I got the chance to attend a press conference at a beautiful hotel on Miami Beach with the boys of That Awkward Moment. Zac Efron, Miles Teller and Michael B. Jordan along with director/writer Tom Gormican were a delight and enthused to talk about their new movie.
On What Attracted Them To The Project
Zac: When I first read the script, I was in Cannes. I recognized something in it that was authentic to guys of this generation that I hadn’t seen before. Romantic Comedies for me, in this place and time, have this sort of stigma. It felt like it was the only thing I could do or could bring something to yet I didn’t want to because I didn’t like the way so many have been made. Tom wrote a really cool movie. I recognized a lot of my own life in it. I also recognized a lot of values that I saw in my best friends. I knew that if we found the right guys to play the best friends, we could do something special with it.
Tom: I think we did, I don’t know how you guys feel about it (to the reporters)
Michael: It was a change in pace for me than the dramatic stuff that I’ve been doing. I didn’t want my mom to see me die anymore on screen (laughs). It was just enough. It was just a perfect opportunity to play a character that was less stereotypical. I got to shoot in New York and be close to my family. Getting to work with Zac and Miles, and I really respect Tom’s sense of humor. I knew it would be a safe place for me to take risks and experiment on the comedic side. So it kind of worked out as a perfect choice for me after Fruitvale (<–click to read my review on Michael’s fantastic movie!)
Miles: I was bummed I didn’t get Fruitvale because it was down to the final two (the room laughs). That year I had filmed three movies already, it was spring, summer and fall. I met Tom at a bar–it was a mutual friend’s birthday–and she introduced us. Literally the next day Tom was like “Hey man! I wrote this movie, and I think you’d be perfect for the part of Daniel. I read it, and I thought the script was really funny. It had a lot of heart, and I’ve some comedies that maybe didn’t have the heart in it and I thought it would be a lot of fun to work on. Also, it is an independent film, and a part from supporting independent film making, it was a good script.
Their Favorite Movies From Last Year
Tom: Short Term 12.
Michael: Short Term 12 was incredible. Ain’t Them Body Saints was really good.
Tom: Anchorman 2 (the room laughs)
Michael: Don’t sleep on Anchorman 2! Ron Burgundy was amazing.
Zac: I just watched 12 Years A Slave and I can’t get it out of my head. I thought it was just so incredible.
Miles: is Dallas Buyers Club from last year?
“Yes,” the room chimes in.
Miles: Dallas Buyers Club is my favorite film. Just watching two incredible actors give themselves completely over to the story.
Tom: Mud.
All three chime in and agree.
Tom: And Frances Ha is one of my favorites. Did you see Miles try to think of something he wasn’t in? (laughs)
Zac, On Being an Executive Producer On This Film
Zac: It was great! The only thing I was capable of doing is bringing great people around me, and look for great people to work with. Tom was really the helm of the whole thing, so I just backed him on what he wanted to do. I was able to help him in casting. I’m figuring this out as I go. I’m learning on my feet. I’m very proud that this is the first one that I was an executive producer on.
Tom: When you get someone like Zac, it pushes everything forward. You need guys like this to support–especially guys like me who are first time directors.
Zac: The production company (Ninjas Runnin’ Wild) was going on for years, but it was really hard to find material that I felt was authentic. There was so much out there, but it was hard to find something that I really wanted to make. I read Tom’s script and I was finally like “Yes, dude! This is it.”
Facebook “Stalking” + Gender-Specific Roles Being Blurred
Miles: Guys do that so much! I didn’t even know girls do that. I thought it was purely a guy thing, that’s so funny.
Me: Now it’s Instagram stalking.
Michael: (jokingly) “How many pictures did she like? She liked eight pictures in a row!” (the room laughs)
Tom: It’s one of those things that this movie tries to do is that these gender-specific roles are not that anymore, the lines are blurred if they ever were. That may sound like an obvious thing, but it’s kind of under presented in popular culture in film.
Miles: We have strong females characters too. It’s like the women are so dependent on the guys. They have a lot of respect for themselves and it’s not misogynist. It’s not like the guy gets her when he wants her.
Tom: It’s kind of a two-way street. It’s not always girls who want the relationship like classic romantic comedies where they’re like “I’m not complete unless I have that person.” In this, we also show girls who don’t want to be in a relationship and are avoiding the “So” moments like Addison Timlin’s character (Alana). And sometimes there are guys who really want to be in a relationship like Michael’s character.
Miles: Love is a highway is what we’re trying to say, here, people. (laughs).
For the full interview with the cast and director, you can listen to the raw and uncut interview below!
That Awkward Moment is now playing in theaters. You can read my and Gaby’s review here.
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