Podcast Summary
Hollywood's risk aversion to R-rated comedies: Vince Vaughn believes studios have become more risk-averse and controlling, leading to fewer R-rated comedies, but there's still an audience for edgy comedy
The timidity of studios in producing R-rated comedies is due to the pressures of the moment, rather than a change in cultural context. Vince Vaughn, known for his work in raunchy comedies, believes that studios used to allow young, funny people to make movies without excessive micromanagement, but have since become more risk-averse and controlling. Despite this trend, there is still an audience for challenging and edgy comedy, as evidenced by the success of stand-up comics who push boundaries. Ultimately, Vaughn suggests that the people in charge of greenlighting movies got timid, not because they felt morally opposed, but due to the pressures of their positions.
Stories and human experience: Stories, whether in songs or literature, challenge us, open up our minds, and allow us to understand different perspectives, contributing to the human experience.
Stories, whether in songs or literature, play an essential role in exploring emotions and ideas that exist within us. These stories challenge us and open up our minds, allowing us to understand different perspectives. It's not for anyone to censor or cancel these stories, as they contribute to the human experience. A powerful example of this is Stephen King's novel "Rage," which challenged the social dynamics of high school and gave the reader a new perspective. The importance of these stories lies in their ability to transform our understanding of the world and the people around us. They remind us that everyone is a complex, complete human being, and they should be allowed to continue to inspire and challenge us.
Art and Human Connections: Art, like movies and music, connects people through shared experiences and themes, and the creative process involves overcoming challenges and improving skills.
Art, such as movies and music, has the power to bring people together despite their differences. The themes explored in these works often resonate with audiences and serve as a reminder of the shared human experiences and commonalities. The creative process, whether in filmmaking or personal growth, involves overcoming challenges and improving skills. For instance, in filmmaking, Ben Stiller acknowledged the difficulties he faced in acting on camera and learning to connect with people authentely. In his personal life, he shared that public speaking and expressing his feelings to others were areas he initially struggled with but eventually improved. Ultimately, art provides a platform for self-expression, emotional exploration, and growth.
Finding value in challenges: Instead of dwelling on negatives, focus on learning and improving from challenges. Unique experiences and conversations can broaden our perspectives and make strengths out of weaknesses.
It's essential to shift our focus from evaluating ourselves negatively to finding value in our challenges. We can use these challenges to improve ourselves and make them strengths. Vince Vaughn shared an example from his professional experience in the film industry where he learned the importance of conversation and stepping on each other while listening. He also reflected on how his unique life experiences, including growing up with grandparents from vastly different backgrounds, shaped him and gave him a broad perspective. The media's portrayal of him as a rabble-rouser guy might have been influenced by his outgoing personality and the settings they chose for their interviews. Overall, embracing our diverse experiences and learning from them can help us grow and become better versions of ourselves.
Individual experiences: Individual experiences shape complex political beliefs, influenced by varied interests, environments, and potential evolution over a lifetime.
Individuals are complex and their experiences shape their perspectives, including their political beliefs. The speaker, for instance, grew up with varied interests and environments that influenced her libertarian views on individual freedom, such as the legalization of drugs and gun ownership. However, she recognizes the existence of different camps and cultures that hold strong opinions on these issues. The speaker also acknowledges the impact of environments on shaping beliefs, including in parenting and art, and the possibility of evolving views over a lifetime. In Hollywood, she has encountered censorship and political correctness, but values provocative and challenging art. Overall, the speaker emphasizes the importance of allowing individuals to make choices and learn from their experiences.
Parenting and Acting Career: Becoming a parent can influence an artist's career choices, leading to increased selectivity and a desire to explore new opportunities while maintaining existing thoughts and feelings.
Vince Vaughn, despite having several completed projects, has become more selective in his acting roles since becoming a parent. He wants to explore new opportunities and grow as an artist, just like trying different rides at an amusement park. Fatherhood has not changed him fundamentally, but it has foregrounded existing thoughts and feelings. As a teacher, Lauren has also had to adapt her approach based on her students' cognitive development. For instance, introducing the concept of death to her seven-year-old and nine-year-old required sensitivity and age-appropriate language. Overall, both Vince and Lauren have had to adapt and grow in their respective roles as artists and educators.
Parenting, Emotional Dynamics: Parenting brings unique challenges and emotional experiences, shaping perspective on life, making one more empathetic, patient, and understanding. Adapting to children's emotional needs is crucial.
Becoming a parent brings about unique challenges and emotional experiences that can shape one's perspective on life. For Vince Vaughn, fatherhood made him more empathetic, patient, and understanding, allowing him to define success in new ways. He also acknowledged the importance of being there for his children and being aware of their individual emotional needs. The passing of a loved one, such as a grandma, can affect children differently based on their age and emotional development, and parents must adapt to their children's needs. Reflecting on personal experiences as a caretaker can reveal shifts in self-perception and how one views the world. In a future conversation, Vince and I plan to delve deeper into his thoughts on the emotional dynamics of his career success and a friend's personal struggles.
Personal Loss and Reflection: Success doesn't guarantee freedom from personal loss and reflection, and it's important to allow people to experience their own challenges while acknowledging the limits of our ability to change them.
Success is defined by trying one's best approach to whatever one is doing, and that sometimes, even with success, we may wonder if we could have prevented tragedy in the lives of those closest to us. The speaker shared a personal experience of losing a friend to suicide, despite her own success at the time, and expressed the common human feeling of wondering if she could have done something differently. She also acknowledged the limits of our ability to change others and the importance of allowing people to experience their own challenges. Additionally, the speaker discussed her perspective on gun rights, believing in individual freedom and the right to protect oneself. These beliefs have become a consistent and defining aspect of her public persona, making it a frequent topic of discussion in interviews. Going back to the homework assignment, the speaker reflected on how fatherhood has shifted her perspective, but she will share more about that in the future.
Impact of Love and Loss on Personal Growth: Having children can deepen one's understanding and experience of love, leading to personal growth and a greater appreciation for life. Love is an ongoing exploration and can be directed towards various things, including family, country, God, and friendships. Experiencing loss can make the daily aspects of life more beautiful and meaningful.
Having children can deepen one's understanding and experience of love, leading to personal growth and a greater appreciation for life. Vince Vaughn shared in this conversation how having kids made him realize his capacity for love was greater than he thought, and that it pushed him to make changes in his life to ensure he was providing a positive environment for his children. He also noted that love is an ongoing exploration and can be directed towards various things, including country, God, spouses, and friendships. Additionally, experiencing loss can make the daily aspects of life more beautiful and meaningful, as we realize the importance of cherishing moments that loved ones may not get to experience. Overall, this conversation highlights the profound impact of love and loss on our lives and the importance of reflecting on these experiences.
Personal growth journey: Personal growth involves a journey of challenges and perseverance, and it's important to remember that resources are available for those struggling with thoughts of suicide.
Learning from this episode of The Interview is that personal growth and understanding often come from a journey, and we don't always begin at a place of enlightenment. Vince Vaughn, the actor and producer, shared his insights on this topic during the conversation. He emphasized the importance of persevering through challenges and not giving up on the path to self-discovery. Additionally, it's crucial to remember that resources are available for those struggling with thoughts of suicide. The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline is a valuable resource for anyone in need. As a reminder, this episode was produced by Seth Kelly, edited by Anna Bellbacon, mixed by Dan Powell, and featured original music by Dan Powell, Diane Wong, and Marianne Lozano. Tune in next week for a conversation between co-host Lulu Garcia Navarro and Republican Senator James Lankford. And don't forget to follow or subscribe to The Interview wherever you get your podcasts. If you have any feedback or would like to reach out to the show, you can email us at theinterview@nytimes.com.