Emma Stone & Jesse Plemons

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1:16Today we have Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons, two of the greats of their generation, talking about one of my favorite movies of the year, Yorgos Lanthimos' Begonia. Guys, thanks as always for joining me on the podcast today. Really excited to share this one. We taped this actually at the Telluride Film Festival a while back. We've been holding on to it until the world at large could see the movie. Begonia comes out in theaters this Friday. I highly, highly, highly recommend it. I'm obsessed with it. More on that in a second. Okay, so before we get to Jesse and Emma, I want to remind you guys, we are publishing a ton of really great conversations on happy second fuse lately.

1:56In fact, three a week, which is a lot of work for me, the editors and everybody. I hope you guys are enjoying it. As always go to Patreon because that's where you get the early access and guest announcements. And you can ask questions to some of the guests. Sometimes a patrion.com slash happy say confused. It's where we announce our live events in New York and Los Angeles and everywhere. So much going on over there. So please do your best to support us over there because it helps us make more stuff over here. Patreon.com slash happy, sad, confused. Okay. Today, as I said, it is a rare treat to get either of these guys on a podcast on a long-form conversation, let alone the two of them together.

2:37But I was so honored that Jesse Plemons and Emma Stone joined me in this recording that took place at the Telluride Film Festival. You guys have heard me talk about Telluride before, one of my favorite places on Earth. Begonia premiered there. Was it at Venice first? I think it was at Venice, and then it came to Telluride. But it is one of my favorites of the year. It's a wild ride. It is from Yorgos Lanthimos, so you should expect nothing less. I will say it is in some ways, though, I would never say it's conventional. Yorgos doesn't make conventional, but it is a familiar type of movie. It's a kidnapping movie.

3:20It is a drama with some dark comedy to it. Jesse plays a guy that feels very wronged and kidnaps an executive played by Emma Stone that he places a lot of the blame in his personal life for. I don't want to say much more than that, except to say they both deliver exceptional performances, even by their very, very high standards. I hope they're both in the awards conversation. Not that that thing ultimately matters, but for my money, they're as good performances as I've seen this year. I'm obsessed, as I said. And Emma hasn't been on the pod for a long while. I go way back with both of these folks, Emma especially.

4:03I mean, all my MTV stuff way back when kind of my rise at MTV coincided with the rise of Emma Stone. So I always appreciate her. I think this was like the only conversation like this she did at Telluride. So that meant a lot. And Jesse is somebody that I just think is one of the great talents. And this might be his best performance yet. And that, yes, again, is saying something. So this is a really fun conversation about the film, but also these parallels in their careers and some other stuff that we get to. I think you're going to dig it. I know you're going to dig it. So, yeah, again, straight from the Telluride Film Festival.

4:40And by the way, you know, no professional crew. This is like iPhones. So, you know, apologies if this isn't up to the high standards, video standards that we try to keep on the podcast. But I think you're going to enjoy it nonetheless. less. Here is Emma Stone, Jesse Plemons, and me talking begonia. Enjoy. What are the adjectives to describe our conversations in the past? I've never done the two of you together. I don't know what's going to happen. Anything can happen. This is happy sack infused royalty as far as I'm concerned. Thanks, Josh. Me? Us? Yes. I mean, yes. Oh, come on. She's an OG. She's an original.

5:16But in recent years, Jesse has become part of the club. How many times have you guys talked? How many times have we talked? This probably goes back to like House Bunny is probably our first. But that was pre even like Happy Sack Confused. Yeah, yeah, yeah. We've known each other for a long time. Jesse, how dare you? Of course I was in House Bunny. What do you mean? I know that movie. You haven't studied the early works. We clearly don't know that movie very well. I think you're just so transformative. Oh, okay. Have you seen, by the way, it is the 20th anniversary of the new Partridge family. Congratulations.

5:44Thank you so much. I know there are a lot of festivities being planned. Yes. Yeah. Yes. There's a big party on the roof tonight if you'd like to come. A rager at Telluride. Yeah, there's a rager at Telluride. We are at the Telluride Film Festival for context, correct? Thank you. Is that where I am? Oh, is that where we are? Yeah. Okay, good. Check. Next check, we're talking about your fantastic new film, Begonia, from Yorgos, Lanthimos. Check. Check. Any other things to tell the audience before we really dive into the deep stuff? Like I told you, I'm just having a great day. Jesse's been having the best day.

6:18Jesse, what's happening? You're enjoying film in a beautiful environment. And it's my first Telluride. And so many people have told me. Word the mic for me. It is my first Telluride. ASMR. People have told me how much they like it. That's too much. Isn't it the best festival ever? You've heard that everyone's told you this before. Yeah. So many people have told me that's their favorite festival. And I see why now. It's just I think partly because films aren't really in competition with one another And they do this really sweet class photo at the beginning It's very nice don't have to do much of this and not too much fall like everywhere you go is gorgeous And then you know you're really relaxed and you can go see a bunch of movies You I was looking up both of your respective amazing careers in terms of film festivals was your first film festival Superbad Toronto do I have that right does that sound right?

7:14I don't know that I went to that really yeah Do you have any early memories of like a film festival because that's like a that's a moment a shift in a career? I want to say that we went to Toronto for easy a okay, and I think that maybe was the first time I went to a film festival I could be wrong don't quote me on that no, you know what also zombie land went to sitches Film festival and fantastic fest That must have been really fun. Yeah Yeah. Yeah. Um, but my first time at Telluride was for La La Land. So I hadn't been here before and it's, I love, I love being here. Do you have your first film festival experience for you?

7:49I was just trying to remember.

7:54South by Southwest, maybe. That was early on. That was early on. Observe and report. Maybe. Oh sure. That sounds like a South by. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I mean, I was joking about like, you know, new Partridge family, but like, I think back to your early days. Like, I mean, think back and don't be for a second to where you guys were, how you guys started out and where you sit today, working with your ghost, working with the best filmmakers repeatedly. Like you guys get the best material, the best filmmakers. I mean, do you take stock of that occasionally of like the beginnings versus where you are?

8:26No, we never think about that. Other people kind of have to remind you. And I, I appreciate it because yeah, it truly, it truly just exceeded anything i ever had in mind when you understand what could be possible walker texas ranger as a kid yeah are you thinking one day tell you right what was the aspiration i was just thinking about kicking that guy's butt i was playing a bully i played a lot of bullies Okay. And then, but then he got revenge because, uh, Walker Texas Ranger taught him a lesson away. He taught the kid that I was beating up how to get me back. So I'm sorry to hear that. It's okay.

9:12I had it coming. But like, what was the idea of success early on for each of you? Like what were the, the early goals of what my early goal was to be on a sitcom? I was like, that would be the greatest thing in the world or to be on SNL. Right. Um, it was very much comedy and it was very much like television comedy. So it's been to say that this is all a surreal and crazy. And I never saw any of the sort of way that this has gone so far coming is like an understatement. Was it, was there a dream? my dream is still SNL, honestly. That didn't change. You've kind of done it. Well, hosting. And memorable episodes.

9:53I mean, hosting is so, it's such a lucky break because you do it for a week. it is so relentless and hard and then obviously my my husband worked at snl for five years and it's very different when someone is working there as opposed to getting to come in and they're treating you so nicely and everything's great but it's like the the grind of snl i'm just in awe of everyone that works there in in a really deep way i always have been but now i really have seen it up close and it's just like it's a miracle that they can put that show together every saturday this guy should host snl jesse you've never done it have you you've never I've never done it.

10:29Does that intimidate you, scare you, excite you? Do you think you would do it? Yeah, all that. Yeah. Do people turn down SNL? Some people do, yeah. Is there a rate of the live television aspect, or they don't think they're funny? I would try it. I'd give it a shot. You'd be great. I hope for the best. Okay, we're secreting into the universe today. So what was it, outside of SNL, what was the dream TV show early on that you aspired to be on? It's really funny. I remember it specifically. Imagine a better TV show. And it was Friday Night Lights was the first time that it occurred to me, maybe I could actually do this for a living.

11:05I think because I started when I was a kid and it was just, you know, fun. Then not that it isn't now. Sucks now. Until today when he got to actually see movies. And now this is a shift. It's fun again. It's fun again. As of today, when you're having a great day. Don't I look like I'm having fun in Gregonia? Yes, exactly.

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14:58Let's talk to go yeah your movie's fantastic. I saw it the other day Um, okay I don't even know what the elevator pitch is because we don't want to tell them too much What should the audience know going into begonia because the title doesn't tell them much? Or anything? No, you'd have to look it up like I did I had not heard that word before. So what's the elevator pitch? What do you think and I should know going in? I want your elevator pitch. I know the log line too well. Just a couple of crazy guys that kidnap a lady. That's good, right? Some wacky guys. There's two wacky guys. I think you're back at TV sitcom.

15:38Two cuckoo dudes. With some wacky ideas. Grab a lady and take her to a basement. You guys are going to love it.

15:49Was there an official elevator pitch? Was there a log line? There must have been a log line, obviously. Like an official log line for marketing purposes? Yeah, I don't know. No, I mean, the script, I think it was just kind of reading the script. Because we had both worked with Yorcos before, so it was kind of just like, hey, read this movie, you know? See if you like it. I think I did look up Save the Green Planet, so I read that synopsis probably. but other than that it was just a script. Is part of the joy, I mean there are a lot of reasons to do this. I mean obviously you both have worked with Yorgos and you know that's always a fun time but also like you referenced this in the Q &A the other day like it has elements of a play.

16:27I mean you guys have really, it's three actors for much of it and just getting to dig in a single set for a really good portion of this film must have been an extraordinary opportunity. Oh yeah, well that's, I know I did have that thought that it that it read like a play but it's so gripping and compelling and constantly unfolding that it didn't feel like a typical play you know it felt really entertaining for a play you know and so Jesse hates plays we're learning a lot about boring plays you know what i mean guys you feel like actually entertaining i'm like a play i'm not one of those play plays i love plays i love plays too but i but i know it feels very cinematic like it's it's way it really does feel like it needs that sort of cinema element to to bring it to the next play and watching the movie i don't i keep saying this about it which sounds like such a stupid thing to say because it's like, of course, and it is a stupid thing to say, but it feels like a movie because there's so much dialogue and there's so much kind of explaining going on and there's so much action that it feels very heightened to me.

17:45It has a little like Yorgos meets Coen Brothers for me. There's a little heightened, like a memanic energy to it that you kind of get wired into. I mean, I don't know if it's the Telluride or the altitude, but this is like, there's a lot of sad parts about this and disturbing parts about this, but it's a very fun movie to watch. It's a very entertaining movie at the end of the day. I mean, how much do you guys, having worked with Yorgos before, obviously as a producer as well, like, you know, talk about tone, about like what you're going for, what you want an audience to feel, or is it literally no discussion?

18:18No, I don't think I've ever heard him say, I want the audience to feel this. Right. No, but he will say, with both kinds of kindness and Bougonha. it's a comedy about everything that's the most consistent note that he'll give you while you're doing a scene it's a comedy and how does that impact your performance that impression is divine it's like he's here it's a very niche stand-up routine the Yorgos 45 minute set that Jesse can do no it's literally only a 10 second set and I'm just saying that good night everybody The last time I saw both of you guys was for Kinds of Kindness. Obviously, the goals are different.

19:03I mean, I would imagine making something like that, you know that's going to be a very particular audience and that's fine. Movies can serve different purposes. I mean, is that on your mind that, again, the goal is different or does it matter when you get into the material when you're on set? I don't know that it changes anything for me or like that or that or that Yorgos particularly acts differently toward yeah you know one or the other I mean kinds of kindness he wrote with if the miss so there's that added element of him being the writer of it as well um and Will Tracy wrote this so like or you know like on on poor things and the favorite Tony McNamara wrote the script.

19:46So, um, that's the only like distinguishing difference I can see is that the writer comes to visit set a lot. Um, but I would imagine like even friends and family, like reactions, the kinds of kindness must've been fascinating, like to get, like, did you get interesting texts? Absolutely loved kinds of kindness so much was my mom. My mom loved it. She like really gets, gets kinds of kind, which I love. How do you feel about that? I love it. She's like, I, I, it's so funny. And I think I'm in love with Willem Dafoe. All right, mom, calm down. He's married. But, um, yeah, it was, it was, I loved, I loved her reaction and she's got a really interesting, cool taste.

20:30And so I was like, great. Um, I mean, I loved it too. Has she seen this one? I mean, there's, she's seen this one. She, she likes kinds of kindness better. There's some intense stuff. It's her favorite movie. for property purposes. She loves this one too. Is there a direct correlation in your experience of like how taxing a performance is versus how much satisfaction you get out of a film? Because this doesn't feel like, this must be intensely rewarding, but it's also not a walk in the park, I would imagine, for either of you. Sometimes that goes hand in hand, the whole taxing, rewarding thing.

21:05Sometimes it doesn't. Back to hating the business. I got it earlier. No. No, I mean, this, I think it's safe to say, was taxing and hard. But at the exact same time, I mean, there were scenes from this, from Begonia, that were about the most fun I've ever had acting, just because the writing was so rich. I mean, these scenes that we were able to play with one another and, you know, with Aiden, they're just so rich and layered. And so, yeah, it's all of it, you know. What about for you? I would imagine like feeling like spent in the best possible way after a rewarding day on set is kind of a great feeling as an actor.

22:00Like you've left it all out on the table. It is for sure. I think, you know, with this, because this one was, yeah, it was, it was definitely intense. on a daily basis. It was sort of unrelentingly because from one day to the next, you do feel like exhausted when you go home from, you know, maintaining a certain level of, of whatever energy this, this movie and this story require. But I think the most marked thing for me was the fact that there were so many monologues and there were such long scenes in all this dialogue that it sort of just felt like you're constantly running lines and making sure they're in your body so you can actually do your job and not sound like you're reciting.

22:39Um, so that was a major, you know, beyond all the physical elements of it, that was the thing I was the most kind of worried about on a nightly basis after work was like, well, we're counting down the volume of the monologue where I'm talking to him for six, seven pages and that, you know, whatever it might be, um, where our dinner table scene, which was so long and so amazingly written. and you just want to make sure you're not missing anything, you know? So yeah, I mean, it's taxing in a wonderful way. Like, I feel so lucky that this is my job. I always feel insane saying like, God, it's so hard.

23:18It's like, it's also the best. It's such a dream. Does making a film that's dealing with like our divided world, dystopian kind of times that we're living in, help you deal with the dystopian times we're living in? Or does like marinating in that almost like, I don't know, I would imagine from your perspective, like, like film can be your work can be a cathartic way to escape all of that. But this is about that. It's a really fascinating thing to get to do, to be asked and to ask yourself to go into these head spaces and live in the shoes of these people. It really is. I don't know if I ever find it necessarily cathartic or, or like therapy, but it, it definitely rewires my brain a bit afterwards.

24:04Um, I feel like I can look at certain things differently. Um, which is a really amazing thing to do because you really are just like trying to embody a completely different, you know, mindset and obviously finding all those parts that are already within yourself that, you know, apply to it. But what do you think, Jeffy, we call him Jeffy P lemons. Oh, that's your new. Yeah. That's like since kinds of kindness. Yeah. Yeah. That's your DJ monitoring it officially right here, right now. I'm a happy sad, confused podcast. Thank you guys. Changed my name back a long time ago. He's changing his back to his birth name.

24:45What were we talking about? Yes. As catharsis as a, yeah. I, I, And I think it's actually the way I kind of explain it, think about it, is it's just the most unique way to learn something. Because you're gathering all this information. You're just kind of following whatever is interesting to you when you're preparing for something. and then you're trying to like get inside of it and experience it in a way that is partially you but partially outside of you and so it's that's what i'm always really grateful for is it does i think kind of shape who you are in some way just because you spend so much time yeah in some space you know yeah and there's also the the really cool aspect of getting to learn new skills because you have to for a role so like learning to shoot a machine gun for a zombie it was crazy like I've shot a machine gun or or driving or I learned a scuba for kinds of kindness because I'm trapped at the bottom of a pool for seven hours like and that was so meditative and exciting and now I'm like really excited to keep scuba diving but it was something that I never probably would have thought to do had it not been for a character.