ScreenCrave.com » the hangover

1-1 Interview: Scot Armstrong on writing The Hangover Part II

Damon Houx — Wed, 25 May 2011 03:50:50 +0000

Two years ago, The Hangover hit theaters and exploded. Coming after a long run of successful Judd Apatow comedies, Todd Phillip’s production was a completely different comic world, and turned Zach Galifianakis into a movie star. For the follow up the pressure was on from the get-go to make a film that equaled the first film. For co-screenwriter Scot Armstrong, that meant locking himself in a room with the two other writer, and being on set. We talked about the making of the film, and the headaches involved with following the most successful R rated comedy of all time. Check it out…

Warner Brother talked about doing a sequel before the first film came out, were you on then?

Scot Armstrong: Todd (Phillips) went to do Due Date, so writing didn’t start until the three of us were together.

This film is tracking huge, was there any pressure from being an unknown, an underdog, to that expectation, was that in your head?

That was what was fun – you know you’re going to have to be in the league of the first film, or you’re going to be a complete failure. It was fun to share that anxiety with Craig (Mazin) and Todd, and as we cracked the story it became more and more fun.

What was the thing that made you feel like you cracked the script?

There’s two. One was Todd wanting to do it in Bangkok. I couldn’t picture a sequel until he said that. I think Bangkok is one of the most unique cities in the world, and it’s known for the nightlife that’s completely insane, and not the kind of place you want to be dropped into with no tools, and be able to find your way home. The other big moment for us was turning in the first 67 pages to the actors to get some feedback and they said they were really happy, and that was a huge shot in the arm for us.

As a sequel you have to exceed expectations, and with Bangkok, you’re taking things in a slightly darker direction, was there anything that went too far?

I think everything made the cut. We did set out to make a darker film, and there really were no limits in what we could do. I think in the brainstorming sessions you will go to some places that have no business being in a comedy of any sort, but there’s always a kernel of something interesting, and if you dial it back and find what’s funny about it, you can build a set piece around things.

Was there anything that was too soft?

That’s the stuff we’d adjust or re-write, the first one set such a high standard that you can’t get away with soft. It really was a challenge to get things to work for this one. I know that when Todd and Craig and I started brainstorming – I mean, the first one is the highest grossing R-rated comedy of all time – we allowed ourselves to sit there and panic for a second, and process that we were going to have to come up with a story and an hour and half of comedy that compared. But I think every time you write a comedy and you start with a page one blank page, you’re always jumping off a cliff. But this time it was the biggest cliff of all time.

Is your writing process the three of you in a room?

Yeah, we sit in a room together, try to make each other laugh, help each other push the story, and figuring the mystery. We ended up working on the wake up scene the most. I think it’s a microcosm for the entire movie. It’s funny, it’s surprising, it’s heightened stakes, it’s darker, but it’s also all the clue they need to save themselves and their friends and get home. It’s their lifeline. Our first pass was 22 pages, and then once we started figuring out the whole movie, and got it down to a reasonable shape.

With the three of you in the room, do you write for specific characters, do you feel you have a specific strength?

We all work together, so we write for all the characters. Sometimes we’ll break off into different spaces and we’ll write pages and email them to each other. Allan is the trickiest character to write because he’s so innocent but filled with such rage – he stopped growing up around age twelve. There’s something funny about him, how he’s spoiled, and obsessive compulsive. Todd and Zach (Galifianakis ) hold a key to what’s going on in his mind, and those two guys really understood what he’d say in different situations. Craig and I would pitch ideas, and they’d say “I don’t know if that’s what Alan would do.” We’d debate him more than any other character. He’s our MacBeth.

Did you do any “research”? Did you go to Bangkok?

We got away with faking it a little, we did a lot research on the internet, getting a feel for it without actually going, and I think we did pretty well. When we went there to shoot, most of the stuff matched up pretty well. It worked out, but that was part of being a writer in Thailand – adjusting things to the culture. But I have to say we weren’t that far off.

So were on set?

We shot in LA for our interiors, and then in Bangkok. It was amazing to be in Bangkok, and see it come to life, I feel like the city is one of the antagonists. This comedy feels gritty and real and dark, and even though it’s fun, I haven’t seen anything like it.

One of the great things about Todd Phillips is that he moves the camera, especially in comparison to the more Judd Apatow approach, I think audiences reacted to the first partly because it was so well put together.

Todd’s a great director, on top of being a good comedy writer and improviser. His background in documentary work plays into making things look real. I think he enjoys that when you have a car chase, it should be a great car chase. The comedy’s not just limited to comedy. He’s not afraid to make it an exciting, terrifying adventure, I think the way he shot the movie, you believe these guys might die.

You’ve worked with Todd for over ten years now, how has that relationship evolved?

I’ve seen him become such an amazing filmmaker, this movie feels like genre-bending in a weird way. I think one thing we’ve learned over the years is really putting effort into story, and the efficiency of story, so you can get the set pieces as quickly and as organically as possible. You go back and some of the stuff we did was real loose sometimes. We’ve gotten tighter in a good way.

You’re about to direct your first feature, Road to Nardo, being on set were you paying more attention this time?

I’ve been on set consistently since 1999 when we shot Road Trip, so I feel like I have a lot of being on set, but now that we’re about to go, I feel like I should have paid more attention on set to what Todd was doing in Bangkok. But I’m so lucky to work with the people I’ve worked with, and I’m sure I’ll have a little Todd in my brain when I’m directing, and using all the things he might say. And all the other people I’ve worked with.

What can you tell me about Road to Nardo?

I think we got over $20 Million from Sony, and when you pitch movies you always compare two movies, it’s kind of like Traffic meets Superbad. It’s about two young guys who get into the drug trade in Mexico to save their friend.

With the $20 Million budget, do you feel you have freedom?

Well, luckily everyone I work with at Sony and my producers have a lot of faith in me, and a lot of trust to bring my vision to life. And that’s incredible for a first time director, it’s a big deal, but I think it’s because I’ve had so many great experiences on the movies I’ve made.

Is there anyone you’re trying to emulate, is there a voice you’re looking up to?

I’ve worked with Todd a long time, and I look up to him, but I’m going to do my own thing. I’m not a cinephile kind of movie nerd who goes through tons of films and picks out the exact influence. Everything comes from me, and the story at hand. Everything is simple in terms of how to shoot it and who to cast. My instincts come out naturally.

I ask because you just hosted a night at the New Beverly (he showed The Blues Brothers and Raising Arizona).

Those movies had the most influence on me. The Blues Brothers? They blew up a gas station near me when I was eight years old. I was on set, and John Belushi was from my home town. It’s the first rated R movie my father ever took me to, and to me The Blues Brothers is the greatest action-comedy-musical of all time. There’s something very Chicago about the film. John Landis nailed it, but that’s different from what I’m doing. Comedy goes through fashion cycles if you will, and The Blues Brothers was a little bit stylized, but with what I’m working on there’s a bit more of a real dynamic between real characters we’ve known in life. Everything’s grounded in my film,

There’s something about Belushi, my dad would let me watch those movies at probably a much too young age.

There’s an innocence to John Belushi. I would draw a parallel to Zach Galifianakis, that innocence to what he’s doing, even though it’s a rated R movie, you can relate to that movie, and how they can get away with things. Todd says it’s in the eyes, you can see if they can get away with bad choices and you don’t hate them for it – you love them for having remorse.

You’ve got BFF’s going on television…

We got picked up! I’m executive producer on it. The reason why I started my company is to give young comedians from the Upright Citizen’s Brigade and other places a chance. I was getting frustrated watching young raw talent being led astray by the wrong people. So I started my company, and I’ve taken a select few under my wing to start their own shows to do it, and I really believe in Lennon Parham and Jessica St. Clair.

As someone who’s mostly worked in movies, how do you feel about television, which has evolved so much over the last ten years where it almost seems to offer more creative opportunities?

Yeah. I always love the collaboration, I love being in a writer’s room, I love watching people invent things. I think on TV, they do 22 episodes a year, and it really does become a family. And you can watch characters go through so much without having a definite ending.

Do you think comedy works best with a lot of people doing the writing?

As long as you have a strong leader, yes. If someone listening to too much, then no. That’s one thing I’ve learned from improv. Make sure you listen to the person on stage, you listen, and when there’s a big idea, you follow it.

How do you feel as a writer working as a producer? Have you understood the rougher decisions of your career, or

The whole point was to give people with raw talent a shot. Ivan Reitman gave me a big break with Road Trip, and helping build a movie out of our raw ideas. I saw it as an incredible act of kindness, but I also saw how he liked working with young people who needed guidance, and I now see how much fun he was having with us now that I’m working with younger people myself.

Todd mentioned a third film, have you started throwing ideas around?

We just finished three weeks ago. There’s a chance for a trilogy, but it’s too soon.

The Hangover Part II opens Thursday May 26. Check it out.

New Photos from The Hangover Part II

Krystal Clark — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:57:24 +0000

Two new images have appeared online from Todd Phillips’ upcoming sequel The Hangover Part II. They feature the stars of the film Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, and Zach Galifianakis, as well as the helmer himself. Even he got in for a quick behind the scenes shot. The photos will appear in the upcoming issue of Empire, but they’ve been posted early by the folks over at The Playlist. Check them out…

In the photo with Phillips, it looks as if Mr. Galifianakis needs a little help with his dialogue. Maybe the stress of working in such a humid environment really got to him? The new film supposedly takes place in Thailand, which is a lot different from Las Vegas in more ways than one. As you can see, Doug (Justin Bartha) is once again missing from the group. He should just write “plot device” on his forehead and call it a day.

It looks like the guys are stressed out and lost. We don’t know the specifics of everything that goes down in the movie but we have a good idea. Here’s the plot synopsis.

In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy “The Hangover,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

The Hangover Part II is scheduled to hit theaters on May 26th.

What do you think of the latest photos from The Hangover Part II? Are you going to see it?

Charlie Sheen Might Make a Cameo in Hangover 2?

Krystal Clark — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 18:59:23 +0000

Why are we not surprised by this headline? Charlie Sheen has been all over the news this week committing, what some think, is career suicide. His antics may turn certain people off but it hasn’t affected his draw in Hollywood. Apparently, his behavior is the the type of thing that director Todd Phillips wants for his next film, The Hangover Part II according to BadassDigest.

You might be asking yourself, isn’t The Hangover Part II done filming? The short answer: Yes, it is. But that doesn’t mean Sheen can’t pop in for a day or two of footage. At the moment, he’s hot and a trusted source close to the sequel says Phillips wants him in the movie. It is possible for them to squeeze in a cameo as a pick up day, which isn’t uncommon in the industry.

The bad thing about this is, we don’t know where Sheen will be by the time The Hangover Part II is released (May 26th). Will the general public have grown tired of his behavior? Will his one million plus Twitter fans shrink to a choice few? This is definitely a time issue. We can see why they want Sheen but it seems like a dangerous bet. What do you think?

Would you be interested in seeing Sheen appear in The Hangover Part II? Do you think it would be in bad taste?

The Hangover Part II Teaser Trailer is a Reminder

Krystal Clark — Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:26:07 +0000

It’s here! After months of waiting, the first trailer for Todd Phillips The Hangover Part II has been released. The Wolfpack is officially back! The teaser features all the characters we love, Alan, Phil, and Stu but of course as always Doug is M.I.A. The teaser has debuted over on iTunes Movie Trailers, but we’ve got it for you right here below. Check it out…

That was a teaser in every sense of the word. Once again Doug is missing and this time he’s been replaced by a monkey. A very fashionable monkey! We will admit that we’re not fans of trailers that start off with quotes from critics. No offense, but if you’re going to be a teaser tease us with footage, not with words describing a film we’ve already seen.

Synopsis:

In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy “The Hangover,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

The Hangover Part II opens in theaters on May 26, 2011.

What do you think of the first trailer The Hangover Part II? Does it look as funny as the original?

Crazy New Photo From The Hangover Part II

Krystal Clark — Sat, 15 Jan 2011 01:07:53 +0000

There’s an evil monkey in someone’s room and it has nothing to do with Chris from “Family Guy.” It belongs to those wild and crazy guys from the Todd Phillips‘ comedy The Hangover Part II. A new insane image has been released in promotion of the film and as usual, we don’t know what the hell’s going on. There’s too much craziness to ignore. Check out the full image…

First and foremost, Stu has a Mike Tyson tattoo on his face. According to the official synopsis, Tyson does appear in the sequel, so we wonder if he’s the one who gives Stu the face art? Next, Alan is bald. That sums it up right there. He’s bald and he looks like a white version of the rapper Rick Ross (if you don’t know who that is Google him). Once again, Phil is partially topless (not that we’re complaining), he’s obviously the eye candy of this group. And last but not least, why is there a monkey wearing a jean jacket hanging out in their room? These questions need answers!

In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy “The Hangover,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

The Hangover Part II opens in theaters on May 26, 2011.

What do you think of the new photo from The Hangover Part II? What do you think is going on in this photo?

Source: Collider

First Official Plot Synopsis for The Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Wed, 24 Nov 2010 00:26:20 +0000

It’s no secret that The Hangover was a huge success. The 2009 comedy was a runaway hit at the box office and made its cast stars overnight. Whenever you have a movie like that gain so much success so quickly, the studio always tries to capitalize on it — cue The Hangover II. A lot of us have been wondering how they would top the premise of the first film without beating a dead horse. Well, you no longer have to wonder because the official plot synopsis for it has been released. It’s time to see if the sequel is a worthy follow up. Take a look…

Official Synopsis:

In the follow-up to the record-breaking hit comedy “The Hangover,” Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms), Alan (Zach Galifianakis) and Doug (Justin Bartha) travel to exotic Thailand for Stu’s wedding. After the unforgettable bachelor party in Las Vegas, Stu is taking no chances and has opted for a safe, subdued pre-wedding brunch. However, things don’t always go as planned. What happens in Vegas may stay in Vegas, but what happens in Bangkok can’t even be imagined.

Once again a wedding is involved and the guys will probably end up almost missing it by the skin of their teeth. We learned a while ago that Stu’s bride will be played by Jamie Chung (Sucker Punch) so that’s one mystery solved. As you can see, they didn’t give much away besides the location and why the characters will be there. We can respect their tact.

The Hangover II hits theaters on May 26, 2011.

What do you think of the synopsis for The Hangover II? Do you think it will live up to the first one?

Source: Collider

Bill Clinton Will Appear in The Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 16:00:00 +0000

Todd Phillips is really trying his best to outdo The Hangover with its upcoming sequel. First, he gets Liam Neeson to do a cameo, then Paul Giamatti signs on for an unspecified role, and now former President Bill Clinton will also make an appearance in the movie! You read that right! William Jefferson Clinton will be getting down with his bad self alongside Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha, and Zach Galifianakis.

According to a report from People magazine, Clinton shot a brief cameo last Saturday but no one knows what it entailed. The former president was in Thailand giving speeches and meeting with important people when he caught wind of the film’s production. The cast and crew have been shooting there for a while, so this was a case of being in the right place at the right time.

It’s interesting to see all these “name” people stop in and do cameos for the film. The first movie had no bankable stars, and ended up becoming one of the most successful films of 2009, and one of the most successful R rated movies of all time. After it won Best Comedy or Musical at the Golden Globes this year it seems like everybody wants to get in on the action. Who’s next, Reverend Al Sharpton?

Are you surprised that they got Clinton to appear in the movie?

Paul Giamatti Joins The Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 21:46:29 +0000

The last time we checked, Todd Phillips‘ sequel The Hangover II was well into production, therefore imagine how surprised we were to discover that they’re still casting people. A few weeks ago, we learned that Liam Neeson would step in for a small cameo role, which made sense because he isn’t playing a substantial character, but now Paul Giamatti is joining the cast too. Is this a serious addition or another cameo?

According to Deadline, Giamatti will fly over to Thailand in a few weeks, where production is underway to film his scenes. Who is this guy supposed to be? We take it that this is either another cameo or a small supporting role. We see him as someone similar to the character of Mr. Chow that Ken Jeong played in the first film. He could be one of the many people they run into, while on their drunken bender.

Giamatti’s a pro when it comes to comedy, so it will be great to see him interact with the rest of the guys. We want to see what type of character he’ll bring to the table.

What do you think of Giamatti joining the cast of The Hangover II? Who do you think he’ll play?

Jamie Chung Cast as Ed Helms Fiancee in Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Tue, 02 Nov 2010 15:31:38 +0000

Move over Jacinda Barrett, another alum from MTV’s “The Real World” is making a serious mark in Hollywood. Jamie Chung, who appeared on “Real World: San Diego” has landed another high profile movie gig according to Variety. The actress will appear in Todd Phillips‘ highly anticipated sequel The Hangover 2, which is currently in production.

The trade reports that Chung will star as the new fiancee of Ed Helm’s character Stu. As you might remember from the first film, Stu broke up with his then fiancee Melissa, who was played by Rachael Harris. It looked as if he was going to have a future with Heather Graham’s stripper character but that’s not going to happen. He’s found another leading lady.

Chung’s career has been on fire as of late. She appeared in the summer comedy Grown Ups alongside Adam Sandler and Chris Rock, she recently wrapped production on the thriller Premium Rush with Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and she’s one of the ass-kicking ladies in Zack Snyder’s upcoming flick Sucker Punch! Someone give this woman’s agent a raise. She’s been working overtime.

What do you think of Chung joining the cast of The Hangover 2? Are you sad that Heather Graham won’t be returning?

Zach Galifianakis Says He Didn’t Get Mel Gibson Fired From Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Mon, 01 Nov 2010 16:01:30 +0000

Over the past couple of weeks, The Hangover 2 has been the center of attention for all the wrong reasons. The film has been overshadowed by a dark cloud brought upon us by Mel Gibson. The Oscar winner was set to do a cameo in the sequel but the cast and crew were against it causing director Todd Phillips to drop him. Rumors soon spread that Galifianakis was the main culprit, who caused Gibson to get tossed. Galifianakis recently appeared on an episode of “The Today Show” to promote his new film, Due Date and he addressed the speculation regarding his involvement.

According to Galifianakis, “I do not consult on the movies that I’m in. I just show up and I say my lines, usually terribly, and I do consult on dialogue,” he explained. “But as far as hiring and firing of actors, I have no insight into that world whatsoever.” This was in response to a radio interview he did a few weeks ago where he stated that he was “in a deep protest” with a movie he was working on, but he never clarified if it was The Hangover 2 or not.

Phillips had previously released a statement revealing that Gibson’s cameo wouldn’t be happening because the decision ultimately did not have the full support of his entire cast and crew. The media ran wild with that and put two and two together and came up with a rambunctious story about angry actors and unfair firings. At the official press day for Due Date, Phillips stated that we shouldn’t believe the hype.

Phillips: “Just for clarification, no one was ever fired. It’s a term that is so obscene to me. Someone was doing me a favor to come in for a two minute cameo and we changed it. I mean it wasn’t like we fired somebody. It was doing a favor from the beginning.”

Even though they claim that this wasn’t a huge blow up, there had to be some serious resistance from everyone involved for Gibson to get dropped like that. More than likely they want the focus to shift back to the fun aspects of the movie and not the behind the scenes drama.

Do you believe Galifianakis and Phillips’ statements?

Source: MTV

Liam Neeson to Replace Mel Gibson in The Hangover 2

Krystal Clark — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 19:09:04 +0000

Liam Neeson is in everything! Seriously, who is this man’s agent?! Over the past few years he’s been working non-stop and now not only is he taking parts offered to him, he’s taking parts that belonged to other people. Case in point, Mel Gibson was recently dropped from appearing in the sequel The Hangover 2 because the cast and crew highly opposed it. Therefore, they tapped Bradley Cooper’s A-Team co-star Neeson to take his place. No one had an objection to that!

This casting news comes from THR, who are reporting that Neeson has been confirmed as Gibson’s replacement. The speed of his hiring makes us wonder if they had him on stand by this whole time? He already has a professional relationship with one of the film’s stars, and he’s not in the midst of a PR disaster that involves voicemails or racial slurs. Neeson would seem like a more logical choice from the start.

The actor’s not afraid to make fun of himself, so he’ll play the role of a tattoo artist who the four main characters encounter during a night of craziness. The trade emphasized that it was indeed Cooper who played a huge role in getting Neeson the part.

We wonder if he’ll sport his Irish accent in the movie? We hope so!

What do you think of Neeson replacing Gibson?

Did Zach Galifianakis Get Mel Gibson Kicked Off The Hangover 2?

Krystal Clark — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 18:08:49 +0000

Thursday evening it was confirmed that Mel Gibson had been dropped from the upcoming Warner Bros sequel, The Hangover 2. The Oscar winner was slated to make a cameo appearance in the movie as a tattoo artist that one of the characters visit during a night of debauchery. According to sources, the decision was based solely on the reaction of the cast and crew to Gibson’s hiring and by cast, we mean Zach Galifianakis.

The original statement that director Todd Phillips released went a little something like this:

“I thought Mel would have been great in the movie and I had the full backing of Jeff Robinov and his team,” said Phillips in a statement released by the studio, “But I realize filmmaking is a collaborative effort, and this decision ultimately did not have the full support of my entire cast and crew.”

Prior to this, there was word that Galifianakis was protesting Gibson’s addition, which may have set the tone for the rest of the crew. He did an interview with Comedy Death-Ray Radio, where he revealed that as an actor “you don’t have a lot of control … I’m in a deep protest right now with a movie I’m working on, up in arms about something. But … I’m not making any leeway.”

Hmm, that sounds like a serious issue to me. He might have been the spark to ignite this fire. This is a true testament to standing your ground, sometimes it only takes one person to make something drastic happen.

Do you think Galifianakis was right to voice his opinion about Gibson?

Source: EW

ScreenCrave.com » the hangover

1-1 Interview: Scot Armstrong on writing The Hangover Part II

Related Posts

New Photos from The Hangover Part II

Related Posts

Charlie Sheen Might Make a Cameo in Hangover 2?

Related Posts

The Hangover Part II Teaser Trailer is a Reminder

Related Posts

Crazy New Photo From The Hangover Part II

Related Posts

First Official Plot Synopsis for The Hangover 2

Related Posts

Bill Clinton Will Appear in The Hangover 2

Related Posts

Paul Giamatti Joins The Hangover 2

Related Posts

Jamie Chung Cast as Ed Helms Fiancee in Hangover 2

Related Posts

Zach Galifianakis Says He Didn’t Get Mel Gibson Fired From Hangover 2

Related Posts

Liam Neeson to Replace Mel Gibson in The Hangover 2

Related Posts

Did Zach Galifianakis Get Mel Gibson Kicked Off The Hangover 2?

Related Posts