Den of Geek: I was actually surprised the movie didnt premiere earlier at Sundance or SXSW.
Had you missed the deadline?
Is there a movie here?
and I kept saying, I just know it can be better.
In my head, I was just trying to fix it.
It seems like you might hit your stride, and youve acquired some style moves or something.
Okay, this is how I work.
Got it, because its so mysterious, this first time, for sure, just timing and tone.
Thats even with doing the TV show for so long?
You never directed the show but you must have been fairly involved…
In TV, its funny, but executive producer in TV means something so different than in film.
I never knew that, and I had all this control on my show without directing it.
Id say, Can you get this shot?
Executive producer on a movie is usually a rich guy who gives you the money to make the movie.
They might not even know anything about making movies.
You might not even meet them until the premiere, its weird!
What got you down this road?
Im the oldest of three kids and my life is very different from the way I portrayed here.
So theres an emotional resonance here rather than chess pieces Im moving through a plot.
Another thing you changed was having it be Deans mother that dies rather than a father.
Was that also done to put more distance from yourself?
I thought there was a cool father-son parallel thing there.
I tried to be there when my Mom wanted to talk about it, but I had no answers.
Shed just be like, I miss your father.
Maybe 10 years later.
Theres no at least.
Well, at least you guys had a great relationship.
Okay, that kind of made it hurt even more in a sense.
I found that I had to.
It felt like some of it was challenging.
Oh, my God!
Have you had that?
Have people done bits?
I guess when theyre doing junkets where they have to entertain back-to-back journalists on-camera.
You feel they have one or two stock funny answers they use for everyone.
It gravitates to that, and then if its one of those straight-up comedies.
Its like Heres the funny shit that happened on the set, and then its at every outlet.
Right, it makes you think about your own movie.
It does, it does.
As a comic, I get feedback, but its different.
Its a group of people.
You already answered the toughest question I had.
Yeah, yeah, I got him.
I was lucky, because he responded to the script.
I talked to her a lot about this.
I read scenes to her, and say, What did you think?
Hes a physical, comedic actor when you think ofA Fish Called WandaandFrench Kiss.
A lot of his roles, theres a choreography to them.
What I liked particularly was the vulnerability and the pathos, the humanity.
He responded to the script.
It wasnt like we met and he said, I want to be in your movie.
We talked about it, I told him what I was thinking.
The budget was small, it was like under a million bucks.
Its not a big movie, its a 20-day shoot.
I want to collaborate with you here.
I know, its true.
I think hes so smart that way.
I think hes selective.
What about Gillian Jacobs?
I was like, Oh, thats interesting.
There were two parts where I was thinking, I really want to get someone to be vulnerable.
Its just a small indie, and I havent written roles for women before…
So I was like, How do I find someone whos up for that?
I loveAnnie Hall, but thats from a different time.
I dont know if you makeAnnie Halltoday, if itsAnnie Hall.
Its different these days.
I can definitely see a bit ofAnnie Hallinfluence in this.
I think theres a little bit there, sure.
Im certainly a big Woody Allen fan.
Albert Brooks, I love, Hal Ashby, like for the movie, say.
This is a great transition into my next question, because I wanted to ask about the music.
It just all sounded the same.
I cant do much music.
Most of them are from the same album, his only solo album from 1971 called Into Your Ears.
Youve got one musical voice thats kind of carrying you along.
Then I was like, How am I going to get this music?
Hes in the UK, still alive.
Hes an English guy.
And the production value is so good.
It sounds garage-y, but youd think someone made his stuff in 2010.
Did you do any specific drawings for the movie?
Yeah, about half of them actually.
Are you going to collect those in a book?
Yeah, in fact in the fall, I convinced my publisher to do a book because of that.
And I draw all the time anyway, so I have almost a couple 100.
I asked, Can I do a book?
And they said, Yes, and itll be out in September.
Its called, If Its Not Funny, Its Art.
Maybe they just liked the way you were normally.
I want that scientist to look and sound just like Demetri Martin.
Yeah, thats kind of funny.
It gives you extra appreciation for people who you think are great.
I liked painting as a fan.
I used to go to museums when I was younger.
For music, Ive had the same experience.
Playing guitar has given me even greater appreciation for like a Jimi Hendrix.
I like being a comedian.
Thats not in the cards for me.
By the way, Kate Winslet is in fact very funny.
If she really wanted to, she probably could be a killer stand-up as well.
Its true.Eternal Sunshineis one of my all-time favorites, actually.
But even when you meet her, shes really sharp and can crack really funny jokes.
I had that experience watching the Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds documentary [Bright Lights].
Carrie Fisher is so funny in that documentary.
Ang told me a couple great things.
Thats kind of true, but heres the thing.
I need you to get to that place, because I cant protect you.
The camera just reports; it doesnt care.
If Im in tight on your face, its going to report everything youre doing.
Some of those days, youd see him… it was cool.
Hed look through the lens, and hes got his composition.
Normally, youd think hed want to get the acting first to capture the performances…
Right, but hes this technician, you know?
At least on that movie, so youre like, Wow.
Its stuff you couldnt really learn necessarily from a book.
Just being there is such a lucky thing.
Any idea what you want to do next?
Have you started thinking about making another movie?
Once Im done doing press, I can finish it up and give it to them.
I hope that goes.
It would be a comedy.
I dont think it would be quite as heavy.
Im trying to make believe that Im going to do a bunch of these, but Im cautiously optimistic.
Deanopens in select cities on Friday, June 2.
