Was this the first time you got to see the movie?
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Mary Elizabeth Winstead:The finished film?
We all saw a rough cut a while ago, which was still the essence of the movie.
Im like Wow, this is like a real movie!
[Laughs]
MEW:It makes a real difference.
KN:It really does!
Sometimes while I was watching it, Im like, I dont know.
Why is there a boom in this shot?
How does it feel to watch it, particularly with your words being said?
Just seeing him last night is pretty cool.
It was really cool.
Usually the screenwriter isnt on the set.
They dontwantthem on the set.
Was that daunting at all?
MEW:To be around the writer?
KN:I was like dont fuck up your lines.
[Laughs]
MEW:She really would say that likeeveryday!
It was kind of the most collaborative set Ive ever been on.
But we were all able to come together.
Nobody was too precious about anything.
Should we do it another way?
KN:It was such a loving atmosphere.
Chris wanted me to totally put on the actor hat.
[Laughs] Lets just do our own version of this!
Chris would say, Okay, so do it like this.
So, it was very collaborative, and we did a lot of improv, which I love.
It was great, and that is all a testament to Chris, really.
KN:Yeah, probably.
Im writing a thing right now where Im playing the female version of Eminem and Im a bounty hunter.
Who the hell is going to cast me as that?
[Laughs] Ive got cornrows and tats.
Everyone wants to cast women in these boring roles.
MEW:Where have you been?
KN:Where have you been all day?!
Were Derek and Mary your ideas for the roles?
Or did your idea change after they got cast?
We were like well just make Alex younger.
Were just kind of like, You know what?
He was older, and they got together, and whatever.
And I am old enough to have a 10-year-old son.
I think the reason the movie came out so well is because everything kind of happened organically.
And Ive always been a fan of both of their work.
That would be hot.
[Laughs]
Derek Luke:Really?
I didnt know that!
KN: I will show you.
I think I still have the photo on my phone.
And Chris is like hes really good!
Im like, Yeah, hello?
MEW:No, I remember you telling me that.
KN: Youre here because of me, basically.
[Laughs]
DL: Thank you!
Im just happy to be in the movie.
And what drew you to the role?
DL:Chris was interested in Frank being multi-dimensional; it was written that way.
And Ive had a great journey with actor-directors [like] Peter Berg and Denzel Washington.
I just love their language.
So, when I met with Chris, he was like, Were going to find [him.]
When you hear someone say that, it means youre not the only one searching for gems and jewels.
Were all searching for it, so it made it very comfortable.
Thats not normally your prep space.
So, you just want someone not to hire you based on the past, but the now.
How was Chris as a director for all of you guys?
MEW:Hes wonderful.
Like Derek was saying, just getting to work with an actor-director was so great.
He knows exactly how to express that, because hes an actor.
So, it cuts out any sort of communication issues.
Hes like now do it this way, now do it this way, now do it this way.
KN:He was like an actors playground.
Most directors are like can you just do this scene faster?
MEW:Yeah, louder, faster, quiet.
KN:Or you missed your mark.
He would be like what if we did it like this?
And he just let the camera roll.
MEW:It was really fun.
I loved when hed shoot from behind the camera.
After a while hed just start to shout, Say this!
Give her a hug!
[Laughs]
KN:Or hed be like, What are you doing Kate?
!in a funny voice.
And it would like work!
Mary, Chris said at the premiere that you did the ecstasy scene so much that you threw up.
Could you talk about the process of that scene?
MEW:Wellit was a mix of things that happened.
The first thing that happened was that was the day they had an ice cream truck on set.
Ice cream sandwiches literally this big [gestures large sandwich].
And I had two of them.
I dont know why, but that night I decided to havetwogiant ice cream sandwiches.
And then
KN:I had tequila on set.
MEW:Katie was drinking tequila.
KN:I was making mixed drinks.
And then I didnt really realize, the way that Chris shoots, that it was going to becrazy.
Keep jumping everybody!It was just half an hour of jumping.
Your body was dripping with sweat.
MEW:I was so sweaty and disgusting.
[Laughs]
KN:Just like every ounce of you had been taken.
You have a great a quality of mixing comedic elements with dramatic moments.
I saw it inSmashedand I see it in this film.
Is that hard to balance or does it come out naturally?
MEW:Thank you so much.
I think when I was younger, I thought that wasnt really acting.
No, I have to create like this mysterious person who is totally different from me!
Thats the only way Ill be a real actor!
As Ive gotten older, I realized that its the opposite.
Thats what people want to see.
They want to see you.
So, I finally kind of realized that and I just make a run at bring myself to it.
Im just thankful people like Chriswhen I watch it, Im like I do so many weird things!
But thankfully, someone appreciates it.
There are so many faces I make where Im like I have no idea why Im doing that.
This movie is about upheaval and transitions, and reflecting on that.
Why do you think Alex began her affair with Frank?
MEW:So, I dont think she sees it as messing up her work life.
Do you [both] have sisters?
KN:We both have sisters, yeah.
you’ve got the option to be real with your sister.
No one knows you like family, scarily enough.
MEW:But that sort of feeling and mood was so spot on.
After we finished it, I was just so happy, I felt like we were really drinking wine.
It was fake wine, but were both like is this real wine?
because we felt drunk and giddy.
It seems kind of dated.
And Chris was like its my favorite scene in the movie.
So, it was fun.
MEW:I loved it.
KN:Yeah, it was worth it.
Did you envision Don Johnson in that role?
KN:That was all Chris, really.
He asked, What do you guys think about Don Johnson for the dad?
I thought Oh, thats brilliant.
We never see him falling apart.
He always plays the slick, pulled together, handsome guy.
I think he really rose to the occasion.
Its really a heartbreaking performance.
And he was so great to work with.
You never know what to expect from someone whos an icon, and he was just really great.
He really focuses and does the work.
And even when hes not working, hes in acting classes and workshops.
Hes a really committed actor.
Thank you so much for doing this.
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