Summary
Written by a model from the transcript; not yet reviewed.
Dave Franco returns to discuss his latest film, Macon Blair's dark comedy Idiots, alongside reflections on his career, collaborating with his wife Alison Brie, and his reputation for playing memorable supporting roles. The conversation explores the challenges of changing a film's title from its original name, the realities of cat ownership versus dog ownership, and funny anecdotes from sets like The Rental and Six Underground. Franco also shares insights into working with ensemble casts in franchises like Now You See Me and reflects on memorable audition stories and career milestones.
- When facing studio title changes for independent films, filmmakers sometimes have to compromise provocative titles to ensure broader billboard and promotional reach. 6:13
- Acting in a variety of challenging villainous roles allows performers to expand their range and surprise audiences who might typecast them based on early work. 20:11
- Producing projects you act in can give you valuable creative control over the editing process and help ensure your best performances reach the screen. 51:29
- Building long-term trust with directors from early projects often leads to recurring collaborations across multiple film and television franchises. 33:37
Chapters
- 0:25Podcast Intro and Guest Announcement
Hosts introduce the episode, remind listeners of upcoming events, and welcome Dave Franco for his fourth appearance.
- 1:41Dave Franco’s New Film "Idiots" Overview
The hosts discuss Franco’s latest feature, its cast, genre, and release details, setting the stage for deeper conversation.
- 4:46Character Insight: Franco’s Role in "Idiots"
Franco delves into his character’s arc, motivations, and the actor’s approach to portraying a flawed, darkly comedic protagonist.
- 5:22The Title Battle: From "Shitheads" to "Idiots"
Franco explains the decade-long struggle to keep the original title, the challenges with distributors, and the eventual shift to a more marketable name.
- 16:55Behind the Scenes: Production and Casting Stories
The conversation covers early collaborations with Macon Blair, casting choices, and the evolution of the film’s production over ten years.
- 26:29Closing Remarks and Listener Takeaways
The hosts wrap up the episode, tease future content, and encourage listeners to engage with the podcast community.
- 28:49Franco’s Career Reflections and Future Projects
Franco reflects on past roles, the impact of his "piss boy" moment, and upcoming projects including a DreamWorks animated film and a potential sequel to "Now You See Me."
- 41:18Animated Venture: "Forgotten Island" Pitch
Franco outlines the plot, cultural significance, and his involvement in the DreamWorks animated feature set to release soon.
- 44:27Intro & Theater Announcement
Hosts introduce the episode and announce an upcoming theater screening of "The Rental".
- 45:02Stunt Driving in Florence
Guest recounts the adrenaline‑filled stunt driving scenes shot on the streets of Florence.
- 45:46Horror Film Successes
Discussion of recent horror hits "Obsession" and "Backrooms" and their impact on the genre.
- 46:48Future Directing Plans
Guest explains his desire to return to horror and the challenges of directing a new project.
Highlights
- 0:00
Card Throwing Skillsinsight
The guest reveals he became proficient enough at throwing cards across three movies that he can actually cut a banana in half.
- 5:38
Dave Franco explains how the movie originally titled The Shitheads had to change its name for distribution purposes so it could be promoted on billboards and public spaces.
- 10:57
Cats Versus Dogs Debatedebate
The guest passionately defends cat ownership over dogs, highlighting convenience and affection while poking fun at picking up pet waste.
- 20:11
Overcoming Typecastinginsight
Discussing his early career, the guest talks about playing many douchebag roles and realizing audiences assumed that was his real personality off screen.
- 22:29
Cinematic Traumainsight
The guest and host share a humorous yet disturbing discussion about Lars von Trier's Antichrist and the most shocking moments in film history.
- 28:57
Superbad Legacystory
The guest reflects on his minor role in Superbad and how people still occasionally approach him on the street referencing the famous bathroom scene.
- 50:55
Early Career Advicestory
The guest shares a piece of advice he received from Catherine Keener early in his career when he was struggling and overly self-critical: if you are not having fun, why do it?
- 52:17
Collecting Jean Jacketsinsight
In a lighter moment near the end of the interview, the guest admits to collecting vintage jean jackets much to the dismay of his wife.
Quotes
“I can cut a banana in half with a throwing card.”
Unnamed speaker · 0:03 “I have the rest of the movie now to like, help the audience understand who this guy is, where he's coming from, what his vulnerabilities are, and hopefully by the end, you know, you might sympathize a little with him.”
Unnamed speaker · 4:55 “I was gonna call you out on this. Yeah, go on.”
Unnamed speaker · 10:22 “And I did two days of stunt driving training. And I, you know, it was really fun.”
Unnamed speaker · 45:02 “then like Obsession, like, I, I, I fucking get it, man. This is just like a really sticky concept.”
Unnamed speaker · 46:14 “Stephen King gave a, tweeted a very, very nice thing about the movie. And it's like, hey, this is the horror king.”
Unnamed speaker · 48:39 “And he was like, you should talk with Catherine Keener, who I just worked with.”
Unnamed speaker · 50:30 “And that really stuck with me. And it just allowed me just to kind of open up and be more free.”
Unnamed speaker · 50:58
Sponsored segments
- patreon 0:48–1:16
About this episode
Dave Franco is back for a fourth round! This time, Dave and Josh get into a cat fight. Literally. Before things get physical, they catch up on Dave’s new movie, IDIOTS, how he wants to return for the 21 JUMP STREET sequel, getting magician cred via the NOW YOU SEE ME films, coming back to play himself for Season 2 of THE STUDIO, why he thinks cats are better than dogs, and more! SUPPORT THE SHOW BY SUPPORTING OUR SPONSORS! Rula -- Rula patients typically pay $15 per session when using insurance. Connect with quality therapists and mental health experts who specialize in you at https://www.rula.com/happy #rulapod Quince -- Go to Quince.com/HAPPYSAD for free shipping and 365-day returns. Limited Time Offer–Get Huel today with my exclusive offer of 15% OFF online with my code happy15 at http://huel.com/happy15. New Customers Only. Thank you to Huel for partnering and supporting our show! UPCOMING EVENT! 10/13 -- Joe Manganiello in NY -- Tickets here: https://www.92ny.org/event/joe-manganiello-with-josh-horowitz-bloodlines Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Transcript
11,368 words · 8 speakers
Speaker names marked are inferred from speaking time and the show’s known hosts — they are not voice-verified.
Topics
- Quibi
- Antichrist
- DreamWorks
- IFC
- The Rental
- Now You See Me
- Florence
- The Tudors
- Vulgar History
- Vidiotz
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