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[0:01] Robert Bannon: Are you ready? It's The Roundtable with me, Robert Bannon.

[0:09] Robert Bannon: Well, welcome to The Roundtable, everybody. My name is Robert Bannon. You're listening to us on Broadway World, the Broadway Podcast Network, iHeart, Spotify, wherever artists are talking about art.

[0:17] Robert Bannon: I watched a trailer for a movie that, in two minutes, took me on the wildest, craziest ride. I don't – Lucy, Delilah, Jon, I was here thinking, ha, ha, ha, daddies versus spitting in your mouth versus what's – and then it took apocalyptic terror, bugs, masks, scary. What a ride. I felt exhausted and ready for this movie in a minute and 42 seconds. Congratulations to you three. Thanks for being here.

[0:46] Jon Rudnitsky: Thank you.

[0:47] Delilah Napier: Thank you so much.

[0:48] Robert Bannon: So, Lucy and Delilah, before we get to Jon, this is your baby?

[0:52] Delilah Napier: It is our baby, our joint – yeah, we made it together.

[0:58] Robert Bannon: You must have had some wild dating experiences in your lifetime to come up with this source material because the first half of it is a funny trip of what it's like to date. Lucy, when did you come up with this idea?

[1:09] Lucy Powers: Yeah, it was very much not just us coming up with it together but us living it together and then infusing it into a film with some small details changed. But yeah, we say everything in the Sinead storyline until the revenge plot happened pretty much word for word.

[1:28] Lucy Powers: Yeah, the Sinead story literally happened to us. We matched with the same man on Hinge within four days of each other, had this date. He didn't know we were friends. He pulled the same lines, asked us for our favorite type of wine. He didn't have a wine opener, made a cucumber cocktail, lived in the same building as this cafe. We didn't make any of that up.

[1:52] Lucy Powers: And we were always like, the one thing we didn't do is get revenge on him. So that's why we had to make this film for our own form of revenge, which turned into years of work. But it's been great.

[2:05] Robert Bannon: That's so funny and incredible. Jon, when did you hear about – hi, Jon. I love Jon. Jon's a funny person. Did you know?

[2:13] Jon Rudnitsky: Thank you, Robert. Thank you.

[2:16] Robert Bannon: Jon, when did you read this? How do you know Delilah and Lucy? Did they send you a script? Did you run into them at a Starbucks? Are you best friends since preschool? What is the story?

[2:27] Jon Rudnitsky: I ran into them at Starbucks in preschool. And we've been best friends ever since. They saw me do stand-up, unbeknownst to me. And then my manager had, I guess, submitted me for a role in it. And then I got offered a role in it, which I was elated to get.

[2:49] Jon Rudnitsky: Because when I read the script, it was a threesome. And I thought, that sounds like fun. And then I realized it's not a successful threesome. And so I thought, less fun. But no, it was brilliant writing. And it's rare to get something that's good. And it's even more rare to get something that's this weird. And I mean that in the best way. It's just so smart and so different and unique and special.

[3:22] Jon Rudnitsky: And it's a really fun, needy role to play, even if it's just the first couple scenes. They're really fun scenes. And so I was very excited. And then I got to work with them and meet them. And now I'm happy to say they're friends, who I love and respect deeply.

[3:42] Delilah Napier: Well, Delilah, you have Jon in this film. And you have an incredible cast. Tell us a little bit about how you got this cast together. And who can we expect to see in this film that we may have seen in many other places?

[3:56] Delilah Napier: Yes. Well, we couldn't be happier with the cast we landed. And Jon was someone we didn't know before making this movie, but we loved his stand-up. And that was through, again, we had casting directors help us with 10 to 12 of the roles. But it's a 44-person cast.

[4:14] Delilah Napier: And then a lot of the rest of them were people I mainly knew through theater, doing theater in New York City. And everyone worked for the exact same rate, like Jessica Hecht, Dylan Baker, Reg Rogers. I had done a play with Jessica. Like Dylan, I had done one reading with the Ukrainian high schoolers play. And he was the nicest guy. And it was right when we were casting this. And I was like, oh, and he said he's got to stay in touch. And he's happy to help with whatever. So let's see if there's a part for him. And then he signed on.

[4:46] Delilah Napier: But I think it's just like a lot of actors, especially I feel like a lot of theater actors in New York are so giving and they just love the work and they love supporting younger creators. So that was exciting. And then a lot of the younger cast, I feel like it was Dylan T. Jackson's first feature and Glory's first feature. And they were so excited. And we think they're so brilliant and perfect in their roles. And we really wanted people that fit the roles. We didn't give many offers out for the core five. We wanted to see auditions. And then Jon was just straight offer, obviously.

[5:26] Delilah Napier: Jon is offer only. Jon, I just want people to know. Jon is, as his new manager, Jon is offer only.

[5:32] Jon Rudnitsky: Yes. Let the world know, Robert.

[5:34] Robert Bannon: Jon, you're offer only. Lucy, what is it like talking about Jon and talking about this cast? When did you know you had something magical on the set? When did you look at each other and say like, oh, we got a movie. This is going to be something special.

[5:50] Lucy Powers: Oh, Robert, every moment was different. There's some moments where you're like, yes, yes. And then there's other moments like, oh, what do we do? Like, what is the creative like mix for how like, you know, if a location falls through last minute and something. But I'm so glad to hear you say that. But we we I think everything's made in the edit, honestly. Like, you know, the actors all did such a great job. Like like Delilah was saying, we love working with theater actors are just amazing.

[6:17] Lucy Powers: Like on sets, they're just they're always on time. They know their lines like they're happy to have lunch provided, you know, like it's just like they're so easy and and like they all just give such fun performances. So then really it was like it was like a Tetris of how to fit all the scenes together in the edit and not have this movie run too long, because if we had done like every one of Jon's improvs, we would all be laughing. But the movie would be like two and a half hours.

[6:44] Robert Bannon: I love it. So, Jon, you come from a varied background. I mean, you've been in everything from I don't know, like from television being you to stand-up to, you know, you go work with Reese Witherspoon one day and Lindsay Lohan the next day and I don't know, be a young Larry David on the third day. So you bring a lot of characters and a lot of voices and material and history to a project. So when you get up on when you get on set, were they tough? Did you stay word perfect? Did they let you play around? What was the vibe like when you shot?

[7:16] Jon Rudnitsky: They let me play around a bunch, but I think their words are so specifically them in the best way that, you know, I didn't need to mess around too much. But, you know, like the scene in the hallway, I'm like kind of flirting with with the student there before I get confronted. So like moments like that where I would find an opportunity to to improvise a bit, they would let me fly off the handle. And sometimes maybe they'd be like, oh, yeah, maybe a little less. But for the most part, they really they let me do my thing, which is great, because I would say the comedy background is really what I kind of use most on set, especially in a comedy, you know.

[7:59] Robert Bannon: Yeah. I'm sorry, Lucy and Delilah. As a New Jersey, as a Fort Lee person, Jon is my brother because he just grew up down the street and around the corner over in Harrington Park, which is not far.

[8:12] Jon Rudnitsky: Do you know Harrington Park?

[8:13] Robert Bannon: I sure do.

[8:15] Jon Rudnitsky: That's that's amazing.

[8:17] Jon Rudnitsky: I'm a Jersey boy. That's it.

[8:20] Robert Bannon: We got to stick together.

[8:21] Robert Bannon: We have this. Delilah, where did you grow up?

[8:24] Delilah Napier: I grew up in New York City, but I also moved to L.A. when I was 13. So I say I say I grew up in New York, but came of age in L.A.

[8:34] Robert Bannon: And Lucy, how about you?

[8:36] Lucy Powers: I grew up in Farmington, Connecticut. So also kind of tri-state area here.

[8:41] Robert Bannon: OK, we can give you half. You know, Jon and me are just dying to be New Yorkers, which he is now. But New Jersey just is dying to be a New Yorker. That's really all it is. We're the redheaded stepchildren of the tri-state.

[8:54] Jon Rudnitsky: Well, John Stewart says that the reason so many famous people are from New Jersey is because they can see New York, but they can't touch it yet.

[9:03] Robert Bannon: See, you know, it's like the dream is right there.

[9:06] Jon Rudnitsky: I always say we pay less rent to look at New York and people in New York pay more rent to look at New Jersey. So think about that.

[9:13] Delilah Napier: That is true.

[9:15] Delilah Napier: So Delilah, when we watch this movie and it takes a turn, why did you choose New York?

[9:18] Robert Bannon: May I add, where did this health post-COVID revenge, I'm not trying to give it away, moment come into play? When did you decide that this wasn't going to just, was it supposed to be a funny dating movie first? Was it supposed to be an apocalypto thing first? Or was it just as you wrote it, it evolved? I feel like from the get-go, because initially we were conceiving of the Sinead as like a horror, almost like more, not like a horror short, but like a moody, dark, sexy short, but not really sexy because it's not, but you know, like a sex-themed, dark short. But with humor, just because he's so toxic and psycho that maybe we can jointly laugh at how much that way he is. But we like kind of were thinking of these other dating stories that we wanted it to just be this bigger story.

And we didn't want it to end with a happy, like a relationship or just kind of, we wanted it to end in a more kind of symbolic, eerie way. And that's why from as soon as we were really conceiving this film about dating as a feature, we knew we wanted it to take a more surreal turn. So what we decided we thought felt both grounded and surreal at once.

[10:47] Lucy Powers: Oh, I think a mix of all of those things. We're really inspired in all of our scripts by real things that have happened. Life is just so entertaining. And the only benefit in, well, not the only benefit, but in this life of being a writer, filmmaker, is that you can take these moments that otherwise would be kind of unsettling or off or bad, and you can turn it into something that might make people laugh or people can get entertainment from. So yeah, I think so much of it is based on just things we've observed. We're always overhearing conversations that you write down.

[11:39] Jon Rudnitsky: I get it. Absolutely. John, are you married? Are you single? Are you with a girlfriend? Do you have nobody?

[11:48] Jon Rudnitsky: I do have a girlfriend. Okay, because I wasn't trying to judge the bags over your shoulder. I love a man with a bag. I got my own bag, but I was assuming it was someone in your life. I'm Zooming from my girlfriend's place. I wasn't trying to judge. Well, hey, girlfriend. And so do you have your own New York? I'm sure none of this has ever happened with your current girlfriend, but do you have your own horror dating stories? Or are you a man? So you're the reason there's bad dating stories.

[12:12] Jon Rudnitsky: That's very possible. Yeah, I'm the problem. I'm the problem. I've had very toxic long-term relationships, I would say. Dating, yeah, certainly dating can be a nightmare, but I think it's certainly more of a nightmare to be a woman in New York than a man. But yes. But thankfully now, I've gone through enough toxic relationships that I'm in a really great one now, that she lets me Zoom from her bedroom. It's very kind. I do have my own place, but I was in the neighborhood. Look, if I was a scandalous show at this point, we would open the door and she would come out and tell us the truth about dating you, John. That would be, that is a good podcast. If only we could get her. If only we could find her. That's what I wanted.

[13:10] Robert Bannon: So Delilah, open the door. Here she comes. So Delilah, who should see this movie? Is it a date night? Or am I going to bring up my best friends? Are the girlfriends going to get together? Who do you envision being in the crowd?

[13:21] Delilah Napier: John's girlfriend, definitely. I think we have to just do the reveal. We have to do the reveal.

[13:37] Robert Bannon: I need to see her. Wait, you're the girlfriend?

[13:44] Delilah Napier: I think there was no other way at first. It was just like, what in the world? John was supposed to do this interview from his apartment, but then was in the neighborhood. Delilah, how cute are they? They look like a Hallmark card. And they met on Floating Carousel.

[14:04] Jon Rudnitsky: You did? So the horrors of dating did lead us to each other.

[14:10] Robert Bannon: Robert, is this your best interview yet? This is the winner. I win. I've done a thousand interviews and this has never happened.

[14:20] Jon Rudnitsky: Oh, I can't imagine. It has.

[14:23] Lucy Powers: Those are mine.

[14:28] Robert Bannon: Are your publicist finding this out for the first time as well? Now, Delilah, if you come out the other door, I'm done. This show's over. I'm in the Canary Islands. If now Lucy and I walk into Delilah's room.

[14:41] Jon Rudnitsky: I know. That would blow my mind.

[14:51] Robert Bannon: My mind is blown. If this didn't make you want to buy a ticket to see this, I don't know what's going to make you want to buy a ticket. I really was hoping John had this white bag on while he was walking the streets of New York, was what I was saying in my spirit. Speaking of New York, this movie is coming out in New York City. You need to go see it this September. Buy a ticket, bring your people, bring your friends. It's funny. It's outrageous. It's going to take you on a wild ride. It's like something you've never seen before and it's something you need to see. It's an all-star cast. And I'm so happy. Lucy, do not let, do not let, this is going to sound disrespectful if you didn't see the trailer. I'm sorry. Lucy, do not let him spit in your mouth unless you want that in your life.

[15:32] Lucy Powers: That storyline's not based on me, to be clear, you know.

[15:35] Robert Bannon: I'm not judging, John. I'm not trying to yuck your yum. I just want Lucy to be okay, Lucy. It is like unsettling how good he was at starting a threesome in the movie. I just, I don't know.

[15:47] Jon Rudnitsky: Well, John, they wrote this. So you got like an inside track into what your girlfriend's mind really wants to, or doesn't want, so.

[15:58] Jon Rudnitsky: Yeah. Yeah. No, I did. I did. It's complicated to watch now for both of us. And now he's part of a new throuple.

[16:04] Robert Bannon: Yes. These two are inseparable. These two are inseparable. So I really do, I have two girlfriends in a way. Are you okay with that, Delilah? Are you okay sharing her?

[16:15] Delilah Napier: Oh, yes. Because John is so amenable.

[16:19] Jon Rudnitsky: Yes. We have a fun time. We have a fun time. But Delilah's in the Canary Islands right now shooting a movie. She's been away. I know. It's been a long break, but I think it's good because it's given John and Lucy time to gel.

[16:36] Robert Bannon: Well, I'm so dumb. I'm so Jersey that I don't even know where the Canary Islands. Where are the Canary Islands? That's how stupid I am.

[16:45] Delilah Napier: Close to Africa. It's Spanish, but it's off the coast of Africa. And I've been here since July 27th, but I'm coming back September 10th in time for September 17th.

[17:00] Robert Bannon: Where the movie's going to be in New York City.

[17:03] Lucy Powers: Yeah. So it's opening at the cinemas on September 17th, and that's in the South Street Seaport in New York City. So come and you'll see us there every day.

[17:19] Robert Bannon: Every day. Every day you can see this film. And then John and Lucy and Delilah will take you out to eat. No, they won't. I'm not just making this up.

[17:29] Jon Rudnitsky: If you come to every screening, we will take you out to eat.

[17:36] Jon Rudnitsky: We'll take you to Dim Sum Palace if you come to every screening.

[17:38] Robert Bannon: I love Dim Sum. I love scallion pancakes on them. And everybody, if you go to every screening, you can also date one of the cast or crew. They'll be available all through the show.

[17:51] Jon Rudnitsky: That's a guarantee. Yeah, you come to the screening, you'll leave with one of us.

[17:58] Robert Bannon: That's a win. Everybody, thank you so much for being here. Congratulations to everybody for being here, for being a part of this show. Get your tickets, Floating Carousel, coming to New York City. Thank you all so much for being here. Thank you. Congratulations.

[18:12] Jon Rudnitsky: Thank you, Robert. This was the most fun.

[18:14] Lucy Powers: You're the most fun. Thank you for this exclusive fun chat.

[18:18] Jon Rudnitsky: Oh, yeah. Hard launch.

[18:20] Robert Bannon: Thanks, Rob.