Last week I was delighted to interview director Michael Paul Stephenson (Best Worst Movie, The American Scream) about his latest project the Netflix Original Girlfriend's Day. The film opened last week on Valentine's Day, and the day before I was very lucky to moderate an Austin screening of the film at the Alamo Drafthouse with Stephenson in attendance and Bob Odenkirk joining via Skype. We begin our chat by recapping the night before where Odenkirk was projected on the big screen behind us, and we also joking about Stephenson's apparent over indulgence of Austin's notoriously terrific BBQ. I hope you enjoy our talk!
Annette Kellerman: Hey Michael!
Michael Paul Stephenson: That was fun last night. I know that technology thing is a little awkward, but I appreciate everything last night. That was a lot of fun.
AK: Yeah, I thought it worked out well. I was just never clear if he could see us at all, so that was a little bit awkward.
MPS: Yeah! (laughing)
AK: But other than that I thought it worked out really well, so thank you for being there. I really appreciate it.
MPS: Of course! Well, I just got done eating a plate full of meat, so hopefully I won't doze off.
AK: Good ol' Texas BBQ. That's called a meat coma.
MPS: Yes!
AK: Well, I'd better get right to it then! How did you become involved in Girlfriend's Day?
MPS: I should apologize in advance if I ramble. My wife says I can't write a short email or have a short conversation.
AK: I've been accused of that a few times...
MPS: So I'll try to be as succinct as possible. So five years ago, I was actually editing, finishing my last documentary The American Scream. My wife and I were sitting around and we were talking about, like, "Let's make a list of dreams and goals and people you'd want to work with." We were having a conversation about comedic actors, or actors who were primarily known in comedic spaces that were starting to become more known in a dramatic way. And at this time Breaking Bad was in season 2, season 3- of course before Better Call Saul. Both my wife and I had been big fans of Mr. Show. I had been a big fan of Bob for a long time, and we were making this list and the first person on that list I wrote down was Bob Odenkirk. I want to work with this guy. And I know it sounds dumb and really silly and something you do when you dream. Like, "I'm gonna do this and it's gonna come true!" And then a few weeks after that, maybe a month, I was reading an interview with Bob in AV Club and in that interview he mentions his love and appreciation for my first film Best Worst Movie. And that was one of those moments where I go, "Wow. This is unbelievable." So I reached out to the writer of that article, and he connected me with Bob's manager. I invited him and his family to the L.A. premiere of The American Scream, and they actually came! And it turns out that Bob's son is a big Troll 2 fan. And that night they were there when the theater was empty and he asked if I had ever thought about doing a narrative. He started to tell me a little bit about it, not too much. And then a few weeks after that he emailed me, and I'll never forget the email because it basically said, "Dear Michael. Here's this thing I've been working on for far too long. I hope one day that I get the chance to make it. I really want to, but I doubt that I'll ever get that chance." And attached was the script.
AK: I've been accused of that a few times...
MPS: So I'll try to be as succinct as possible. So five years ago, I was actually editing, finishing my last documentary The American Scream. My wife and I were sitting around and we were talking about, like, "Let's make a list of dreams and goals and people you'd want to work with." We were having a conversation about comedic actors, or actors who were primarily known in comedic spaces that were starting to become more known in a dramatic way. And at this time Breaking Bad was in season 2, season 3- of course before Better Call Saul. Both my wife and I had been big fans of Mr. Show. I had been a big fan of Bob for a long time, and we were making this list and the first person on that list I wrote down was Bob Odenkirk. I want to work with this guy. And I know it sounds dumb and really silly and something you do when you dream. Like, "I'm gonna do this and it's gonna come true!" And then a few weeks after that, maybe a month, I was reading an interview with Bob in AV Club and in that interview he mentions his love and appreciation for my first film Best Worst Movie. And that was one of those moments where I go, "Wow. This is unbelievable." So I reached out to the writer of that article, and he connected me with Bob's manager. I invited him and his family to the L.A. premiere of The American Scream, and they actually came! And it turns out that Bob's son is a big Troll 2 fan. And that night they were there when the theater was empty and he asked if I had ever thought about doing a narrative. He started to tell me a little bit about it, not too much. And then a few weeks after that he emailed me, and I'll never forget the email because it basically said, "Dear Michael. Here's this thing I've been working on for far too long. I hope one day that I get the chance to make it. I really want to, but I doubt that I'll ever get that chance." And attached was the script.
AK: That is the best story!
MPS: It's pretty wild.
AK: It's like you put it out there, and the universe heard you.
MPS: Doesn't that sound ridiculous? That should not be how it works.
AK: I know! And I love it. It's so cool. So I picked up on a few influences. Are there any specific films that inspired you or you drew from?
MPS: Bob is a huge fan of Chinatown, and he has said that this is his own version of Chinatown, and there are so many specific nods to that movie. But for me, I was looking for a film that played ridiculous comedy in ways that is straight. And I hate to even say this movie because its such a touchstone, but I looked at the movie Being There, and how absurd that premise is. I'm a huge fan of Ashby, but that comedy, that world built up- obviously a world much grander- but played so straight. It's one of my favorite films, and definitely one I looked to. I think Bob's first season of Saul, or maybe the second season, I sent him the book. I think it's "Still Being There" or "Being Hal Ashby". It's Ashby's autobiography. So we talked about that movie. And then Coen Brothers is an obvious touchstone in ways. I hate saying these because its like sacred, but the thing about the Coen Brothers is the elevation of these larger than life characters. Lebowski, Fargo, Blood Simple.
AK: How was it working with this crazy cast. I mean, were you at all intimidated by, like, Stacy Keach?
MPS: Oh, of course! Look, the thing that was great with the cast, when I got involved Bob was like, "I'm thinking about Amber (Tamblyn) for this role," and there were other ideas for other different roles, but Bob was so supportive. And this shows you the type of person he is- he would tell me I should "meet with him or make sure that she is right." He'd say, "This needs to be yours and I don't want to just fill it with friends because they're friends." And we talked about that, about getting the best people. And we talked about getting a cast that was fun and comedic, but could also play this comedy really straight. One of the benefits of thinking about a movie over four years- that in your head exists, but you get a feeling that it may never exist because it's not made yet, it's all hypothetical.- is that you have a lot of time to marinate and talk ideas and dream. It's like, "what if we get this person, or that person." Stacy Keach was Bob's idea. We were in a parking garage, and we had a couple other folks we were talking about, and Bob was like, "What if we got Stacy Keach for this role." And that's when I was like, "whoa!' In my head I'm like thinking there's no fucking way we're gonna get Stacy Keach?! No! That would be crazy! And then we have a scene with David Lynch. It's one of the real gifts that you get when you're working with somebody who has an esteemed track record of putting together stuff that's personal to him. And then you have Larry Fassenden who played Taft- I've been a fan of his for so long and I think he's so great and so interesting as a great character actor. And then David Sullivan- he did a movie called PRIMER.
AK: I love PRIMER! So brilliant.
MPS: Yes! And Toby Huss. I mean, it was fun because we were able to build as much eclectic-ness in the cast as there was in the story and as much surprise with these people as there was in this world.
AK: That's a great point.
MPS: And it is intimidating. The first thing is- there's a lot of characters in this movie, number one. This isn't a movie where there's only three characters and four locations and we have to build some sort of world and all that sort of thing. My favorite thing about this movie is that you're still meeting new characters 36 minutes in.
AK: Straight into the third act basically. Can you talk about your experience working with Netflix? I mean is it a relief to have built-in distribution? How was the whole process different?
MPS: Again, another gift. When I first read the script, I turned to my wife and said, "This would be so great as a Netflix film." And this was five years ago remember.
AK: I'm gonna start having you put all my stuff out in the universe I think! I think I'll just have you say all my things and then they'll come true.
MPS: (laughing) I know it's ridiculous. I think the only reason why I thought of Netflix was because they had been supportive of my small, weirder, offbeat docs. So I thought maybe this would be a thing that they'd like too. But I came to find out that Bob had sent it to Ted Sarandos years before on a day that Ted was having a very bad day, and he called Bob and said that it really made him smile. And this was before I came on, and before Better Call Saul and Breaking Bad. It just so happened that we started the conversation with Netflix about what this thing would eventually become right around the time Bob was having this window in his career and was being seen as a dramatic actor with Nebraska and Better Call Saul. And Netflix at the same time decided they were going to start making their own things, and they started with comedy. So there was this weird confluence of things going on that really gave it steam. And then being able to work with a partner like Netflix, you cannot imagine a better relationship. There is not one person who I've talked to in the industry that has not had a positive experience with Netflix.
AK: That's what I've heard.
MPS: They're really supportive and they can offer things that are unique just because they can and they're not beholden to justifying the existence of something based on box office or advertising. It's like they can make whatever they want to make and they realize that there is a place for something different than the 4 to 5 movies that are in the multiplex in middle America. So, yes, to be able to make this and have total support, feel nothing but their creative spirit, and then to be guaranteed and audience? That's a whole other thing. It's like the independent film maker route...you're like hopefully we can get this made. And then after we get it made hopefully we can get it into a festival, and then hopefully we get it sold. But it doesn't really mean sold today. It means we have a distributor to try and find an audience. You never know.
AK: Right. It's a really cool new and exciting model for the way films can be made and distributed all in house. Having a collaborator from beginning to end almost like old school studios in a way, but with new technology. It's such a win win, and I just wanted to hear your thoughts on that before I have to go. Speaking of which, I know I am just a bit past time's up, so sadly I need to end our talk here. Thank you so much for chatting with me today about Girlfriend's Day.
MPS: I could talk about all this forever as well, and I appreciate all the thoughtfulness and support. Thank you so much.
And that ends my interview with director Michael Paul Stephenson. He is such a super nice guy and talented director- I wish I had time to ask what he is up to next because I am really looking forward to whatever that something is based on his current winning streak. Girlfriend's Day is currently streaming on Netflix and is a quick watch with a 65 minute running time, so check it out as soon as you can. Thanks so much for reading.
Rebecca Elliott
aka Annette Kellerman
