.png)
If there’s one thing I’ve learned from Ferris Bueller, it’s that life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.
It’s a lesson that’s stuck with me since I first watched the movie in second grade, burned in the file cabinets of my memory right next to Ferris’ impromptu dance parade through the streets of Chicago to “Twist and Shout.” So when I received the opportunity to see Ferris himself, I knew I didn’t want to miss it.
On June 15, Tribeca Festival welcomed kings of comedy, Judd Apatow and Matthew Broderick, as a part of their Storytellers Series for Tribeca Talks at the OKX Theater at BMCC. The two talked about their families, George Carlin, and The Cable Guy.
“We’ve been supporters of this Tribeca Festival since it started,” noted one cheerfully pleasant woman sitting next to me. “I’ve seen Matthew in theaters, Ferris Bueller when it came out.” Her husband added, “He’s [Judd] one of the few directors I’ve seen in the last 20 years that can make me gutturally laugh.” As for Tribeca’s impact, he was quick to speak on the festival’s true impact beyond the world of cinema. “We were in New York and it was right after 9/11… It was a diversion from the black cloud that was hanging over New York at the time.” The couple’s friends went on to praise Apatow for his work. “He’s my age, so he gets the humor of the stuff that comes with this time in our lives.”
As for me, I can’t yet relate to Knocked Up or The 40-Year-Old Virgin, but funny is funny. When Apatow and Broderick finally walked in, the crowd consisting of an overwhelming amount of Facebook moms and golf dads, went wild.
“I used to hate interviewers,” opened Broderick, silencing the crowd. “But I think I’m gonna have more respect for them after this.”
Photo courtesy of Roy Rochlin for Getty Images.
“The hardest scene never makes the cut.”
Judd and Matthew reminisced about the days they spent together making The Cable Guy, particularly one night of filming that involved Matthew getting drenched in mud. Broderick recalled exasperatedly telling Apatow, “The hardest scene never makes the cut.” Much to both of their dismay, the scene ended up not making the final cut of the movie. But they both agreed that the hardest endeavor they’ve faced is impressing their families. “It’s hard to make wives laugh,” Apatow chuckled. “My kids have never seen any of my films either,” Apatow continued, “Every time I call Iris in the room I put one of my movies on.”
"Is he gonna do that voice the whole movie?" - Screen testers on Jim Carrey's accent in The Cable Guy
“You can’t play the king if the other actor doesn’t bow.”
As the talk progressed, Broderick and Apatow talked about the process of making movie magic. “You can’t play the king if the other actor doesn’t bow,” Broderick observed. For Apatow, he believes “Every screenplay needs a friend.” After his “vomit” draft, he asks a friend to look it over and make sure he’s on the right track. For them, the arts are a collaborative process at its core. Having met his wife, Leslie Mann, on the set of The Cable Guy, Judd couldn't have agreed more.
"You can't make a joke like that now... But I think the scene actually warns people against trying to date someone drunk." - Judd Apatow on Leslie Mann's role as Nicky in The 40-Year-Old Virgin
“That is the sh*ttiest last question in the history of last questions.”
Upon opening questions to the audience, chaos ensued. People thrashed their way about to the open mics and flailed their arms about to catch Broderick and Apatow’s attention, the final person to ask a question even offering invites to screenings. Apatow didn’t hold back on his thoughts about the shameless self-promo. “That is the sh*ttiest last question in the history of last questions,” echoing laughs within the theater. “But yeah, I’ll come to your screening.”
Photo courtesy of Roy Rochlin for Getty Images.
Life moves pretty fast. Smell the roses. Skip that work meeting. Border on truancy. Because when it comes down to it, we all need to ensure we don’t let life pass by. Take a second to realize: “Hey, Judd Apatow and Matthew Broderick are at the OKX. Let’s check that out.” And if you missed it, don’t worry. Just catch Tribeca next year.
Comments