Mike De Luca
👤 PersonPodcast Appearances
Do you know that they now have this new software that the pilots use that shows them where turbulence is, that they all share it and it's like a- Pyrex. Yeah, Pyrex. He knows everything, Will.
Do you know that they now have this new software that the pilots use that shows them where turbulence is, that they all share it and it's like a- Pyrex. Yeah, Pyrex. He knows everything, Will.
But here's my suggestion. And this is recent. Just this spring, I decided to stop doing it. I had a moment, Mike, where I went, I'm not flying this plane. And the pilots don't want to die.
But here's my suggestion. And this is recent. Just this spring, I decided to stop doing it. I had a moment, Mike, where I went, I'm not flying this plane. And the pilots don't want to die.
Well, that explains your diet, too, that you just, you don't care what happens.
Well, that explains your diet, too, that you just, you don't care what happens.
What are you talking about? JB, you forget. I grew up in a serious world. You grew up, so now you're playing make-believe office manager. You've got a company. Yeah.
What are you talking about? JB, you forget. I grew up in a serious world. You grew up, so now you're playing make-believe office manager. You've got a company. Yeah.
And by the way, I was talking to my therapist the other day, and it turns out that humans can withstand so much more, too. Oh, Will.
And by the way, I was talking to my therapist the other day, and it turns out that humans can withstand so much more, too. Oh, Will.
Dave Zazz, let's talk about Zazz knocking on the door.
Dave Zazz, let's talk about Zazz knocking on the door.
It's like those people who used to go like, we're going to have all these platforms for content, and we're going to create content. Like, what's the content? Anybody can have a fucking office. Sean could have an office, for Christ's sake.
It's like those people who used to go like, we're going to have all these platforms for content, and we're going to create content. Like, what's the content? Anybody can have a fucking office. Sean could have an office, for Christ's sake.
And we've been inundated, right? Who was it who said, Tom Rothman said, you know, the tyranny of IP. And we've been inundated with it, right? And is there something... Says the guy who only has one Marvel title. Way to go. Way to go. You just made his shit list.
And we've been inundated, right? Who was it who said, Tom Rothman said, you know, the tyranny of IP. And we've been inundated with it, right? And is there something... Says the guy who only has one Marvel title. Way to go. Way to go. You just made his shit list.
No, I'm kidding. He's a great guy.
No, I'm kidding. He's a great guy.
My question is, I guess, in the face of all of that, is there, and be as candid as you want to be, you're comfortable as being, given if all things being equal, if you could control the appetite of film goers and people who go into the theaters, what would be, what would you do? What kind of films would you make? Would you greenlight? Would you develop, you know, all things being equal?
My question is, I guess, in the face of all of that, is there, and be as candid as you want to be, you're comfortable as being, given if all things being equal, if you could control the appetite of film goers and people who go into the theaters, what would be, what would you do? What kind of films would you make? Would you greenlight? Would you develop, you know, all things being equal?
A Jason Bateman picture. He refers to himself in the third person a lot. Do you know that? I think the world needs another Jason Bateman picture.
A Jason Bateman picture. He refers to himself in the third person a lot. Do you know that? I think the world needs another Jason Bateman picture.
He's such a good director. Yes. And we always encourage him to make more comedies, too, because he's such a funny mofo. But can I ask you this, though? Just while we're on this topic, is there... And again, at the risk of... I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings...
He's such a good director. Yes. And we always encourage him to make more comedies, too, because he's such a funny mofo. But can I ask you this, though? Just while we're on this topic, is there... And again, at the risk of... I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings...
But is there, has the sort of the onslaught of IP, and again, there are lots of great films that have come out in this era and there are a lot of people whom we all know and love who have made these and have done really well and blah, blah, blah. The list is very long. But have we, in a certain way, have we dulled our taste buds for other kinds of films?
But is there, has the sort of the onslaught of IP, and again, there are lots of great films that have come out in this era and there are a lot of people whom we all know and love who have made these and have done really well and blah, blah, blah. The list is very long. But have we, in a certain way, have we dulled our taste buds for other kinds of films?
Have we changed, is there a chance that we altered people's tastes Because the big things are so loud and sticky now? Well, yeah, that we don't... You know, we were all... We're all older. We're all the same sort of generation. We were all raised on a diversified slate of films that came out every year. And there were lots of comedies and dramas and action, et cetera, et cetera.
Have we changed, is there a chance that we altered people's tastes Because the big things are so loud and sticky now? Well, yeah, that we don't... You know, we were all... We're all older. We're all the same sort of generation. We were all raised on a diversified slate of films that came out every year. And there were lots of comedies and dramas and action, et cetera, et cetera.
And so now everything's been kind of... It's kind of like, you know, it's what people complain about pop music, if you will, that everything just becomes the very... homogenize them very much the same. And have we damaged tastes?
And so now everything's been kind of... It's kind of like, you know, it's what people complain about pop music, if you will, that everything just becomes the very... homogenize them very much the same. And have we damaged tastes?
Yeah, and there are people who don't want to ever leave their house, right? Who don't want to go, they won't even go to Larchmont, even though it's three blocks away. Right. I wonder who that could be. Sean, go ahead.
Yeah, and there are people who don't want to ever leave their house, right? Who don't want to go, they won't even go to Larchmont, even though it's three blocks away. Right. I wonder who that could be. Sean, go ahead.
It was really good. It was really good. It was really good to see Danny Dees. Yeah, the great Dan Dees. He's the best. I love him and Don. I'm glad that he and Don are part of our regular crew now. It's nice.
It was really good. It was really good. It was really good to see Danny Dees. Yeah, the great Dan Dees. He's the best. I love him and Don. I'm glad that he and Don are part of our regular crew now. It's nice.
Okay, are you feeling a little bit relaxed, both of you guys? A little bit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me just tell you this. I took some of the SmartList money and put it in Bitcoin.
Okay, are you feeling a little bit relaxed, both of you guys? A little bit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me just tell you this. I took some of the SmartList money and put it in Bitcoin.
And they're remaking it, right? They're doing it with robots and they said it's got more life to it. You see the way he can set it and hit it.
And they're remaking it, right? They're doing it with robots and they said it's got more life to it. You see the way he can set it and hit it.
I don't. I could. It's so fast. It's a five-minute drive now from my new place.
I don't. I could. It's so fast. It's a five-minute drive now from my new place.
Well, that's really funny, Pam. That's really funny because you often hear people, you do, in comments and stuff, saying, these fucking people in Hollywood, and they just want to make shit movies. Like, nobody sets out to make a shitty movie, by the way. Everybody's intentions are good. Right, right.
Well, that's really funny, Pam. That's really funny because you often hear people, you do, in comments and stuff, saying, these fucking people in Hollywood, and they just want to make shit movies. Like, nobody sets out to make a shitty movie, by the way. Everybody's intentions are good. Right, right.
By the way, the new line, the people who have come in and out of new line, it's a pretty interesting slate of people now that I think about it. All the people, Brenner's still there with you, right? Yeah, he is. Then you've got... Toby Emmerich, wasn't he there? Obviously Toby. And then you have our buddy, Ken Alterman, who is there, who we're still, Jason and I still play golf with.
By the way, the new line, the people who have come in and out of new line, it's a pretty interesting slate of people now that I think about it. All the people, Brenner's still there with you, right? Yeah, he is. Then you've got... Toby Emmerich, wasn't he there? Obviously Toby. And then you have our buddy, Ken Alterman, who is there, who we're still, Jason and I still play golf with.
I haven't been here in a minute. They were happy to see me, and... Yeah, it was good. You know, I was up super early. I'm still a little jet-lagged and still coming down. My closet's all messed up from late nights and stuff. So I don't know, just one of those.
I haven't been here in a minute. They were happy to see me, and... Yeah, it was good. You know, I was up super early. I'm still a little jet-lagged and still coming down. My closet's all messed up from late nights and stuff. So I don't know, just one of those.
We love Ken Alterman. Ken's great. Love, love Ken. And... I'm just thinking, like, wow, what an interesting place that was for a lot of people who kind of, you know, learned their stuff there.
We love Ken Alterman. Ken's great. Love, love Ken. And... I'm just thinking, like, wow, what an interesting place that was for a lot of people who kind of, you know, learned their stuff there.
Yeah. Sorry. We've got to reload. No, it is a good question. It was long, but it is a good question.
Yeah. Sorry. We've got to reload. No, it is a good question. It was long, but it is a good question.
People are going to start to use this, by the way.
People are going to start to use this, by the way.
I woke up the other morning at like 4.45, and I got a coffee, and then I was sitting and watching outside, and I saw this huge, crazy light, you know, being followed by sort of mist. It was kind of cutting through the mist, but the light was coming from behind, and I looked it up, and it turns out it was a rocket being launched from just up the coast here in California. UFO.
I woke up the other morning at like 4.45, and I got a coffee, and then I was sitting and watching outside, and I saw this huge, crazy light, you know, being followed by sort of mist. It was kind of cutting through the mist, but the light was coming from behind, and I looked it up, and it turns out it was a rocket being launched from just up the coast here in California. UFO.
At a Netflix meeting tomorrow, they're going to be like, look, we're not going to be running in the field over here. That's how Jason's going to... Pam, I just want to run in the field.
At a Netflix meeting tomorrow, they're going to be like, look, we're not going to be running in the field over here. That's how Jason's going to... Pam, I just want to run in the field.
Warner Brothers, Warner Ankles field running.
Warner Brothers, Warner Ankles field running.
There used to be that old adage or that thing that people would say that the studios are in the business of not making movies, right? Do you remember now? Is that true?
There used to be that old adage or that thing that people would say that the studios are in the business of not making movies, right? Do you remember now? Is that true?
It was pretty spectacular to see at like 5.30 a.m. So I've been feeling just a little spacey, just kind of coming back to that.
It was pretty spectacular to see at like 5.30 a.m. So I've been feeling just a little spacey, just kind of coming back to that.
But people couldn't, they couldn't have predicted back then in the early 2000 what it was going to become. And I think that that sort of fear, so, you know, as you said, you lost DVDs. However, everybody was so nervous at the advent of the internet and social media. You remember the fear, you know, I remember the first,
But people couldn't, they couldn't have predicted back then in the early 2000 what it was going to become. And I think that that sort of fear, so, you know, as you said, you lost DVDs. However, everybody was so nervous at the advent of the internet and social media. You remember the fear, you know, I remember the first,
when MySpace took off and people were trying to green light movies with people who had a presence on MySpace and everybody's clamoring to be there. People were not able to predict what it would be in the same way that we can't now with things like AI, etc.
when MySpace took off and people were trying to green light movies with people who had a presence on MySpace and everybody's clamoring to be there. People were not able to predict what it would be in the same way that we can't now with things like AI, etc.
And of course, we're going to look back in 10 years and say, my God, we were so foolish to spend so much time worried about X, Y, and Z. I agree. Yeah, totally. Because obviously something else will happen. People will want to watch stuff. People will want to enjoy stuff in some way.
And of course, we're going to look back in 10 years and say, my God, we were so foolish to spend so much time worried about X, Y, and Z. I agree. Yeah, totally. Because obviously something else will happen. People will want to watch stuff. People will want to enjoy stuff in some way.
That was Berlin for me. That was Berlin. Twice a year. I allow myself twice a year.
That was Berlin for me. That was Berlin. Twice a year. I allow myself twice a year.
We were doing 5 in the morning like Monday, Tuesdays, and then immediately switching to nights. And we did that for about three weeks in a row.
We were doing 5 in the morning like Monday, Tuesdays, and then immediately switching to nights. And we did that for about three weeks in a row.
By the way, think about people used to go to theaters to watch porns together. That's true. What do you mean?
By the way, think about people used to go to theaters to watch porns together. That's true. What do you mean?
Right, Sean? That's over now, right, Sean?
Right, Sean? That's over now, right, Sean?
Thank you, Mike, for showing Jason up. Jason, Tom is so mad at you. Tom is mad at you now.
Thank you, Mike, for showing Jason up. Jason, Tom is so mad at you. Tom is mad at you now.
Well, we had Blum on here a while ago. Jason Blum, yeah. Jason Blum, because he... Tracy knows because she heard it. And we had Blum on here because he basically forced us to have him on. And... We love it. We love it. We love it. We love it. It's a joke. He was amazing. We love Jason, too. Yeah, we love him, too. We love Jason, too. I couldn't love him more.
Well, we had Blum on here a while ago. Jason Blum, yeah. Jason Blum, because he... Tracy knows because she heard it. And we had Blum on here because he basically forced us to have him on. And... We love it. We love it. We love it. We love it. It's a joke. He was amazing. We love Jason, too. Yeah, we love him, too. We love Jason, too. I couldn't love him more.
But we did talk to him about the, because he was, you know, he's obviously the master of horror and horror.
But we did talk to him about the, because he was, you know, he's obviously the master of horror and horror.
And he, I said, why can't we make a comedy? He said, you just can't make any money. And he was quite blunt about it.
And he, I said, why can't we make a comedy? He said, you just can't make any money. And he was quite blunt about it.
It's going to be fine. Welcome to all new SmartList. I'm at the office today, so I'm not... Wait, whoa. But I've got a new... What office? You don't have a fucking office. I have an office I've had for a couple years over here.
It's going to be fine. Welcome to all new SmartList. I'm at the office today, so I'm not... Wait, whoa. But I've got a new... What office? You don't have a fucking office. I have an office I've had for a couple years over here.
And then I've got young Denny too. So Denny's been, he's a little bit on New York Times too. So he's like up early and, you know, anyway, it's all good. These are great problems to have. But it's nice being in California. Nice to see everybody.
And then I've got young Denny too. So Denny's been, he's a little bit on New York Times too. So he's like up early and, you know, anyway, it's all good. These are great problems to have. But it's nice being in California. Nice to see everybody.
What do you guys think about— God, you're going to love the real world at some point. I just knew I was going to get it slightly wrong. Honestly, it's really enjoyable.
What do you guys think about— God, you're going to love the real world at some point. I just knew I was going to get it slightly wrong. Honestly, it's really enjoyable.
You promised to never bring up Quibi again. What are you doing? Now you're hurting Jeffrey. I didn't say anything about it. I just said you remember it.
You promised to never bring up Quibi again. What are you doing? Now you're hurting Jeffrey. I didn't say anything about it. I just said you remember it.
Yeah, I mean, I actually do think that it was a sort of a valiant effort to try to do that and to get into that space. But I think that you're right. And I think that it seems to be one of the mistakes that is consistently made is that people try to jump out of their lane. And there's nothing wrong with taking chances, but they... They say, well, now we're going to do the thing.
Yeah, I mean, I actually do think that it was a sort of a valiant effort to try to do that and to get into that space. But I think that you're right. And I think that it seems to be one of the mistakes that is consistently made is that people try to jump out of their lane. And there's nothing wrong with taking chances, but they... They say, well, now we're going to do the thing.
We're going to try to create this and then make it into a movie. Well, no, it is that. It shouldn't be that. It's like when they make that documentary that everybody loved during the pandemic. And then they go, let's make it into a movie. Well, they've already got the documentary. We know the fucking story. Why are we doing that again? I think the same thing.
We're going to try to create this and then make it into a movie. Well, no, it is that. It shouldn't be that. It's like when they make that documentary that everybody loved during the pandemic. And then they go, let's make it into a movie. Well, they've already got the documentary. We know the fucking story. Why are we doing that again? I think the same thing.
Well, then why have you never said that then? Why did I have to say it? And then you can just agree. You don't get to co-author this. You're the second guy, the second guy in. No, this isn't mine. You can agree with me and say, yeah, you're really smart, but you don't get to have any ownership of it.
Well, then why have you never said that then? Why did I have to say it? And then you can just agree. You don't get to co-author this. You're the second guy, the second guy in. No, this isn't mine. You can agree with me and say, yeah, you're really smart, but you don't get to have any ownership of it.
Okay, so JB, I'm going to walk you through this because it a little bit felt like a lie. No, not at all. Not at all. Okay, well, hang on. And I don't want to meet... I guess it looks like we have a double guest coming up, which we... Because we've got two squares.
Okay, so JB, I'm going to walk you through this because it a little bit felt like a lie. No, not at all. Not at all. Okay, well, hang on. And I don't want to meet... I guess it looks like we have a double guest coming up, which we... Because we've got two squares.
Yeah, I'm the captain now. And by the way, I remember reading Moneyball. That was 2003 when that book came out. The great Michael Lewis. The great Michael Lewis. I've read all his books. These guys have never read a book in their lives. And I read that book. My ears work.
Yeah, I'm the captain now. And by the way, I remember reading Moneyball. That was 2003 when that book came out. The great Michael Lewis. The great Michael Lewis. I've read all his books. These guys have never read a book in their lives. And I read that book. My ears work.
But I remember thinking at the time when I heard that they were making Moneyball into a film, I thought, if you've read the book, you think, well, how the fuck are they going to do that, right?
But I remember thinking at the time when I heard that they were making Moneyball into a film, I thought, if you've read the book, you think, well, how the fuck are they going to do that, right?
It's brilliant. If you've read the book, you realize how brilliant those screenplays are.
It's brilliant. If you've read the book, you realize how brilliant those screenplays are.
They signed it away before it's written.
They signed it away before it's written.
Well, let's ask somebody who loves having their hands tied, Sean.
Well, let's ask somebody who loves having their hands tied, Sean.
Sorry, pays to have their hands tied.
Sorry, pays to have their hands tied.
Jesus Christ. I know, I know. Let's not go too deep. No, no, we're going to leave it at that. We're going to go too deep. But I said to Sean yesterday, I talked to him in the morning, we were talking about something and I go, oh, you know what? I think that the big boys have stuff after school and they have music and athletic stuff. So I said, do you want to go get a dinner, grab an early dinner?
Jesus Christ. I know, I know. Let's not go too deep. No, no, we're going to leave it at that. We're going to go too deep. But I said to Sean yesterday, I talked to him in the morning, we were talking about something and I go, oh, you know what? I think that the big boys have stuff after school and they have music and athletic stuff. So I said, do you want to go get a dinner, grab an early dinner?
On their day one. Nobody's a bigger fan than Brad Pitt. Cool it, cool it, Will.
On their day one. Nobody's a bigger fan than Brad Pitt. Cool it, cool it, Will.
Warner Animation Group is back. It's back? Yeah. I feel like I sunk you guys with Teen Titans Go to the Movies, which is actually a great movie if you've ever seen it. What's it called? It's a phenomenal movie. What's it called? Teen Titans Go to the Movies. I love that movie. No, I love that film. I hear that's great.
Warner Animation Group is back. It's back? Yeah. I feel like I sunk you guys with Teen Titans Go to the Movies, which is actually a great movie if you've ever seen it. What's it called? It's a phenomenal movie. What's it called? Teen Titans Go to the Movies. I love that movie. No, I love that film. I hear that's great.
And I convinced, you know, we worked with those writers, Aaron and Michael are brilliant.
And I convinced, you know, we worked with those writers, Aaron and Michael are brilliant.
I could talk to them for a lot longer.
I could talk to them for a lot longer.
I couldn't do anything. I would say, imagine if I was in charge. I think we'd have bridges and roads. There would be nothing. We'd all be huddled under a tree if I'd been in charge.
I couldn't do anything. I would say, imagine if I was in charge. I think we'd have bridges and roads. There would be nothing. We'd all be huddled under a tree if I'd been in charge.
He goes, yes. And then he texts me and he goes, oh, I forgot our friends, we made plans with our friends. I'm like, Yeah, that is true.
He goes, yes. And then he texts me and he goes, oh, I forgot our friends, we made plans with our friends. I'm like, Yeah, that is true.
Oh, it's terrible. I'd run into the ground one week.
Oh, it's terrible. I'd run into the ground one week.
You'd drive everybody who worked for you crazy. Everybody would hate you both. Knowing you both as well as I do, everybody who'd worked there would fucking hate the hell out of you.
You'd drive everybody who worked for you crazy. Everybody would hate you both. Knowing you both as well as I do, everybody who'd worked there would fucking hate the hell out of you.
Neither of you is self-aware in any real way. You know what I mean?
Neither of you is self-aware in any real way. You know what I mean?
If you want to find a word that does rhyme, why don't you just go and look up and use some help from a bi. No, no, not there either.
If you want to find a word that does rhyme, why don't you just go and look up and use some help from a bi. No, no, not there either.
You know what? Hang on. I'm going to look at a word and you two, I'm going to put both of you on stand.
You know what? Hang on. I'm going to look at a word and you two, I'm going to put both of you on stand.
No, that's a bye. Smart. SmartLess is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbico, Michael Grant Terry, and Rob Armjarff.
No, that's a bye. Smart. SmartLess is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbico, Michael Grant Terry, and Rob Armjarff.
Well, he had friends of theirs. Kevin and Carrie. And he said that they lost their dog. I said, well, maybe we can help them find it. Yeah, good. Which is a ripoff of an old Norm MacDonald joke, by the way.
Well, he had friends of theirs. Kevin and Carrie. And he said that they lost their dog. I said, well, maybe we can help them find it. Yeah, good. Which is a ripoff of an old Norm MacDonald joke, by the way.
You know, I'm good for six bucks. I'll wait till you take a bite. The Bear Bell, the Bear Bell bars, they're really good.
You know, I'm good for six bucks. I'll wait till you take a bite. The Bear Bell, the Bear Bell bars, they're really good.
Jason and I had an office for a while, for a couple years, where we faced each other, and he would always complain, as you could just tell this morning, that I was never there. Again, my dad was in an office.
Jason and I had an office for a while, for a couple years, where we faced each other, and he would always complain, as you could just tell this morning, that I was never there. Again, my dad was in an office.
It went belly up. Like a lead balloon. Your shitty ideas sunk it. Hey, Mike and Pam, welcome to Smart List.
It went belly up. Like a lead balloon. Your shitty ideas sunk it. Hey, Mike and Pam, welcome to Smart List.
Collectively, individually and collectively, you two are responsible for some of the greatest pieces of entertainment that people have enjoyed across this country ever. It's true. It's really cool. So impressive. It is really impressive.
Collectively, individually and collectively, you two are responsible for some of the greatest pieces of entertainment that people have enjoyed across this country ever. It's true. It's really cool. So impressive. It is really impressive.
Guys, breathe. Big in. Big out, okay? Big in, one more. Big in. Through the nose. Yeah, and out.
Guys, breathe. Big in. Big out, okay? Big in, one more. Big in. Through the nose. Yeah, and out.
Yeah, you know why? Because my dad spent 50 years working in an office, and I'm an artist, man. I'm not playing part of it. I'm not playing businessman.
Yeah, you know why? Because my dad spent 50 years working in an office, and I'm an artist, man. I'm not playing part of it. I'm not playing businessman.
But you also know as both having been on the other side that you know, you can't bullshit a bullshitter. So if somebody comes to you and is like, hey, this, and then you're like, hey, man.
But you also know as both having been on the other side that you know, you can't bullshit a bullshitter. So if somebody comes to you and is like, hey, this, and then you're like, hey, man.
Yeah, Will has a little bit of that. I do too. Yeah, it's gotten increasingly worse. And you know what? In the last couple of months, it's been a little bit better, but these guys know I get quite- Now, where does it- Will, you didn't have like a bad experience, right?
Yeah, Will has a little bit of that. I do too. Yeah, it's gotten increasingly worse. And you know what? In the last couple of months, it's been a little bit better, but these guys know I get quite- Now, where does it- Will, you didn't have like a bad experience, right?
A couple years. Do you want me to turn the camera on so you can see?
A couple years. Do you want me to turn the camera on so you can see?
Have you thought about working? I have considered working through it because I know I have a friend of mine who years ago, and he had access to tremendous resources, but he went with that guy who's famous for walking people through that phobia. And he did, I think he told me he did a month of flights and he'd go to like LaGuardia. He lives in New York.
Have you thought about working? I have considered working through it because I know I have a friend of mine who years ago, and he had access to tremendous resources, but he went with that guy who's famous for walking people through that phobia. And he did, I think he told me he did a month of flights and he'd go to like LaGuardia. He lives in New York.
And they'd look at the board and they'd pick a flight and they'd fly to Cleveland. Then they'd fly to Houston. Then they'd fly to Miami. And he did that for about a month. And the guy walked him through basically every scenario. And he got over it.
And they'd look at the board and they'd pick a flight and they'd fly to Cleveland. Then they'd fly to Houston. Then they'd fly to Miami. And he did that for about a month. And the guy walked him through basically every scenario. And he got over it.
Mike, I do the same thing and I'll tell you what I've done recently.
Mike, I do the same thing and I'll tell you what I've done recently.
Yeah, I track my own flight and I look at AccuWeather and I look at FlightAware and to see what the thing, and I'm like, are these guys going to go around this storm or not?
Yeah, I track my own flight and I look at AccuWeather and I look at FlightAware and to see what the thing, and I'm like, are these guys going to go around this storm or not?
Do you know that they now have this new software that the pilots use that shows them where turbulence is, that they all share it and it's like a- Pyrex. Yeah, Pyrex. He knows everything, Will.
But here's my suggestion. And this is recent. Just this spring, I decided to stop doing it. I had a moment, Mike, where I went, I'm not flying this plane. And the pilots don't want to die.
Well, that explains your diet, too, that you just, you don't care what happens.
What are you talking about? JB, you forget. I grew up in a serious world. You grew up, so now you're playing make-believe office manager. You've got a company. Yeah.
And by the way, I was talking to my therapist the other day, and it turns out that humans can withstand so much more, too. Oh, Will.
Dave Zazz, let's talk about Zazz knocking on the door.
It's like those people who used to go like, we're going to have all these platforms for content, and we're going to create content. Like, what's the content? Anybody can have a fucking office. Sean could have an office, for Christ's sake.
And we've been inundated, right? Who was it who said, Tom Rothman said, you know, the tyranny of IP. And we've been inundated with it, right? And is there something... Says the guy who only has one Marvel title. Way to go. Way to go. You just made his shit list.
No, I'm kidding. He's a great guy.
My question is, I guess, in the face of all of that, is there, and be as candid as you want to be, you're comfortable as being, given if all things being equal, if you could control the appetite of film goers and people who go into the theaters, what would be, what would you do? What kind of films would you make? Would you greenlight? Would you develop, you know, all things being equal?
A Jason Bateman picture. He refers to himself in the third person a lot. Do you know that? I think the world needs another Jason Bateman picture.
He's such a good director. Yes. And we always encourage him to make more comedies, too, because he's such a funny mofo. But can I ask you this, though? Just while we're on this topic, is there... And again, at the risk of... I don't want to hurt anybody's feelings...
But is there, has the sort of the onslaught of IP, and again, there are lots of great films that have come out in this era and there are a lot of people whom we all know and love who have made these and have done really well and blah, blah, blah. The list is very long. But have we, in a certain way, have we dulled our taste buds for other kinds of films?
Have we changed, is there a chance that we altered people's tastes Because the big things are so loud and sticky now? Well, yeah, that we don't... You know, we were all... We're all older. We're all the same sort of generation. We were all raised on a diversified slate of films that came out every year. And there were lots of comedies and dramas and action, et cetera, et cetera.
And so now everything's been kind of... It's kind of like, you know, it's what people complain about pop music, if you will, that everything just becomes the very... homogenize them very much the same. And have we damaged tastes?
Yeah, and there are people who don't want to ever leave their house, right? Who don't want to go, they won't even go to Larchmont, even though it's three blocks away. Right. I wonder who that could be. Sean, go ahead.
It was really good. It was really good. It was really good to see Danny Dees. Yeah, the great Dan Dees. He's the best. I love him and Don. I'm glad that he and Don are part of our regular crew now. It's nice.
Okay, are you feeling a little bit relaxed, both of you guys? A little bit? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let me just tell you this. I took some of the SmartList money and put it in Bitcoin.
And they're remaking it, right? They're doing it with robots and they said it's got more life to it. You see the way he can set it and hit it.
I don't. I could. It's so fast. It's a five-minute drive now from my new place.
Well, that's really funny, Pam. That's really funny because you often hear people, you do, in comments and stuff, saying, these fucking people in Hollywood, and they just want to make shit movies. Like, nobody sets out to make a shitty movie, by the way. Everybody's intentions are good. Right, right.
By the way, the new line, the people who have come in and out of new line, it's a pretty interesting slate of people now that I think about it. All the people, Brenner's still there with you, right? Yeah, he is. Then you've got... Toby Emmerich, wasn't he there? Obviously Toby. And then you have our buddy, Ken Alterman, who is there, who we're still, Jason and I still play golf with.
I haven't been here in a minute. They were happy to see me, and... Yeah, it was good. You know, I was up super early. I'm still a little jet-lagged and still coming down. My closet's all messed up from late nights and stuff. So I don't know, just one of those.
We love Ken Alterman. Ken's great. Love, love Ken. And... I'm just thinking, like, wow, what an interesting place that was for a lot of people who kind of, you know, learned their stuff there.
Yeah. Sorry. We've got to reload. No, it is a good question. It was long, but it is a good question.
People are going to start to use this, by the way.
I woke up the other morning at like 4.45, and I got a coffee, and then I was sitting and watching outside, and I saw this huge, crazy light, you know, being followed by sort of mist. It was kind of cutting through the mist, but the light was coming from behind, and I looked it up, and it turns out it was a rocket being launched from just up the coast here in California. UFO.
At a Netflix meeting tomorrow, they're going to be like, look, we're not going to be running in the field over here. That's how Jason's going to... Pam, I just want to run in the field.
Warner Brothers, Warner Ankles field running.
There used to be that old adage or that thing that people would say that the studios are in the business of not making movies, right? Do you remember now? Is that true?
It was pretty spectacular to see at like 5.30 a.m. So I've been feeling just a little spacey, just kind of coming back to that.
But people couldn't, they couldn't have predicted back then in the early 2000 what it was going to become. And I think that that sort of fear, so, you know, as you said, you lost DVDs. However, everybody was so nervous at the advent of the internet and social media. You remember the fear, you know, I remember the first,
when MySpace took off and people were trying to green light movies with people who had a presence on MySpace and everybody's clamoring to be there. People were not able to predict what it would be in the same way that we can't now with things like AI, etc.
And of course, we're going to look back in 10 years and say, my God, we were so foolish to spend so much time worried about X, Y, and Z. I agree. Yeah, totally. Because obviously something else will happen. People will want to watch stuff. People will want to enjoy stuff in some way.
That was Berlin for me. That was Berlin. Twice a year. I allow myself twice a year.
We were doing 5 in the morning like Monday, Tuesdays, and then immediately switching to nights. And we did that for about three weeks in a row.
By the way, think about people used to go to theaters to watch porns together. That's true. What do you mean?
Right, Sean? That's over now, right, Sean?
Thank you, Mike, for showing Jason up. Jason, Tom is so mad at you. Tom is mad at you now.
Well, we had Blum on here a while ago. Jason Blum, yeah. Jason Blum, because he... Tracy knows because she heard it. And we had Blum on here because he basically forced us to have him on. And... We love it. We love it. We love it. We love it. It's a joke. He was amazing. We love Jason, too. Yeah, we love him, too. We love Jason, too. I couldn't love him more.
But we did talk to him about the, because he was, you know, he's obviously the master of horror and horror.
And he, I said, why can't we make a comedy? He said, you just can't make any money. And he was quite blunt about it.
It's going to be fine. Welcome to all new SmartList. I'm at the office today, so I'm not... Wait, whoa. But I've got a new... What office? You don't have a fucking office. I have an office I've had for a couple years over here.
And then I've got young Denny too. So Denny's been, he's a little bit on New York Times too. So he's like up early and, you know, anyway, it's all good. These are great problems to have. But it's nice being in California. Nice to see everybody.
What do you guys think about— God, you're going to love the real world at some point. I just knew I was going to get it slightly wrong. Honestly, it's really enjoyable.
You promised to never bring up Quibi again. What are you doing? Now you're hurting Jeffrey. I didn't say anything about it. I just said you remember it.
Yeah, I mean, I actually do think that it was a sort of a valiant effort to try to do that and to get into that space. But I think that you're right. And I think that it seems to be one of the mistakes that is consistently made is that people try to jump out of their lane. And there's nothing wrong with taking chances, but they... They say, well, now we're going to do the thing.
We're going to try to create this and then make it into a movie. Well, no, it is that. It shouldn't be that. It's like when they make that documentary that everybody loved during the pandemic. And then they go, let's make it into a movie. Well, they've already got the documentary. We know the fucking story. Why are we doing that again? I think the same thing.
Well, then why have you never said that then? Why did I have to say it? And then you can just agree. You don't get to co-author this. You're the second guy, the second guy in. No, this isn't mine. You can agree with me and say, yeah, you're really smart, but you don't get to have any ownership of it.
Okay, so JB, I'm going to walk you through this because it a little bit felt like a lie. No, not at all. Not at all. Okay, well, hang on. And I don't want to meet... I guess it looks like we have a double guest coming up, which we... Because we've got two squares.
Yeah, I'm the captain now. And by the way, I remember reading Moneyball. That was 2003 when that book came out. The great Michael Lewis. The great Michael Lewis. I've read all his books. These guys have never read a book in their lives. And I read that book. My ears work.
But I remember thinking at the time when I heard that they were making Moneyball into a film, I thought, if you've read the book, you think, well, how the fuck are they going to do that, right?
It's brilliant. If you've read the book, you realize how brilliant those screenplays are.
They signed it away before it's written.
Well, let's ask somebody who loves having their hands tied, Sean.
Sorry, pays to have their hands tied.
Jesus Christ. I know, I know. Let's not go too deep. No, no, we're going to leave it at that. We're going to go too deep. But I said to Sean yesterday, I talked to him in the morning, we were talking about something and I go, oh, you know what? I think that the big boys have stuff after school and they have music and athletic stuff. So I said, do you want to go get a dinner, grab an early dinner?
On their day one. Nobody's a bigger fan than Brad Pitt. Cool it, cool it, Will.
Warner Animation Group is back. It's back? Yeah. I feel like I sunk you guys with Teen Titans Go to the Movies, which is actually a great movie if you've ever seen it. What's it called? It's a phenomenal movie. What's it called? Teen Titans Go to the Movies. I love that movie. No, I love that film. I hear that's great.
And I convinced, you know, we worked with those writers, Aaron and Michael are brilliant.
I could talk to them for a lot longer.
I couldn't do anything. I would say, imagine if I was in charge. I think we'd have bridges and roads. There would be nothing. We'd all be huddled under a tree if I'd been in charge.
He goes, yes. And then he texts me and he goes, oh, I forgot our friends, we made plans with our friends. I'm like, Yeah, that is true.
Oh, it's terrible. I'd run into the ground one week.
You'd drive everybody who worked for you crazy. Everybody would hate you both. Knowing you both as well as I do, everybody who'd worked there would fucking hate the hell out of you.
Neither of you is self-aware in any real way. You know what I mean?
If you want to find a word that does rhyme, why don't you just go and look up and use some help from a bi. No, no, not there either.
You know what? Hang on. I'm going to look at a word and you two, I'm going to put both of you on stand.
No, that's a bye. Smart. SmartLess is 100% organic and artisanally handcrafted by Bennett Barbico, Michael Grant Terry, and Rob Armjarff.
Well, he had friends of theirs. Kevin and Carrie. And he said that they lost their dog. I said, well, maybe we can help them find it. Yeah, good. Which is a ripoff of an old Norm MacDonald joke, by the way.
You know, I'm good for six bucks. I'll wait till you take a bite. The Bear Bell, the Bear Bell bars, they're really good.
Jason and I had an office for a while, for a couple years, where we faced each other, and he would always complain, as you could just tell this morning, that I was never there. Again, my dad was in an office.
It went belly up. Like a lead balloon. Your shitty ideas sunk it. Hey, Mike and Pam, welcome to Smart List.
Collectively, individually and collectively, you two are responsible for some of the greatest pieces of entertainment that people have enjoyed across this country ever. It's true. It's really cool. So impressive. It is really impressive.
Guys, breathe. Big in. Big out, okay? Big in, one more. Big in. Through the nose. Yeah, and out.
Yeah, you know why? Because my dad spent 50 years working in an office, and I'm an artist, man. I'm not playing part of it. I'm not playing businessman.
But you also know as both having been on the other side that you know, you can't bullshit a bullshitter. So if somebody comes to you and is like, hey, this, and then you're like, hey, man.
Yeah, Will has a little bit of that. I do too. Yeah, it's gotten increasingly worse. And you know what? In the last couple of months, it's been a little bit better, but these guys know I get quite- Now, where does it- Will, you didn't have like a bad experience, right?
A couple years. Do you want me to turn the camera on so you can see?
Have you thought about working? I have considered working through it because I know I have a friend of mine who years ago, and he had access to tremendous resources, but he went with that guy who's famous for walking people through that phobia. And he did, I think he told me he did a month of flights and he'd go to like LaGuardia. He lives in New York.
And they'd look at the board and they'd pick a flight and they'd fly to Cleveland. Then they'd fly to Houston. Then they'd fly to Miami. And he did that for about a month. And the guy walked him through basically every scenario. And he got over it.
Mike, I do the same thing and I'll tell you what I've done recently.
Yeah, I track my own flight and I look at AccuWeather and I look at FlightAware and to see what the thing, and I'm like, are these guys going to go around this storm or not?