Hollywood in 2023 was characterized
by the constraints of strike rules, dictating what talent could not do. Seth
Rogen, Bradley Cooper, Ayo Edebiri, Devery Jacobs, Xolo Maridueña, and others
discuss how they celebrated significant projects, including breakout moments,
away from the usual spotlight.
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| ILLUSTRATION BY THE SPORTING PRESS |
The dual strikes of the year silenced talent, preventing them from promoting projects they had invested years of work in. For established figures like Seth Rogen and Bradley Cooper, it represented a missed opportunity to discuss their passion projects. However, for emerging stars like Ayo Edebiri from "The Bear," Iñaki Godoy from "One Piece," Devery Jacobs from "Reservation Dogs," Xolo Maridueña from "Blue Beetle," and Kevin Biegel, the screenwriter of "The Machine," it marked a major career milestone experienced from the sidelines. They share their experiences of marking these occasions away from the traditional spotlight.
My Missed Moment: Bradley Cooper
Bradley Cooper shares the decision
to highlight different voices from the film "Maestro" at the Venice
Film Festival, a choice made amidst the strikes.
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| Bradley Cooper stars in Maestro, which he also directed. The Venice premiere was one of the first impacted by the actors strike |
Instead of the cast, individuals such as the Bernstein children, prosthetic designer Kazu Hiro, sound designer Steve Morrow, editor Michelle Tesoro, costume designer Mark Bridges, and production designer Kevin Thompson were sent to represent the film on the red carpet and in the press conference. Cooper expresses his thrill that Netflix agreed to this approach, believing it was a wonderful opportunity for these contributors to take the forefront and also benefit the movie itself.
Why Skipping My Premiere Was One of the Best Nights of My Life
Kevin Biegel recounts the decision
not to attend the premiere of the movie "The Machine" due to unclear
but seemingly strict rules from the Writers Guild of America (WGA) against
promotion at the time. He consulted writer friends, some on the WGA board, to
explore any flexibility in the rules. Ultimately, Biegel chose not to attend to
avoid looking like he was undermining the collective effort.
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| The Machine writer Kevin Biegel outside the South Carolina movie theater where he ended up screening his debut with his family |
Instead, on the night of the
premiere, Biegel and his family were in South Carolina at the Terrace Theater,
watching the movie with the first audience at the first showing. The experience
was special as it marked the first premiere of a movie he had written. His
parents and wife, Tricia, were there with him under the marquee, and seeing his
name on the poster was a meaningful moment.
"The Machine" is a
father-son story, and Biegel reflects on how his dad, who instilled in him a
love of movies, was now there to see a film with his name on it. The premiere
was a family affair, with Tricia and his parents enjoying the experience
together. Biegel humorously notes his mom's enthusiastic approach to promoting
the film to everyone entering the theater, even if they were there to see
"The Little Mermaid."
Kevin Biegel humorously recounts an
incident at the premiere of "The Machine" where his mom got upset
with the popcorn guy for not selling her the poster out front, insisting on
buying it that night. Despite the popcorn guy's promise to look into it, Biegel
didn't think it would happen. This led to a moment where his mom expressed her
frustration, and he anticipated her reaction when she reads about it.
Despite the popcorn poster
incident, Biegel describes the premiere night as one of the happiest moments for
him. The movie played well, and he experienced the support and pride of his
family. His wife squeezed his hand, his dad expressed pride, and his mom,
despite the earlier incident, continued engaging with strangers in the theater,
proudly mentioning that Biegel wrote the movie. The joy of sharing the moment
with people who held the magic of it in the same way he did was a memorable
gift.
Later, his mom called to inform him that she could get him a poster for the movie through someone she knew. Biegel already had one but, in a compromise, agreed to five posters sent by his mom in the end.
Twas ‘The Summer of Ayo!’ (Minus Ayo)
When Ayo Edebiri prepared for her
interview for the August 9 cover of THR titled "The Summer of Ayo,"
she anticipated a career highlight, including a reunion with her co-stars from
"The Bear" in Copenhagen and the promotion of films like
"Theater Camp," "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant
Mayhem," and "Bottoms" back in the United States.
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| Kicking off summer at Paris Fashion Week, Ayo Edebiri was shot by THR. The strike meant the follow-up interview had to be scrapped |
However, the trajectory shifted
with the onset of strikes, turning it into the Summer of Strikes, with Edebiri
on picket lines instead of walking red carpets. She shared insights from the
set of the A24 horror film "Opus" in New Mexico, where she stars
alongside John Malkovich.
During the strike, Edebiri
initially engaged in stand-up and writing but later decided to alleviate the
pressure on herself. She reflected on the parallel with the pandemic, where
there was an expectation for heightened creative output, emphasizing the
importance of preserving energy. Instead, she embraced a vacation to Europe,
visited family, and indulged in movie-watching.
Regarding her decision to delete
her Twitter account, Edebiri clarified that it was for personal mental health
reasons. She expressed how Twitter can easily become a platform for negativity,
citing an example of a positive and light-hearted meme she received from a
friend as an ideal representation of what the internet should be.
Ayo Edebiri reflects on the impact
of the strikes on her projects during the summer, acknowledging the fortune
that her involvement in various works still reached their fan bases. She notes
that projects like "Turtles" and "The Bear" had built-in
fan bases, and for "Bottoms," the audience, primarily Gen Z or
frequent internet users, preferred authentic promotion. During the strike, the
audience created and shared their content, making post-strike promotion feel
more organic.
Edebiri hopes that studios and
production companies recognize the labor involved in promotion, emphasizing the
importance of conversations about labor and the value of people's work.
Regarding her Emmy nomination for "The Bear," Edebiri keeps details about her outfit under wraps but expresses excitement about the preparation. She also shares the experience of returning to set post-strike, highlighting the long days and the joy of feeling her brain spin again, generating ideas in collaboration with co-star Rachel Sennott during a recent costume fitting.
My Missed Moment: Iñaki Godoy
Iñaki Godoy reflects on the
unconventional premiere experience of the Netflix adaptation of "One
Piece," his most significant show. While observing the promotional efforts
by Netflix, including events in Santa Monica and Mexico City, Godoy participated
in the debut of the show from his home, liking posts.
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| ALEXANDRE SCHNEIDER |
During the premiere, he traveled to
Japan to be with his castmates, intending to share the important moment
together. They watched the first two episodes, and afterward, Godoy returned to
his hotel. The next day, he watched almost the entire show with his family.
Godoy had envisioned giving a speech at a traditional premiere, but instead, he delivered it to his family in the hotel, expressing his happiness and love for them. Despite the unconventional setting, being with a small, close-knit group felt casual and grounding for Godoy.
Xolo Maridueña Missed His Breakout. How Crushed Was He?
Xolo Maridueña, known for his role
in "Cobra Kai" and cast as the lead in DC Films' "Blue
Beetle," faced a unique challenge during the strikes. As the first Latino
to star in a live-action superhero film, Maridueña missed significant personal
publicity opportunities for the film's Aug. 18 release. Despite this setback,
he maintained a Zen-like mindset to prevent career setbacks from affecting his
happiness.
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| If not for SAG-AFTRA’s ban on promotion, Xolo Maridueña would have been doing a lot more of this |
Expressing disappointment about missing the chance to represent Latinos in a visible way, Maridueña emphasized that "Blue Beetle" aimed to showcase diverse stories about Latinos beyond stereotypical narratives. While he was in the process of being fitted for a suit for the movie's red carpet, news of the actors' strike affecting the film came in. Although it was disappointing, Maridueña acknowledged the larger impact of the strike and remained focused on the film's significance beyond its opening weekend.
Xolo Maridueña, in the spirit of
his character Blue Beetle's alter ego Jaime Reyes, returned home to his family
in Los Angeles during the strikes. Reflecting on significant life moments, he
emphasized the importance of sharing them with his family. Despite the actors'
strike affecting the film's promotion, Maridueña and his family openly attended
a screening of "Blue Beetle," playfully acknowledging the challenge
of secrecy within a large Latino group.
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| Xolo Maridueña as Blue Beetle in 'Blue Beetle' |
Looking ahead, Maridueña has the final season of Netflix's "Cobra Kai" and is currently filming the historical drama "Killing Castro" alongside Al Pacino and Diego Boneta. Excited about exploring a different genre, he appreciates the opportunity to delve into drama. Additionally, with James Gunn's declaration that Blue Beetle will return in the DC Universe, Maridueña feels honored to be part of the larger plans outlined by Gunn and DC Studios co-chief Peter Safran. Despite being in the dark about his specific DC future, he eagerly anticipates the creative developments.
My Missed Moment: Seth Rogen
Seth Rogen shares his
disappointment about the impact of the strikes on the promotion of
"Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem." Despite being proud of
the movie and eager to discuss it, the strikes prevented him from talking about
or supporting the film. Rogen specifically curated the cast with people he
liked and was friends with, looking forward to their presence in front of the
movie.
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| VIVIEN KILLILEA |
The inability to engage in promotional activities was described as massively disappointing and strange. However, Rogen expresses relief in finally being able to talk about the project, citing recent participation in a roundtable discussion and ongoing screenings. He contrasts this with other experiences where there were topics he preferred not to discuss, emphasizing that "Ninja Turtles" was not one of them.
It Almost Feels Like the Final Season Didn’t Happen
Devery Jacobs reflects on the
conclusion of "Reservation Dogs" and the challenges of expressing her
feelings about the ending amidst the strikes. She draws parallels to the
philosophical question of a falling tree making a noise if no one is around to
hear it, pondering how one reckons with a show that has profoundly impacted
their lives reaching its conclusion. Jacobs acknowledges that she is gradually
approaching the process of understanding it.
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| From left: Devery Jacobs as Elora Danan, Paulina Alexis as Willie Jack, D’Pharaoh Woon-A-Tai as Bear and Lane Factor as Cheese in Reservation Dogs |
The realization that it was the end came halfway through the third season, catching many by surprise. Sterlin Harjo, the show's leader, played a crucial role in the decision, and Jacobs emphasizes the need to respect his judgment. She explains that even if the show had continued, her character Elora Danan's journey would have come to an end. Despite being a fictional character, Elora Danan is incredibly real to Jacobs and many others. After wrapping up, Jacobs wrote an extensive passage in her Notes app, describing the experience as untethering the character from her skin.
Devery Jacobs expresses the
profound impact of "Reservation Dogs" and the doors it has opened,
not just for those directly involved in the show but also for people from
Indigenous communities. She notes the growing appetite for Indigenous stories
and the increasing opportunities for Indigenous storytellers to break through.
While acknowledging the desire for more of "Reservation Dogs," Jacobs
hopes for a broader landscape of Indigenous projects across various genres.
Reflecting on the show's creation
during the pandemic, Jacobs recalls the initial disbelief among the team about
being allowed to tell the story in the way they wanted. From getting the green
light, they never took any minute of airtime for granted, appreciating the
opportunity at every step. Jacobs emphasizes the collective sentiment of
disbelief throughout the process, highlighting the gratitude for being able to
create the show.
Looking ahead, Jacobs mentions her
involvement in the upcoming series "Echo" and her role as both star
and producer in the film "Backspot," scheduled for release in the
spring.
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