0:11 So, you are a little bit busy at this moment. Yeah, a little bit. Have you? Well, not in this moment. Not in this exact moment. In this moment, we're just talking. But you're actually talking because as opposed to hiding your voice for every hour that you're not on stage. Yeah, no, I do. Yeah, no, I don't talk very much in life right now. I seem to remember actually at some point a conversation about you actually having a voice issue, that it was like you actually really had to protect your voice. I did. Yeah, I was, well I used to, I didn't realize this until the past couple of months, but I used to speak and sing completely wrong. I just didn't, I was losing my voice because I didn't know what I was doing technically at all. And then I just learned how to sing, and it's changed things a little bit. So I haven't really lost my voice
0:58 that often. So you took this job before you really knew how to sing? Yeah. So what were you thinking? Well, Sally's not a good singer in the book, so it was never really a concern that I wouldn't be able to sing well. It was more about keeping my voice, and I knew that if I figured it out, if I figured out how to keep my voice, then I then it would be okay because you know technically the sound then it would be okay because, you know, technically, of it doesn't need to be like a perfect Broadway singer so I started I started trying to figure out how to actually technically sing in it it's been it's been amazing mm -hmm it's been amazing so what was the first idea of this of course I'm talking about Birdman but right obsessed with Cabaret right what made you think this was a good idea in the first place were you
1:44 was this a show you love didn't want to do her yeah I absolutely I saw it when I was um Didn't want to do or yeah, I absolutely I saw it when I was um when I was nine years old on Broadway with with Alan coming in with Natasha Richardson And I just I I fell in love with it So the opportunity just came along it was and yeah I met Rob Marshall a couple years ago, and I told him it had always been you know If I ever did a musical because I'm not a singer. I it was the only part that I ever really thought Other than Lucy and you're a good man Charlie Brown, which you can you can look up if you want to Other than Lucy and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which you can look up if you want to. She really sings like a Looney Tune. But didn't Kristen Chenoweth play that? No, she played Sally. No, Lucy is like a kind of voice, which is perfect for me, as you can probably tell. But it was just always,
2:34 I just, I think, because I felt something when I saw Natasha, even when I was nine, And I didn't know what the subject matter was. Obviously, I didn't know that this character was having an abortion. I didn't realize what was happening with the Nazis. I mean, the subject matter is really, really intense for a young kid, and I couldn't take all that in. But I felt what she was feeling, and I just thought, singing doesn't have to be, you know, Tinkerbell singing. Although Tinkerbell doesn't make any sound, so I don't know why I'm comparing it to Tinkerbell. Because she's light and airy. Perfect. And perfect. You got the imagery. I did. That's what I meant. It was working for me. She's working for me. So does performing the role feel different, I mean, now that you do understand all those things? Yeah. Or is it still the emotional undercurrent that you felt when you were nine
3:20 that is still there with you knowing everything? No, it's a different, I mean, it's the same, when I look out into the theater, it's pretty, it's pretty, like I love doing this show so much, it's sort of ridiculous. I love doing it every day. I love the chance to do it again the next day which you don't I love the chance to do it again. get in film for the most part you know you go home and if this scene didn't work it just forever didn't you know you didn't do what you wanted to do or you weren't in the place you wanted to be in or you know and you can sort of berate yourself for for long periods of time because you never get to do it again but here it just feels like there's this it can suck one night and be completely different the next day it's just it's wild so
4:08 I love it better and better or feels better is it just that it goes up and down and you know it feels better it feels better in the sense that it starts to go into your body and it feels like you're in a different I mean you're singing and dancing and you're like in a different reality it's just happening without you even thinking and so now it's gotten to that point where I'm not thinking as much about where do I go or what's coming next. It's now just kind of happening and I can let go. So it seems like Alejandro was kind of your, the precursor. Well actually, without even trying to bring it back to Birdman, it does, it does, it's a really similar, it's a really similar thing because we had three weeks of rehearsal and we had to get it into our body so much that we could have, I mean,
4:54 by the time we shot it, you couldn't think about where you were moving or what you were it, you couldn't think about where. doing next. It had to just be within you and you just sort of had to let go and trust that the scene was going to work, you know, because you had choreographed it so extensively. So were the rooftop sequences as choreographed as moving through hallways and all that stuff? I know Edwards talked about that a lot. That was a little bit more constricting. It was more constricting? Being on the roof? Being roofed up? Yeah. Because you're right on the edge, and then Chivo, the cameraman, had to come over and be sort of leaning over the roof. So there was less that we could really do. It sort of was, we were over the edge or it's right behind us. So
5:39 those were a lot more still. Interesting. Yeah. So how did you start down the road with Birdman in the first place? I had lunch with Alejandro, who told me about the movie. so he had you in his head already I guess so which is So he had you in his head already? insane to me and a very lucky thing because I was of course a huge fan of his work and and didn't know why he would want to meet with me and we had you know Italian food and coffee and we talked about Birdman and I don't think he told me right away the way it was going to be shot I think we just basically talked about the character and, you know, and he was thinking of, he hadn't cast Michael quite yet, but it was going to be Michael.
6:29 Yeah. basically talked about the character and has he, have you played anybody who's quite this angry and in pain? Well, now, every night. Well, that's true. But, no, not before, no, no, not at all. Interesting to you, or scary, or? All of it. Oh my god, to all of it. was, he, that was a, that was a life changer. This has been a life changer, getting to do Birdman, because the, yeah, playing Sam and getting to kind of go into the places that Alejandro forces you to go to, because you're, you can't rest on anything. He is like a truth detector. He's, there's nothing, he doesn't want any charm. He doesn't want anything, you know, any tricks in any
7:16 way. So it was, it really, it was the best. It was so scary. And I was so, so, like, I would go back to the dressing room and just be like, fuck it, whatever, I can't do it. I just say, I'm just gonna, you know, I'm gonna be miserable. Just fuck it, I'm gonna be miserable. And then we would go back and I would be miserable and we would shoot it again and now Alejandro would go, there it is. It would be miserable, and we would shoot it again, and now Alejandro would go, there it is, you know, and it was just like, Jesus, he can just see right through you, and it was the best. So you knew when you, when he knew you were getting it right, you knew too. Oh yeah, yeah, but not in a, I mean, not in a mean way, he wasn't like, he just couldn't, you know, even if something felt completely honest, he knew when it wasn't, and he was right,
8:02 and then he pushed and pushed until it was, and then it's the best feeling. in the world when you know that you've because i come from i i did you know comedy for a long time and i did sketch comedy and it's all about you know moving quickly but not necessarily diving to places that you're required to dive in something like this and and so it just blew the doors off of everything and i had wanted to do kind of way, although Birdman is a completely different way of working. But to kind of, you know, experience that kind of honesty, I guess, for a long time.
8:50 This was the craziest way to do that. So, the last time we chatted was for Easy A, with you and Will. It was you and Will, and you were very, besides him ripping you apart, you were self -effacing as well, not surprisingly, still are, but I mean, that really was kind of the launching pad to some degree, I mean, that was the beginning of Emma Stone in capital letters, I guess. Oh, in all caps. Do you feel that, or do you not feel that still? I don't, well, what do you mean, in terms of like... You're a movie star. Oh. I took the wind out of you, didn't I? took the window. I just have a really long cigarette in my hand all of a sudden. I have to break
9:35 the news to you. I'm sorry to be the one. You're a movie star. I don't, I mean, well, that doesn't feel like a thing. I mean, that doesn't feel like a true, I mean, I do movies. I've been in movies. I don't really know what the term movie star would be because I don't take a helicopter anywhere. I don't really know what the term movie star would be because I don't take a That's how I define a movie star. If you take helicopters places, you are definitely a movie star. You're probably taking a few private planes, though, maybe, perhaps. Yeah, press stores. There you go. They get private planes, especially Spider -Man press stores. A little tiny movie like Spider -Man. A little movie like Spider -Man. So, yeah, I think easy it
10:21 was probably. Yeah, it's, I think EZA was probably, was probably some type of, there was some shift that probably happened in terms of, but it's also confusing to me because I auditioned for Spider -Man the day that EZA came out, the day that it came out, September 17th, the day. I'm really all about dates. So it's a confusing kind of a thing to me. I don't know what equated to what or you know well I know from the I don't know what equated to what. outside it felt at that time like spider -man was almost an extension of the Sony relationship with EZA like they knew the footage they'd seen the film right and they knew whatever was going to come of that was something special enough to to propel you into that position
11:06 well I don't know I mean because that was the that was the day I auditioned I mean that was the camera test, so it wasn't like they just threw me into Spider -Man based on whatever they had seen. test so it wasn't like they just threw me in despite So where does Spider -Man fit into all this for you at this point? I mean, you're now definitely in an art track. You're doing this comedy drama. Well, I don't know how to put it exactly. This is my cigarette back. This is my art face. I'm in my blue period. Well, you're doing Broadway. Get me my helicopter. I thought you were right. It's on, why did I point out? Rupert actually can't jump out of his window into a helicopter. I don't ride on the street anymore. Spider -Man, on the other hand, anyway. But, I mean, you're doing,
11:53 you're in this area of doing things that are challenging you and really are very different than things you've done before. Both the stage and Birdman are a big kind of jump. Where does Spider -Man fit into that for you? is it just a nice memory and a good movie? It's a memory now, I mean, because that's over for me. Spoiler alert. If you haven't seen the movie yet, everyone has. Yeah, it is. It's a memory. It was great. It was two movies. It was two really, really great experiences. I mean, they taught me, I think they taught me a lot, actually, being in that, that, you,
12:42 you, you learn so much when you're on a green screen, or when you're in a giant soundstage, or when there are like hundreds of people working on a project. I mean, they taught me. I think. The difference between something like that and Birdman, which was actually kind of hilarious because I had a month of downtime during the second Spider -Man movie, which is when I shot Birdman, and Alejandro just kept saying, give us your plates. Just when I shot Birdman and Alejandro just kept saying give us your plates let us use your spider -man plate so we can shoot him flying over the city just give us your stuff your superhero stuff it's like I you know I wish I could but they're using every plate to shoot these sequences but it was so it was actually really really crazy to be on that you know in that one reality where there's you know 12 people that get on walkie -talkies whenever
13:28 you go to the bathroom, as opposed to something bathroom as opposed to like Birdman. And there's a kind of collective feeling that I...am I losing track of what you just said? No, no. You're answering the question beautifully. I'm sorry. No, you're doing great. I'm just spinning into a vortex of... No, the difference between the two. Yeah, it was...that is probably what made it most noticeable. That and after I finished, you know, Spider -Man. I went to do a Woody Allen movie in the South of France, which is even more kind of like, is there a van coming? Who knows? You might get to work. So those kinds of things. I had worked, I guess, but maybe I had been in that sort of
14:15 studio world for a while before that. So I, you know, like Superbad and Easy A and those were all... Sony movies. So I didn't really know what the feeling of an independent or a more independent movie was. So it was less of a jump from those to Spider -Man than from Spider -Man to Birdman? Yeah. And I am so happy about it. Everybody's there for the same, for the most part, you hope. Everybody's there to tell the same story. It's not really about anything but telling the story. and the vision of the director or the vision of the writer and it's so collaborative and you're cold and you're tired
15:02 and you don't have much time to get it done and nobody's really talking about how you're gonna promote it later or who this is gonna appeal to. I mean I'm sure they are behind the scenes, but it's not really the forefront of the conversation. I'm sure they are behind the scenes but it's not really the the forefront. And not that that was my experience with Spider -Man or with other movies that I had done, because I had actually had really good, you know, and I still have. And Mark Webb is not exactly a traditional action director. No, and like Greg Mottola isn't, everyone was making these really cool movies, like Zombieland was Ruben, and they were all very cool things, and Easy A, obviously, we talked about. Yeah, obviously we talked about so I it wasn't like I was I don't know what I'm saying So, it wasn't like I was... I
15:48 don't know what I'm saying. What you're saying. Does it making sense? It makes complete and perfect sense. I always think it doesn't make sense, but sometimes it does make sense. Okay No, it's good now. I'm thrown off by that, but yeah, sorry I lost track of my screaming. No, no it all makes perfect sense. And so the Woody Allen experience. Yeah also Is that part of the formation of where you are now? it well it's definitely been an interesting that's been an interesting uh that's your helicopter that's sorry that's just my um helicopter honking it honks your movie star helicopter that's another thing that i didn't tell you yet once you get to a certain point it honks that's a whole other movie i think that was the spider -man 2 honk the honk
16:35 so oh god woodrow So, Woodrow, how does Woody fit into all this change? Yeah, really, I mean, I met him last year also at the same time as Birdman, and read the script for Magic in the Moonlight, and did that, and that was just, you know, just working with somebody that I had admired growing up and had always, you know, loved the work of, and then I got to work with Cameron Crowe after that, and it was just, last year was just nuts, working with Alejandro and Woody and Cameron Crowe, and then now getting to do cabaret. of. I mean, it's really, it's been the past couple years
17:24 in terms of things that I always dreamt of but didn't actually think would ever occur with the actual people I dreamt of working with. or the play I dreamt of working on. It's been really weird. Did the pieces just fall into place or was there any planning? Can you plan anything like that? That kind of a year? Yeah. No, I don't think, well, it was all, I had gotten, you know, that's part of the cool thing as you go on and what I'm And as you go on and what I'm appreciative of as if you get to meet people I mean you just you know like you you meet people places or you can say to like I was and I got lost on
18:10 the way of course but earlier I was saying I met Rob Marshall a couple years ago because I was auditioning for something that he a movie that he was going to make that he didn't end up making and I saw him and he had co -directed Cabaret the 98 production and I just said you know my dream role has always been Sally Bowles, and if it ever comes around again, I would dream role has always been Sally Bowles and if it ever just love to do it, and I love it. That stayed in his mind, and we kept talking, and you know, those kinds of things. And Cameron Crowe came to the premiere of The House Bunny, because I told the producer of The House Bunny how crazy I was about Cameron Crowe, and so I met him in 2008, and then, which isn't that long ago, cigarette, and then it ended up, you know, so I guess all of those things, sort of. all of those things. It's all kind of fallen. Yeah, but then it ended up being just
18:59 a really, really crazy couple of years. Does the House Bunny seem like an entire lifetime ago? It does and it doesn't. I mean, I think. No, actually, no, not really. It's for any reason. Well, it's funny because it's six years, but it does seem like a different career almost. There's like a different trajectory. In a way, sort of, but it's, I don't know, I don't, I think that movie's awesome. In a way, sort of. But it's, I don't know. But it's of a kind. Do you want to go back and do Goofy soon? Well, I love comedy so much and I appreciate it so much in my own life that I think like I never could, I can't imagine ever not doing comedy or not getting to do that on a semi -regular basis. it just
19:48 makes me the happiest I could possibly be. It's just, it just makes sense. Do you get to be funny in the Cameron movie? Yeah, yes. But it's Cameron kind of funny. You know, his movies are all kind of that amazing mix of all parts. Yeah. So some people have to be the straight man, I guess. Yeah, no, I'm not the straight man. You're not the straight man. And so is it nice that that's actually delayed so you get to like space out these experiences a little bit more than all at the same time? They were talking about coming out this month. You mean when it's coming out? Oh yeah, no, I mean that would be, it would be a pretty whirlwindy if it was coming out right now. So no, it's all happening as it's meant to happen, I'm sure. Again, that's the people that I don't know how it works exactly, when what
20:36 comes out and how. but you're a little you're okay with that yeah you don't need a plan you don't need a you don't But you're a little, you're okay with that? Yeah. You don't need a plan, you don't need a... think about what's happening in 2017 in terms of like release dates your life your career your no I mean I think the the thing that I've that I've learned more this year is that I had a lot of obviously there were a lot of hopes or dreams that I had and those things coming true it it kind of makes you want to keep dreaming more you know and keep thinking kind of makes you want to keep dreaming more you know and keep of the things that will excite you or and I I don't think I knew how much I love challenges until Birdman came along and then and then Cabaret because
21:21 I was scared I was really I was scared it's it's um for for me it's a very very different thing and I didn't know that I was scared to really go there but I was and Alejandro sort of terrified me, and then breaking through it, just, it's been like the most rewarding, it was the most rewarding work I've ever gotten to do. So scared of exposing yourself, or scared of being, failing? I don't think failing, I think being really super, you know, not getting to use humor as a... defense, not that I always use humor as a defense in my life, but I think in terms of
22:10 as an actor, you know, most of my life was, my goal was just to do comedy and be on SNL and, you know, have that, that was, and that still feels incredible to me, but just this other whole world that opened up. Really, when I did Paper Man, which was in 2008, but it wasn't. you know, then I got to do The Help, and it all sort of felt like it was, I don't know, it just, but Birdman really blew it out of the water for me. Now I get to do it every night, which is insane. And do you get stage fright every night, or are you just at peace at this point? No, I don't, I mean, I get nervous when I know that some of my friends are in the audience, but I like knowing that people are there. it feels good to know that people are out there, but no, It feels good to know that people are out there. I think it's just,
23:00 and it really is, and Alejandro and I have talked about it before, it's really the, I learned that you, that feeling of, I don't know, I just, now that's what I, that's what I get off on. It's weird, who knew? So now you create it. It's not weird. Why do I keep saying it's weird? It's not weird. This is what great, great people have been doing bravely for so many years. I've been doing bravely for so many years, I've been watching so many people's performances I've been watching so many people's. for so many years, and they've really, like, opened their chests up. But yeah, you're the first person I've told this to, and I'm telling you this on camera. But I mean, the artist doesn't necessarily, if you think about what you're doing too much, I think it becomes almost dangerous, you have to, like, actually supplement it. Yeah, exactly. And I think that's why comedy was always such a joy for me, because I didn't have to think about it, and getting
23:46 to make people laugh was the most rewarding feeling ever, my whole life and I hadn't I hadn't really life. known what it was like to actually show them you know show them other parts of your heart I guess as a risk of sounding like a complete and total dork well you're such artist where's my helicopter you sound sincere sincerity makes something... I mean it really feels it feels pretty cool No, I mean it. really feels pretty cool. What was the hardest... Were there sections of the movie that were harder than other sections for you? I mean, the hardest parts were honestly coming in... The hardest parts were coming in at the end of a scene and being
24:32 afraid that you were going to ruin the scene for the other actors. But, no, I mean, it changed my definition of hard, I guess. It changed my definition of heart I guess because that's what that's kind of what I've been long -windedly trying to trying to describe in some ways it was you know it's hard to scream at somebody and tell them and obviously I'm not this person and he was not my father but Alejandro is a is a real has a real barometer so we would do it again and again and it was you know it's it can be painful and then it was just pain incredible does it matter which who you're working with I mean there are a lot
25:19 of dyads with your character in the movie or a number of them is it I mean is the Michael experience a different experience in the Edward experience or is it yeah I mean it's it's it is a bit but we are probably just because the relationship with those characters those I mean Michael as an actor, Edward as an actor are very different, but they're both incredible actors, so it's just a different way of, you know, of responding, I guess. Have you ever been in, have you ever been a person to be intimidated by other actors? Yeah. Yeah. But not too much. Usually it feels like you, it just raises the stakes for you and it just,
26:05 you know. there's less places to hide. But yeah, I was, I mean, this summer I worked with Joaquin Phoenix, and I was very intimidated by Joaquin. But Edward and Michael, I don't know if I felt as intimidated, because our relationship was different in the movie. Well, the Edward relationship is kind of closer to what we're used to with you, I think. Yeah, more romantic? A little bit edgier. Oh. But funny, you know, Yeah, more romantic. there was more of that bantry element to it. Right, right, right. And the Michael stuff was all either rage or pain, you know, it was like so, that was the raw. Yeah, I mean, but it does break your heart also because I've loved Michael Keaton for so long just as an actor to, you know, to see
26:52 those things go through him is pretty heartbreaking to watch. But no, I don't know. It was just, I don't know. I don't know that I felt intimidated by them. I felt, you know, bolstered, I guess. So does Joaquin end up bolstering you after you got over the... Joaquin's amazing. He's amazing to work with. I think I just, Joaquin is, I mean, the way he is as an actor, you know, it's just, he's so alive. It's unbelievable. so I was I was going into that I was really really So I was, I was going. intimidated yeah but he no he was incredibly he was wonderful because he is one of the mysterious figures and yeah I think that's the way I felt I didn't
27:39 really know much about him and I had seen his you know him in the master and I was just like I don't I mean how what is this gonna be like and I have no idea what to do. Yeah, no, he was really amazing. Do you still have a chance to watch movies? Are you a movie fan? Oh, yeah. Oh, hell yeah. You want to talk movies? Sure. Bring it on. What's up? Have you gone through your screeners, or you go to the theater and... Do I get screeners? You haven't got any yet? No. There's this great screener Birdman out. That's fantastic. Actually, apparently all the Sony screeners are now out everywhere. They're probably on my helicopter. Yeah, I totally get screeners. Yeah, totally. Were you a member of the Academy? No. Why would I be in the Academy?
28:28 You should be in the Academy. Thank you so much. You've been so supportive. This is a reason. I told you about how I opened up my heart for the first time. Now you think I should be in the Academy. No, I don't have any screeners, but I went and saw, I'll tell you what I've seen this year, Foxcatcher, Interstellar, Theory of Everything, that's it so far. I'll tell you what I've seen this year, Foxcatch. This half of the year, you probably saw something before. Oh yeah, no, I've seen the Lego movie. Which I still can't believe you're not in. Oh, that movie's so good. That song is stuck in my head from nine months ago. It will not stop. Foxcatcher is.
29:18 Literally blew my mind. I cried from 30 minutes into the movie to 30 minutes after the movie ended. I just did not stop crying. And I think that's confusing because most people don't cry that much at Foxcatcher. I cried a lot. So Bennett's the kind of guy you're probably on your list. Yeah. Do you have a list to tick off? Scorsese, Bennett Miller. No, I don't have a list to tick off, but it really, he's, On my list. Scorsese. Bennett is, Bennett, Bennett, like I know him, Bennett Miller, my pal Bennett. He's unbelievable. And all three of those actors are unreal. And Vanessa Redgrave, and everyone in that movie. Yeah. The funny thing about Bennett is he is actually the guy you would like hang
30:03 out with, and, you know, you could sleep on his couch. I could sleep on his couch. If he wanted to. You know, you could sleep on his couch. I could sleep on his couch. If you wanted to. You are saying, I'm going to be in the academy, and I can sleep on Bennett Miller's couch. We're going to make a rage before you. This is fantastic. And you have a helicopter. My day is going great. Yep, I've got my helicopter. I keep looking out to the street, but we've already established it's on the roof. And would you like to do something like Theory of Everything in terms of like a melodrama that's really kind of a classic old style Hollywood? I mean, because it kind of is, yeah? I don't know. I mean, I never... know what type of thing I'd like to do. It's more... I know there are people that I'd really love to work with. Actors and directors and cinematographers. So you've gone crazy
30:50 for DPs. Oh yeah. Big time. And working with Chivo was like... I mean, unbelievable. believable because you understand it now from doing the work I think I understand it more and Because you understand it now from doing the work? I think... I am fascinated by it and I've never been into photography I've never really I'm not a very visual person actually at all it's always been I've always liked to read and write it's always been more word based I guess but cinematography has just it kills me now it's my absolute favorite thing huh yeah so I think you're on Deacon's couch to dinner He comes to come out for dinner. Dickens, get over here. He did The Croods. I did an animated movie called The
31:36 Croods. And he did the kind of like animated, yeah, exactly. And it was just, I mean, shadows. It's so cool to see how he translated that into like an animated world. And I think Peggy and Jules did Cabaret, didn't they? Eisenhower and... Oh, I haven't re -watched the movie. Oh, I haven't rewatched the movie. your show. What do you mean? I think they did the stage show. Who did? Peggy, what's her last name? Jules Eisenhower and Peggy. I don't know. Great Stage. You're asking me this on a phone call? You come in late. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to embarrass them. Were you? No. They do movies too now. Oh, I should know that, and I'm sure they did. They work with both of them a lot. Because the lighting is gorgeous in that show. Yeah. I just haven't been able to sit in the audience and watch it. able to sit in the audience. Did
32:24 you go see the show? I did. Yeah. Yeah, I did. Back in May. It's time to watch the... But yeah, crazy. So you get crib notes from Michelle or did you? No. Did somebody tell you like, did you have conversations about the Sally who's doing it? No, no. You just kind of go off. And how did you actually rehearse the show? I did. It was six days a week. And on Wednesdays, Saturdays, and Sundays, I was by myself, well, not by myself, but with the associate choreographer, and they all have official titles that I don't know, but Jeff and Cynthia and Patrick. You guys know them. I was with Jeff and Cynthia and Patrick. They're with Bennett right now. We would work, exactly. They're sleeping on Bennett's couch. And
33:11 I would rehearse with them, and then on Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, when there weren't matinees, I would rehearse with the other actors. Thursdays and Fridays when there weren't matinees I would rehearse with the other actors mostly Bill Hack who plays Glyph because we have most of our scenes together but not a lot of Alan time I guess no I my first time on stage with Alan was my opening night Wow yeah you didn't have a chance to do anything but when you see the show you'll see Sally and they don't interact they don't interact at all no they they are like two ships passing on Bennett Miller's couch that's the best place within the past I mean and Alejandro's you actually That's the best place for them to pass. And Alejandro's guy, actually it's funny, we spoke to Alejandro's, the guy who did the score for the movie, the drummer, who's amazing. But he loved Alejandro, he knew Alejandro as a DJ. He was a radio DJ. in Mexico, yeah. Which
33:59 makes total sense to me. Huh. Does that make sense to you? It does in a weird way, though. I think he would be an incredible DJ. I can't imagine the cravat at the DJ booth, but... Jay Booth, but... Was he wearing a scarf? He doesn't wear the cravat anymore, does he? He's kind of gotten rid of that. He got rid of the Gonzalez, and now he's gotten rid of the cravat, and... He used to wear the cravat all the time. Does he have the streak in his hair, still? Alejandro? Does he have the streak? He's a blonde streak. Yeah. Well, you know, he's the hippest guy in show business. Love it. He's a scary guy. He's not a scary guy. He is hilarious. He's all about love. He really is. And he just... And what he made here is just... Talk about... I'm one to talk about, like, getting to open up my chest a little bit and have my heart I'm one to talk about, like, getting to open up my chest a little bit and... open. Alejandro just went like, look at everything I've got. Look at everything I struggle with and have at it. It's a
34:48 weird thing because there's pushback from critics sometimes. You're like, how can you push back against this guy itself? Against him being completely honest about what he goes through. And Edward keeps saying, like, Alejandro is every character in the movie, including the two actresses making out. especially especially yeah but it's really not the critic i think that's probably why it felt so um incredibly important to just to just have no bullshit whatsoever was because every part was a part that he could identify with and i think my character was a mixture between certain parts of his heart and his daughter which is really you know no no, no joking matter. Well, one of the fascinating things is
35:33 having a conversation with Alejandro. Joking matter? You could joke about it. But Alejandro was saying how this movie was kind of like the middle movie that he was going to rush and do, and just kind of get it out of the way, and had a short window, and then he's going to do the next movie. But this has become like the epic in a weird way. It's such a short schedule. It was so complicated. Yeah. But it was kind of like the movie that fit into everybody's window. in everybody's window and all of that. I mean that was like the whole thing and yet it's become this I mean, that was like the whole thing. very important piece of art. Yeah. It's pretty spectacular. Yeah. It was kind of the thing that was probably squawking out of him that needed to be made and he was like fine I'll just satiate you by making this quick thing. Well it's a change for him. I mean it's like emotionally I mean it's the most kind of like fun he's ever allowed himself in a movie which is kind of but that's
36:22 what's also glorious about it. Yeah. And it's it's so it's just so authentic. That's what's also glorious about it. Yeah. And it's just so authentic. It's just everything about it is just so, I don't know, truthful. I keep saying truth and authenticity and heart and helicopter. Am I saying it too often? No. These words? He just side -eyes the camera. But somebody made a mistake for Shailene Woodley. You're not careful. Though I saw Shailene recently and she started doing this thing where she's been heart -to -heart hugging that was like part of her oh yeah and then she's but I saw her the day she hugging that was like part of her thing. Oh, yeah. came in for the hug she quite a few times she didn't do heart -to -heart to me this I was like what happened to the heart -to -heart I've been like trying to spread this and she was like nah you know she's over it she's moved on from the heart I'll have to keep it up now because apparently I am now all about talking about the heart it's all
37:10 about telling your truth and making your art make your art you could get a cover now that I'm in the academy I really understand things When I'm in the academy, I really understand things in a different way. When you get the call... The past 20 minutes. When you get the call in January from your lovely publicist who's sitting right over there, you're going to get the call at 5 o 'clock in the morning. That I get to be a member of the academy. That you get to be a member of the academy. Are you going to freak out or are you just going to go, oh, thanks, back to sleep? What, 5 a .m., that I actually get to be a member of the academy? Well, once you're nominated, you're likely to be a member of the academy. Oh, for the love of all that is holy, don't even start with me. You're telling me all of these crazy things. And you're like, by the way, we're not cutting away in this interview. It's just one long streaming thing. I get to sleep on Ben and Miller's cat. You
37:56 are just. You're telling me... That's not real to you yet? It's not what? Real to you yet? When would that ever be real to me? When it happens, I guess it'll be real to you. Oh, boy. I'm all flushed. That's so funny. That's very nice of you to say. Thank you for saying. that. Oh, God. Where's my helicopter? All I want is my helicopter. Notice how I'm not answering? I'm just talking. It's good. I like it. Evasion is a skill set. Evasion is a really great skill set. But Alejandro wouldn't let you get away with it, but I don't have as much hair as he does, so I'm kind of screwed. It's true. You need more hair. It's true. It's sad. You need more of a lion's mane. a fabulous do that's right next time once you're in the
38:43 academy i'll be able A fabulous do. That's right. to afford it i thought i already was well in my head you are okay thank you all the things you are means a lot i have so many things in your head it's disconcerting may they all come real true may they all come true and i'm gonna call you from bennett's couch i really am he has a direct line i don't you didn't know that like the bat phone he just picks it up and i meant that Like the bat phone. He just picks it up and... I met Bennett once for like five minutes. Now if I ever meet him again, he's going to be like, you are a full psychopath. No, that's the thing about Bennett. What is your problem? He's not, he doesn't think that of anybody. He's really like... You know so much about Bennett. No, it's weird. Bennett is like this guy who's like... Bennett doesn't think anyone's a psychopath. No, I think he's thinking of people mostly in this building, but...
39:32 No, he's very... You've seen me fast about people. You've seen me fast. It's the Bennett Miller Show. Yeah. You should rename this show. The Bennett Miller Show. We did the Bennett Miller Show. Bennett is, see that's the thing, Bennett... Really? Very uncomfortable on camera. Really? But otherwise he's lovely. You get him off camera he's a lot happier. On camera he's very Emma Stone. Hey, thanks. You're not going to be an adjective. That means uncomfortable on camera. Good. This is going great. Thank you so much. We learned a lot today. I feel so vulnerable.
40:19 All right. What did we talk about? Everything. What did I say? That was a wide -ranging interview.
