“You’re now one of my Top 5 BFF’s!”
David Limacher: I wanted to thank you for taking time out of your day to spend a few minutes talking with me.
Dave Franco: It’s my pleasure, and you’re my last interview of the day; I hope you make it a good one!
DL: Well, I’m not on H.F.S., so I believe everything will be fine.
DF: I Love IT! That is a great reference point there to start off this interview.
DL: Thank You! 21 Jumpstreet was one of the biggest surprises for me last year, and also one of the funniest movies that were released last year as well.
DF: That’s awesome, and it’s great to hear how much you enjoyed it.
DL: Well, I should thank you! You’re still relatively new in the “Hollywood Scene”, yet you’ve made some great choices. I mean, you were Greg the Soccer Player in Superbad!
DF: Wow, I’m glad you remember me in that! The fact people still come up to me on the street and say “Why don’t you go piss your pants, again?” shows the popularity and staying power of that movie.
DL: It was a great movie! And, earlier this year you were in Warm Bodies, as well. I actually interviewed your co-stars Theresa Palmer and Nicholas Hoult, and they had nothing but the nicest things to say about you.
DF: Yeah, it was a smaller role; but it was quite a large amount of fun on that set. I’m glad they had nice things to say about me.
DL: Well, enough with the past; you’re new movie is Now You See Me. You play a character named Jack Wilder, and you’re a member of the newly formed Four Horsemen.
DF: That is correct, and it’s nice to be a member of the “main” faction that the movie is based around.
DL: Since you play a magician in the movie, I was curious to know if you actually learned any magic, or were all the tricks done using CGI.
DF: Actually, since I played a Street Magician, I learned a few card tricks. The thing that I took the most time to craft was throwing cards. I learned how to throw cards with such increased speeds, and I don’t know if this is a big deal, but I can throw a card and cut through a banana.
DL: And you actually use throwing cards in the movie.
DF: Yeah, I did. That was actually fun to shoot as well. As for the magic, we had a consultant on set during the scenes we did the magic tricks, but all of the tricks were CGI. The consultant was mainly there to make sure we conducted ourselves like a magician in a big stage production really would.
DL: Excellent. I wanted to ask you about having the “fight scene” in the movie, as well. Since you brought up the fact you learned how to throw cards, I figured we could talk about that scene.
DF: Yeah, I was involved in the fight scene in the movie.
DL: Did you do your own stunts or was there a stunt double on set?
DF: Well, I honestly did 95% of my own stunts in the movie. Working with Louis Leterrier (Director of Now You See Me, Transporter 1 & 2, The Incredible Hulk, etc.) he has such a unique vision, and is very hands on with everything. We worked together and got everything down to a fine art. The funny thing is, in the fight scene, I accidentally threw Mark Ruffalo into the fridge a little too hard, and he hurt his shoulder. Now Mark is the nicest guy in the world, and we got along REALLY well; the thing is, after that scene thing were a little tense between him and me the rest of the day. He was a little more stiff with me as we continued to shoot the fight scene that day, but after everything was over we talked it out and got along famously once again.
DL: That’s good to hear! You brought up working with Louis Leterrier, what was that like working with such an action oriented director in a movie that has so many layers to it?
DF: Louis is a Pro! He really gets in there and isn’t afraid to tell you what works, and what he feels should be done to make the scene better. I agree that there are so many layers to the movie as well, I just hope it translates to the audience the way you picked up on it.
DL: Well, the way the audience was reacting to it; I believe that it does a great job of translating to the audience. Especially the dramatic scene that you have involving the car chase!
DF: Yeah, the car chase scene was so much fun! As I told you, I did 95% of my own stunts, but Louis was a little more worried about driving the car at certain parts.
DL: I can see why!
DF: Yeah, I wish I could’ve done more, but it was nice to have a stunt driver there for my own safety!
DL: Now You See Me has such an amazing cast! What was it like working with so many well known actors?
DF: It was an amazing experience. The years of experience, and the fact I was working with so many Nominated and Winning Actors of Academy Awards was a little humbling to me. I felt fortunate to gain the experience, and learned quite a bit from my time working with them.
DL: How did you all get along with each other?
DF: That’s a good question, and easy for me to answer. A couple weeks ago we were doing press stuff in New Orleans, and Woody Harrelson is shooting a movie down there, so we went over to Woody’s house after the press day. We all just played games, had a few cocktails, just had fun talking about the good times we had while making the movie. I guess you could say that we became close friends, and family during our time together.
DL: One thing that people might take away from this, it’s the first time that Woody and Jessie Eisenberg have been on screen together since Zombieland.
DF: Yeah, those two seemingly picked up right where they left off. They have such great chemistry both on camera and off. Those two just play off each other, and it was so much fun to be a part of the way those two work together. The fact Isla and I were accepted into their “world” is a great thing for us as well.
DL: Awesome! So, what did you think of the movie when you saw it?
DF: I found it enjoyable, but I have only seen it in a dark room by myself! You saw it with an audience, right?
DL: Yes I did.
DF: Can I ask you what the audience thought of Now You See Me?
DL: People really enjoyed it, and seemed to get invested in the characters as well. There were certain climatic scenes, involving you, which people seemed to gasp and worry!
DF: AWESOME! That is really great to hear. What did you think?
DL: I loved the layers of the movie, and it’s just a great time and escape at the movies for two hours. Some critics may over-analyze the movie, but I loved it for what it was!
DF: That’s awesome, and you’re now one of my favorite critics that I’ve ever talked to about anything. I agree that seeing this movie has so many layers and it’s just a fun escape. It’s a roller coaster ride and fun for the audience as well.
DL: We’re in agreement and thank you for me being one of your favorites! Do you have any upcoming projects you want people to know about?
DF: YEAH! I just finished shooting a movie four days ago called “Townies”. It’s a fun movie that has Seth Rogan and me, as well as a ton of other funny people. Since we just wrapped on the set, I’m not sure of a time frame for when it will be coming out, but it was a TON of fun; and I hope people enjoy that one as well.
DL: I’m sure they will since you make such awesome choices for the movies you’ve been in thus far!
DF: Thank You! And for that, you’re now one of my Top 5 BFF’s!
DL: Awesome! That works for me! I believe we have time for one more question!
DF: Really? Do you have one, or did you want to leave it on a high note where we say our “I Love You’s” and then go about our day?
DL: I was going to ask if you have a Twitter account, or a way for fans to contact you?
DF: WOW! No, I don’t have a Twitter or anything like that. I feel pressured to get on Twitter, and I feel that if I’m on there people will be expecting me to write something every day, or be funny all the time. I’m really a private person, and don’t really find myself to be funny “all the time”, so I’m avoiding Twitter as long as I can!
DL: Well, if you ever get on Twitter, my handle is @limacher78!
DF: You’ll be one of my first follows, I PROMISE!
DL: Thank You SO VERY MUCH for your time today, Dave!
DF: Thank You as well, this was a lot of fun!
DL: I Love You, Man!
DF: I Love You Too, Man!
This was one of the most FUN times I ever had interviewing ANYONE! Dave really let loose, and we had so much fun talking to each other! Now You See Me is in theaters now, and is definitely worth checking out! Sit Down, eat your food of choice at the movies, and enjoy the ride for two hours!
