Skyler Gisondo, Beanie Feldstein & Eduardo Franco Join the Focker-In-Law Family | Seen on the Screen

0:00 The scene where Ben sings at the dinner table at the party, I feel like that was the moment the three of us and Ari, the four of us, were like, we're in the parents, you guys. Like, it's happening. Like, it's seriously happening. Hello, I'm Jacqueline Coley. Welcome to Scene on the Screen, where we sit down with the people behind the stories that move us and ask, what have you seen on the screen that made an impact? My guests today are Skylar Gisando, Beanie Feldstein, and Eduardo Franco, three stars of Universal's Fokker-in-Law, the newest film in the Meet the Parents franchise. Skylar, Beanie, Eduardo, welcome to Scene on the Screen. Thank you. Thank you. I really do have to start with the fact that this does feel like I'm interrupting a family reunion because y'all have done so many projects together. I'm not going to go into the details of it here, but what was it like hearing that you were going to be joining this incredible and storied franchise that is the Meet the Parents, Meet the Fockers? Oh, my God. It was unbelievable. I mean, like, I grew up on those movies. I remember seeing Meet the Fockers in theaters and, like, doubling over. I was laughing so hard.

1:09 Just to be like, oh, I get to be a Fokker. Like I get to be in that family. It's just unbelievably exciting. And then when I found out these two were going to be in it too, I was like icing on the cake, like the dreamiest icing on the cake. What about for you, Eduardo? Well, first of all, have you seen any of these in theaters where you like meet the parents on any of the entries prior to this one? I never got to see them in theaters, but I did. We did. We would rent them at the video store. Nice. And my parents bought them. Oh, so you had them at home. Nice. I still have the copies on DVD. Get Mr. De Niro to sign one, I guess. And then you got, like, my VHS copy. This was the first, like, project I ever, like, booked where, like, I told my parents and they were like, oh, we know what that is. Oh, nice. Everything else has been like, okay, where do I...

1:54 Where can I see that? Stranger things? Come on. Yeah, like, what app can I see? No, believe it or not, my mom watches novellas all day. Oh, this is good. I'm not really into streaming too much, you know? I really dig that you got that. I'm happy for you on that. That's a big parent moment. Yeah, it felt dope to say. What about you, Skylar, as far as your relationship with the series? Yeah, it was like stepping into, like, a superhero movie. Like, it meant, these movies meant so much to me growing up, and they were always... in the rotation every year. And yeah, I, and then as Bini said, getting to, you know, reunite with these two, I think Booksmart was such a formative experience for all of us. And so to get to do it again, eight years later, seven, eight years later, it was, yeah, truly a really magical time.

2:45 That's a good superhero quote from someone that's literally in Superman. I'm like, no offense. You would know. Shout out to Gorilla Graw, the new series coming out soon. Also, I think what's great is you guys were in Booksmart. And I think even at that time, we knew that Olivia Wilde was going to be somebody that we needed to keep an eye on. She's already back right now with the invite. But now you're being directed by John Hamburg. I mean, like having him do this as the writer director, what has it been like working with John on this one? And yeah, what he brings with all of the stories from, you know, the first pages of the first script. Hamburg was so young when he started writing these, like when he was.

3:24 I think he was like 28 or 29 on the first movie. So he kind of like grew up with them and, you know, became an adult in his career. Like his career kind of grew with these movies. And Hamburg is just like genuinely one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life. And he leads with such like genuine kindness and grace. And he's so giving. He's so collaborative. I felt like with Samantha, he was like always open to my ideas and like. We changed the character a little bit as we went along. And it was, he's just, I always say he's a mensch. Like, if you look up mensch in the dictionary, it's Hamburg. Like, he's just genuinely so delish. He's genuinely delish. Yeah. And then, delish is a great way to put it. Delish. He's like bio on everything. Genuinely delish. Yeah. I mean, I would like that timeline. All of you have worked with incredible collaborators, you know.

4:16 talking about the folks from obviously Stranger Things and the Duffers and Sean, and then of course with James and what he does. What is specific about Hamburg sets and like what he brings to Amik the Fokker setter? John is so collaborative on a level that even before we began filming, we spent a couple of weeks just like reading through all of these scenes. And he was so, you know, he's been with these movies from the beginning. He very much could have been like, I know what the movie is. This is kind of, but he was so like deferential and open to feedback. And there was this constant dialogue of, you know, putting things more in our own voices because he kind of just wants everybody to feel great and to succeed. And that was so fun. It was so exciting. It felt like a kind of a familial environment from the very beginning, just because of how generous he was in that way.

5:03 We don't want to give too much away, but I'll just ask you, Eduardo, really quickly, what scene are you most excited for audiences to see? The bikes, like the bikes. Be on the lookout for the bikes, everyone. I mean, that's on, that's in the, I think that's in the trailer. Yeah, that's in the trailer. Okay. I will say this, they're not here with us, but the pedigree is already on this stage and I'm not, we don't even have half the cast because we also have Robert De Niro, Ben Stiller, and of course, the lovely Miss Ariana Grande. Who had you cracking up the loudest or breaking the most? Breaking the most? Eduardo probably breaks. Oh, actually, Eduardo, you this one. I would say. 100% Eduardo. Who did you get to break that you were surprised, though, for? Did you get De Niro or Stiller to break?

5:48 I don't think. Ben is like unbreakable. I don't know if you can. But these ones right here. That's fair. We're pathetic. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Once we get going and once Eduardo gets going, it's tough to break Ben. Okay. Well, maybe he can. I mean, I'm worried now that you're going to turn it on me, but we're going to dive into what you've seen on the screen. This is a little bit different. This is going to be Fokker or Fake Out. I'm going to read you a quote. you need to tell me whether or not it came from the Meet the Parents slash Fokker franchise or if it's a fake out and it's from a different film. Okay. Dad, he humps everything that moves. That's in the movie, I think, for sure. Fokkers, yes. That is Ben Stiller as Greg Fokker from Meet the Fokkers. So now you got it. Next quote. They say flying is the safest mode of transportation, but surely that's walking.

6:49 That's not from Fockers. That's something I've said in a different movie. That's what you said. I was like, am I hallucinating? Did I bring you back? No, actually, my brain just broke. Because it was a movie where I had an accent, so I weirdly remember every line from that movie because I had to work with the accent coach like every minute of every day. What movie? How to Build a Girl. Yes. And so, yes, this is a fake out, which is an incredible performance by yours. I didn't know. That was, I think, the first thing I had seen you in. And then it was so funny. I think right after that, I saw you in Neighbors. I was like, this girl can act. These are just like seriously two completely different performances. What's the accent? What do you do? A very regional British accent from Wolverhampton. Can you do it? Oh God, it's been about 10 years. I can't remember it. I'll just do Bond's accent and mess it up because my wife is from Liverpool. That was a preview. How to build a girl. There's so many connections right there. Third one. Great job. You gave me life. You gave me milk.

7:50 You gave me courage. That's, De Niro says that, right? You've got all the Fockers. Yes, that's his Focker quote. Robert De Niro as Jack in Meet the Parents. That's a great one. And I'll just say this. I can't. He's been playing this character, just this man for over 25 years. Like, is it creepy when he like turned it on to Jack? Because I think he's so not like that in the few times that I've gotten to interact with him. I feel like the scene where Ben sings at the dinner table at the party. I feel like that was the moment the three of us and Ari, the four of us were like. We're in Meet the Parents, you guys. It's happening. It's seriously happening. Just watching them do that and De Niro's expressions and the commitment of Ben in that moment was definitely the moment where I was having an out-of-body experience. 100%. That's so great. Also, of course, a theater girl would have that out-of-body experience. Someone broke out into song? Yes, of course. Quote number four, I'm not an expert, but this is feeling just...

8:52 really against the law. I feel like it's a fake out, but I don't know what it's from. This is a deep cut from someone's early filmography. Skyler? It is. This goes back to when you had your previous co-starring with Mr. Ben Stiller. This was you as Nick in Night of the Museum, Secret of the Tomb, 2014. I can just feel it. I was staring good at you to be like, how do you know all the movies you were not in and now the one that you were in? I don't know anything. We're going to get there. But is everyone aware about this one, the fact that in Night of the Museum, Ben played Skyler's dad in that one? Okay. Like, how early did you... I looked 12. I was 17. That's dope. Still, again, longevity of career. That's all I will say. 17 playing 12. Adorably. I started the Botox at 12. Wait, wait, wait. It really layered in by that. This is another one about age, so we're going to keep it going with this one a little bit. But yes, shout out to Night at Museum. I wish she was in her 40s, man.

10:02 Women in their 40s know themselves. Oh. Eduardo. This is Eduardo in Booksmart. about Miss Fine. Oh, yeah. Miss Fine? Oh, yeah. It does feel weird. I will never forget you being like, should I say Miss Fine or Miss Fine? But actually, he's talking about you, though. But he was talking about you, though, in that moment, because, yeah, like, your character is talking about... He's talking about Molly? No, he's talking about your character in this one. Because, yes, he does have a crush on Miss Fine, but in that moment... Wait, read it again. Okay. I wish you were in her 40s, man, because this fine is probably in her 40s. So he was talking about you. Women in their 40s know themselves. Like he was basically saying if you were older, he would date you or be into you. That's in the like. Oh, in the bathroom, we're talking shit. Yes. He's like basically the only one that's being nice. I remember. The rest were being kind of me. Yeah.

10:53 That was cute. I remember that. I'm so sorry. Wow. No, but you were great in it. I mean, memorable role. Also, I loved that he was going to Google because that is such like a tech story of that time. Where would that kid be now, though? Who knows? Last quote. I won't be your little Pinocchio, Geppetto. Evil Geppetto. I'm a real boy. Ben Stiller. Yes, to Ariana. Which, how do you keep a straight face saying that? I do love the Pinocchio pool, but just him saying that to Ariana Grande just kind of cracks me up. I think that's also so great. Talk about watching those two dynamic on set really quickly because I do feel it's like that peanut butter and chocolate combination. You don't know how good this is until you see it on screen. I love that. What was it like? Peanut butter and chocolate is an amazing combination. That's exactly how you describe it. What was it like watching that on set, though?

11:42 Super dope, man. It's crazy. Ben is like super intense. Ari is so like sweet and like kind, but Ben is intense in the sake of like trying to get the funny part out, you know? So it's like, it's crazy how you see, like, I don't know if you guys have, I never noticed Ari flub a line at all. Never. No. But, but yeah, like you said, it's, it's peanut butter and chocolate. It's fucking nuts. Any other stories from the two of them on set? There was a lot of moments where like you have to, in the middle of scenes, which is not good acting, as a fan, you'd be like, just the insanity of watching Ben Stiller. interrogate Ariana Grande. Where am I? While Robert De Niro looks on. And you're like, I'm kissing Ben Stiller. I'm kissing Ben and Ari in the same scene. Yeah. The dinner table thing, like that. Well, every one of these movies, there's always a dinner table scene. And this one, I feel like just.

12:38 continues that legacy of just amazing conversation. Chewing and then Ari saying what she does. Ben also legitimately turned purple. I have never had to act less in my whole life than watching Ben choke because we were right next to him and he actually, I think, lost consciousness. He was seriously purple and I was like, if Ari doesn't come over here. Yeah, the blood rush. To his fingers. Crazy. That's not acting. This is why he's Ben Stiller. There's just like a level of commitment that is otherworldly. It's incredible. Yeah. He's the Daniel Day Lewis of comedy. Literally. Yeah. That's such a good way of putting it. That is a good way of putting it. That's a good way to do it because he's done so much. The other thing I will say is like, because compare him in this to like what he does in Dodgeball. Like it's just like you can't even. But what I was going to say is you can't. Thank you.

13:31 You can't say because all of you, I think, rise to that in your own ways. A lot of y'all's stuff would be spoilers to talk about it, but y'all all have your crazy scenes. I can't wait for folks to see it. It's a really true ensemble. All right. Well, we're going to move on to our true or false question, and then it will be that and one final question before we get out of here. The first draft of the screenplay for Meet the Parents had a polygraph scene in it. By instinct, context clues is to say false. I think false, too. All right. Because I think, didn't John tell us that, like, it was Bob's idea? You are on it. Like, what a special features trivia. What am I doing? I mean, I didn't expect him to freestyle it, but yes. No, you knew that. I know you knew that. You were there. You're saying that for the camera, but I did not know that. I did not know that at all. Well, false. It was De Niro's idea. But I think that speaks to, even back then, there was playfulness on the set. And even as the writer, John, and the director at the time, they were not precious about adding more. I'd love for y'all to talk about, if y'all have a favorite, did you have a good improv moment?

14:45 that one of you I'm sure all of you did but if there's one that you could kind of shout out that you were proud of I think every time Beanie called Ben like Greg by his name Gaylord that to me was like fucked every time she's like alright Gaylord oh I love it because I call my mom by her first name oh you do and so I was like and the whole dynamic was like you know Greg and Samantha are too close they're too comfortable and so I was like John, I think we should do Gaylord. And he was like, we're going to find the perfect place to put it. And it did make it in. So I was proud of that. That shit was like, that to me was like my favorite. Thanks Gaylord. Oh my God. That's so good. Anything for you? I think I think one of mine, but like from what I've seen when Eduardo comes out in the towel, like you were doing a lot of stuff when you and Ben have that first encounter. That was not.

15:39 And it's also inspired so many, I get on my For You page now, like thirst trap edits of Eduardo's. Is that true? Oh my gosh. Did Ben make them? Ben was really impressed. Ben was super impressed. How good did that feel, Ben? Ben was like, oh my God, Eduardo, you got to be Aquaman or something. Oh my God. I need an entire behind the scenes featurette. Oh my gosh. Oh my gosh. I love this. I'm going to ask you guys one final question. It's my favorite one for a scene on the screen. And that is, go ahead and tell me what was the movie performance or television show that you saw that made you say, this is what I want to do. I want to be an actor. The two movies I remember being really big for me were West Side Story.

16:26 And my uncle showed me Happy Gilmore. And those two things, he was watching me for a weekend. My mom was like irate that he had shown me at five years old Happy Gilmore. And I don't like, I'd make my sisters be the Sharks and my parents be the Jets from West Side Story. Like I'd want to like reenact the, and yeah, those, I would like go back and forth and watch those two. The fact that you're in prime time in this, that's very fitting. This is preview. This is full circle. Totally. Beanie. I always love musical movies, but the movie that I, that everything clicked into place was Bridesmaids. Like I was always doing musicals, but Bridesmaids came out my senior year of high school and seeing it first night in the theaters was like genuinely a life-changing experience for me. Just like women can be funny and they can all be funny in all different ways. And that can all be celebrated at the top of its game. And it's not about the boys. No, it's not about the boys. Eduardo, what about you, sir? What was your movie that made you say, this is what I wanted to do?

17:23 I think Beanie knows the answer because I don't stop talking about it. My favorite movie is Terminator 2 Judgment Day. That's a baller movie. So I think, I don't know. It's formative to him. Yeah, my dream has always been to shoot a scene like the LA River one on the dirt bike. I've never ridden a motorcycle, but I've always wanted to because of that movie and Sarah Connor doing those chin-ups. I had that in mind when I had this part. Because there was a whole bit that didn't make it. Well, we get to see you shirtless. We saw the trivia. Wait, wait, wait. I want to say I agree with you on The Terminator 2. That is a really great movie. And James Cameron, I think, he's the perfect audience one. The same thing with the Meet the Parents series where you want to see it in the theaters. Yeah, absolutely. Anyway, thank you all so much. Thank you. I really appreciate it. Falker-in-law in theaters. Thanksgiving. Thank you. Thank you. Thank y'all.

18:17 Falker & Law, only in theaters November 25th. Get tickets now on Fandango. To watch the films discussed in this episode and more, head on over to Fandango. Seen on the Screen with Jacqueline Coley is a Universal Entertainment and Fandango podcast. Thank you to our producers, Dwight Keynes, Fabian Castro, and Camille Holmes Bonilla. This has been a Straw Hut Media Production with original theme music by Shirley Song.