Over the last two weeks, we have shared several Incredibles 2 interviews as well as some other things like our trip to Disneyland for Pixar Fest, Big City Greens and even the top Incredibles 2 Toys. Today I excited to share our interview with Bob Odenkirk (voice of “Winston Deavor”) & Catherine Keener (“Evelyn Deavor”). They are so funny and they also had great parts in the movie. I hope to see more of them (if they make another Incredibles…they have to make another one right?)
What makes Brad Bird different to work with than other directors in Hollywood?
Bob : Well, he’s not different from all of the directors. He’s a lot like the best directors. Spielberg and Alexander Payne and Vince Gilligan. These guys know what they want, and they dial it in just so — and that could sound like oppressive to an actor. It’s not though. Somehow it’s like a challenge that you wanna meet, and it’s a neat thing to do it. And you feel accomplished when you do it. But also they’re all willing to hear, especially in the early stages of a scene, what do you wanna try. Try something or even maybe after they got exactly what they want, you can say, yeah, but I don’t know, I had a different thought about how to say that line. And they’ll go let me hear it. And then they go down that road together, but they all are dialing it in just so. And it’s great. You feel like you’re in really good hands. And somehow it doesn’t steal your own inspiration and creative input.
Catherine : It is like an aperture that kinda closes like that. And once you go through it, it’s like crazy, open space. But they’ll show you that thing. And it’s so exciting because you go into somebody else’s world and then create your own. It’s really exciting when that happens, which is why all actors wanna work with great filmmakers. That’s really where it goes.
Bob : I don’t know. People have said my character looks a lot like me, and there’re ways I think. And then there are ways I’m like, wow, I’m not remotely like that. Obviously, I don’t dress as well as the character. That’s for sure.
Catherine : He’s so handsome, right?
Bob : You’re so nice.
Catherine : I know.
Bob : And you’re alluring in your character. Don’t you think? She draws you in.
Catherine : Shut up.
Bob : I’m not sure. I kinda like him. I have to get more familiar with him. My family’s proud of it, and they’re like, yeah, Dad, it’s a great character. So. Yes, believe me. I asked over and over. Like, now that we’re alone, tell me again.
Catherine : But that’s always what it is. You want your family to be happy. It really narrows down to that.
They are so fun to listen to banter back and forth and tease each other.
If you could have one superpower in real life, which one would it be and why?
Bob : I’ll say mine, ’cause it’s dopey. I would like to be able to eat whatever I want and not gain weight. I mean really…It’s an obsession. It’s a part of my life too much, and that’s what I wish I could have. But I like hers. It’s a better idea, and it’s really — it would be wonderful.
Catherine : I would just like to be able to go home instantly– that’s all I wanna do…
Bob : Right away. Just to understand in case any labs are working on this teslar. It is like teleportation in a way, but it’s only one direction though. She’ll still go to the airport, wait in line, go through to get somewhere– but then going home is always [/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type=”1_1″ background_position=”left top” background_color=”” border_size=”” border_color=”” border_style=”solid” spacing=”yes” background_image=”” background_repeat=”no-repeat” padding=”” margin_top=”0px” margin_bottom=”0px” class=”” id=”” animation_type=”” animation_speed=”0.3″ animation_direction=”left” hide_on_mobile=”no” center_content=”no” min_height=”none”][CLAP] like that.
Catherine: And I’m home. I’m in my pajamas. My bed’s made. Clothes are off the floor. And I’m ready to go to bed, you know. Like, I’m gonna watch some TV– it’s like I’m set.
Bob : Wouldn’t that be the best?
These are both great! I wouldn’t mind the not gaining weight thing -and I would love to be able to lose weight with that too haha. I can think of several situations that I would love the going home thing. Like – no more rush hour lol.
Were there any challenges? Were there any scenes that maybe you went, oh, let me try it again?
Catherine : It was like one run on tape for hours and I would start and I’d be, oh, wait, wait, and he’s like that was good. What are you doing? Sometimes you feel honestly, okay, I was in the pocket there. I’m gonna walk away. But, you know, often you don’t. And mostly you don’t really know the truth anyway. You have to trust Brad, because he’s putting that movie together, obviously, up at Pixar. So, you’re not really seeing that. And he knows the tone of it all and the other characters, and it’s changing over time. So, you could feel it changing in the script, the tone, a little bit, but you don’t know really know where or how. And you never have the whole script. You’re guessing at what might work. So, you give him what he wants, get that first and then maybe say what if I tried this and that.
Bob : Last night [at the red carpet premiere], he said I used a lotta your stuff. So I think he was saying that a fair amount of the things that I tried or offered up, he said he used. But I don’t know what.
Catherine : But that’s also the mark of a great filmmaker. It might be another way to go or an improvement. They want their worlds widened too.
Bob : Because they have confidence in their own vision, they can listen to anybody. And if it’s better, they just go, yeah, let’s go there.
How many sessions did you do? Like, how long did you record for?
Bob : I think I did over a year and a half.
Catherine: But didn’t your character change a lot?
Bob : I felt like he kinda changed tonally between the first and second and second and third a lot. And then not. And then it was, you know, different lines and story that was collapsed or expanded. That was it. That’s all that remained. But there was this — he was more like Saul and that when he started, if you know that character I do on Better Call Saul. And then he became more innocent and genuine, which I love.
I asked this question. I am always interested in how long it takes and how often they record. It just amazes me!
The Incredibles 2 is another fantastic film from Disney-Pixar. Here is the trailer:
That is so awesome that you had the opportunity to meet the voices behind The Incredibles. I loved the first movie, and I can’t wait to share this movie with my 2 daughters. We went to McDonald’s a couple of days ago just to get some of the Incredibles 2 toys in the happy meals. I plan on taking my daughters to see the movie in the theater next week.
That is so awesome that you had the opportunity to meet the voices behind The Incredibles. I loved the first movie, and I can’t wait to share this movie with my 2 daughters. We went to McDonald’s a couple of days ago just to get some of the Incredibles 2 toys in the happy meals. I plan on taking my daughters to see the movie in the theater next week.