Being an actor, executive producer, and occasional director for “Curb Your Enthusiasm” is a joy. Truly, it is. But that prompts the question: Why would I venture into making an independent, equity-financed film? It isn’t for the love of stress, I can assure you. Nor is it for the thrill of nausea (though I would choose stress over nausea any day). This piece isn’t about my distaste for nausea but rather my journey in creating my film, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With.
Come this September, my film, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With, featuring Bonnie Hunt, Sarah Silverman, and yours truly, will hit the theaters, courtesy of IFC Films. Later, The Weinstein Company will release its DVD. Now, I could delve into the intricacies of post-sale contracts and deliverables, but let’s face it—that’s tedious reading for both of us. I’d rather not discourage budding filmmakers from pursuing their passion.
And while I could recount the challenges of financing my movie (like losing funding twice or the film shoot stretching from April 2004 to September 2005), I’d rather urge you just to watch it. Believe me, it has its charm. Think of it as a mash-up between Woody Allen and Albert Brooks films, with a twist: I’m the lead, and it might not be quite up to their legendary status.
Since I value your time, let’s keep this reflection succinct. Here are some memorable moments and takeaways from the production of my debut feature:
Find Humor in The Unfortunate
On our very first week, after wrapping up the last scene, our sound guy (let’s name him “Flint” for fun) seemed unnaturally perturbed. On prying, he dropped the bomb—none of the sound was recorded. Though initially gobsmacked and recalling Flint’s earlier assurance of impeccable sound, we couldn’t help but laugh at the sheer absurdity of the situation. Keeping the crew in the dark, we broke the news to the actors. Saul Rubinek’s calm reassurance was a silver lining.
Imperfections Can Become Perfections
A significant character, Luca, played by David Pasquesi, is shown working in a senior living facility. We had to reshoot a scene there, and given it was nighttime and we didn’t want to disturb the elderly residents, the entire dialogue was done in hushed tones. Though this soft-spoken dialogue irks me, audiences seem to enjoy it. So, who am I to judge?
Clever Phrasing Beats Censorship Every Time
One unforgettable moment occurred when filming a scene with Sarah Silverman’s character, Beth. The original script contained a rather risqué line, which we were convinced would tip the movie into an R rating. On the fly, Sarah and I brainstormed alternatives, landing on some amusingly euphemistic terms. The result? A scene that’s hilarious and unexpectedly PG. This inspired me to purge the entire script of profanity, achieving a mature comedy without a single swear word.
In conclusion, I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With hit the big screen on September 5, 2007, under IFC Films’ banner. Enjoy!