yeah. But it's also a movie that reflects the time where just riding your bike out into the woods was kind of accepted.

And I love that energy of the film, but it also feels very Spielbergian and like Stephen King. How much exposure to that world did each of you have growing up and did you do any research into that tone before accepting it? Yeah. I had a lot of exposure into that world of film and I really look up to those film and that kind of genre. And I think that my parents did a great job with letting me be a child who was outside all the time and adventuring

and, you know, close in the door being like, we'll see you at dinner. And I think that, you know, I think I grew so much from that and I learned so much and I relied on myself and my brother and, you know, I think with our phones and everything we turn off our brains from being creative

how to entertain ourselves. Definitely. I mean, I'm only 17. I'm not saying I grew up in the 2000s, But, like, I grew up in the 2010s, and even then, there was more of just going out, having fun. You're not on your phone. You're not always, you know, watching something. You're looking up and enjoying what's around you. You're going out and, like, making stories with your friends and stuff.

Even if you're just outside and you just have rocks, like, if that's all you have, you're going to make a game with this. You know what I mean? Your imagination. Like, when you look at the clouds, you should be able to see shapes. Yeah, 100%. And that's kind of gotten lost a lot recently, which is why I love filming this so much. because you kind of got to reminder for people so this is exactly my so I was nine and 97 in New England so like this is all my god you know it was so serious

literally born in 88 and I grew up in the 90s and I had this experience all to England so this whole thing was a really true so you guys got to live my life a little so it was really cool to see like as a Boston kid like all the Red Sox Lord all those things added in but it also maintained a tone of it being its own thing so when you guys first got the script Was there any instinct, like, with each of your character, like, oh, I connect to this. Like, this is my anchor point. What was that about your character?

Yeah, I think, well, I did my audition in a hot tub. So I was, like, going underwater pretending I was being pulled up. I was like, wow. It was like, splashing. It's all wet everywhere. Yeah, it was crazy. He's like on an iPhone, my dad holding it up, and I'm like, well, help me. Your anchor is actual danger.

You're like, I should put myself in it. My anchor was like, how close can I get to really making this? Yeah, I think that trying to find the reality in it, because when I got that audition, I mean, it's incredible and I wanted to do it. I was like, how am I gonna audition this without water, you know, for the scene I got? I was like, I'm gonna look for, like,

if I go out of frame and come back up. So I think that helped me, yeah. That's a good point, yeah. I mean, reading like the description and everything about the movie, when I first read it, I immediately was like, oh, this looks like genuine fun, like hanging out with your friends

and just going through these insane, spooky adventures. and like these, these, you know, spooky obstacles and stuff. I mean, I read it and I was like, oh, that seems like so much fun. And you get there, and then you actually do it, and then everybody becomes your friend, and you guys are friends all of a sudden off of set, and then you go on set, and then you're doing these, like, super spooky things.

It does make you feel so awesome, and it just feels like you're hanging out with your friends, just having fun. So I like that your roles, like your energy to anchor was Final Girl Energy, and yours was camaraderie. And those are your roles, like that's the characters. characters so you were right for this from the jump exactly so the final girl energy i i definitely noticed from the top of the whole movie and i was curious like there's this archetypal thing final girl energy is very it's a specific there's a whole con circuit around like final girl flavor

so with that in mind was there something that i don't want to give anything away so vague booking the next day after the events that you referred to in the hot tub audition was there a mapping you did for how your character dealt with things and like a trauma response and stuff yeah I really thought a lot about that and I think you know when people go through things that are scary for whatever reason that's so real and I did I wanted to do that justice and I hope I did I think that you know I I really thought like how that would affect the character that I was becoming and where her mental state would be realistically and you know I think that's a journey of healing when you go through anything like that and I I would give her the advice to to this two shall pass and keep moving forward and like you know you live and you learn like scary the are always going to happen in life. It's pretty deep. But yeah, but yeah, I think that I really thought I watched a lot of different performances and things and read a lot, honestly, about how people deal with that type of stuff.

So to try to find her truth in that. The gravity showed, the weight was there. It was really strong. Thank you. Thanks. And no, on the flip side with Final Girls in Scream Cream, you worked with one of my favorites of all time, Neve Campbell, like the Scream Queen to me. Was there any element?

of you going back to watch like 90s thrillers like hers, for example, or anything to prepare you for this? Oh, definitely. You know, I said earlier, I was like, I feel like the 80s, 90s movies were definitely like that genre just had so much, like, elements to it. And it had, it was always based around something and whether that was friendship and all of these friends together or either family, you know, which is portrayed in this movie a lot. I feel like it showed very well. So I, you know, did go back and watch those classics, those 80s, like the Goonies. you know, E.T., things like that, things that are based around, you know, friendship and stuff. And, I mean, we tried to do them justice, tried to bring it back, like we were saying earlier,

about, you know, kids going outside and having fun. I feel like it's portrayed extremely well in this movie, and hopefully people watch it. They're going to see it and be inspired by that and be reminded by that. But, yeah. From an acting standpoint, is there a lesson you learned filming this that is already informing what you want to do, like, not necessarily type of role, but something you want to bring that you learn from this to your next room. Yeah, I really liked the stunts.

I'm like, I'll train for a role for a couple years, you know? I'll be it. Superior type, anything like that. It kind of made me realize that I wanted to show strength and that I can do that, and that I liked the physicality of the acting. It was hard, but it was something that I didn't expect for myself, and I hope to do more of in the future. Your instincts were to potentially dry yourself in a hot tub,

so I'm going to give you more credit for that. So, that was before you did the roll through, like, I'm hard to do it. Because I'd have to unlock it. Exactly, exactly. Any lessons from here you want to carry out? I mean, now that she brings that up, there was a lot of, like, physical activity happening throughout the whole movie. I mean, we're riding bikes through the town.

We're playing baseball. That was so much fun to film. Dude, being on the baseball field, like, I remember running the bases, and we were, like, just playing a game of baseball. For one a shot, we were playing a game of baseball, and the camera was just rolling. I mean, that was so much fun. Physicality, both of you.

That's the goal finding in that sweet spot. All right. So this is, as I said before, like Stephen King, Spielberg inspired, all those things. It also is an homage to, like, that freedom we talked about kids having. When you describe this movie, like, what's the log line that you queue up for folks? Because it is so many things. Like, we've described different decades and different creators and all those things.

Like, how do you feel having lived it? What's the logline for you? Coming October 4th. Yeah, the safest logline. Speaking. Just go. Just go. Just go.

I think. Talk show host version, just go. Just go, guys. I think I normally say a Goonies feel around a summer of kids finding their independence, being faced with a mysterious monster and how they come together, rely on older people and each other to get through something unexpected, but with a Goonies energy. I like that. It's as good as Just Go. It's strong. I mean, just go war.

Just go. No, it's like, it's kids having fun, and they're just happened, it just happens to be in this world or there's, you know, mysterious and very dark things happening. And, you know, there's a lot of real things being portrayed. They're just portrayed in a lighthearted way,

but it's still going through, you know, a lot of real things with each other. And, you know, having your friends around you, your family around you, people that you can go to to rely on, that's definitely portrayed. in this movie and I think it does it does a lot of justice totally agree and I think the supernatural stuff doesn't work if the foundation doesn't feel real

right if you don't feel that rock rounding how did you guys like bond as cast members or how did like bonding with David Henry like what did you guys do to make everything feel real before the camera even rolled so that you could add that stuff I think for me my first scene I got said didn't really have the chance to meet and I was like it was like thrown in I was like your coverage go and I was like hey guys nice to meet you hi okay let's go And then it was that lunch, though, that day that we broke for lunch, that I got to sit down with everybody, and they just kind of quizzed me. I was going to say, it wasn't hard to like, just were like, you're new, you're the new kid.

Yeah, because they were together, they were like, answer every question about your life ever, and then we just kind of all got super close, which was so fun. No, seriously, it wasn't hard to build a relationship. They just came naturally, you know. That's beautiful. And that's also, like, the time period you're portraying, just like, no phones, chaos, sit at the table, let's see what happens. get each other's eyes and actually talk. We don't have Facebook to research, much less Twitter. My space.

The chaos of that time, I can vouch. Now, this time period obviously means a lot to me, as I said. This was exactly my life. But what do you think about, you said you're 17, so the 2000s, when you grew up, what do you think are going to be the staples from that era that we'll look back in 30 years as I conics? Those were the times. Didget spinners?

As soon as I saw the striped shirt, Basin wears. Dude, fidget spinner. Are you talking film or just like, I want both because I love that idea. Sorry. If you filmed a room like Mason's stretch shirt, I was like, that's exactly it. Like so items and clothing and music and stuff. Oh wow. Taylor Swift.

Taylor Swift. That'll represent our time. I wonder what's still gonna be big. I always think like what's gonna be even more popular or like still be popular from like to 2010s or even just now. A lot of it cycles back like mom jeans are back. like mom jeans are back and that was not yeah right I think we're just recycling at this there's nothing new under the sun there comes back eventually um dude fidget spinners

my two takeaways my highlights are like just go fidget spinners monster just dance just just dance we i already feel that way yeah oh we is on real 100 percent so monster summer Number two in 30 years, we, fidget spinners. So funny. All in. So I love that there's the amages to all those things and the way things flow through, but I want to do a quick speed round of some elements and I want to see what everyone's main equalizer is. So who in the cast is the most like their character? Julian.

We talked about this earlier. Yeah. Oh yeah? Yeah. In the best way. Yeah. Scary, spooky things actually spook him in your life and his character just translates so well. I love that.

I love that. I'll give him that. That's funny. Easily spooked. And what was your, without giving too much away, favorite stunt or favorite scene to be in? I mean, it's... I mean, it's got to be a scene that we filmed. I mean, that's a pretty...

No, seriously, I mean, that's a pretty pivotal point in the movie. And intense. It's pretty intense, and it was intense to film. It was a lot of fun to film, though, also. A lot of stunts are involved. A lot of stunts were involved, freezing cold water. Watching his stunt, honestly. Stuff like that.

He was such a shruper. Like him getting yanked by this thing. It was so cool to watch. So I think, and then I had a moment where I'm just, like, floating by the water and there's someone with a tank and I just get pulled down by my foot and I have to like banana out. Like, whew!

Some of the shots were just directly underwater completely. Like, yeah, just being underwater with like the underwater camera. Yeah. I love that, that inspired you for more. You're not like, no, no, that was a lot. You're like, no, no. We want to do this. Yeah, let's be going.

Sign me up, whatever it takes. Was there a thing with the omages? Like, I love the Mel Gibson knife signs because, like, he's in the movie. So I love the homages to, like, Spielberg and all those things. Was there a favorite homage for you guys that you saw on set? You're like, oh, that's a thing for this movie I love. Do you know what was awesome? A lot of the set deck, like the set decoration, they, I mean, obviously, you know,

you had to put it in 97, but a lot of, like, the things there are really cool. Like, I mean, I didn't grow up, like, with all of these things around me. It was cool to see, like, just the books that are from that time frame, just like, you know. The bikes. The bikes that were so cool. Like, everything, the cars and the scenes. Just a living. All those things were cool to go back in time.

Favorite horror franchise? Ooh. That's really difficult. That's really hard. Yeah, no. Like, Freddie, Jason, the Friday 13th, obviously. Well, Halloween is my favorite. Horror movie?

Okay. I'd say the Halloween franchise. Quiet Place. Quiet place. This is set in 97 very consciously. Favorite decade in horror? 70s horror movies, 80s, horror movies, 90s horror movies? Oh, 90s horror movies for sure.

90s? Yeah. 2000s had some good one. 70s horror movies. Beautiful. All right, last question. If you could put yourself in any horror movie of all time, what would you want to play in? Get out.

Beautiful. Killer clowns from outer space. The range of that answer is beautiful. Monster Summer I've actually seen, I'm lucky enough to have experienced it before sitting down with everyone. And I love the twists and turns it takes with myths that are more commonly known. When you were reading the script the first time, was there a moment you were like, oh, and started to piece it together, or did you stay surprised even in reading it? I think I was surprised. Yeah, I didn't expect that.

It was just a fun, um, it was a fun one to read. Yeah? It felt very cozy. Now, the way this movie plays is very, very, this movie plays is very cozy in that ambulance sense of wonder and that like 80s and 90s nostalgia were there any inspirations from films that you wanted to bring to your character so you were like channeling that era and aura no i mean i think like i was trying to channel my mom there was a single mother and i was thinking about that stuff in like our relationship but no not

outside of that you definitely captured it that's personal experience i was born in 88 so i was nine in new england when this was all set so this was very specific to my experience and my mom was only 16 when she had me. So all of that fell very true to me as far as my experience. So was there a moment when you realized you had fully like bonded materially to get that energy on screen? Did you guys do anything off set to like kind of connect? What did you do to prep? No, I mean we didn't have a chance to like I think I got there right before we started shooting. So, you know, we spent time hanging out on set and Mason's amazing and so intuitive that kid. Yeah, he's so good. The old soul in that kid's eyes is crazy.

Yes. We are standing slash sitting down with the writer of Monster Summer and we had a great talk behind the scenes we did i was so excited to discover not only are you new england man but this was a love letter to growing up in new england what is the thing you miss most that you wanted to incorporate in the film as a sense memory of new england of new england oh my it's so that's a hard i know i just came right out of a gate i saw the hat i was inspired well this has a lot i mean it has um i mean to my own childhood growing up in new england it's it's it's friendship it's um the boston red socks the boston red socks the boston red socks it's no ma no my kid uh no it's but it's it's being outdoors um that sense of community

that's just what new england is for me it's it's it's family it's friendship it's um scenic beauty it's nostalgia it's everything i i miss it greatly um that's why i go back so much i mean i live out here i'm always back in new england um i need it to to just fuel myself yeah it's I find myself, if you're draining away from New England too long, I have to go back and refuel, you know, so it's a really big piece of me. I love where I'm from, and it really leads into all the stuff I work on. A lot of the stuff, you know, takes place to New England. Yeah.

Oh, they always make this way into somewhere. Now, there's a line you told me about a certain, oh, no, as someone from doing it, might not for feel at home, but as a New Englander, it is a refueling. Yeah, it is. Now, there's a line you told me that was in the film that we have on the handout, but this camera is much better. There was a certain line in the film that once you cast, someone. It had to be changed. I would love you to tell the people how that all went down and why

it couldn't work out in the film as written. Well, I just had it, you know, the movie has an older detective in it, a bit of a grumpy guy. And as a joke, I just put in the line when they were in the woods and he, he like falls down and he tells the boy, you know, I'm getting too old for this shit. And then, it was just a joke. You cast. Mel Gibson's in the movie. He's doing the role. Like, and then I honestly didn't think about it. And so I was at it, we were sitting down to do a little table read. And we got to that line.

Yeah. And I was like, I can't say this. I can't say this. It makes me so happy that the stars aligned and the butterfly effect occurred, wherein Mel Gibson almost had to say, from a script, he's too old for this shit. And he couldn't. Yeah. And I would have probably took it out before, like, I forgot about it.

Because I put it as a joke. Yeah. And I didn't realize, like, the guy that'd be in the movie would be there saying. So yeah, but it was fine. That makes me so happy. Took it out. Lethal Weapon 5, Monster Summer. Now, Greg, who founded the channel. I actually grew up with David when I was 13 years old.

Really? So like, yeah, yeah, that's how I got here. That's because of that for like several years. And it's been a long time since I made a crappy short film with David that he doesn't remember. So what was he like as a director for this feature film? Was he ever like a hard ass? This is the kind of questions I'm going to ask.

No, no, no. Like, honestly. Let's get David. It gets over here. I'm going to get David. So much the opposite. She's a good guy. He's a good guy. I know. Well, I mean, oddly enough, so when they told me that David wanted to do the movie,

I don't think I told him this story. Like, I didn't know quite, I didn't know what it was. But I'm being honest to you. They just like, David Henry wants to do the movie. So I typed it, I googled David Henry. And I typed it in H-E-N-R-1. Why? Yeah. This big bodybuilder guy showed. Yeah. Yeah. I don't know what that is. I know you're talking about it. I was like, whoa. This guy's huge. I'm like, okay. I didn't, I wasn't expecting this.

Right. And then I was telling my representative. you know, this guy's huge. They're like, we're talking about. And I said, and then they're like, it's Henry, H, E, N-R-I-E. And then I'm like, oh, okay, that makes more sense. But when I met Dave, so nice, incredibly kind, very, very collaborative. On the set, very collaborative.

Normally, they want to keep riders away as far as possible. That's actually refreshing in here. Dave, I was there every day on set. We really collaborated a lot together. And what other thing I will notice by spending a lot of time with it, David, like, outside of shooting and being in public, he has a lot of people that recognize him. They always come up to him. He's always takes photos with them, always is kind and respectful and gives time to his fans. Yes, he does. That's the kind of stuff I noticed about, you know,

different people, and it made me realize, like, what a really good person is. That's awesome. I'm glad. I talk a lot about days. I'm glad you did not take the bait. That was really comforting. But a serious question, though, you were talking about how you wrote this And then you had this name of David Henry pop up, a person who you didn't know of. What was the feeling like of having to let go of a script that had hand over the vision to someone else who you probably didn't know, weren't familiar with? If I'm going to answer truthfully about that, it is, it's a hard thing to do. But that's you have to do that when you're a writer. You have to.

It doesn't, it's yours. When you're sitting there, it's yours. And those long nights, it's yours. Yeah. once when you make a movie and more people start to get involved it starts to become a little bit less yours but all you you know again and that's part of the process it's it could be hard at times to see certain things change or be cut of course sure sure or be altered or you know also then the budget comes into it and they can't do this this and this or forth yeah yeah have to cut all these characters cut these

locations but it's part of the job and what what makes it good though it's like when you have somebody who still understands the spirit of what was there. Absolutely. And you could creatively kind of find a way together to meet all those demands and still kind of, you know, everyone be friends and, you know. So, and that's again, a testament today, but it was right here and all of our producing partners. You know, we all did that together and you just do what you have to do it, especially with an independent movie.

Yeah. You know, we wrote the script. There was like budgeted at like 30 million and we made it for less than half that. That's amazing. So it's like having a child than having a completely different child by the time it comes out. That's amazing. Well, thank you so much for your time. Well, thank you guys.

I really appreciate it. Yeah.