Feature: Drew Barrymore, Justin Long & Nanette Burstein
The team behind this week's feel-good rom-com turned up at the Apple Store to talk about their experiences.
One of the funniest and most charming rom-coms I've seen since the days of While You Were Sleeping, Going The Distance hits UK cinemas on 10th September.
Oscar-nominated documentary maker Nanette Burstein makes her feature debut with this sharp look at a long distance relationship. The adorable Drew Barrymore and Justin Long are a couple whose fling turns into something more, but they reside on opposide sides of the US. The three of them were in London for the world premiere last month, and appeared at the Apple Store for a talk, which you'll be able to download as a podcast shortly. Compered by Edith Bowman, the trio were relaxed and full of banter - unsurprising, as Drew and Justin are a bit of an item in real life.
On what drew them to Geoff LaTulippe's script:
Nanette: It's a really honest story, and that's so rare in romance. I've been in long distance relationships, and shockingly realised there'd never been a movie based on this topic, of something so common.
Justin: The script was wonderful, and I loved Nanette's movie American Teen. The script felt authentic, the dialogue seemed to flow and didn't feel forced. It was sexual and crude in the best way, not just for the sake of it.
Drew: I think that a lot of romantic comedies are based on a far-fetched premise, because we need that element of fantasy. But where I am in my life right now I really need to grasp reality. I like that this movie is set in the real world, in bars. I know that's where I go with my friends when I've had a crap day. I like the idea that they fall in love and aren't allowed to be together because of economics or schedules. These are elements me and my friends talk about in real life. Coming from Nanette, I thought we would have freedom... and it wouldn't feel so film-ish. And I wanted to work with Justin because he makes me laugh, and I thought I'd work harder.
On the improvised moments throughout the film:
Nanette: I wanted to cast the movie with people with great improvisation skills. We had a lot of freedom to play. We would shoot was was scripted, but some of the greatest gems are the unplanned moments.
Drew: Nanette took us out with a video camera, and the whole falling in love montage, there was no script, and there were all these different locations, and we changed our clothes in a van. You don't normally get to have that privilege when you're making a movie.
Justin: Nanette actually owns a bar in New York, and we got to go and order a beer and talk to each other like we were on a date. Drew is such a great improvisational actress she'd just throw out random questions, and I never knew where they were coming from.
On the tanning handprint on Justin's behind:
Justin: There were a lot of crew that didn't have to be there, and there was a lot of talk about my digits getting lost in my crack.
Drew on having Christina Applegate as her onscreen big sister:
Drew: We knew each other when we were kids. We were in a dance class together and we had to wear these spandex unitards - it was so emotionally scarring. But she was always really nice. She was Kelly Bundy! She was HOT! We'd had very similar upbringings; we'd been working since infancy, similar wacky families, and we started to look alike and morph. We had the same blonde hair and the same attitude and senses of humour. There was great chemistry, and you want that - not just with someone you're romantically involved with. I love movies like Knocked Up where you love being in the girl's world too, with Paul Rudd and Leslie Mann. I believe we have that balance. It stands up on its own with the three guys, and that's imperative. It's testament to Nanette that you have this wonderful androgynous tone, and to get to work with a director that didn't want me to be the girly girl. I'm very much like her how I am in my life - I've evolved with an ounce of maturity and ended up like Ellen.
Justin on his onscreen buddies Charlie Day and Jason Sudeikis:
Justin: In addition to being smart comedians and very inventive, they're just really great guys. They're guys I would want to hang out with... and I do! I was a lot more of the straight man in those scenes, so I got to be a passive participant, so I got to sit back and watch them being funny.
On how blunt the film is:
Drew: I don't censor myself around my friends and I don't speak in a PG manner, so it was liberating to do comedy that wasn't limited. But I don't want to make films that are alienating to a younger audience either, and this struck a nice balance. I don't know what's appropriate for kids, but a lot of things weren't appropriate for me as a kid, so I'm not the one to ask!
On Drew's next challenge, after directing the fantastic Whip It:
Drew: Writing would be the next terrifying endeavour I'd like to achieve. And photography - I've been working on a book for ages. I would love to show some of the secret things I've been working on. I feel so vulnerable writing. You second guess yourself, but I'd like to try it. I want to do what scares me.
Photos: Felicity Huckle
Here's a great clip from early on in the film, setting up Justin's character nicely.
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