Snatched Director Jonathan Levine On The Amy Schumer-Goldie Hawn Comedy – LRM Online (press release) (blog)

LRM: Thats kind of a romantic movie...

Jonathan Levine: Yeah, and I think even though Nick (Hoult) is a protagonist, you really see it through Teresa (Palmers) eyes. That was a little bit different, but I think after The Night Before, which was exceptionally male-driven, and so much based on the dynamic I had with friends growing up and stuff like that, it was very interesting to break myself out of that. There were a lot of things. On that movie, I would look around and other than the love interest, I was surrounded by men. If youve ever talked to those guys then you know theyre very progressive, sophisticated people. Its not like a frat house, but if youre looking around and everyone had the same perspective as you, then that gets a little boring.I think as a storyteller, that gets a little boring, so in this movie, I was surrounded completely by women. I was the only guy, and so it was my job not just to collaborate with them, but to also kind of channel their story, and their point of view. It allows you to both gain perspective and empathy, not just for Moms and daughters, but for women, too.

LRM: I would think working with Amy and Goldie, theyd be quite a force...

Jonathan Levine: Well, when they ganged up on me it wasnt cool. (laughs)

LRM: I think theyd be a force on their own but when you put them together, theyd be quite intimidating and tough to say, No, this would be funnier, because I think theyd already know what would be funnier.

Jonathan Levine: Yeah, thats true, and the thing is that the way I do it is, Lets do it your way, and lets do it my way, and lets just see... What ends up happening is half the time when I say, Lets do it your way, I come up to her and say, Yeah, youre right. Your way is better, and half the time I say, Lets do it my way, Amy or Goldie will come up to me and say, Yeah, that way is better.I think when you have actors who make their own content, too. Like I said, Goldie was a producer and shes got a very high storytelling IQ, and Amy has her own show, and wrote Trainwreck, so its like a collaboration. Its not the normal actor/director thing, because I do respect their opinion as macro-storytellers so I cant just ignore it. Even though sometimes you want to, because you have a certain amount of time to get something, and if you have a certain perspective on it, you think youre right, and you just dont want to waste your time on someone elses perspective. At the same time, what I found early on is that I found enough times that I was wrong. There was enough times where I didnt think something was going to be funny, and Amy insisted on doing it, and was right, so that I let my guard down and just let the process evolve. Its rarely this dictatorial thing with me. Its always a conversation. Yeah, they had opinions all the time, and I was happy to have those opinions most of the time.

LRM: I think filmmaking is becoming more collaborative now. There used to be a day where youd have some director with a bullhorn yelling at everyone. Its a little different now. The movies which have worked are the ones where everyone is collaborating, and on the same page.

Jonathan Levine: Especially comedy. I dont know if P.T. Anderson does it like that, and there are movies where I dont do it like that, too.

LRM: How was it casting some of the people around them, including Wanda Sykes and Joan Cusack? I didnt even know that was Joan Cusack.

Jonathan Levine: We have a great casting director, who Ive worked with, Francine Mazler (SP?) who is just amazing? It was awesome to be able to cast funny women, too, and Wanda and Joan...Amy had worked with Wanda on Last Comic Standing or they were together on... you know like American Idol has the expert...I think they both did that together. Amy and Wanda were tight, and I loved Wanda, and then Joan, we just offered it to her. We were like, Youre going to think this is crazy, but do you want to play someone who doesnt talk? She thought it was funny, and then Ike (Barinholtz) is just someone I wanted to work with for so long, and then (Chris) Meloni, hes so funny. The only thing I know him from is Wet Hot American Summer, but hes just great, and he is so, so funny. It reminded me of Michael Shannon, someone who can just like say any kind of line and can give it added humor just by playing it straight, and hes great.

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Snatched Director Jonathan Levine On The Amy Schumer-Goldie Hawn Comedy - LRM Online (press release) (blog)

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