| Emile, how was it working with Heath Ledger in Lords of Dogtown? | It was great. Heath was an enormously talented actor and a genuinely nice guy, it was a real pleasure. He was just always very big brotherly, looking out for all the younger guys, really had a wild and kind of enthusiasm for the work. (Emile) |
| One of the scenes I saw filmed was that Chris McCandless' last thought where he is hugging his parents. There were a lot of us around, watching and we had no idea it was such an emotional scene being filmed. So, my question for you is, was it hard to get into that emotional state while having all these gawkers look on for each take? | No, I think that one of the main things you learn really quick in film acting is how to deal with people watching, just like if you're doing a play and you have to hug someone, you have hundreds of people gawking. |
| On an unrelated note, Alpha Dog is one of my favorite movies, what was it like working with Justin Timberlake and Anton Yelchin? | Both were really nice guys, really enjoyed the experience, and it was always a pleasure to get to listen to everyone hanging out. (Emile) |
| I heard you will be playing John Belushi in a new biopic. Is there anything you can tell us about the movie? Are you nervous about portraying such an adored and treasured person? I’m very excited to see it and think you will be great. | No, not nervous. Part of the job. Real excited though. Haven't really gotten into it just yet, so I don't have too much to report, but looking forward to all the craziness to come. (Emile) |
| Do you ever wear the Speed Racer helmet around the house? Nude? | I only wear it nude in the bathtub as I'm playing with my turtles (Emile) |
| I played with turtles here, did I tell you that? (Stephen) |
| Stephen, any plans for a sequel to "Dorf On Golf"? | I wasn't in the first one? (Stephen) |
| Would you guys serenade me using a banjo and an assortment of woodwind instruments? | Could your wind take my wood? ;) (Emile) |
| I have a huge collection of woodwind instruments. I am actually playing a show at the Apple store at 5 if you're local. (Stephen) |
| Can you identify with Christopher McCandless/Alexander Supertramp in any way? | Yeah, definitely. Can you identify with THE MOTEL LIFE at all? LOL (Emile) |
| Stephen- how insane was it working with Uwe Boll. | I only worked on that movie for like a week and didn't have the greatest time. (Stephen) Yeah, I knew before The Girl Next Door. I knew when we worked on The Emperor's Club together because he was great on that as well. A very nice talented young man. (Emile) Did you know i was on that film as well? (Stephen) |
| Emile-did you know when you were making The Girl Next Door that Paul Dano was going to do great things? | |
| Emile, loved you in dogtown. are you still skating? | Still skating all the time. Halfpipes, pools, - we're talking about finger boards, right? (Emile) |
| Emile - what was the shoot for Into the Wild like? Did you enjoy it? Was it difficult/stressful? | It was a mixture of pleasure and pain. Existential pleasure but at times, very physical, arduous tasks. (Emile) |
| Hey Stephen. It's Eric Barry. Are we having a 15 year CBD reunion in 2015 or what? Haaa. Props to you and Emile on this film The Motel Life. I will definitely check it out. | Demented forever! (Stephen) |
| Hi Emile! I love your movie, into the wild. How did you feel to portray such great character that inspires me and my friends so much?? | It was a real privilege to get to portray someone who has affected people's lives in sometimes big ways, it's just a privilege. I can't take credit for it though, it's based on a really extraordinary person. (Emile) |
| Let me just say right off the bat that you are one of my favorite actors and you have amazing talent. Speed Racer is honestly one of the last movies to give me that feeling of going to the movies as a kid. It was a blast to watch, and I feel like it's hugely under-appreciated. What was some of your favorite parts of working with such a talented cast and crew such as the Wachowski's? | It was great. They were so much fun to work with, they are so creative, they are such visionaries, I was a huge fan of Speed Racer growing up as a kid. It was a challenging film to make because of all the green screen and it was a challenging film to release and market because it was so different, and we didn't get to make any sequels, but it's an interesting, odd film that I am happy to be a part of. |
| You two have been on some vastly different films, what is the strangest thing that has occurred to you or you've seen on set? | During The Motel Life shooting, in some very specific motels, we had to keep cutting takes because there was so much screaming and noise coming from the other motel rooms! People were getting arrested… (Stephen) |
| Ranting and raving, as they got hauled out with their hands cuffed behind their backs (Emile) |
| It was like an episode of BREAKING BAD on crack. But we love Reno. (Stephen) |
| What's one thing people don't know about being actors in Hollywood? | Most people don't realize that a lot of times they watch the movies and it seems really action packed, but if you actually go on a movie set, they are usually really really boring and nothing happens, there is a lot of waiting around. People can't believe how boring it is when they actually get on a movie set and they want to leave right away. (Emile) |
| There's a lot of time that goes into making a movie. I think the perception is a little different, they don't realize how much time it entails. Movie sets are really boring usually and hopefully it all comes together in the end. You're basically shooting pieces all the time. I hate sitting around and waiting to go. (Stephen) |
| Stephen - You've worked with Elle Fanning in Somewhere and Dakota Fanning in The Motel Life. Who is your favorite Fanning? | They are both incredible, great family, just have got talent running through the water over there in their house. I know Elle better because i worked more closely with her, but I loved meeting with Dakota and her voice would make me think of Elle, but Emile really worked more closely with Dakota than I did. They are both fantastic, really nice parents, got to know the family well between the movies. Can't say enough about them in a good way. (Stephen) |
| Emile - No question, but I just wanted to say that I've loved your work since The Girl Next Door. Killer Joe was especially great. | Thank you very much, be sure to follow me on Twitter! (Emile) |
| Mr. Hirsch, you are fantastic in everything you do. Milk and Alpha Dog are a few personal favorites, but one of the best movies in decades is Killer Joe. What was it like filming that intense kitchen ending? | I had chicken splatter all over me, I was exhausted, McConaughey was trying to get me, and I ended up getting the shit beaten out of me. I felt used and very exhausted at the end. (Emile) |
| Mr. Dorff, you are the dictionary definition of underrated. I've loved every movie I've seen you in. Of all the great directors you've worked with, I'm most curious about John Waters. What was it like working with him? | It was great. John Waters is a true original, and a great person, funny, just made me laugh every day on the set. He drives a modern green Buick sedan to work every day and dresses up really fancy, like really fancy suits. He has a great infrastructure of a family that he's worked with for all these years in Baltimore, it's like his camp. There are 2 directors from Baltimore: John Waters and Barry Levinson. They couldn't be more different, but they are legends in Baltimore. The best thing to do with John Water is watch the Oscars. One time I had to watch the Oscars with him before we had to go to the Vanity Fair party afterwards, and he was making fun of everybody and we had so much fun. "What is she wearing? a helicopter on her head?" It was great. We had little cocktail wieners while we watched the Oscars. I think I made them. I make a good cocktail wiener and a quiche lorraine. (Stephen) |
| Stephen - What was Wesley Snipes like in real life during blade? | He was nice, but he was BLADE, he was in the role, you know? The guy did his press in FULL WARDROBE. He did Letterman as Blade. With the sword. (STephen) We did these parties for the movie and he dressed as Blade at every movie party around the United States. I did Letterman the week after he was on, and David was like "you didn't come in costume like your costar?" (Stephen) |
| Emile, I knew the real life counterpart to your character in Alpha Dogs. Did you do a lot of research on him, or try and make him your own character? | I just made him my own character but I never met him. I was not playing a real-life person, however, he was inspired by a real life person but I was playing Johnny Truelove. (Emile) |
| The Dorff - now that you have taken your freedom back, how does it feel? (ecig enthusiast here) | It feels great! (Stephen) |
| What was your "big break" moment for each of you? | I think for everyone their big break is just being born. Because the odds of not being born, the odds are against you in terms of evolution. If you are the winning sperm in the race, you are in a good position from the get-go. (Emile) |
| I thought I'd really made it as an actor when I was sitting next to Jack Nicholson waiting to go on set and I looked at him and I was like "damn, this is cool" just because he was one of my faves, I had done a bunco of movies before then but I thought that was cool. (Stephen) |
| NO TOWN IN THE HOUSE! The city of Reno is not to happy with the portrayal of our fair city. As a citizen of Reno, I think it is great. The grit of Reno is why I love it here. Its real. Did you guys get out and about when you were filming here or did you just have to stay on 4th st and downtown? | We went out, you know, we saw all of Reno pretty much. We also shot in other places, Carson City … we loved it, the bars, the casinos, the motels, the people. (Stephen) |
| Some of the restaurants were really nice, the people were really friendly in Reno, it's a great place and we are proud to have worked there and we hope the people of the city actually like the movie. (Emile) |
| Question for both of you: If you could star in any film adaptation of a book, what would it be? | The Motel Life 2? Just kidding… (Stephen) |
| As a little kid, I wanted to be in Ender's Game because that was one of my have books as a kid. But I want to see Ender's Game later today, not to plug another movie. I think Stephen and I could star in 50 Shades of Gray and take turns playing Christian Grey. I have not actually read those books though, but a girl described some of the stuff in those books, it sounded pretty graphic. I can't believe women are into all that crazy stuff. (Emile) |
| He reads a lot more books than I do. And he's super into the internet (Stephen) |
| If you weren't an actor, what would you be doing? | I think I would an astrophysicist. I might not be a working astrophysicist, but I would call myself an astrophysicist. (Emile) |
| I would probably want to do something like be a hotel owner. Or needlepoint quilts, or maybe open a restaurant. Margarita bar. Or a skydiving instructor (Stephen) |
| I wonder if I could be a land bound skydiving instructor? (Emile) |
| Stephen- what is your favorite movie to watch? | I always like watching that movie HEAT, it's always on TV. Some movies you can watch over and over. And I was watching Indiana Jones & the Temple of Doom, and I forgot River Phoenix was in that, he was pretty good too. (Stephen) |
| He actually looks like Harrison Ford! I love Indiana Jones, Star Wars... (Emile) |
| Godfather 1 & 2 I can always watch, SCARFACE too. Chevy Chase in VACATION. (Stephen) |
| The Twilight Movies are a guilty pleasure for me. (Emile) |
| Hi Stephen. Thought you were cute since I saw you on that Aerosmith music video for "crying". What was it like filming that video and is there any behind the scenes, funny memory etc you can share with us? Thank you. | I basically just did the video! And thank you for thinking I'm cute. I just remember showing up and shooting it for a couple of hours. Alicia Silverstone was a big deal at that time, because it was right after Clueless, so there was a big hoopla around her, Aerosmith was rocking' back then, so it was just one of those things where they called nme and the next thing I knew I was shooting that video. (Stephen) |
| Also, which actoactress do you want to work with but haven't had the chance yet? | I'd like to work with De Niro, I know him but I've never acted with him. (Stephen) |
| What's your favorite hobby in your free time? | I like playing the piano myself, and I also like shopping and driving. (Stephen) |
| I am an avid movie watcher, I like going to see all the new movies. I've also kind of gotten into knitting recently, and needlepoint. I'm working my way up to a quilt. (Emile) |
| Stephen, I love the movie The Gate. Would you ever consider making a sequel to it? | I'm currently in production on the sequel, and we are shooting it in Arizona… no, but there was a sequel. I wasn't in it. And probably not, but people seem to remember that movie. Tarantino always comes up to me and says "I love THE GATE man!!" They found me at my school and next thing I knew I was shipped up to Canada and they wanted me to scream at these little monsters, and we were the movie that beat ISHTAR. (Stephen) |
| Were you familiar with Willy Vlautin's work before becoming involved with this project? For those who don't know, W.V., along with publishing three novels, is the singer of alt. country outfit Richmond Fontaine. | I didn't know who Willy was before, but he's a very talented dude. I've now met him and know that he's a talented musician and I am excited they are re-releasing his novel so that more people can check out the Motel Life. And he's a helluva guy. (Stephen) |
| I didn't really know either, I had heard about the novel and heard it was really good but hadn't had the chance to read it. But he is a quality novelist and musician as well. I did read the book and really appreciated it. (Emile) |
| Emile, Into the Wild will always be a favorite film of mine. Love it and you are great in it. What is something you learned or took away from portraying Christopher McCandless? Is he more misguided or wise? | I think it's a mixture of the 2 for a lot of people, and depending on your point of view on it, I think it goes both ways. There's a lot of things that are really great about him and a lot to learn, but obviously there's a lot you want to avoid from his behavior as well. (Emile) |
| How difficult is it to play a homosexual character (Milk)? How did you go about getting in character? | It was a challenge like any other job but I enjoyed getting to explore the character. It was a great script written by Dustin Lance Black. He captured the nuances of the character and the era and he ended up getting the credit for it, so all the credit goes to him. (Emile) |
| Hey guys, thanks for doing this AMA! If you could go back in time and play one role from any movie what part would you want to play and why? | Tootsie. (Stephen) |
| Maybe like, in a musical. Bing Crosby's role in SINGING IN THE RAIN, because it would be fun to sing and dance a little bit. (Emile) |
| You could always do something onstage, like Hugh Jackman. Him and NPH can do anything. They can HOST anything. (Stephen) |
| Stephen deacon frost from blade was one of my favorite villians and you really made that movie fun. Do you think they'd let you in another marvel movie now that they are so huge? | I don't know! Blade was the first Marvel movie they ever made, and now Marvel is owned by Disney, so it's a different thing. (Stephen) |
| Mr. Dorff, I just watched "Immortals" last night, and it was a lot more fun than any of the trailers I watched for it would have me believe. My question is this: can you pull off an English accent, or was it a decision by the filmmakers to have everyone speaking however they would normally speak? | Great question! I asked that question to Tarsem and he said "Speak the way you want" so everybody spoke in their own dialect. And I'm glad you liked it. (Stephen) |
| Emile, What's your favorite story ever written? | I don't really know if I have a favorite story ever written. (Emile) |
| Stephen, I loved your work in the film Somewhere and my question is do you plan on doing more films with Elle Fanning? You two had great chemistry and you could see the bond you two had on screen. | We're actually talking about taking "Somewhere" on a dinner theater tour when she finishes school… just kidding. But I would love to work with Elle again, she is taller than me now so I would need some boots. She's an amazing girl, an amazing actress, and I love her as a person and as my movie daughter and a friend, and I would love to work with her again. I would need an apple box to stand next to her. (STephen) |
| Stephen: were the black flag and sub pop shirts in "somewhere" yours, or wardrobe? | Those were Sofia Coppola's, everything in that movie is her design and idea pretty much. (Stephen) |
| Stephen, I thought you were terrific in Somewhere. It's such a reserved and calculated film, it's like experiencing that time in Johnny's life alongside him. Can you confirm who the character is supposed to be? Is it Johnny Knoxville? | No. It's a character Sofia created that is a blend of a lot of different people but is ultimately a fictional character named Johnny. Johnny Knoxville huh? Sofia just created the character just like Bill Murray who is playing an actor in Lost in Translation but it's not really him. There's a lot of personal stuff in that movie that she has in there, but it's not based on Johnny Knoxville. (Stephen) |
| Emile, you have been in a ton of great movies, but one of my favorites is "Girl Next Door" did you have a feeling that it was going to be much more than a goofy teen comedy when you read the script? | We were hoping that we would get Academy Award nominations and AFI awards but we all knew we were kidding ourselves. We knew it would be relegated to 'teen sex comedy.' (Stephen) |
| Dude, I just watched Cold Creek Manner the other day for the first time. What the heck happened there? I thought you played your character great but I can't imagine you looked at this script and thought "this is gonna be awesome" | DUDE. Where's my car? (Stephen) |
| To the both of you: how do you like filming in my home state? | We loved it! We loved working in Nevada, it's a great place, I took a little excursion to Tahoe. We loved Lake Tahoe, we loved the trees and the landscape, the sunsets and the weather was beautiful. (Emile) |
| We loved the people of Reno. (Stephen) |
| Hi Stephen! Which movie was the most fun making? | Not sure! I had fun on The Motel Life. (Stephen) |
| Do you mind posting proof in the description of your post? | We're getting the movie to post in a few. |
| The Power of One is still one of all time favorite movies. That's all. Oh and damn you're hot Stephen! | Well, damn you! Thank you baby. (Stephen) |
| I don't really have a question, but my cousin Andrew plays the younger version of your character Frank in The Motel Life and he talks about it all the time. I'm excited for this movie to finally come out because I can't wait to see it after hearing so much about it! | Good Buddy! Excited for you to see the movie as well. Looking forward to you seeing the movie with your cousin, and then going out and playing miniature golf afterwards. (Emile) |
| Emile - Congrats on the new kid! Edit: Sorry I originally asked him how it was working with Ledger and promptly deleted it without thinking of clicking the edit button because I noticed he already answered it above. Should have said that... Mah bad. | Heath was a great, greatly dedicated actor who constantly was pushing himself and exploring and trying new things. But he also was not an overly dedicated actor either, he was able to drop the character and have a beer with his buddies as well. (Emile) |
| Dorff, you play a good villain...BE MORE VILLAINOUS! | Yeah, I'm kind of having fun playing different kinds of characters! I did the villain thing for a while. (Stephen) |
| I just watched Felon the other day. Great performance Stephen! | Thank you very much, we appreciate you watching our movies, even the smaller ones, and this (The Motel Life) is one of the smaller ones so you should probably check it out. (Emile) |
| with Alpha dog, Lord's of Dogtown and Savages on your (Emile) resume I can't wait to check out this new one! | Thanks for having great taste. ;) (Stephen) |
| No questions here just fans of you both! | TTYL. |
