Judd Apatow chats to us about The Big Sick, directing, stand-up comics and bad interviews…
Heading into UK cinemas this week,The Big Sickis a reinvigorating romantic comedy.
A breath of fresh air, its the sort of film regular cinema goers need.
It was, unsurprisingly, produced by Judd Apatow.
Thats all in addition to Apatows work writing and directing his own films.
It wasThe 40 Year Old Virginthat made Apatow a household name back in 2005.
It was a smash hit, grossing over $150m.
More than that, it was really, really funny.
Two years laterKnocked Upwould prove just as successful and funny.
ofThis Is 40struck a chord with this writer in particular).
Apatow would strike box office gold again with 2015s brilliantly funnyTrainwreck.
We were lucky enough to score some time with the ludicrously busy Judd Apatow to talk aboutThe Big Sick.
Heres how we got on.
I met Kumail when I was a guest on Pete Holmes podcast, which is calledYou Made It Weird.
He would do a live podcast at the South By South West film festival in Austin.
And I remember the day because it was the day that we first showedGirlspublicly.
That was, you know, six years ago.
He and Emily started working on the draft and they worked on the script for like three years.
No, we talked about it.
We sat in rooms for many, many hours, talking about how the structure might work.
It was their first attempt at writing a screenplay of any kind.
Is it difficult to balance that many creative voices without complicating the filmmaking process?
Well I think it is a delicate thing to do.
Its a lot like being a record producer.
I assume its similar to Rick Rubin going into the studio with Kanye West.
And you know that the whole thing could fall apart if you push any idea too hard.
Youre listening to them and youre constantly saying are you happy with this?
Are we moving in a direction that you feel this is getting stronger?
I never, ever force anyone to do anything that they are not super excited about.
I certainly will argue and debate them and explain why I think certain directions might be helpful.
Because if you told me to do something, Id look at your record and Id probably do it.
Well, some people are very comfortable collaborating and some people are not.
laughter
Thats happened more than a few times.
Some people want to engage and other people have a lot of problem with that.
And I have total respect for both types of people.
In a lot of ways you could say the tone is like Barry Levinsons movieDiner.
We also like each other, we have a great time and we respect each other.
I think that these relationships are a disaster when the people dont respect each other.
It depends on the project.
We got lucky but I know a lot of people who had a much different experience.
You have an amazing cast in this film.
In particular I was surprised by how much I enjoyed Ray Romano.
How did he come to be involved in this film?
I know youve worked with him previously.
In 1992 I was on theHBO Young Comedians Specialwith Ray, that was when we were both starting out.
Ive known him a long time.
He was in a movie I made calledFunny Peopleand had a really funny sequence with Eminem.
We wanted you to believe that this couple had a daughter in a coma.
We also wanted it to be hilarious at times.
This is the second film youve done about stand-up comedy.
Did you have any reluctance over that given that you madeFunny Peoplepreviously?
No, I like stand-up comedians.
I think that theyre a unique breed of people.
So Im all for multiple projects about stand-up comedy.
I have a television show in the United States that stars Pete Holmes which is calledCrashing.
Its not the Phoebe Waller-Bridge version.
Im endlessly fascinated by comics.
Do you not think maybe youd like to put your own idea first?
I try not to think of it as a different part of what I do.
Im just trying to create things that make people happy and think a little bit.
It doesnt have to be all about me.
I had a movie and it fell apart.
So Im doing a lot of documentary work.
So I know you did a book interviewing comedians.
Does it change your perspective on sitting down in situations like this, having to do interviews?
(the sweats ease off but maybe he was just being polite?
I dont know why I asked a question about interviewing.
I made myself hyper self-conscious.
Thats what I just did to you on purpose.
I just took you down.
I was genuinely terrified.
I immediately regretted doing it.
What is your favourite Jason Statham film?
I dont think I have a massive amount of Jason Statham knowledge.
But I certainly enjoyed him in Paul Feigs filmSpy.
He was terrific in it.
I thought the action in that movie was great and I thought he was hilarious.
Which is rare, someone who can kick your ass who is also funny.
Judd Apatow, thank you very much.
The Big Sickis out in UK cinemas 28th July 2017.
