Seth Rogen Interview, Zack and Miri Make a Porno

MoviesOnline sat down with Seth Rogen at the Los Angeles press day for his new film “Zack and Miri Make a Porno,” directed by Kevin Smith.

Lifelong friends and roommates Zack (Rogen) and Miri (Elizabeth Banks) are facing hard times and a mountain of debt. When the electricity and plumbing get cut off, the two seize upon the idea of making a homegrown porno movie for some quick cash, enlisting the help of their friends. The two vow that having sex will not ruin their friendship.  But as filming begins, what started out as a business proposition between friends turns into something much more. Here’s what Seth had to tell us:

MoviesOnline:   What'd you been doing to work out there, looking good!

SETH ROGEN:  Thank you!

MoviesOnline:   Now that you are looking good...

SETH ROGEN:  Exactly, I know the implication, (laughter) I've been dieting, I've been eating right and dieting, it's such a lame answer, no one wants to hear that, yeah, I've been exercising, it sucks, I hate it.  (laughter)  I hate what I've become.  (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   So why didn't your character call it Starfucks?

SETH ROGEN:  Starfucks, that would have been good!  (laughs)  I know, we probably couldn't clear it, some legal issue (laughter). Starbucks will sue you, (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   How does it feel to be the stick figure up there?

SETH ROGEN:  It's good, I like it, I think it's a funny ad, I think it looks a lot like me, (laughter) I think it's startlingly like me, so...

MoviesOnline:   You really like that better than the headshot ad?

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I don't feel an urge to get my face up there anymore (laughs)...

MoviesOnline:   No I mean the head, head...

SETH ROGEN:  Oh the head shot, oh no, that one's way better (laughter). That one's a lot better, but Canada got it right, yet again guys. C’mon, (laughter) take your cues.

MoviesOnline:   What do you think brings them together romantically?

SETH ROGEN:  In the movie?  I think that's you know, it's the unspoken love. I think a lot of people you know, have been friends with people and they're in love with them and it takes an event to bring that to the surface and in this movie, that event is making a porno movie (laughs).  So yeah, I think it's a very relatable premise, I think just kind of brought to a somewhat odd place.

MoviesOnline:   What did you first think of the script?

SETH ROGEN:  I thought it was funny, I thought, yeah, I'll do it. That's exactly what I thought. 

MoviesOnline:   This is kind of your dream come true project, because according to the IMDB, you said to the agent, I want to be in with Kevin Smith.

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I always wanted to work with him and yeah, that was always a goal of mine, and it's thrilling, yeah.  It's exciting that it finally happened. 

MoviesOnline:   So, could you give us more reaction, when you received the e-mail, here's the script, and...

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I was very flattered, it was shocking that he even knew who I was. I'd met him months before very briefly, but I mean, yeah like when someone you really like wants to work with you, somebody who inspired you to do what you do in the first place, I mean yeah it is thrilling.

MoviesOnline:   Elizabeth said that she was totally prepared to do your love scene nude because she'd have Seth Rogen covering all of her...

SETH ROGEN:  Exactly, I cover a lot, yeah (laughs). 

MoviesOnline:   So what about you, were you ready to do it naked and how come you ultimately...

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, it wasn't my decision, yeah, I was ready. I mean I didn't know what his plan was. I don’t prepare. I just kind of show up and what are we doing today, and if he had said today you're pulling your dick out, I would have said, okay, but he didn't say that. He said, oh we're going to shoot it like this, and I said, okay, yeah you know, I'm in for anything. I'm a team player. (laughs)

MoviesOnline:   Now was Kevin noticeably awkward about shooting the love scenes?

SETH ROGEN:  He was a little awkward about it. It wasn't that bad. There wasn't a ton of direction that day (laughter), but it was very professional.  (laughs)

MoviesOnline:   If you had to choose one celebrity to make a porno with, who would you choose?

SETH ROGEN:  I would choose Jonah Hill.  (laughter)  Just kidding. 

MoviesOnline:   Were you curious at meeting Traci and Katie, and did you have anything you wanted to ask them about?

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah. I mean there have been porn stars in literally every single movie I've ever been in so it was not weird to work with them. It was par for the course. To me, you need a porn star on set just to make the film.  (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   You've worked with Judd Apatow and now Kevin, like they're kind of the kings of raunchy comedy.  What are the similiarities, what are the differences between working on their sets or...

SETH ROGEN:  Well, you all know their movies totally and definitely are similar and like you said, they both kind of mix raunchy with sweetness. Their styles on set are very different, you know, and it's as simple as Judd doesn't really know what he wants. He knows what he wants the scenes to be about, but as far as how the information comes out, who says what, what the jokes are, I mean he discovers all that while we're shooting. And Kevin's very specific. He knows exactly what he wants, he knows what the shots are, he literally edits the movie. So that's the fundamental difference, and they're both great. They both have their things that make them more fun, and more relaxing and things that make them a little more difficult, but I wouldn't want to do only one either way. 

MoviesOnline:   A lot of women have said to me that they're happy you're doing nerdy romantic roles now, that they're more interested in guys that are nerdy...

SETH ROGEN:  Good.  (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   ,,,do you like playing these kind of romantic roles?

SETH ROGEN:  I mean yeah, again, I just try to do the types of movies I like to go see and I think romantic comedies, when handled right, can be a very great genre.  And that's all the thought I put into it.  (laughter) 

MoviesOnline:   In real porn, what do you find more interesting, the sex or the dialogue?

SETH ROGEN:  I don't watch porn with dialogue (laughter). I'm far beyond that.  That's just, I watch the down and dirty stuff (laughs).

MoviesOnline:   Have you been to a horrible high school reunion where people turned out to be just what you thought they were, or totally different? 

SETH ROGEN:  No, I never went, I'm only, it's still two years from my ten year reunion and I would never go. I'd be such a dick for going (laughter). Guess what I do guys?  (laughter)  Yeah, what do you do? Oh, guess what I do, yeah. 

MoviesOnline:   Is there anyone from the past you would want to see like a high school crush?

SETH ROGEN:  No, I see everyone I want to see from high school and I've stopped talking to everyone I don't.  (laughter) 

MoviesOnline:   If you ever had any financial woes, would you go and make a porno?

SETH ROGEN:  (laughs) I don't know. I honestly don't know who would go and see it, but maybe yeah, (laughter) I would.  Thought about it, yeah. 

MoviesOnline:   Well what would be your porn name? Usually your childhood pet is your first name and the street you grew up on is your last name.

SETH ROGEN:  It's Alawishes St. James.  It's a pretty good one.  I had a hamster named Alawishes. 

MoviesOnline:   So is Fleshlight asking for an endorsement?

SETH ROGEN:  No, I don't think they are (laughter).  I don't think they exist.  Do they exist?  Oh really?  I didn't even get one.  They didn't even send me a free one.  (laughter)  What do you got to do?

MoviesOnline:   Can you talk a little bit about some of your upcoming movies, like the one you just made with Judd?

SETH ROGEN:  We just started shooting it actually. We’re three weeks in, and it's going great!  Me and Adam Sandler and Jonah and Jason Schwartzman, and Eric Bana and Leslie and a slew of stand up comics and it's been going really well, it's a lot of fun.

MoviesOnline:   And you're playing a stand up comic?

SETH ROGEN:  I play a stand up comic, yeah, and Sandler plays a stand up comic as well, and it's a really interesting movie. I'm really excited about it.

MoviesOnline:   Is it a little bit more drama than...

SETH ROGEN:  A little bit more drama, yeah, it's a little heavier, definitely in it's subject matter. It deals with death in a lot of ways. It's an interesting mixture of penis jokes and death jokes, so that's new for us (laughter). It's a beauty. Janusz Kaminski's filming it, which is incredible to watch and it's great to see him, you know, ‘cause people always say our movies don't look good, so now they can fucking shut up about that (laughter).  Judd was like, how do I get people to shut up about this, I'll hire Janusz, and it's great. He's found ways of shooting our improve. He shoots with three cameras at once and it still looks beautiful, so that's really fun to watch.  And then we start The Green Hornet, in May or April, and Stephen is directing that, and we're psyched about that.

MoviesOnline:   Yeah, you know what, it's reported you chose him to direct it.

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, he was always like our first choice, you know. We thought, we just like to consolidate our team, you know, so just the fact that one guy could be Kato and direct it was appealing to us.  (laughter)  Just less people to deal with. (laughter)  And we love his movies you know, I'm a huge fan of his movies, I think he's hilarious, and we got him! 

MoviesOnline:   So how much is it going to be a comedy and like straight...

SETH ROGEN:  You know, we don't know, I mean originally we were going for kind of an action, more of a serious action movie but we feel no obligation to live up to anything we've told any of you in the past (laughter).  So, (laughs) we're really right now in the process of discovering what the tone is exactly and like you know, we know the story we want to tell, that's always been the same, but you know, you don't bring a guy like Stephen on and tell him like no, this is what we're doing, we don't want your ideas, you know, he's a genius obviously, so you got to let him, you'd be stupid not to let him you know, interject some of his own sensibilities.

MoviesOnline:   What about your chemistry with Elizabeth? Can you speak a little about that?

SETH ROGEN:  My chemistry with Elizabeth?  She's great, you know, we're friends. I think that helps. I think you can tell that we know each other. I think she has a really kind of dirty sensibility, which is one of the reasons I thought she'd be good for the movie in the first place. I knew she wouldn't sue me, so yeah, I think, I give her all the credit for that.

MoviesOnline:   It seems like a relatable quality, like best friends make the best lovers.

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, that's what I think...

MoviesOnline:   Audiences will relate.

SETH ROGEN:  That's why Superbad works.  Yeah.  (laughter) 

MoviesOnline:   What kind of physical training are you doing for The Green Hornet and has there been any casting besides yourself and Stephen?  It says here that Jason's in it.  Jason Mewes.

SETH ROGEN:  Is in The Green Hornet? 

MoviesOnline:   Yes, that's what it says, it says including The Green Hornet.  (laughs)

SETH ROGEN:  Maybe, I don't know.  (laughs)  Let him go for it.  No, I mean, (laughs) that is, that is not official.  (laughter)  But...

MoviesOnline:   What movie director, dead or alive do you think would make the best porno?

SETH ROGEN:  (laughs)  That's a good question.  I'd like to see a Cassavetes porno.  (laughter)  It must be real and have that really real feel.  And he'd put his whole family in it.  (laughter) 

MoviesOnline:   Going back to the training, what kind of training are you doing for The Green Hornet?  Martial arts or anything?

SETH ROGEN:  No, no, I mean, not right now, we're a long way off from choreographing our fights and what not, right now it's just kind of getting into better physical condition. 

MoviesOnline:   What do you think it’s going to be?

SETH ROGEN:  I mean The Green Hornet always just fought criminals, you know. There were never really any flamboyant villainous characters. There always was just like men in suits, you know, and we're taking that as our cue. 

MoviesOnline:   Can you say anything about Observe and Report?

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I think it's amazing, I'm unbelievably proud about it, and proud about it and psyched about it. I don't know if any of you saw The Foot Fist Way, but it's the director who did that and it's a very dark, dark comedy. It's like a comedic Taxi Driver, that's exactly what it is. And that's what we were going for, and they somehow let us do that.  (laughs)  And it's a very edgy, dark, hilarious, hilarious movie and it's one of my favorite movies, if not my favorite movie, I've been in, just ‘cause I can't believe how edgy and balls to the wall it is.  And it's you know, if people watch Pineapple or this and they think how did they make that, they'll watch that movie and think seriously, how did they make it?  (laughter) 

MoviesOnline:   There's another movie that's finally being released that you're in as well, Fanboys...

SETH ROGEN:  Is it?  I don't believe that (laughs).  I'll believe it when I see it guys.  (laughs)

MoviesOnline:   Did you do a lot of improvisation in Zack and Miri?

SETH ROGEN:  I did some yeah, I mean he has a much more like I say, clear idea of what he wants going in, but he's definitely open to changing lines and changing jokes and getting alter stuff like that, so yeah, there's a fair bit in there.

MoviesOnline:   It's interesting the way men and women view sex, but this film is very interesting the way it depicted it.  Can you comment on that?

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I mean I'd say to women sex is a much more emotionally driven act and for men it's a much more physically driven act and I think it's as simple as that, and yeah, I think the movie gets into that.

MoviesOnline:   But even when you were like doing the love scene it was immediately a love scene versus anything else.

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah that's in that situation, yeah, I mean that's exactly what it is.

MoviesOnline:   Or they change their views the minute that they had sex.

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I mean it definitely brings things to the surface, (laughter) and yeah I think that's exactly what that scene was meant to be, was they think one things going to happen, and emotions that they didn't expect are what happened instead.

MoviesOnline:   How was it working with Craig?

SETH ROGEN:  Oh it's great, Craig’s the best, he's hilarious. I'm glad he got in the movie, you know, yeah. I heavily implored Kevin to bring him in on audition and I knew he would nail it, and it's great. I'm glad that he's like, I'm glad for him, he's got a big part in the movie, yeah, and I know one day I'll have a small part in one of his movies, and that's all I hope for.  (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   As a Canadian, how was it dealing with the cold weather and ice hockey?

SETH ROGEN:  In Pittsburgh, I was actually equipped to deal with the cold weather, slightly better than say my girlfriend, who's from Florida.  It wasn't that bad. I actually can't play hockey at all. I didn’t actually skate in the movie. That was fake.  But yeah, the cold weather wasn't so bad.  I kind of enjoy it. 

MoviesOnline:   What did your girlfriend think of the movie?

SETH ROGEN:  She loves it, you know, it's romantic. What this is, is a romantic comedy, and women love romantic comedies you know, so yeah, she really likes it. 

MoviesOnline:   What advice can you give someone who wants to make their own porno?

SETH ROGEN:  Just don't talk a lot, if you're behind the camera (laughter).  If you're a man and you're behind the camera, keep your mouth shut, no one wants to hear it. People just wanted the woman, focus on the woman.  (laughter)

MoviesOnline:   Last year you really hit it big in movies and you're going along doing a lot of work this year, what's your perspective on your success now?

SETH ROGEN:  I'm psyched about it, I don't know (laughter).  It's nice!  And now I've got to just keep doing it, you know, yeah, that's all it is. I mean, I think I just have to keep doing movies that I find interesting, and that's all I know how to do really. I take it on a movie by movie basis and just think, is this a movie I would see? Yeah? Okay, then I'll do it, you know? 

MoviesOnline:   Any desire to do straight dramatic stuff?

SETH ROGEN:  Again you know, if it was a movie that I honestly thought I would be excited to go see, I would do it and honestly, I'm not the first in line for The Changeling.  (laughter) So that's generally not the type of movie I would be drawn to doing (laughs). 

MoviesOnline:   Did you ever have that moment where they're going to cut off your electricity or you had to sleep on a friend’s couch or anything that dire?

SETH ROGEN:  Yeah, I've never quite had it that bad.  I had to punch up a Hilary Duff movie once, but that was it.  (laughter)  Thank you.

MoviesOnline:   Thanks.

“Zack & Miri Make a Porno” opens in theaters on October 31st.