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KW:
How was it different directing your brothers
this time around?
Keenen:
The two of them are together in the movie when
you see the film, but when we shot the movie, they never
shot a scene together. Marlon had the most difficult
job because he was isolated on the green screen. He
had to physically match everything that Linden [body
double Linden Porco] did with his head. He came up with
a very clever way of using a swivel chair that enabled
him to keep his head still and move his body in a fluid
way.
KW:
What did you think of Marlon’s performance?
Keenen:
He really did a brilliant job. Marlon, Damon and Jim
Carrey are the three people that I think could play
a character like this, a human cartoon that you still
connect to. You don’t lose him in the cartoon.
You still relate to him as a human being. Those are
the only three guys I know who have that kind of talent.
KW:
How about Shawn’s?
Keenen:
I think that Shawn actually had the most fun, because
he got to work with Kerry [Washington], Spoon [John
Witherspoon], Molly [Shannon] and David Alan Grier.
So, he got to work with all the funny people, plus he
got to work with Linden. Linden made it easy, because
he’s such a lovable kid. He made it easy for Shawn
to want this little kid, because he really had a cute
little baby in front of him. So, his performance is
genuine.
KW:
How would you describe your character?
Shawn:
Darryl is a young man who has reached that point in
life where he really wants to have kids. He really wants
to have that responsibility and that camaraderie that
you share with children. So, he’s really excited
about that next level in life. Unfortunately, his enthusiasm
about having babies is not matched by his bank account
which can’t really accommodate kids at this particular
time with his wife. But that doesn’t stop him
from trying. So, he wants to be a dad, and he will be
one.
KW:
Was it hard to generate chemistry not really having
each other to work off of as you shot your scenes?
Shawn:
The chemistry was still there, surprisingly, through
Keenen, because he knew what it was that I did, and
then Marlon would match the scene with what it was that
he was doing. So, I shot most of my stuff first with
his body double, and then Marlon would watch what I
did and then ad-lib what he would normally ad-lib if
we were both doing the scene together. It was an interesting
process. It was different. I missed having him on the
set with me at the same time because we have a blast
doing it. But this turned out really good.
KW:
Do you two see yourselves as similar to a classic
comedy team like Laurel and Hardy or Abbott and Costello?
Marlon:
Me and Shawn are kinda like Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau,
but we’re not white. Or older, yet. Who knows
what we’ll become when we get older. But we’re
going to be grumpy old black men. I know it. We were
born a comedy team. We’re twins, but I just so
happened to come out late. Of course, he came out prettier,
because he came out on time, and I came out a little
shriveled up and funny-looking, but it’s all good.
KW:
What’s it like being directed by your big brother?
Marlon:
I didn’t want to get in his way, because I didn’t
want to get a spanking. Sometimes Keenen would give
me a look like, “You want to get the hell off
the set?” And I’m like, “Okay.”
Shawn:
Keenen likes to do what is written first, or
close to what’s written. Most of the time, Keenen
is cool, he’ll let you play. You’ll come
up with something, and then he’ll come up with
something, and it just becomes this whole other thing.
He’s always trying to elevate the material, trying
to take it up ten notches from what it was when you
read it. That’s the blessing of working with Mr.
Keenen Ivory Wayans. Although sometimes he’s like,
“That’s my line. Keep it like that or you’re
going to change the story structure.”
Keenen:
I always shoot one to page, so that we have
it as guide, and then it’s improv on top of improv,
and everybody gets to play. You never make people stick
to the script.
KW:
What makes it to the screen, more of the original
script or the improv?
Keenen:
I think the spontaneity is where you get the best stuff.
What I do require of people is that they really understand
their character, so that what they improvise is in context
to make sure we don’t just get a lot of random
stuff. We do a lot of work on who their character is
and what they’re all about. And then once they
understand that, then they’re free to go.
KW:
Is it fun for siblings to get to work together so often?
Marlon:
Yeah, I’d go to work everyday and it’s
not like work, it’s fun. I mean, it is work, but
I like doing it. I’m happy, because I love working
with my brothers. I do. It could be a challenge, but
when you overcome that challenge and look at the filmography
of the movies that we’ve done together, I’m
damn proud. It’s just amazing what we’ve
been able to accomplish.
KW:
How did you come to cast Kerry Washington opposite Shawn?
Keenen:
This was her first lead comedic role. She kinda came
in saying, “Okay, this isn’t really what
I do, but I want to do it.” She was exactly what
we needed. She brought integrity to the role, and just
a wonderful charm, and an authority, because she sort
of wears the pants in the house.
KW:
How was it working with Saturday Night Live
alums like Tracy Morgan and Molly Shannon?
Shawn:
Tracy Morgan was a blast. Not only is he a blast, but
he’s great in the movie. This is the funniest
I’ve ever seen him, not just because it’s
my movie, but because he got to do what it is that he
actually does, and we really helped to support that.
We just let him feel free. He’s a really talented
dude, and he kept us laughing the whole shoot. So, we
were glad to have him and were happy that he came aboard.
And this was the first time I ever met Molly. I had
always been a fan of hers since SNL. She did one of
my favorite sketches, where she was playing the cliché
female comic who was bombing, doing “Don’t
get me started!” Me and my brothers always loved
her. We been trying to work with her for awhile. Finally,
one of our wishes has come true. She does great work
in the scene. It’s a funny scene.
KW:
Are you happy with the final cut?
Keenen:
For me as a director, this was probably the most unique
film. It really called upon all of my experience, because
I’d never done a full effects film before. But
I’ve used some effects in all the films that I’ve
done, so all of that stuff felt like preparation for
this film which made it one of the most gratifying experiences
for me.
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