William H. Macy

And it wasn't like... destined to be you know it wasn't like other than it was good material but it wasn't like well the Coen brothers everything they do is a hit that was kind of their first like they had done indie stuff that was popular but this was like their first big hit

And it wasn't like... destined to be you know it wasn't like other than it was good material but it wasn't like well the Coen brothers everything they do is a hit that was kind of their first like they had done indie stuff that was popular but this was like their first big hit

I, I flatter myself that I'm pretty good at reading scripts. And I, if I'm going to be honest, I knew it was going to be huge. Absolutely had no doubts. It was Joel and Ethan. They had enough money to make it. Um, it was the role of this century. I absolutely understood it. Every nuance. I was ready to act it after the first reading.

I, I flatter myself that I'm pretty good at reading scripts. And I, if I'm going to be honest, I knew it was going to be huge. Absolutely had no doubts. It was Joel and Ethan. They had enough money to make it. Um, it was the role of this century. I absolutely understood it. Every nuance. I was ready to act it after the first reading.

Awesome.

Awesome.

Uh, boogie nights. He is such fun to work with. I got the script. I was working elsewhere. I got the script, which was much racier than the final film. And I thought I was being punked because it was a porn script. It was racy stuff in there. And I called my agent and said, is this a joke? And they said, no, no, they're making it. It's got to be... R-rated, that's in the contract.

Uh, boogie nights. He is such fun to work with. I got the script. I was working elsewhere. I got the script, which was much racier than the final film. And I thought I was being punked because it was a porn script. It was racy stuff in there. And I called my agent and said, is this a joke? And they said, no, no, they're making it. It's got to be... R-rated, that's in the contract.

I hope Paul doesn't take offense at this, but I wanted it so much when I realized it's a great role. All the roles were great. A great story. And so I met with him at the Formosa Cafe and I had prepared my... of why it should be me, the through line of the character, what I think you're trying to get at and all this stuff. And Paul started talking and I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

I hope Paul doesn't take offense at this, but I wanted it so much when I realized it's a great role. All the roles were great. A great story. And so I met with him at the Formosa Cafe and I had prepared my... of why it should be me, the through line of the character, what I think you're trying to get at and all this stuff. And Paul started talking and I couldn't get a word in edgewise.

He was telling me he was going to shoot it. And at a point I realized, oh my God. I've got the role. He's auditioning. He wasn't sure I was going to take it. It's the first time in my career it had ever happened. And I remember, this is a visual, but I remember going, Okay, tell me more. I sat back and I thought, I love this position.

He was telling me he was going to shoot it. And at a point I realized, oh my God. I've got the role. He's auditioning. He wasn't sure I was going to take it. It's the first time in my career it had ever happened. And I remember, this is a visual, but I remember going, Okay, tell me more. I sat back and I thought, I love this position.

Yeah, it's better.

Yeah, it's better.

The set was so much fun. Bert was a jerk, but there you go. But that cast, those people, they're the best of the best. And it's kind of mammoty. Very mammoty. Yeah. But completely original also. You, Ricky... Oh, Ricky Jay, rest in peace. And Phil Hoffman, he was the best of us, boy. That guy, what a tragedy.

The set was so much fun. Bert was a jerk, but there you go. But that cast, those people, they're the best of the best. And it's kind of mammoty. Very mammoty. Yeah. But completely original also. You, Ricky... Oh, Ricky Jay, rest in peace. And Phil Hoffman, he was the best of us, boy. That guy, what a tragedy.

Okay, you're a great actor. Everyone says Phil's the best, or he's on the list. Why? Just as a fan, what is it as an actor that you go, fuck, that guy's good?

Okay, you're a great actor. Everyone says Phil's the best, or he's on the list. Why? Just as a fan, what is it as an actor that you go, fuck, that guy's good?

He has just abundant loads of talent, just raw talent as a mimic, as anything you want. Got it.

He has just abundant loads of talent, just raw talent as a mimic, as anything you want. Got it.