Rom-com featuring Amy Schumer, LeBron James and Bill Hader.
Amy Schumer and co-star Bill Hader talk to Leena Tailor about getting paid, sex scenes and making Trainwreck, a romantic comedy with a difference.
Having just earned her first Emmy nomination for her comedy series, Inside Amy Schumer, the speedily rising 34-year-old has successfully made the transition from stand-up favourite to mainstream comedy star. Now, she's taking on the big screen with her first film role, opposite Bill Hader in romantic comedy Trainwreck.
The film is directed by Judd Apatow (the guy behind Bridesmaids, Knocked Up and TV series Girls), who convinced Schumer to write the screenplay based on her own life.
What's the personal story behind Trainwreck?
Schumer: My dad really has MS, I am really close with my sister and I was learning a lot of stuff about myself that I learn in the movie at the time I was writing it. I was in love, scared and realising I had been hurting myself and that it was painful for the people around me. I felt like I wasn't loveable, but when I was writing it I realised I am. I totally deserve love.
Were you scared of exposing your personal stories to the world?
Schumer: No. I've never hesitated about that stuff. Anyone who would judge any of my behaviour in the movie is not someone I would want to be close to. The movie's not for everybody. For some people it will be their favourite movie and then some will enjoy The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel.
So Judd Apatow forced you guys to hang out before confirming Bill for the role?
Hader: He made us have dinner with him and he sat there the whole time, not saying anything and taking pictures of us. Then he walked around the Girls season three premiere party showing photos and asking everyone, "Would you like to see these two in a movie together? Do you think these two make a funny couple?"
Schumer: So awkward.
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader feature on the cover of this week's TimeOut:
After working as comedians for so long how does it feel to now be considered celebrities?
Schumer: It's not fun. Bill?
Hader: I'm not a celebrity.
Schumer: You are. You love it.
Hader: I'm super-boring.
Schumer: You're a boring celebrity.
Hader: It's nice working on a project like this and working with Amy. I watch a lot of romantic comedies and when the movie ends, I'm often thinking, "I hope they don't end up together because they don't even like each other." So we worked really hard to make sure that this felt real.
That part of it is really fun, but when you're done with it and the TMZ guys are like, "Hey Bill, what do you think about Ashton Kutcher?", that sucks.
What does film offer you that stand-up doesn't?
Hader: Money.
Schumer: Mo-mo-mo-ney! No, I just wanted to tell this story and in a different way, with a stronger punch. And I wanted to try to make a movie - everybody says it's so fun. It was okay.
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in a scene from the movie Trainwreck.
How was it filming the sex scenes?
Schumer: I felt very vulnerable. He's very sweet and made me feel very supported, but in-between each take I was yelling, "This is so embarrassing!"
Hader: The whole time, under my breath I was like, "Are you okay?"
Schumer: And actually Judd was more embarrassed than we were.
Hader: Judd was freaking out. He would go, "Do three thrusts, then Amy say your line then two more thrusts." We're like, "Dad, don't say 'thrusts'. That is gross."
Schumer: Disgusting. Then we got ourselves to the right place, but in-between takes you're looking at Frank holding the boom and all these union guys you've been shooting with for two months, who are just looking at you ...
Hader: ... thinking, "So that's how your face looks when you do it."
Amy, in your comedy and in Trainwreck, you often make fun of the way you look. Is that based on true insecurities?
Schumer: I've got a good hold on what I look like. I feel beautiful, strong and healthy and I feel worthy of love, affection and erections.
The women we put on camera in LA look a very specific way and it's drilled into our heads that if we don't look like that, there's something wrong with us and I don't believe that. I want other women to feel beautiful and being an example is the best way I can do that.
Hader: I think Amy's hot!
Amy Schumer and Bill Hader in a scene from the movie Trainwreck.
You're opening for Madonna's New York shows in September - what can you tell us about the gig?
Schumer: I think I'll probably bomb. Chris Rock called me and told me that she wanted me to open for her and I was so excited. She's one of my all-time favourite performers and I can't wait.
Bill, how was it filming [the upcoming Spielberg fantasy adventure] The BFG with Jemaine Clement?
Hader: It was great. We would go book-shopping for our kids together because I was reading stories via Skype to my kid and Jemaine had his family with him.
People saw us come in, go right to the children's book section then he would be like, "You should get this one."
Then we would both come down to the register and all of mine were about princesses and people were going, "Really?"
Who: Amy Schumer What:Trainwreck When: Opens August 13 Also: The stand-up special Amy Schumer: Mostly Sex Stuff screens on Comedy Central, Saturday 10.20pm; her series Inside Amy Schumer screens on Comedy Central tonight 8.55pm
