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Soon after a select group of journalists file into their seats for “The Hollars” press day at the London West Hollywood Hotel, award-winning actress Margo Martindale enters the room with such a warm presence while engaging in small talk with the intimate group, making everyone more at ease. A few moments later, the director and lead protagonist of the film, John Krasinski, makes his way to his chair with a warm smile, twinkling eyes, and perfectly coiffed hair. Despite having just flown in from San Francisco the night before and holding interviews all day for varying websites and publications, the duo seemed relaxed and eager to share the heart and soul that went into the making of this film. Krasinski answers questions with sincerity and humor while Martindale discusses her process with such fondness that we know the relationships we see in this film were not forced or phony… but the result of the cast really bonding and connecting to the universal themes of the film. We begin:

I’ve never laughed and cried so much in one movie.

John Krasinski: Thank you, that’s such a great compliment!

John, did you always plan to both act and direct?

JK: I signed on as an actor about six or seven years ago, and I don’t think I’ve ever signed on to anything so fast. There are a lot of “family movies” out there and I had no intention of being in a “family movie” until I read Jim [Strouse’s] script and realized that’s the way to tell a family story. I signed on immediately. Four years later, as often happens with these smaller movies, the financier at the time couldn’t get it made and asked if I’d buy the script outright. It was a big undertaking but I didn’t hesitate with this one because the script was so good.

What have you learned from other directors over the years?

JK: I was a waiter when I got cast in “The Office.” I truly believe I got a “lottery ticket life,” I don’t feel that I deserve it, I feel like I’m trying to deserve staying here. In order to do that, every second of every day I was trying to learn and get better. I’d watch those writers and see how the writer’s room worked, watch those directors. As far as the film, I learned from everybody. I remember George Clooney telling me two things: one, you can always make a bad movie out of a good script but you can never make a good movie out of a bad script. Two, the best idea ends up on screen, no matter whose it is. It doesn’t matter if it’s the person closing up the studio at night, making a film is a team effort.

Margo, what was it like having a director that also spoke the actor’s language?

Margo Martindale: He was a dream as a director, the [transition from] actor to director was very seamless. John gave lots of time between takes, he never called “Cut.” He’s terrific, he knew the movie he wanted to make.

“Margo is one of those people that if you can be anywhere near her in a movie, you’ll get better.” – John Krasinski

 

What was the biggest challenge for you, John, taking on the role of actor and director on this project?

JK: This one was really easy to be honest! And I don’t mean that to sound obnoxious or anything. It was actually vital for me to be an actor in my opinion. The most important thing in this movie is that you have to feel like you’re a family, it had to feel like your hometown. I think there’s something that was universally connecting about this script, and I don’t know how it happened, but we just became that family. I’ve had as deep of conversations with Margo and Richard [Jenkins] than I’ve had with my real family. It was a beautiful thing. To be the actor not having to call cut, like Margo was saying, we’d have small intimate conversations. The beauty of having great actors is, they’re the first person to tell you, ‘I didn’t hit that,’ or ‘Let’s go again.’ If I just right now called ‘Cut’ walked out of the room and came back 10 minutes later, this interview would be weird.

Laughter

JK: I felt the same way about those scenes. I wanted them intimate, in a bubble. That was the beauty of being the actor and director in this situation.

Margo what drew you to this project?

MM: The script, it was honest, surprising and edgy… a messy look at life and family. John asked me if I’d do it, and I was there!

JK: Margo is one of those people that if you can be anywhere near her in a movie, you’ll get better. She makes you better because you don’t act, you only react. In one of the most emotional scenes of the movie when she finally breaks down, I tell people all the time that was the first and only take we did of that. What she did was so personal, vulnerable, and primal in a way that I don’t think any of us were prepared for. So when you go back and watch the movie again, because let’s be honest, of course you will…

Laughter

JK: … You’ll see all the actors in that scene have no idea what to do with the performance she gave us. It was more honest than any of us could have understood.

“In all of my scenes, behind every acting performance, I was thanking her through my eyes for doing this.” – John Krasinski

How did you get along with Anna Kendrick, acting alongside and directing?

JK: Anna is a true professional. I think something people don’t know about Anna is that she was shooting “Pitch Perfect 2” every single day that we were shooting, so on her only day off, she drove from New Orleans to Jackson, Mississippi to be in our movie. That says two things: one, she is dedicated to her job. Two, she supports films like this, and that’s a very important thing for her. That essence comes out in everything you do with her. In all of my scenes, behind every acting performance, I was thanking her through my eyes for doing this.

You were making this film while you were becoming a father. Does any of your character’s feelings of not wanting to be a failure to another person affect you personally, and vice versa? 

JK: 100%. The only other scene that I wrote is between me and Anna in the hospital. When I signed on to act six or seven years ago, I obviously didn’t have kids. When I started shooting as a director, my daughter was four and a half months old. So to say that my understanding of the script was vastly different was the biggest understatement of the century. Yes, I understood the idea of a man at the doorstep of being a father, but more than that, I understood the sort of magic, existential connection between family. I understood my parents better after having a baby. I started thinking about having a family name, lineage, big things like that. My dad is my hero in every single way, and if I can be a quarter of the guy he is, then I win.

“I try to spend every single second I can with my kids, and I mean every single second.” – John Krasinski

As a working dad, actor, and director, has this film taught you anything about being present for your own family?

JK: One of the sacrifices and there are very few– but let’s be honest, this is like fantasy camp, this life is not real, to say I have complaints about it is insane– when you do go away [for work] you go away for awhile. I’m not the first actor who’s raised a family so I know there are other people who have done it before me. I’m not unique or special to this situation, so I try to spend every single second I can with my kids, and I mean every single second. When I’m not working, I’m at home and it’s the best!

What’s next for the both of you?

JK: I’m doing the “Jack Ryan” TV series for Amazon, which I’m really excited about taking on a character that I loved my whole life!

MM: I’m doing a series for Amazon right now call “Sneaky Pete,” a Bryan Cranston creation with Giovanni Ribisi…

JK: This press conference is sponsored by Amazon, haha.