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And I am really, really excited. I'm such a fan of her work. And we are going to get into it today. We're going to talk about opera. We're going to talk about musical theater.
We're going to talk about how to do a good Boston accent. And we're going to hear how Al Pacino made her cry in a good way. So it's a great convo. And I can't wait to get started. But before we do, we always talk to somebody who knows our guest and has a question to ask our guests.
And joining me today is a director of the film Eternity, film that Dave Vine is in. And I believe he is calling from another country. He's zooming from another country, another time zone. So let's see, it's David Frane joining us. David, can you hear us?
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So nice to meet you. So good to meet you. We're talking to Dave Vine today. And it's fun because Dave Vine, I have to say, is one of, I really don't know very much about her. We've never met.
And we have friends in common and people in common. But I've only kind of watched her as a fan and watched her stuff. So I'm interested to get to know her today and to talk about her today. But before we do that, I just wanted to say congratulations on your film. And I'm always looking for comedy in theaters and in film.
It's been not to be very honest, not always the easiest genre the last decade to get good things out in the world. And comedy is like music. It's so subjective. It's people have big, strong opinions about it. Where were your comedic influences?
Like when you started writing and directing, who were you looking to at the time? I grew up loving Billy Wilder was my idol. So in 30 Rock and Parks and Rec. And those great iconic TV comedies were where you get such a high joke rate per minute, which I think we don't get very often. So I always looked at that.
I think when it turned into we wanted to make sure it was like letting down with jokes, just like joke after joke after joke. Because I kind of miss really hard comedy. And I think that's like seguing to the Vine and my incredible cast. Because you can write as good a script as you want. But that's the delivery.
That's the actors. And some of the best dramatic actors in the world cannot land a joke. And I think that whole year. Well, they better not. I mean, God is fair.
You can't do it all. Before we get to David, I have one last question. And it feels weak and always, if it's too personal, of course, we can lose it. But you shared a really personal and intense story about your health journey after writing this film that feels like it is completely attached to and tied to the bigger idea that you're writing about. Yeah.
So in the summer, like it's six months ago, I had really bad headaches. I had during the production as well. Like I would work really hard and then collapse on the weekends. But I got, they found an apple-sized tumor in my head. I had kind of broken through my brain and surrounded my optic nerves and crowded arteries.
And it was a really surreal devastating thing to go through. And at the start, they didn't know if it was going to be operable or malignant. And my media thought her, like, I'm not going to get to see eternity released, which is such a thing to say. But you know, after so many years. But I had incredible care and doctors and incredible family and my partner.
And slowly it's gotten better. And I've had a great, great outcome from the surgery. And I will say, having gone through that in the last few months after making a film set in the afterlife, I felt quite contented. Like I felt I was looking at that with a lot more curiosity than fear. I think I would have been much more afraid had it happened before the film.
And I think just the experience of making the film was so fun and joyous. And I think the things we spoke about with the behind in the cast and my passion as well, even just not just the work you want to do, but the people you want to spend your time with and the people you want to work with and working good people, kind people, people that share your kind of passions. I think that that becomes much more important because you don't really have time for ourselves. No, I also don't have time for ourselves either. Yeah, yeah.
Asals are ourselves than worst. So tell me about working with Devine. Well, how does she like to work? Because we're talking to her today. She's quite studied.
I mean, she has done a ton of like a student in voice and acting. She has really knows her stuff. Yeah, she's she's extraordinary. I think what really struck me firstly, I was we were desperate to work with her and I really wanted her to throw and then she won her Oscar. And I was really bummed.
So now I won't get to work with her. But thankfully she still wants to do the film. But yeah, she's had the most incredibly varied career from opera to theater to then finding acting. And it does feel like she can do anything. I mean, I mean, we knew even though the hold of her is such a dramatic role.
We knew she'd be really funny, but like she might be the most naturally gifted comedian I've ever worked with. She's extraordinary. It does feel effortless to her. Like it doesn't feel like she has, like, annoyingly, she seems to not have any of the anguish and anxiety that most comedians I know have. Like she just she just is brilliant.
And I think she maybe can't kind of, you know, she's brilliant. Yes. Yeah, she's she's extraordinary. She has she comes to set and comes to everything with such a weird level of calm. She's completely unflappable, which I like she could come like the second be on fire.
And she'll just like, OK, what's going on? We're going to evacuate her. We're going to shoot. Like she's just extraordinary. Like, oh, I want to talk to her about that.
That's really interesting. Like nothing seems to either either either she hides it very well or nothing faces her. Or would you find fascinating because I'm faced by most things. Yeah, she's she's like she can kind of she's one of those people that I would put the limits on. And she can do I think she could do anything as as a performer as an actor, as a comedian.
Yeah, it's kind of almost infuriating how good she is to be that good of an actor. And to also be funny is it's not nice. It's not nice for the rest of everybody, you know, like it's not fair. So I would love to ask you as I as I have to remind here today, is your question, you think I should ask her big or small, specific or, you know, existential, something that a story that you think she might want to tell or something that you have yet to know about her that you'd like to have answered. I mean, I really want to know two things is one is where did the comp the camp she has come from because it's so it's so admirable to me.
And I I don't I don't think you can be born with that. It's something else. And the other thing is because she's had such a varied career is when did she know how funny she was like when did she discover she was a comedian because it's not like she didn't do sketch comedy really or stand up. Like when did she know she had that gift? Was that later in life that she was like, Oh, I'm really funny.
Maybe I'll try that. So they're the two things I'd love to know because I haven't got that ever. Great questions both. I love to ask this to people when I'm on Zoom with them and they have books behind them. Will you just randomly pick one book out from behind you and tell us what the title is?
Well, the title is. Yeah. So I'm going to pick this one because my my sister wrote it the boldness of Betty. Oh, the boldness of Betty. It's an amazing series of kind of YA books.
They're beautiful. Always looking for a new book. Thank you for that, Greg. Yeah. And also I've got to check to make sure those books are real.
No, I actually can't read. Yeah. It's just the covers me inside. It's just inside. Yeah.
Yeah. Perfect. Perfect. Thank you so much, David. Such a pleasure talking to you.
Thanks for your time. Thank you so much. Shout out to the day. Bye bye. This episode is brought to you by Subaru.
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Dave, I we're talking about sparkling water. We're talking about water and you love sparkling water. I love sparkling water. Me too. And why can't we drink it anymore?
You said we can't drink it anymore. My doctor said I'm on the verge of having a hernia because of so much of the like bubbles and that's the alkaline and stuff in it. But you said something that you said that's my coffee. That is my coffee. That's my cocktail.
That's my cocktail. Like when you open up the bottle and it's like pssss. I know. Yeah. It's a good to me.
It's a good to me. And you know it's fascinating how in Europe they have percentages. A fist. Don't you get me started? Also, how do you feel about your sparkling water because I get the big bottles but then I don't only drink like half of it and then it's done.
It's dead. A dead sparkle water is made. So what I do is I pour it in a fancy like wine glass. That's funny that you say cocktails. I immediately twist it up.
Yeah. Cover it up. I put that back in the fridge. I put my social waters in a wine cooler. I have a wine cooler.
This is how much I revere. Me too. I completely completely to me in the same way one would be like oh no I gotta make sure that there's wine in my fridge. I panic if there's not a sparkling water situation in my fridge. I know and some brands are hard to get the boxes of.
Right. I have many clerks and personal farms because they're like no no ma'am you can't take that whole box. And I'm like then you shouldn't have had it out here. Everything's32. I've been doing this and I've been doing this one day.
I've been doing this one day but I'm going to be a little Congressed and I want it out too. I'm going to be supporting it a little bit in the next place. Yeah. That's why you just need a lot of things. So I'm going to be supporting everyone because you're going to be a little bit more than $300 or $400.
But if I want to make sure that i'm still a little less than $10. I know. But you can't do this because of my channel. If i'm still a little bit more than $3. And I'm going to be the CEO of the bottom.
They're like the CEO of Terra, I'm a little bit more than the CEO of the bottom. I'm going to be talking about and then I'm a little bit more than the CEO of the bottom. It's gonna break and it's like what what do you mean? I don't like that light bumps I mean, I have to say I do love ordering things and then like putting it out of my mind and then when a package comes I'm like What is it? What is it? What could it be? It's like the best Christmas ever because it's the best it's the spatula that I wanted yes
Yeah, and it shows up and you're like oh my gosh I was really in Costco yesterday and I was going past the the mixers, but yeah, right like the the mixers What is that like table where I don't know what I love kitchen where table where I could so I went past and I was like gosh is on sale. I want one and I literally remembered Because life is life thing. No, no no babes. You ordered one for black Friday already Cried with excitement. I couldn't believe it. I was like
See that's how weird life is I love kitchen gear so much so much. It's like a treat I sometimes I'll go past the wall of gadgets I'm like, okay. I have a garlic fries. I have a wood mallet. Okay, I'm a zester I'm like, what do I need for my collection and then I'm big on aesthetics. Mm-hmm. So the mixer I got have you seen it?
It's like the limited collection from William and Sonoma not a sponsor. Okay. Talk me through this what you got hunter green With a dark mahogany wood mixing bowl holy shit a wooden. Oh wow. We're talking kitchen aid. Yeah. Oh wow
Yeah, and I forgot and I was gonna just stay with steel one or like the red one in Costco. Oh geez. I wish I had one Oh, this is very I'm very nervous. I have that bad way on this way I can't believe you forgot that you ordered this and do you see why I was crying in Costco cuz I was like you're gonna get better than that Before we get into we haven't started yet, but but also so then I'm about to really knock your socks off I've been wanting these pots and pans stand by for generations No, you're just put in heritage copper. Oh, you got me right there. I don't know you got me right there
It's this Italian company that gives us our copper cookware Fuck I love cookware. I could talk about cookware all day long. Let's see what do we got here. Oh, phony. Yes, baby Okay for those who don't know these are we're looking at a copper pan with a silver stainless steel inside. Yep
Historic hammered copper 11 piece set guess what originally $2,000 price $1,549. Why would you not buy? And the prices in red so I got again I'm gonna pass that down to my children like it's so beautiful. It's making Italy like what anything that's Italian for you Someone's like this is it Italian knife. Okay Join me office here. Oh, we just got right anyway. We already have all our cookware for
I'm getting every and I trust your taste. Please do text it to me. I want to see like your first meal I'm gonna see your first meal made it. I'm literally tearing up. Do you love to cook? I love to cook
And I talked about this on the podcast a little bit. I came late to cooking I did not grow up cooking and my mom always is like I cooked but my mom's a working mom who um Your parents teachers. Yeah, so are mine. Yeah, she cooked yeah, but it is like my holidays. Maybe she showed out Yeah, she was busy working, but so I didn't really not cook and I thought in my 40s I was like I just not gonna be able to cook yeah, and I learned and now I love it Well, actually this is gonna dovetail into the theme that I wanted to talk to you about today I'm I'm really impressed. I I think you're so talented
Thank you and so naturally talented and so such a good actress and so funny and those and and such a good singer Like you do so many things so well things and your career is a lot of like I'm gonna try that a lot of yeah, yeah I should try that and hold on what's over here. Maybe I should try that still still still cooking. Yeah, yeah Right, yeah, so a lot of people know you as an actress But I don't think as many people know that you first kind of entered the world of arts as a singer Yeah, and that was where that was kind of like the door you walk through yep Mm-hmm. I like to I like to ask this to people who are have beautiful voices. When did you when did you know you had a good voice?
When did you hear it for the first time or someone say you have a good voice? I didn't know I thought that's what people sounded like right and it wasn't until like I started getting trained that I was like Oh, hello, I hear him can't sing when you say started getting trained. What does that mean taking voice lessons? So when I was younger it was like right like family and friends and I thought there's being nice or whatever because I I'm a Gemini Like I'm a tourist Gemini. So I'm a very focused who Gemini that wants all the options So like even as a kid it wasn't like and you are a singer like I was the poster child for afterschool programs I did it all yeah I like I so appreciate that that my parents and still that and was never like stage parents are like they're like whatever you want lock in Have fun, but even now I think that's why acting is fun to me like trying on these different people Yeah, and not staying one with one for too too long, but that's also my life It's people telling me like no no for real though. You really could like I thought I was like decent and it's taking people
Who I really admired to be like no, there's something there and keep going or keep pushing I hear what you mean like it takes sometimes like a mentor or someone to say you what you have isn't the same as what everyone else has Keep working on it keep doing it like that encourage me can really like can I ask you a question? To me when I watch you work to me it seems as if there is a natural ease in what you do I do you say that that's true. Thank you for saying that I think I would hope that it feels some version of like that is not trying or striving too hard Mm-hmm, but it did take definitely like directors and teachers and stuff to be like no You're funny keep going like just the keep going part. Yeah, and as you know too a lot of it is like We know I know people way funnier than me and way better than me better But half of the battle is just not giving up yep and being ready when it presents itself not getting a regular job Not having health insurance not just for a long time being like I'm just gonna try to make it. Yeah, it's not easy
No, no, no, no, it's not easy. I don't so you start you in Philly. Mm-hmm. Where are you from? I'm from Boston I felt the Northeast 100% and I got to talk to you about your Boston accent. Okay. We'll get there
Yes, so good. Oh, that means so much. Thank you. It's a hard one and we're tough so it's really I Know what was hard for me. I know because you close but Phil has that like They don't like the ooze are real. Yeah, my own teller does that. Yeah, yeah
Yeah, I'm like what yeah, yeah, and you use guys I can't even do it. Yeah, so Philly you go to you start studying music Your parents are teachers and you decide to go to school for opera. So I'm very competitive. So are you love competitive people? We are limited women. Yeah, respect all the way. Yeah, so
My dad was like it's interesting. I always think of this and this is so random My parents did not for both of their children want to know the gender in advance Cool. Like that was so kind edge. Yeah, and my dad really was manifesting and wishing for the first one to be a boy So did it happen but you had a heavy hand in like sports and competitive and like not backing down and so Literally, I was just competitive and so there was this girl and like a new girl at my high school That was like I went to this performing art school in her lock-in and my brain went do do do do do do and I went home I got there. I will dominate it interlock and I will win it. That's literally what I said to my mom
She was like, okay, I had no idea what this thing was and I was like that camp is one of the most magical places I'm not even kidding. I would recommend any parent who has a child that has remote interests in any form of the arts They do theater music. They have a writing department It is just like a safe haven for young grade school artists, but but it taught me to respect and revere It you know, I mean like in everyday life. It's not I don't know maybe now with these generations It's cool to be an artist but like me growing up. It was kind of like oh, yeah, you do that other stuff too Yeah, it was kind of like have fun and then find your real job. Yes
Yes, so that was a place that I think is so integral for high school age kids Particularly I mean you can literally go at four years old But for high school kids to go to to like really start to dip their toe into finding themselves as an artist And it's just so such a beautiful place in my life And so that was a moment a very strong moment because it was classical and I was like oh no where's army? That's for me and so it was all classical whoa, so you were singing classical and did you can you read music now? I just had like a really good year Classically trained opera singer and it was because of that. That's what started it And it was teachers being like no you actually have a natural gift keep going Had you seen any opera before that? No, I know I feel like opera is this thing that you only see like what is like a it just It's a field trip. It's okay
I love how we when we grew up like what you're younger than me But when I was when I was like the genres kind of crossed at times and it's where you learned about people and I remember I was thinking when I was Doing preparing for today. I was like when did I first know about opera and I think it was from the Muppets Because Beverly Seals who was not very famous opera singer was saying on my bit and Come on so obsessed with them up it. So that's why my whole face just dropping You said that's a muppets babes. I wanted to be on that show soap it And they're like we're not doing humans this year. I said no you're like three humans really them. I was upset
I try favorite Muppet Are you kidding? She literally literally That lady that lady owes me a lot of money I am Because of her yes, it's a Being like instilled in you like you don't take shit from me. Yeah, you do your thing be fabulous You don't change your I was like yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I literally made my parents buy me a tricycle
So, you know she has that skin where she's like with the motorcycle pack She's like get around and I used to do it all the time and I'm giving me a letter check girl That's my girl when I talk to him back I say please The other place that I saw opera was um Queen in um, Bohemian Rhapsody sure Yeah, I think that's a bridge like a gateway. Yeah, a lot of people. Yeah, I think a lot of people were like What is he singing? How is he singing that way? I was like, oh, no, that's what opera sounds like So you when did you see your first opera?
Me like it means once I went to the school it was like they completely like slapped me with the culture and I was like whoa And what was your first feeling about it? Like what did you like about it having like what made you want to keep pursuing it? The power in my voice that I was like, oh there's and also I'm gonna be really honest They really sold me on the idea that it was a really good life like you're gonna live in Europe and men are gonna drool over you And you get to wear beautiful gowns at your feet any pasta all day and you work hard, but not that hard Like as I was saying, they don't know how many like even if you're at the top of your game You have concerts, but they don't like we can do 17 million shows in a year. They may do like two three operas So this is a nice way to Broadway schedule. Oh ma'am. Mm-hmm
Are you does opera is do you have to kind of like pick like like an athlete? Do you have to pick your role like the voice part kind of dictates it? So what is your voice? What are you? I'm considered a baby dramatic soprano. Which means like I don't know that's what they said a baby
I always have the baby part even as I know there I don't know maybe but it's like basically it's like so lean team price I don't think they would consider a baby, but a dramatic soprano basically means you have the low notes But you can also get up to the high notes, but instead of like traditionally Soprano the high notes are very like soft and area like are gonna grind it like really breathy and soft and just like Heavenly and like a dramatic soprano's I can get up there But like with some heff baby dramatic soprano and did you ever do an opera on stage? I went to Temple University for the teacher Quinto went there We were there at the same time Quinto Brunson and we were in passing because she was like so theater and I was still music And they were still felt separate. Yeah, they were very at that time now It's like a conservatory and then go through department and so so anyways I went to Temple and we were doing Aida Wow and You know my middle class parents teachers like they're not dumb But it's like if you were to watch Shakespeare for the first time like they almost going on and so I remember my brain was just like
I want to be able it wasn't even acted I want to be able to portray this character And know this character very well so that it can translate For like my family and friends that come see this I remember that very clearly I don't even know where that came from. Yeah, and so I remember to go across the street to the theater department What was like communications to copy sheet music and I literally was copying sheet music and sounding people were dying in the room next door And it was a theater class and so I went up to this teacher afterwards And I was like hey, I'm working on opera across the street like could you help me? I want to like bring this to life and it became a very long story short the music department got Ultra-pist and they were like no no you can't do that you can't cross over there And I was like I don't want to cross over I don't want to be an actor But I guess because it had happened so many times they were very like territorial over it and they flunked me out Excuse me. Yep. And it was my mom that I'm like bawling on the phone. This is like my junior spring. Oh, I'm out of here
I don't have to go be in Italy like live my life and my mom was like go across the street I'll never get she talked so you know how moms are when their child is like devastated Yeah, and she was like step one go across the street go speak to the administration You're going to apply to the theater program because most of your credits can transfer And I actually think you might be good at it. That's literally how she say it was like Wow, she knew I needed logic first like yeah, because I kept thinking oh my god like I'm about to graduate I have now completely find a new right your pot committed to this thing and then and I was like okay I remember they tell me to this day and I went to the administration office and I was like And they were like what and I was like crying you are you are exactly this episode is brought to you by Apple Watch Your heart tells the story of your health and with the new Apple Watch series 12 you can understand it better than ever It's got this new readiness score which based on your activity vitals and sleep basically tells you whether it's a let's go or do less day
I'm always trying to navigate that and it's now backed by the most accurate heart rate sensing in a wearable So you can trust what it's telling you visit apple.com.com. Watch series 12 to learn more iPhone 11 or later required readiness score is for wellness purposes only and not for medical use heart rate accuracy based on apple conducted study august 2026 visit apple.com slash hr accuracy This episode is brought to you by marshals fall fashion is well and truly on the way and marshals buyers are hunting down the must-have items you deserve For the right price that means every trip to marshals is a chance to find an everyday staple a show stopping hidden gem or your next obsession with new items arriving every day Stop by marshals today to find more quality more style and more value than you ever expected Visit marshals.ca to find a store near you this episode is brought to you by tell us scammers got to hate and write They're about as annoying as a bunch of mosquitoes buzzing around you all day long Well, you can tell them to buzz off with tell us get built in scam protection included on new mobility plans and help protect yourself from pesky scam Texts calls and emails at no additional charge. Visit tell us dot com slash scam protection to learn more conditions and exclusion supply
This episode is brought to you by enterprise. Sometimes you need a car to get through a scenic drive across the Rockies Sometimes you need it just to get through Tuesday whether it's a weekend getaway or your car getting towed away A ride to the meeting or meeting your in-laws enterprise can help you find a ride for everything you planned for and anything you didn't With a wide range of vehicles over 700 locations in Canada and a team that's as dedicated as a hockey parent at a 5 a.m Practice whatever life throws at you enterprise is here for it. Find your ride at enterprise dot c a And then you got really a Shakespeare right you don't want to shake later. Yeah later So when I got into Yale I faked I did Shakespeare where I think I did like to Tanya when she sees bottom and she's like in love Signing the really like, you know, I don't I don't really meaning like is that more comedic is it?
It's kind of more comedic saying that what you're saying is like there's like there's like there's Shakespeare and then yeah It wasn't me reciting like hamlet where it was like, okay, you're just standing there and delivering the speech It was like this strong Tanya is like kind of like a Michelle Obama like a tough girl That's like got it all together who now you see gets to be like she's drunk the Kool-Aid And she's like whimsically like this ingenue in love and just being silly and in love with this like, you know having like a kind of like teenage middle school Moment of like I got this guy is so cute. Yes But like I was in the sense of like I wasn't doing Hey, do you want to do shake the more? Absolutely. So I went to after my first year I was like I don't know this because I was doing another classical art I don't know this one and so I went to the British Academy of dramatic arts Which I couldn't believe it we literally ate lunch we're here Working in there being like oh my god. I made it. Yeah, and so I was it was so cool because I learned Shakespeare like
Wow, but I love that sense of command that they have over language. I love how much you have trained. Thank you You are you really know your stuff. Thank you. I really appreciate that I was fine I bet and it gives to your point like it's supposed to be a journey like fun And when you get to try and fail over again, and it's stronger and better is the best feeling to me It's kind of like freedom with inform like as long as I know the guardrails are up I'm gonna bang up because those guardrails but like you're right in order for me to really Be loose and give all of myself even with comedy like I just need to know the parameters Yeah, and then I'm just gonna go off and it allows me to um so I guess in a way the training is like the guardrails Then when I work, I'm like whatever like have you ever watched something back of yours?
I don't like to don't like ADR is one of the most traumatic. Oh, yeah Also ADR is for people don't know it's like that moment in the film when you have to go back sometimes and rerecord Which for me is my first time of seeing it ever. Yes, it's often your first time seeing it hasn't been like color correct And so you're just like arms. Why do I look like that? I guess I'm 100 years old It's just it's seeing your face for the first time. Yeah in a thing that isn't finished
Yeah, and you have to record new stuff and it's brutal. I always use the color I'm I'm crying afterward You just like go across the street. Yeah, you are okay. You are not the character. You serve the character You're always really good at calling. Yeah, she's the one you're right. Yeah. Oh, is there anyone else there that we would know at the time?
But we know who we was was there when I was there when I was a second year Lupita was a first year then after Lupita was Winston Duke then after that what I could be mixing this up because I was now gone But was then yah yah then after that was mama do like it just Wow, wow that's intense. That's intense And then you go and you go from that to talk about training being put to the test You have to open ghost all in the West End with about a week of rehearsal. Yeah, which made no so I was when I graduated I got an agent and like, you know, I gotta have a survival job So I applied everywhere in New York City and that will yell degree even though it's in theater People were like you're overqualified. No, but I was like, you're more than the director and that upset Yeah, and so I couldn't get any job and so I was like, okay I'm gonna nanny so I nanny for this amazing family and it was amazing because I worked the system Because I was broke and I said listen as a curator of arts your children need to go to five star hotels and experience with that is like
Desserts really next places and we need to teach them how to eat five Literally and they were like, okay and literally can you imagine two little white boys and me like at a table? And they're like Just in case their friends are here watching. I don't like this. That's so smart. So much fun So smart and then you go that job. How do you get the job?
So they were like oh, this is an audition for the like understudy understudy swing And so they were like, you know, if you get this you'll really go on no big deal I go in there because I'm young and I had never auditioned for anything before those people told me so you're gonna do the entire thing They made me audition for 75% of that musical Wow in the room like I had my sides and then they were like here's more cold read Wow 75% of the musical It was just adrenaline. Yes one thing that was a blessing and a curse. I was on a high like my body was Speaking of belting high baby. I built it high that day. Oh Because of the original musical so they were like, oh, she wants a belton ass whatever you don't want to do I Cause eight shows a night and they were I was like no, we don't have to bring it out. So I did auditioning like August. I didn't hear anything for two days
I'm not thinking about it. It's under study under study. My team then hits me up and I'm like, okay cool And I was bummed because I was like I tell these kids It was a lifestyle I was saying goodbye to the lifestyle And so they literally they were like days later. They're like why are you not more excited my team? And I was like because you it's just whatever like if everyone gets sick, then maybe I'll go on they're like yeah, we lied um You were playing whoopi goberics part and I was like come on. What why would you do this?
So then I'm terrified and it was literally the like the Tuesday before Thanksgiving and so I had never done a job of that magnitude But I had never done a like seasonal job. Yeah, and I really love the holidays Yeah, I started crying and I was like, but do I get to spend these girls like theirs? And you know ages are you done? You're going to what's that you've worked with so many great people and you talk about them a lot and you talk about Robin Williams And I can't believe that was my first movie. That's amazing I cannot believe that sadly that was my first movie and that was his last movie. I cannot believe it
What would I like to be with him? So grateful There's something that I noticed in legendary comedians specifically Robin had it Eddie had I had the experience it's different, but they have a similar trait Eddie has shows up in Steve Martin for sure Martin short And there's this thing when we talk about when people tap me on my shoulder and be like hey And I never would think it would be those people in my mind growing up I thought you know like they had a really stay to themselves or they're distant or like their egos won't ever give you the satisfaction And Robin was the complete opposite and he actually talked to me more than anybody else We just talked for we I literally just sat there and listened to everything that that man said to me and I will even the moment While he was talking to me, I was like This is crazy. No one's going to believe you so don't even tell anyone like maybe later you can share a great anecdote But it was unbelievable and he just poured into me And it would just be like in between the takes he was just like
And then you know, maybe we just go into this thing But yeah, he would if I would say career wise. He was the first person that was like You've got what an anointing from someone like that And then you were to the Eddie until the night and and same thing I think he wanted his way and he really did he really did and something that was interesting so like differences Robin was so explosive it felt like I would people ask the only thing I can think of is like you know how in Penn station The ticker thing. Yeah, it's like you can't his thoughts are so loud when he's not talking that even when you stand next to him And I'm just like I feel like almost like having coffee like you just feel this buzz being next to him and just was like Um and with Eddie something that I learned and it was interesting to work with him at that stage of his life and that point of his career There is a stillness and a quietness when he's not working or in between scenes And then there's the action and this whole thing comes to life. Yeah, and it was something that in the first again supporting actor being like
Okay, this is your rhythm. This is how you work that I then like adjusted and then I was like, okay So I'm not well that feels like your musical training comes in there because you're picking exactly We said rhythm and breath and energy like the dynamics 100 percent of the rhythm is the biggest thing I think especially with comedy and especially with legends at that you right you want to learn quickly Not ask any questions and observe and like feels like jump up of like I'm jumping in and I'm jumping out You know me learning that kind of pacing and but it was after um That he really kind of prepared me for the industry in that when we Did like we had a full-blown press tour and he was like she's come whatever I'm going to She's coming to all of it and so like 100 percent of prepare me for holdovers. I think if I didn't have that I was like, what is this crazy machine? Yes things and so in a more chill way. I got to experience it I got to see what insane fame Looks like yeah, which is scary to me. Yeah, that's really intense. I'll get ready for it. Sorry, but
Okay, you mentioned the holdovers it I just have to say to you that film Thanks It is in it is now forever in rotation in as a christmas film Because not only is it beautifully acted and beautifully directed by Alexander Payne and apology and money and tommy They're amazing. They're the three of you together are just you But it also captures this melon collie like you say you love the holidays and it's this holiday Salty sweet yeah sour sadness that happens to all of us all of us even if you have a house full of people or whatever you consider like Yes, traditional happy christmas because like the loneliness finds its way in every time I know even with a full house the way you depicted That mother in that movie is one of my favorite cinematic performances. I love you Congratulations on winning the academy award And um so deserved thank you and just so first of all paul jimadi love him always loved him Always loved him and like similarly he's so good at so many things
Yeah, he is really good at playing like that underdog that can't quite figure it out and just like he keeps hitting their head against the So good. I had a fun moment when he hosted us and I when I was there and you know You're like down under the um bleachers like changing clothes really fast and at one point I turned him and I was like Are you having fun? He was like this is a nightmare Inside everything is painful and he's dying inside. Yeah, yeah, we're filming and I'm like wow He's like I hate it No, but you know what I mean? Like that's why he's so funny. He's like so good
Because he does put himself in like risky like inside his anxiety is through the roof. Yes and and he's like We feel it with him and the trio of you three like unexpected friends Yeah, like you know like a random family. Yeah, yeah, so good. What kind of prep did you do for that role? So it was interesting when because I love cooking Um, I was like uh, so listen contractually, I have to cook for real and for many reasons and due to that time period I wanted it to be clear that this was actually her job and that she was good at it versus like I First asked Alexander. I said is she the help or is she a learned chef?
And he was like I actually want her to be a learned it. He said cook and I said we're not gonna say that where we're gonna say chef If you're saying she has an education. Yeah, she's a chef, right? Um, and so Once I knew that's where he was going with it. I was like, okay So then you're going to have to establish scenes and moments where I'm I'm dealing with the food and facilitating the kitchen to show my Prowse over this area. Yeah, right and so and I remember there was there was and he was so down
Which was so cool for someone that Acclaimed and lauded to have that much flexibility and collaboration Which I think is another huge reason why that movie just did so well because he trusted us And we really got to work together and so like there was a moment where I was like, you know To be honest, he had a lineup of extras for people that were gonna be in my kitchen And they were all women of color and I was like you're gonna have to put some white ladies in there too And he was like really why I said because it the other ones like it's my friends That I just brought in and then this other version makes it again. Look like oh no, I'm in charge Yeah, and these are the cooks so I ad-lib this line in the movie where I'm like to the white lady Too much paprika because I'm on my nose like no, no, no, she can taste it and be like Too much paprika because I wanted to show a lot of it to do with the time period that I was like If you're saying she's a chef, I don't want those lines to be blurred when regards to prep the thing that alizan With me I love knowing that because you're because I couldn't capture the what you're exactly what you're saying
Which is a there's a regalness to her. Yes, there's a prize. Yes, and even if that lady has two cents in her pocket Which is another thing because he understandably He wanted her to be in hot pink rollers and that cozy warm purple moon move The entire most of the movie because he was like it's the holidays and I was like no She has so much pride. She's working. Yes She may be you know they might be in like living shared living quarters, but she's working she wakes up This is her job. Yes, and so it was something that he we had to like negotiate for him to realize
No, this isn't just auntie with the you know, I mean Such incredible Tension because that is her space and in the scene when she's serving and when she went everyone's eating her food That she's good at cooking and paul's character standing up for her. Yeah, it's beautiful That's one of my favorite moments. Yeah, and it's just a look. She just looks at the kid Yes, but she but you know the volume in which paul yelled she heard it Yes, you know me like she wasn't there for it, but you heard that he had his back And so the main prep was I was very keen on smoking It was almost like an audition question. Do you smoke and I was like no, I don't and he was like And I was like you can send the pack on over and we can figure it out Part of the prep was learning how to smoke making it look realistic. I just it was great that I was embossed in there
So many smokers embossed in but I was just watched like there is a science. Mm-hmm You can tell the level of addiction or how many years I'm not gonna say addiction Yeah, let's say it how long you've been in the game Tell me what you noticed about how people lose the more that it feels like it is literally another finger They've been doing it for a while right? It's like that person is usually like older men that like it's hey How I don't even know it's like a lot of people are right because a person that has their like one Cigar it's tighter. It's tight and they're enjoying every minute. I'm thinking about like the girls outside the club sure like bumming it from someone else Yes, and but someone who's like oh, there's a hundred more where that came from it'll fall out They like it up whatever. Yeah, I'm gonna let it on right away. Yeah, and so part of my process was like so interesting
What's her level of addiction and certain times and what she's going through? I wanted the smoking to signify what like psychologically was going on for her and then the biggest the biggest most difficult things most difficult things about filming and Smoking timing of knowing when took like how to pace of the between the talking and when to pull right? Yeah Yeah, and blowing that smoke so it's not in your face for the camera unless there's some moments where you wanted to get in or not like Directing that smoke was tricky. Oh, I can't I'm gonna be rewatching this movie again I watch all of your watch We could have a beautifully acted scene and I was gonna be like that smoke wind pause face do again And then the last thing was the dialect which he was like, let's talk about it. It was fine He was like you're from Philadelphia. It's cool and I was like Alexander respectfully respectfully. How dare you?
No, sir, and he was adamant about it and you worked I can tell because it was so good. Yeah I was a coach who's the best and so down to earth, but yeah, I said no no no no So what do you have to learn about me? Yeah? Like we said, I'm from Philadelphia It's so close but yet. It's not the same thing and also it was technically it's a period piece And so the biggest reason why I wanted to do the dialect not only because that is what is the world I needed something to differentiate and to separate from me. Yeah, and so I needed that dialect the smoking
Yeah, clothes helps the hair helped a lot But the dialect was the thing that really allowed me to lock in whether words that helped you lock in like mr Hey, what was his name? Have a mr. Hana mr. Hana. I heard you miss that first scene mr. Hana when they meet and she's like mr
Hana I'm paraphrasing because I must have hung up my head you had babysitting duty How'd you manage that and that was like my key freeze? Yes, that I would maybe sit in is a babysitting How'd you manage that what was helpful was the crew was all Boston? Oh, yeah, so I would literally like yeah No shame. I was like you didn't get it because you're Boston to me, you know, it's our ears are tuned It's yeah to me. It's like the Australian accent for sure is like you when it's wrong It is rough. Yeah, and so when I basically said to myself as I worked on it in private a lot
And I told myself you're gonna have the first day of filming if you get a lot of feedback on this dialogue Either being distracting or too much or not right we're gonna leave it alone. Yeah smart and and And yeah, it worked and I was like, okay, but in between still I literally in between takes the gaffer I'm like is it smart smart? Yeah, they like smart speaking other films. We're talking about eternity the rom-com that you're in with the hilarious John Early who we love I think he was on the last people that they cast and I knew from the script that I would have quite a bit of stuff with this character And I kept saying who I kind of didn't want to sign on the dotted line until I knew yeah Who that person wasn't it just didn't work out that way and I never get we were in like what they call it camera testing We were camera testing and I was ear hustling and I heard them say and I go ah And they were like what is wrong? I'm like oh my job just got way better so funny. Really?
I look great together he has the stuff that's up there in that brain And it's so much do you know you obviously know what I mean? And you know what I was a little worried about because he's so so so good that I was like, oh He's gonna be doing the button thing you know the button thing when you're around funny hahahas And it's like the scene is done and now every funny person in that room is like And that person goes back and I'm like wow. Oh my god. I've never heard it so like that That's I'm really I'm really sweating because I I saw this effect is I get it right though There's an instinct for comedy people to be like and one more thing button button button Now person I feel seen I feel and then it goes and it just goes and my always I'm like Very present but and this usually when the camera cuts to me That's so real and you're right and then once someone does a button someone's like I got a button that button and it never ends I just sit there But yeah, he didn't have any of that. Yeah, but so I don't think you ever repeat a joke
I'm just so so impressed by him. What did you really should rom-com? So what rom-com? Are you rom-com person? Do you like rom-com? I was when I was in high school. What I was like was let me tell you something
How long are 10 days? Oh, yeah, it's perfect. And if you tell me different, I'll fight you that I like all you whispering at best because Baby that same It's like it's a relatable New York couple, you know, some of New York rom-coms you're like, well I love how I was like they were regular New Yorkers Um and that like I forget when it's standing on the island family was a really good touch. Um, my best friend's wedding. Yes, it's so good I think it's the ones that are really relatable. I know and and they just dig in and some like they're like rainy day delicious treats
Yeah, and okay, so we have this thing where we talk to people who know our guests. We talk well behind their back We get a question for them So we talked to the director of eternity David Frane and we got to talk about how incredible it was working with you And he and he was explaining which I'm I'm now getting to see in real time the feeling of there was like a calmness to you when you work And a confidence that is he says like it just as a director. It just makes you feel like everything is gonna work out like everything You know, oh, that's wonderful He had two questions for you. One was where do you think you find the calm or is he said the cam? Yeah, the camera had a great text and a great job behind the cam but um the um So that was his first question is like is that true? Are you feeling like when you step in work that there's a calmness to you?
Is do people project that on you is that real? What do I think it's um, how do I say it's a little projected? It's all of it right? So number one, yes, it's part of that like preparing to then like have so much fun like right? Within the boundaries like I know I did the work. Yeah, but then I'm very open to what is the direction?
What are you giving me what I mean? What is it gonna be in this? I know her Um, and you can tell me we're going on Mars. Great. We're going on Mars. What's that gonna be?
Yeah, so there's that there's also too. I'm very well aware of like it's interesting how leads speak of like their role of leadership and I am aware that part of my role is to not say anything out loud but to reassure and to like um nurture a little but like create a foundation. That's really interesting as yeah, um not to name drop But I will be named dropping a lot today. Um, Gwyneth paltrow was in the seat She said something that I thought was really interesting which is you know, we were talking in terms of the codependency Yeah, I'm trying to figure out and when you're in a supporting role in any aspect of life You have to balance what you talked about which is Knowing what is needed for the room and she used the term thermometer like is Do I mean same with every scene? That's a giving supportive collaborative person and then also taking care of yourself. That's right. It's a hard balance
I think I've gotten really good at that. Yeah, and I think that's also why I've been able to work with the type of people I've gotten to work with because I think It's that mixed in with they then fill a reassurance and then be them their best selves. Yeah, right And so then I'll have like it's so cute and I can't be even saying this Steve Martin will literally be like because I normally when I film for only murders They're so kind and with my schedule. They allow me to like shoot out So I'm doing like in two weeks like five episodes And so we get like this kind of like intense two weeks with one another and then I'll be like gone for a year And then we'll catch up for like press and then do the next year Then he always is like god I forgot about this feels good. I'm feeling good And that to me is the yeah greatest greatest compliment that I can think of and so yeah I think it is a bit of that and then I think also There is like I do still suffer with imposter syndrome in this format. Mm-hmm like when we have to talk about it
But I don't when we're doing it. Yeah, that makes sense But it's but it's a quiet maybe it's we mean about that calmness reassurance. It's a quiet confidence Yeah, but also at the same time there's a lot of adrenaline and excitement buzzing through me And do you ever find sometimes when you perform this kind of like sometimes I'll have this moment of like zoom in zoom out Yeah, where I'm like kind of up overhead. Yeah, disassociating. Yeah That's great. I highly recommend it. I love it. You're like, I'm on the ceiling babe. I had nothing in the touch me. Nope. I'm not here
I live in there. Yeah, yeah Me too and it's a and it's a um what you're saying is like a technique to get past exactly We said the fear and adrenaline and I don't know if you're like this, but I can get nervous after I do something I get through it and then like an hour later. I'm like Do we do it? We get all starts to shake out because yeah, I wasn't really there Yeah, I want to finish with a very quick speed round if you can give me a sense or two about this about some of these people or things Sure, sure And number one is Zoe Cravitz The best I knew she was extremely talented when I first met her She was an executive producer I think that was her first executive producer role and she went above and beyond and so when she began starting to direct I was like duh, we saw that I remember one time She literally and it was so cool because we were the same age with like the youngest people unsaid And she was literally like it was a coffee cup. We were doing a scene in a bodega and it was a coffee cup And she was like that's not what real coffee cups look like In New York like why is it? I think it was like red. You know there's why blue blue and the white and they were like oh
Because we're young and she's a woman so like no no Zoe it's fine And she's like no no get it right and we'll wait in a very polite professional and straight away And I was like she's got it okay speed round. Yeah Alpaccino Yeah, so I was you know, I was you're getting good. Let's and you're like speed round I'll be Chino on Broadway stressed out voice tired eating soup in like this little french bistro He randomly is there Uh he goes to check out and he backs back and like comes and sits down at my table And we have this like beautiful heartfelt thing and I share with a stranger like it's really hard I can't talk like you know, I have no life the amount that is required for this Um and he gave me the most beautiful advice ever and he used this metaphor of a ladder and said like as you continue to go up a ladder You have to let go of more and more weight and kind of was like it's not what you're feeling It's natural another moment of something like you've got it. Keep going And it's like I'll see you at the top of the ladder cut to we do dolomite
Netflix decides they're now going to start doing magazines like their own magazines We get to the shoot and there's a ladder there and I'm like home I'm gonna because I knew he was going to be in this shoot because it was like the Irishman And I was like yo if they put me on this ladder And they're like placing everyone How he's next to the ladder and I said please because he's still gotta put like lardern and scarlet your hands And sounds like you're what they're learning and they put me in the ladder I'm balling the entire photo shoot and I'm like looking down at him. I'm like And he's like all right honey like whatever I'm on the ladder. I'm looking at you and you said it was gonna happen. Oh my god. It's perfect. Sorry and then Steven sondheim
I miss him. I know that sounds so crazy. Doesn't but it's like he was like the modern He okay sometimes that musical theater stuff is a lot for me Like I was never kidding that was like But because I came into a late and I'm a vocalist and this is theater and I had to like find my way into musical Which is funny that my first gig was a musical but I just vibed with him so much because it felt like strong story Really good acting and we just so happened to sing beautiful beautiful songs to me It's like the purest for me and my taste one of the purest ways of expressing musical theater And in college we did into the woods and I played the witch. Oh and I was like, okay. I think I like this Guys also crazy. You don't use on some crazy. This is wait, but what's the song when she's like
Say a little steve anything from Steven sondheim. What is the one the one that the witch? Want me to get it on my laptop? But what I'm about the lyrics this is crazy. I think for me and I'm gonna order that William Sonobah Please do it please order a meeting. I'm not kidding you. I thought about the entire time
You guys even has a wooden bowl with a hunter green hopper. Okay What are we looking up? Thanks, babe Years oh no you're there years. Okay, I appreciate you. I appreciate you and um The world like needs to hear your voice. Oh, no, I gotta work through this stuff. And so that's why I'm gonna figure out
I think honestly I talk about this a little bit, but I think honestly um because the classical thing Like I feel like there's a lot of people that can like sing like pop and R&B But I do feel like that's like one of my special little tricks like you said how sing is a trick but like classical I think I want to do a biopic on the ending price. Oh and just like okay. We're doing it. Oh, yeah Everybody listening listening. Yeah, everybody listening listening that happened. Yeah god. That would be amazing. I think that'd be fun
And then our last question is because you're so funny times and times are stressful where we ask a lot of our guests Um, what they listen to read go to laugh. What it like is there anything right now that you're watching consuming Like a v like a dumb video a tv show I did a podcast with royal court. Oh really? I have to tell my publicist like I just felt so comfortable and we were just cracking that and you guys were hilarious We were cracking up and I was like oh, she's got it. So I think what her podcast is giving people right now is really really nice I watch a lot of old stuff. I don't do you like that. Do you sometimes I'm like
I don't want to be tainted or like I don't watch a lot of comments and In fact, it'd be one of the reasons why the kind of intention behind this podcast is to me the way For my own mental health was like feeling like chatting and laughing with people. Yeah connection was getting me up out of things Yeah, but the actual like watching comedy at home and like sometimes it feels like oh if it's good. I'm like damn I can't because I'm judging it I can't watch contemporary stuff because I'm like my friends in that my hair looks crazy You know, I mean like why did they do so? I like to watch older things and so I mean you can't be the 90s Which I feel like is a lot of stuff that you've done But like a 90s comedy is just so good like what would you put on like to like run as you were like are you talking friends?
Are you talking? I love rush hour Yes, if that's one of one of the best buddy duos that you would never think of and it is oh so good That's why you rush hour scene for you And they're funny how people get so like you touch the radio. It's not even your car. Don't touch the radio I mean, I love when people are give it to give it to somebody straight and they're like I don't like you I just don't enjoy you In real life Let's you say stuff you could never say yeah just deck man. She doesn't like you Just not into you. Sorry. Well, Dave. I I love you and I think we should be friends. Yes
I think we should buy various things together. I'm gonna give you my number I want you to text me when you get the mixer great. I think you should get a pot just get one of the pots I gotta get all the parts I got to get all the parts I was only for and then like when you cook something in there Text it to me. Oh, I would love to you. Yes I mean, what are we? Why are we working so hard if we can't buy ourselves discounted copper pots?
Black Friday, so we deserve it Is that ready that you speak about this that urgency of Yeah, it gets me there's 50,000 inventory in the back. Yeah, but I'm gonna get it and I'm gonna go pick it up Um, do you have pasta thingies pasta with thingy what we're saying like so when you get back you can then also For I think it's like 99 99 Get the attachment has to then make fresh pasta What? I'm pasta making machine or does it so you get the kitchen made? Thank you for coming Kitchen made you just take the head off and then attach the pasta different things or should you do the one where it's like Zanya then taste that off macaroni and then you got endless possibilities. I've never made pasta and I've always wanted to do it I would do with you. Yeah, I would love to let's do it. Let's hire a guy
Thank you so much. Dave. I enjoy Randolph. You were so fun and I love talking to you and and um I'm so blown away by your talent and your training and um, so thanks for joining me on the pod and speaking of talent and training I just want to use this polar plunge because we were talking a little bit about Shakespeare and there's a person that I discovered in my phone where I Discover everything read everything and learn everything um a performer named Michelle Terry and um She is I believe she ran the Shakespeare Globe Theater or member of the royal Shakespeare company And then royal national theater. She performed all this place. It's just really good. She's not really good actress
She is a person who continually amazes me and translates Shakespeare to me in a way that feels like no one has for me So I don't know if you're on your phone right now and you want to type her name in uh In your gonna see videos of her playing hamlet and Richard the third incredible. Okay, so if you never liked Shakespeare before Michelle Terry's gonna get you there Um, so that's my plunge. Thank you for listening and uh, see you next time. Bye You've been listening to good hang the executive producers for the show are bill Simmons Jenna Weiss Berman and me Amy Poehler The show is produced by the ringer and paper kite for the ringer production by jack wilson cats valene kaya mckmallen and elia zenares for paper kite Production by sand green joe level and jenna wisperman original music by a mile's Hold music not what you want to hear when a pipe just burst in your basement is flooding That's why intact insurance answers two million clink calls per year within 20 seconds. So instead of hearing this lovely track You'll hear this in seconds hello intact insurance