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Director of the new film "50/50" Jonathan Levine on tackling the topic of cancer.
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I got with the click that you thought fifty picking on joining -- director Jonathan Levine film welcome you aria and then how are you look I'm good I'm just excited that I got -- -- -- -- Yeah how good.
I know that -- -- I think everybody -- -- the good thing that's ever happened.
It seemed content of the benefits of coming to join us this they of course let's talk about this phone because you know it's -- job headed -- you're tackling.
He's serious material but also comedic material -- and set this up for us tell everyone who -- know about 5050 tells.
On the fifty midi is basically inspired by.
Will -- -- who wrote the movies life experience and He was on twice -- old and diagnosed with a very rare form of cancer.
On and He happened to be best friends with Seth Rogen in real life.
Bomb and it will.
Subsequently.
On battled through it and and and beat cancer and now luckily he's cancer free.
Bomb but the whole time is going to use that sentence that was encouraging him to write a movie about it and that resulting movie is is 5050.
Which is sort of his his story told through a very comedic lines.
And it do you think that I have they shared with you that writing it this way and giving it kind of -- -- then maybe that was just the most honest claiming it was therapeutic for that and they -- I'm -- -- -- -- react to certain situations absolutely I mean as as someone who's had family members go to the same thing there's certainly it's it's a horrible situation you have no choice in certain circumstances but to laugh.
And I think that you know.
Given the way these guys are just in real life you know they they chose laughter as as a way to handle things and that's kind of I I deafening kind of identified -- that bomb and yeah I mean it's it's to me it was very true to life the tone in the movie.
And it what was your reaction -- that standing ovation in thirty gotten.
You know that kind of feedback -- any other you know memorable feedback -- you've gotten so far I -- that was that was created that was -- -- Other than meetings that's about that was the craziest thing that's ever happened we -- them the lights came up and and people just stood and clapped for like two minutes and on the you know we've we've been lucky enough to screen and we for a lot of people and we've been lucky enough to have generally very very positive reaction so so.
And now they kind of butterflies are gone screening for people because people like it on the but to have such an overwhelming reaction I mean I almost cried likely I did it.
Yeah yeah I know what kind of there.
-- have been nice.
Led Joseph Gordon-Levitt -- the film about a week before is that true ten days okay.
Now what did what material to -- to give him and how much did you let him kind of add his two cents to this character and -- probably like.
Had to do his -- really fast yet you know I.
Mean the great thing about I'm working with -- and and and those guys is they've kind of learned from -- Judd Apatow school.
Which is this could just -- a very fluid thing in the whole process is very fluid thing so.
We were able to integrate -- into that pretty quickly and yes He had ideas and yes we were able to incorporate those ideas because they were good ideas.
Bomb but you know my job is the director was basically to.
Give him the space in which you know you could feel safe to kind of do his thing.
And also kind of you know we have the greatest resource in the world there would -- on -- will was on set every day you know.
He was able to talk to well you know and and go to will -- any sort of questions that He had and we also.
You know we also kind of met with -- a lot of cancer survivors on in the community and they were able to talk to him about you know what it's like to battle cancer so He was.
You know armed with the win this kind of great on ability to -- to grounded in truth.
Yeah and now rounding out the cast we also had -- -- -- -- Angelica Houston amazing.
And leave a quick clip with -- show itself.
That's a special occasion.
Editors in terms of endearment.
And just tell.
-- -- I have cancer.
Yeah yeah.
I'm in the end -- no.
Don't -- -- I'd rather have no you re exactly that's why it.
And it's got his will was on said his mother was also on sat and I -- what was that like for the cast.
Well you know it's it was.
I like to have is a lot of people on set I.
Like -- kind of very familial environment on set itself you know the the mother can measure than angelic they just think the character that that -- played.
You know there there kind of be there.
There -- who you know they take from reality but they're but.
-- the actors are the kind of what difference does I don't think we were ever intimidated by having -- -- -- -- He was just something where the actor X could use them as a resource.
When when necessary and an otherwise they have the freedom to kind of do their own thing.
Will's mom was -- on set every day.
-- and yeah I could LA she would have been welcome issue it's up for everything He had a lot of people collaborative.
On this -- from the in -- to them being on sat on the that was it was one of the honest.
Moments in the film so what do you hope overall closer -- take away from -- you know I.
I just I think that it's for me as as an audience member I think it's -- -- It's a movie that's different and unique and on it's a movie that.
And challenges the audience but also entertains.
On the so you know -- I just think for me is a film -- I think it's nice to have movies like that.
And for an audience member I think you know we kind of take you through an emotional roller coaster hopefully you -- hopefully you cry.
On and but in the end it's who you know it's it's a positive experience and I hope the people know that when they go see it.
And I hope they go see it great.
Yeah well yes and we'll see let.
More feedback you can get on the phone as it comes out this -- sometime in the mean thank you thank you very much in a pleasure in theaters this Friday.
