CHANNELING Creativity on Life’s Journey: How Billy Crystal CHANGED the Game

Life is often a series of remarkable moments, woven together by laughter, challenges, and the stories we create along the way. On today’s episode, we are privileged to welcome the legendary Billy Crystal. A name synonymous with humor, heart, and an incredible body of work, Billy has enchanted audiences for decades with his unique blend of wit and sincerity.

Billy Crystal began his journey into comedy and acting at a young age, finding his footing through the support and humor of his family. “I was like a little Jewish Don Rickles at three, four, five years old,” he recalls, highlighting how his early performances for family and friends set the stage for his future career. His passion for comedy truly ignited during his time at NYU, where a chance opportunity to perform stand-up comedy at a fraternity party led to an epiphany: this was his calling. From that night forward, there was no turning back.

Billy’s career is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of staying true to oneself. His breakthrough role came with the TV show “Soap,” where he played Jody Dallas, one of the first openly gay characters on network television. “It was four years of it, and I think the testament was that the audience trusted Jody to get custody of his child,” Billy reflects. This role not only showcased his acting chops but also marked a significant cultural milestone.

SPIRITUAL TAKEAWAYS:

  1. Embrace Authenticity: Billy’s journey emphasizes the importance of embracing who you are. Whether it’s a comedic performance or a heartfelt story, authenticity resonates deeply with audiences and creates lasting connections.
  2. Find Humor in Life’s Challenges: Throughout his career, Billy has turned personal experiences, both joyful and painful, into art. This ability to find humor and meaning in life’s ups and downs is a powerful tool for resilience.
  3. The Power of Empathy and Friendship: In his latest film, “Here Today,” Billy explores the profound impact of friendship and empathy. These themes remind us of the importance of supporting and understanding one another through life’s journeys.

One of Billy’s notable talents is his ability to balance humor with heartfelt moments, a skill that shines in his new film, “Here Today.” The film, which he co-wrote, directed, and stars in, tells the story of an unlikely friendship between Charlie Burns, a veteran comedy writer, and Emma Payge, a young street singer played by Tiffany Haddish. The inspiration for this film came from a real-life anecdote shared by his friend Alan Zweibel, about an auction lunch gone hilariously awry. “This is a great way for two people to meet. Who are they? Where do they go from here?” Billy recalls thinking, which sparked the creative journey for the film.

“Here Today” tackles the sensitive topic of dementia with grace and humor. Drawing from personal experiences, Billy crafted a character, Charlie, who faces the early onset of a form of dementia. The film beautifully navigates the complexities of this condition while highlighting the importance of empathy and support. “I take the truth and make it more interesting,” Billy notes, underscoring his approach to storytelling that blends reality with artistic expression.

Directing and acting alongside a powerhouse like Tiffany Haddish was both a joy and a challenge. “I need Emma Payge. When there were moments where I need Tiffany, we’ll plug those in,” Billy explains, emphasizing the balance he sought in her performance. Their chemistry is palpable, and their dynamic brings a fresh and engaging energy to the film.

Reflecting on his illustrious career, Billy credits the lessons learned from working with legendary directors like Rob Reiner and Danny DeVito. Rob’s advice on the musicality of comedy and Danny’s effortless handling of both acting and directing roles have been invaluable. “You have to just make sure that the balance is right,” Billy says, encapsulating his approach to filmmaking.

In conclusion, “Here Today” is not just a film; it’s a heartfelt exploration of friendship, humor, and the human condition. It invites audiences to laugh, cry, and reflect on the meaningful connections in their own lives. Billy Crystal’s legacy continues to grow, touching hearts and bringing joy through his unparalleled storytelling.

Please enjoy my conversation with Billy Crystal.

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Follow Along with the Transcript – Episode 123

Billy Crystal 0:00
How honest is this going to be how you know and and it started out honestly a little up robbery I thought and and and then it's settled in into a real interesting thoughtful funny stood up for himself strong character

Alex Ferrari 0:31
I've been able to partner with Mindvalley to present you guys FREE Master classes between 60 and 90 minutes covering Mind Body Soul Relationships and Conscious Entrepreneurship taught by spiritual masters, yogi's spiritual thought leaders and best selling authors. Just head over to nextlevelsoul.com/free. I'd like to welcome to the show Billy Crystal. How you doing Billy?

Billy Crystal 1:04
I'm great. Nice to see you. Alex,

Alex Ferrari 1:05
Thank you so much for being on the show. It is. I am humbled and honored to to have you on the show. Truly is I when I was speaking to like I was telling you earlier speaking to my wife that was gonna have you on the show. And we both kind of kicked out a minute it took it took us a minute we kind of kicked out and I've I mean, we just kind of like oh my god, it's you know, it's Mr. Chris, I'm not gonna embarrass you. I'm not gonna embarrass you. But I mean, I when I was when I was coming up, in growing up in high school, I was in a video store. Wait a minute, calm down.

Billy Crystal 1:37
No, I know. But you know, when I said when I was a kid I loved you know. My mother was listening to City Slickers. I heard you in the womb.

Alex Ferrari 1:47
No not that young. I'm not that young. Thank you. Thank you, though, for saying that. But I'm not that young. When I was in high school. It was the 80s, late 80s, early 90s. So that was kind of like, a really magical time for your career from running scared and 86 When Harry Met Sally city slickers, and that whole kind of that run. So, you know, you you've been a very big part of my life growing up, and I just want to say thank you, before we even get started. Thank you for all the amazing things you've done over the years. And now my daughter's when I told them, they go my daughters now who are nine, they say, I told them like, Oh, we're gonna I'm gonna, they always want to know who I'm talking to. I'm like, I'm talking to Mr. Billy Crystal. And they tell me, and they go, City Slickers. And I go, Yeah, yeah, because I showed him Slickers. The other day, literally, like, probably a month or two ago, we showed him city slickers, and they loved it. And then then they go, what else is he done? I'm like, Oh, he's Mike Wazowski. And their eyes just exploded like you're talking to.

Billy Crystal 2:47
When, when, you know I for grandchildren's, so when they first started to be aware of grandpa in a different way, other than the guy who carried them and put them into bed and stuff. So now, we were walking in a very interesting, beautiful mall here called the Grove, and in LA, and some paparazzi just started taking pictures of us and it was was weird for them. What is what what is? What, what, what, what, because I hadn't mentioned anything, and they will let you know. So I said, Well, you know, I'm in the movies, I do movies. And and while I'm Mike was AUSkey. And they flipped them. They just flipped out like your doors, except that my granddaughters so they would call the house looking for Mike Wazowski. So if I answered Hello, always mike there. I'd have to be Hold on. I'll get him that went on for like three years. It was it was just me. I'll get him. Oh, those kids again. Yeah, Mike. Oh, so I appreciate it. You know, we have a new series coming out called monsters at work, which will be July 2 under Disney plus, we just finished 10 of them John Goodman and I and a whole new cast of wonderful new characters. So it'll be it'll be kicked up again. You know? If it's Mike they know we buy I'm very happy about that. He's one of my if not my favorite character ever play.

Alex Ferrari 4:18
He's that Monsters Inc. I mean, let's love that we have to get started with Monster take. I mean, when I first saw him, I get like that last scene just like tears just I don't care if you don't have a heart. You have to cry in that movie. It's amazing. It's amazing. Now how did I want to let the audience I want to go back a little bit into your career. How did you get started in the business?

Billy Crystal 4:38
You know, I in the bid Well, it's two separate kind of answers. Alex, I mean, I got started when I was about three, four years old literally making your parents laugh. Your relatives laugh to older funny brothers. They're hilarious still. And you know when you're the youngest and the shortest you take tend to be the loudest. So I had a fight from my, my spot, you know. And usually when we had an act together, I would close. And I'd be on the coffee table and I was sort of like a little Jewish, Don Rickles at three, four or five years old, I could imitate them, and so on and so forth. And that never stop, that just has never stopped. And when I graduated from NYU film school, I had two wonderful friends that we did improv together, because that was always, you know, still doing comedy and in some way, and we formed a comedy group. And we were together for a long time, like four years. But all during that time, I knew that I was sort of hiding, and that I needed to be out there by myself that I was at my heart really a stand up. And so after four years, or towards the end, it was just a really mostly hard time I had a baby already. And and I was substitute teaching and the junior high school that I went to, and which was weird, because I'd be in the teachers dining room, and they would teach us that I had. And now I said, it's okay to call me by my first name. And I would say, No, you're still Mr. Graff. You missed it today. No. So, so then we started working, working. And I said, I just got to just kind of get off on my own and out of the blue, a friend of mine calls from NYU and said, Listen, do you know what I wanted to do stand up at a fraternity party zbt House on Mercer Street, in the village and, and I instantly said, I will do it. I'll do it. And he goes, well wonder, when did you start doing stand up? I said, Oh, I've been doing it for a while I lied my ass off, put together a bunch of, you know, lift 1015 minutes, and I thought would be okay, you know, this was a Tuesday and the gig was a Friday night. This might work that went work, but I just, I just had to do it. And I got up there that night. And I just exploded. I did just improvise for like an hour. And, and that was there was no turning back. I mean, that was that was really it for me. So that was like 1973 and change.

Alex Ferrari 7:17
And I mean, I've I've worked with stand ups a lot in my career as a director and I it's it's hard to improv. Yeah, it is hard to get up on that stage. And do you know, and you always think you're the funny guy? Yeah, like, oh, yeah, I could tell jokes. Yeah, with three or four people, but you get in front of a bunch of strangers with that light on you. And that mic, all of a sudden, you're not as cute as you might have thought you were?

Billy Crystal 7:38
Yeah, no, it's, it's until you get your feet underneath you and, and your brain working the right way. And you're able to put yourself into your act, you know, not not just do like an act, but talk, talk about what's important to you and find the funny about that, then that's, that's really something, you know, for me, it's, it's, you know, all these years later, it's, there's only a few places I'm really comfortable in my own skin and onstage is one of them.

Alex Ferrari 8:12
Not what did stand up do as far as helping you prepare for the very gentle and inviting and warm film industry?

Billy Crystal 8:27
I'd think about that. Because, you know, it's hard when you do your own things, and you believe in what you're doing. And then suddenly, as you you know, you start you're starting to show work to people who tell you no, but or we don't like that we like this and it's a different audience. But and a powerful one because they can say yes or no. So that was you know, that's it still is always a challenge. That's why I you know, with here today, I am so thrilled that we were able to get something made and unfinished during the pandemic but that we were able to write a funny moving movie, a full emotional journey for an audience and have to say at this age to get to get something done and have people embrace it the studio people embrace it like Sony has with this movie. So yeah, so it's the standard or it's always the place that I returned to for new ideas. You know if you and money but it's

Alex Ferrari 9:53
Mostly money it's mostly let's just be

Billy Crystal 9:56
Downtime and and then God knows there have been You know what, this isn't happening, that's not happening. Well, you know, what if I can't let's, let's book some days and go out on the road, like three years ago, I did 35 cities, and I had the greatest time. And then your mind starts getting all oiled up, you know, and you start seeing things differently. And then, you know, I, we were on the road, you know, Janice, and I've been married almost 51 years. So, right from the beginning, she'd be making notes in the audience for me, or I'd run back to the motel after I did a gig. And, and she'd be there, and we'd go over the notes. And so, so now, it's three years ago, we're running back to the hotel, and we're doing the notes. You know, we just and then seeing all that could be this that could go that that that could be that's funny, that didn't work. And then it's just, it's all how it started out. And it all feels very, right.

Alex Ferrari 10:56
That's amazing. And it's amazing that, that you you still you as you were explaining it to me, you were like, a 20 year old, you were like a kid like yeah, and then we got this and that the juices flowing. And we got this and that and this and that. And it is fascinating. The the creative mind and how it works, especially, again, the stand up comic is very interesting creature.

Billy Crystal 11:21
Well, the thing, the thing about it I love the most are the surprises, right? And it's thrilling, it is absolutely thrilling when you can knit together an entire sequence off the top of your head because the juice of the audience is so good. And then it's like, you're, it's a there's a power about it, that it's very hard to explain unless you experience it yourself. You're walking, you're talking you're thinking you're thinking ahead. You it's almost like chess, you three moves, you're setting up things, you're setting the audience up where they don't see it coming here, but when you get on a riff and it's, it's, it just comes and you get on a roll. It's it's really it's, you know, it's really something it's still it's still is a great feeling to have.

Alex Ferrari 12:19
Now, I have to ask you this because my father told me, I have to ask you this. He was a monstrous fan of soap. One of your early shows that really kind of arguably kind of blew you into the into the mainstream a bit and, and your character Jody that you brought to life on soap was, I mean, I remember watching it later, like when I was in high school, I would watch episodes, and my father just was so obsessed, obsessed. He couldn't stop laughing with that film with that show, but it was a pretty, pretty bold character in the late 70s to be bringing out a gay character on television was where you were the first I don't even know if you were the first

Billy Crystal 13:01
Yeah, I was the first recurring starring character in a in a network television show. Or like films. And, and in but nobody, you know, approached it with humor, right? The way that the brilliant really, you know, they say boys, she he's a genius. She's Susan Harris, who created so it was a genius to me. She wrote the first 65 or 68 episodes all by herself. Wow. For a lot of characters. You know, we had like at least 12 main characters and then supporting characters and been one eight people and so on so forth, it would come in and out of the story. The jokes were great that the characters were fantastic and amazing cast. And, and and God Dallas was when they approached me about playing him after seeing me on a Tonight Show with Johnny and and I met with him and I was nervous about it until I met with him. And it was Susan and her late husband Paul with and Tony Thomas, great producers. And to me the best director in television at the time Jay SandRidge, who had was Mary Tyler Moore director and just you know one of the MTM heavyweights and and we talked for a long time about what where's he going? What what what's to be said, You know what, what, what how honest is this going to be how you know and and it started out honestly a little up robbery I thought and and and then it's settled in into a real interesting, thoughtful funny, stood up for himself strong character who knew who he was But most of the time, there was some confusion about his to himself, his own sexuality and so on. But then, you know, he just was very endearing to people. And it was four years of it. And I think the testament Alex was, he had a one night stand. And he ends up fathering a baby. And his mother sues for custody. And it was a big court battle. That was my story, you know, because it was a soap opera. So you know, your story comes around every couple of months sometimes, which was frustrating. But God wins custody of the baby. And they did a poll. I remember ag XAVC did it, who should get the baby. And it was almost unanimous that God should get the child and I thought that was the victory of the character that they trust for a gay, single gay man to get custody of a child, so I'm very proud of those years, you know, it was four years. I saw on Twitter, I don't know, two weeks ago was the last episode of soap aired 1981 I guess two weeks ago, I don't know. But it was a great group of actors to work with that really, were supportive of me, knowing the pressure that I was under. And Richard Mulligan, who played Bert Campbell was a genius. And and, and Catherine Hellman, who passed away last year also just really nurtured me. And Rob was the one who played bands. You know, Bob was very, very, always such a strong man to play a black servant for white, white people, rich white people, that he played it with dignity and with humor, and sometimes was the only sane one on the cast, and sometimes both portrayed that way, the only two sane people or, or, you know, the Gay Guy and Ben Benson, you know, back then they would say stuff like that. And Bob was very nurturing for me. And, you know, he would wait for me when I would do a scene, and I'd come off the set, and he'd be like, one of the first ones there to give me a hug and say, That was really good to so and so forth. And, and we had a long talk about it once. And it was really it was really beautiful. He said, You know, our two characters are are minorities. And, and, you know, so we have to stand up for each other. And it was it was a beautiful thing. All the people that were were were great, just great.

Alex Ferrari 18:01
Well, I mean, from there you I mean, you obviously you're, you know, a legendary actor who it's been in so many classics, and I again don't want to embarrass you, but you're a very veteran actor who's been in tremendous amounts of

Billy Crystal 18:15
You know, legendary better than veteran what I mean means he's old good shake everybody.

Alex Ferrari 18:27
You get you get you get paid more as legendary as supposed to veteran I think that's generally the difference. But you've not only been in so many amazing films as an actor, but what a lot of people don't realize too is you're very accomplished writer and also an accomplished director. And one of the things I've noticed in a lot of your writing and and directing and some some of your projects but writing is that you pull from your life experiences as as a writer with things like my giant Mr. Mr. Saturday night America sweethearts, the comedian's. Uh, do you find it easier to write that way like to pull from from things that you know, because I remember watching might have been one of those PR junkets from America, sweetheart, that you said the story like, yeah, I just, we just kept doing these things. I'm like, this is kind of ridiculous. Someone should write a movie about this. And my giant was about you and Andre and Princess Bride. Like, is that a fertile place for you to write from?

Billy Crystal 19:23
Oh, yeah. I think that's you know, you write about what you know what you feel and you know, the longer the longer I'm around the more material I have to draw on either as a writer or as an actor. Is is life experience. And sometimes those aren't fun experiences. But you know, I I like and sometimes my work to Rumpelstiltskin, the, the fairy tale character would turn strike to gold, and, and sometimes you take destroying your life and you turn it into into gold. And I did that, you know, throughout, you have to trust it that if it's real, and you know, you make it you make it something, you know, artistic, there's a line in here today is I, I take the truth and make it more interesting. And as a writer, and you know what that was that was very true for what a 700 Sunday's was on Broadway was a story of my life and my relationship with my father both alive and when he passed away in the aftermath of a sudden loss when I was just 15. And so, yeah, so it's real, it's painful. But you know what happens? Alex, if you tell it the right way. When you're on stage, you see the audience nodding their heads. Because you've been engaged, you feel the laughter, of course, you feel the tears. It's very powerful feeling to be on stage on like I did every night for years on Broadway, feeling the audience feeling your own your pain, because they're feeling their own. And I think that comes with, you know, confidence that sometimes you just have to unburden yourself and in let it go, and just hope that it resonates.

Alex Ferrari 21:25
Now, there was another movie that you did, I think it was your first it was not your first feature was definitely the first feature that you were the star or carried it which was rabbit test.

Billy Crystal 21:36
Oh, yes. The is gonna be pleasant. But yeah, Joan Rivers directed. It's about the world's first pregnant man. It's a farce. It's a just so it was.

Alex Ferrari 21:52
It was. It's fascinating, because I saw because first of all, was a woman director back then was a big deal. I remember seeing her and then she was in the marketing of it, but she wasn't in it. If I'm not mistaken. I remember that.

Billy Crystal 22:05
All the posters, all the posts. For me would have belly and have pointing to it was going like this. You know? Yeah. Something on that said director person.

Alex Ferrari 22:17
Right. Exactly. Center. Right, exactly. So director person.

Billy Crystal 22:21
Zhang was first of all, she was a phenomenal comedian. just hilarious person. And one of the hardest working funny people I've ever met. Was was Joan. Yeah,

Alex Ferrari 22:37
Yeah. And was that was that when you got that job? As an actor? You're like, Well, I'm a star of a movie. How would what does that feel like?

Billy Crystal 22:44
I think, first of all, first of all, I wasn't the first choice for that movie. And I have to say it because he maybe he'll watch it, but we laugh about it every time we see each other. Dennis Dugan, who directs? Yeah, so many of Adam Sandler's films and is a really good funny director and was a wonderful actor. He had a series called Richie Brock on the private eye and he was at Hill Street Blues all the time. And he was he shot for like a week. He was shooting for a week. So I was at a Dodger game. And these days, I remember there was an announcement of Billy Crystal to the white courtesy phone please. Billy Crystal to the white courtesy. My wife was pregnant at the time, so Oh, no. Oh, no. Is she having a baby now? Now now? So I run to the Hello, this is a belly Hi, it's Joe. Listen, I made a mistake. Can you come over to the house? She says you'll start tomorrow. Start tomorrow what the movie is that? It didn't didn't work out with him. It was the end that was wrong. And it says ended. So I have to leave the game. Go to her house. Script weather and and start the next day. And yeah, and they Yeah, it was that's how that happened. The highlight of that movie for me. And then we were Alex no matter what you say when will they not?

Alex Ferrari 24:12
Yes, absolutely.

Billy Crystal 24:15
Was I got to work with imaging Coker and imaging was from the original Caesar your show shows at Susan's hour. She was a genius, comedic performer, comedy actress and I just loved her so I had a chance to work with her. So that was that was the highlight for me.

Alex Ferrari 24:37
And now we will move on. Now I know when you're writing I always love to ask this about writers do you start with character or do you start with plot?

Billy Crystal 24:50
Well, here today started with in the sometimes you just the whim of like well what about this? I did do a story about Have a something and then then you start like fleshing it out in your mind for weeks making notes here and then then if you guys don't when you start to see you start to write it here today started out of the totally out of the blue. My my co writer and one of my closest friends ever allons y Bell. Allen was an original Saturday Night Live writer, created Roseanne Roseanna Danna with Gilda, we've been friends. He was like the first friend I made in when I started doing stand up. We live near each other in Long Island, and I would pick them up on my on our way to a wonderful club called Catch a rising star in the Upper East Side of New York, we hope to get on by one o'clock, then I drive them home, I lived an hour outside of Manhattan, we'd listened to the cassette tapes of our shows that we just done our sets, and forget and help each other get better. So we, we were very, very close friends. And then I saw him. And he worked on seven or two Sundays with me and collaborated with me on several Sundays and was invaluable. And then he's on Letterman. And he's telling the story about this auction luncheon that someone had purchased. He was the prize of this luncheon that someone get to have lunch with him. And, you know, as we often do, and raise money for a charity. So he's at the restaurant with this woman who's really not into comedy at all. And he said, Well, how much did you pay? I'm just curious. For the charity says, Oh, 22 is $2,200. That's good. No, no, no. $22. So now he's sort of like hating her. And my teach there, then she then has reaction to the seafood salad she has she blows up, she goes into shock. This is true, totally true story. He's telling his story on Letterman. It's hilarious. And he has to take it to the hospital, this total stranger, she doesn't have insurance. And this charity luncheon cost him I think, like $2,200. So I'm watching the show. And you know, because he's on, and I started typing right away on my computer. And I sent him an email saying, owl, what a hilarious story. This is a great way for two people to meet. Who are they? Where do they go from here? If you're interested, this could be a really, really great way to launch a movie. So we talked the next day, and then we then we just started, you know, who could they be? What could what could happen to them? And and, you know, I wanted to do a story about an intergenerational teaming. And not a love story, but a love story, but not a romantic love story. But a movie about friendship about support about empathy, which I feel is so lacking, you know, and, and then so now Alright, so then you go, who are they? And so it's over them. And Alan and I both had a very wonderful relationship with a senior writer at SNL. From the beginning, and from when I was there, and 8485. His name is Herb Sargent. And Herb was in his 50s, when everybody wasn't, and he was very much who Charlie Burns is in here today. And we just loved him. He was witty, he was funny. He was he wrote most of the jokes for a weekend update in the beginning helped create that section and, and he just sort of like, would roam around and approve or disapprove of what you were writing, you always ask them, you know, what do you think? And he'd give you an honest answer. And he was just the greatest. And so we thought that was a good guy. And then, and then I was in Penn Station in New York. I was heading out by train, and I and I saw this little bands woman singing with a combo in the waiting room at Penn Station. And I thought, well, that's interesting that I saw her again, in Soho on the street with like a gypsy jazz band. And she was great. And I and I emailed Alan and immediately said, This is who she could be. She's a performer, she's got bravado, she's sassy. She you know, and she's got a career that may happen, and so and so. And so then we started writing and, and then the here we are, you know,

Alex Ferrari 29:28
I can't believe that most of the movie which which, by the way I saw and I had the pleasure of watching and as I told you before we started recording it is. So there's so much heart in the film, and it's just almost took my wife and I back because we're not used to watching content like that anymore, because it's just not something unless you start going back into older movies of you know, 1015 2030 years ago. That's what we kind of that's what I kind of grew up with, you know the city slickers of the world, and the winner here might Sally's there's hard in those films. They're starting in those stories. And it just was so wonderful. I can't believe that a lot of that was based on kind of based on a true story.

Billy Crystal 30:09
So it it says short story he wrote called the prize, and Alan was the prize. And so it just, it just took off from there. And then you know, the added element of, you know, that he was had suffering from the early onset of a form of dementia was, was something that I was dealing with, with a relative of mine who was a novelist, as my aunt, it was a brilliant woman. And she came to me one day and said, I am losing my words, I'm losing my word, that that was profound to care for. And we thought, well, you know, what if Charlie is has that a funny man who's losing his funny, who's losing his currency, which is his words, just starting to go broke, has a great deal of drama about it. And and then, you know, as they become friends, for her to give up a promising career to take care of him as the ultimate kind of friendship, and really defines love. So we decided to go that way. And then, and we did and we're, you know, it's, it's a really funny movie, don't get me wrong.

Alex Ferrari 31:24
That was, I was about to say, how do you how do you balance? How do you balance that? That is a pretty heavy comp, it's a pretty heavy conversation when you're talking about dementia onset. But yet, it is funny and heartfelt. So you, you really balanced that so beautifully, to the point where it wasn't too sad. And it wasn't too funny. It just has a perfect kind of just right balance between them. How do you balance that as a writer and a director?

Billy Crystal 31:49
Well, it's as you know, as the writer, that's, you know, you and I were very careful in where we were going. And as a director, it's it's making it real, and trusting the performance, and when you have somebody as wildly funny and charming as Tiffany, and, and being able to play off her, and counterbalance that with his appreciation for her and his affection for her which grows. So the movie, and the story grows on, you're keeping those at the right levels was really, you know, I think the task and creating a whole other life for him, which I think is, for me very interesting, and a movie about his late wife, who comes to life in his mind. And shooting it with, you know, the subjective camera, which is me, and you get to know her. And you get to love this woman who, you know, was taken from him. And she's funny, and She's charming. And, and so I would play I would shoot her would I be right behind the camera. So she would talk right to the camera. So she's like talking to Charlie, because when you remember things, Alex, you don't remember them and two shots or wide shots, or you just remember that you remember what you see. So that was that was, you know, I think, a choice I made while we were writing. I said I could I could shoot it this way. Because I knew right away, I wanted to direct this. So I told Alan I, I know what this should be. And when that happens. It's a wonderful feeling. I hadn't directed a film, like 20 years from an a movie, which was just on the other night again, honoring the 20th anniversary of 61, about marason Mantle who I knew very well, and I was so I'm not in that movie. But there's as much of me in 61 as there is in here today. Because I love those guys and that year, but you know, you have to just make sure that the balance is right. And it's it's a tricky one to pull off. But I but I know we did

Alex Ferrari 34:13
Now how do you direct a force of nature like Tiffany Haddish? Like I mean, she isn't literal force of nature as an as a performer. She's so wonderful. And you guys have all the chemistry in the world. By the way. She's you guys, you could just tell that you love each other. How do you direct that? And not only directly from off camera, but how do you drink it while you're in the scene with her? Like that's a that's a juggling act, to say the least.

Billy Crystal 34:38
Oh, for sure. She's a brilliant talent. And she she from the time we first met. I told her what I needed from her and what I didn't want from her. And that yes, so I said I need Emma. I need Emma page. And when there were moments where I need Tiffany We'll plug those in. But But you, but you have to, you know, and she was so grateful for the chance, I guess, and looking forward to it so much to, to stretch her talent. She just gave herself over to, to what I wanted her to do. And if she wasn't comfortable, we talk like you would with any actor or actress. And then there were moments where I just let it sprinkle. You know, I need something here. What do you think, what do we got, I'm here, I'll be right, you know, and so. And I needed her to, to get emotional in a way that she hadn't before, which she was very scared of. I said, and I kept telling her to just stay in these moments. It's hard, you know, with movies are frustrating to do. Because they're forever. And, and you have to hit that moment. You know, and, and as many takes as it is, I, the director needs to satisfy the movie. And movies are a collection of moments, so we have to get to a certain place. So there's a moment where she cries, which was very difficult for her to do, but I was sitting there with her on camera, and the cameras behind me. And she was fighting it. Because that's a natural instinct for anyone not to, you know, show emotion in their life, you know, and she's, uh, she had a tough childhood. And she, you know, would and, and she didn't want to get there. But I talked to her, just very quietly while and it's hard, just the crew was all around. So you got everybody that doesn't need to be there. It's just me and her. And in the camera behind us. And I just talked to her. And it came, it came in the camera, and suddenly that's there. And it's a beautiful moment, where she's listening to Charlie talk about the darkest moment in his life. And it's it's, it's just Bond's them forever. And, you know, I think she's, she has extraordinary personality and and there's so much so much there for the world to see. And I'm excited for what she's going to do next.

Alex Ferrari 37:28
You know, and I can I can tell when you let her go a little bit. And when it was Emma and when it was Tiffany because you can kind of sense that while you're watching because I've watched Tiffany I've been a huge fan of her so I can see when she goes off you know she does Tiffany when she's Tiffany you can tell so like that scene in the bedroom. With that, that's all all Tiffany

Billy Crystal 37:49
Let it go. And you know, one on one, we can't do it. I said you know what? It's going. I love it. She looks at she looks so looks so cute. The way she smiles and looks at him. And it's it's just a great little. But those are, you know, what brown brown it used to call freebies, those are freebies. Yeah, you know. But that's when you work with somebody like that. And, and they can just do that. It's it was very exciting to you know, and I'm sitting opposite are trying not to laugh and melon. This is good. This is good. And then she just went and then you know, an editing room I just said, Now let's keep that I want that.

Alex Ferrari 38:34
You've worked with some of the most remarkable film directors in history. really remarkable. I mean list of people you've worked with, is what is the biggest lesson that you've taken from one of those directors, any one of them?

Billy Crystal 38:50
I guess, rob the month because it Rob's got a fantastic year. Robert does. And and there's a line that that Charlie says in a meeting with the two other head writers of the show that he he works on in the movie. And he turns to her and says there's a music to comedy. There were notes.

Alex Ferrari 39:19
Yeah, it's a great line posts.

Billy Crystal 39:21
And that was very much a ROB thing about when we were doing Harry and Sally about hearing it the right way. The inflection which drives trolley crazy, would they

Alex Ferrari 39:37
Oh my god, the inflection thing was that that blow up was genius.

Billy Crystal 39:42
And yeah, so I think you know, Rob Sure. And in directing yourself I learned so much from I love this guy, Danny DeVito I just adore Danny and Throw Momma From The Train is a really, really Funny. And to watch him handle both things, you know, both jobs so effortlessly. And you know, the DP in iMovie was Barry Sonnenfeld. I've had Barry on the show. He's remarkable. Yeah. And he was a DP and he also shot When Harry Met Sally. Yes. And Raising Arizona and on and on and on the Coen Brothers movies and those big wide angle shots and so on. And, and hilarious person himself. And yeah, so I would say, I would say those two guys, for sure.

Alex Ferrari 40:35
Now, when you're when you're working on When Harry Met Sally, did you I mean, I'm not gonna ask you to gentle was going to be a hit. But did you? Did you know that it was going to have this cultural Spark as far as like a conversation about men? And because when you watch it, you go on? Well, yeah, women and men can't be can't be first. And then you're either on one side or the other. Like, yeah, you can't No, you can't. You can't. No, you can't. But Did you know Did you guys know? When you were writing this? I was gonna spark this kind of because it was it was for people listening. humans understand an 89 when that came out? I mean, it was everywhere.

Billy Crystal 41:05
Yeah, oh, yeah. Everywhere was a provocative, it was a provocative. One liner can men and women can't be friends because the sex part always gets in a way. That was nor as you know, that was their premise. And, and then, you know, handled in such a beautiful way, and witty way in a very realistic way that, you know, the and I hope this happens with here today that people want a movie and they walk up the aisle talking about it and they go out for coffee and they're talking about it. You stimulate conversation you you know, and Harry and Sally, definitely. You know, because you know, Alex, you know, there's so much you said about the fake orgasm scene. Because nobody had nobody had really used the word orgasm, you know, in a movie, except Ron Jeremy is so

Alex Ferrari 42:03
Let alone with fake orgasm and then to have her do it on camera that was like mine. It was mind blown. By the way, Rob And Rob's mother's line, still, arguably the best line in the entire movie? I'll have what she's having. Was it your mom or his mom?

Billy Crystal 42:17
No, no, no, it was rough. It was rough. It was rough. It was the line that I wrote. So I did. So oh, so yeah. Yeah. Estelle Miranda was one of the my favorite people in the lake. Carl, of course was like, they would like an uncle and add to me, amazing people. But But yeah, but it. It got people Yep. And that's for sure. And here it is. All these years later. People are discovering it. Younger people. And the people who grew up who were at the ripe age of falling in love when a movie came out, and now telling their kids to watch it. We're now falling in love. And so it the beat moves on the beat moves on, you know, so I, we had a 30th anniversary screening, I guess, what, two years ago that the beautiful Chinese Theatre here and in LA and Maggie and I were there and and you know, because and Rob and Rob introduced us and they brought us out on a loveseat like we are in a you know, in the end of the movie and and a place went berserk. They really was it was really kind of it was really nice. It was really nice.

Alex Ferrari 43:36
Now and where can people watch here today?

Billy Crystal 43:39
Theaters only man

Alex Ferrari 43:43
So 99 till 2019 of you.

Billy Crystal 43:50
We have Fred Bernstein who's a my producing partner who is a fantastic person who you know from the time you read the script until well, well till the day we open has been just as such a strength for for me and the movie always getting me everything I needed to make the movie The way that I saw it. And yeah, so we had a lot of offers to stream. But after a while the streaming thing. It's a great was great because we couldn't get to theaters, but then everything just sort of got to look like television. And and and we held out and held out and then Sony swooped in really like a month and a half ago and said we'd love this. And we want to put it in theaters. That you know, if America does what it's supposed to do, and get vaccinated and wear masks all the time. You can get your life back. And that's why I don't understand people complaining about it and then that stops everybody else. from, you know, getting our life back, we can do this. And so so they came in and we're in theaters only starting May 7 all across the country. I think we're at 1200 theaters. And hopefully, you know, Mother's day people will want to go and take mom and have a couple of laughs and feel something that's it's a real family is very together. It is about the movie,

Alex Ferrari 45:26
And it does spark a conversation, it will spark a conversation without question. But Bill, it has been an absolute honor and pleasure talking to you on the show today. Thank you so much, not only for being on the show for making here today, which I tell everybody you gotta go see. But also for for the years of, of just making me laugh and now making my children laugh. It's a pleasure.

Billy Crystal 45:49
Alex, I'm a veteran.

Alex Ferrari 45:51
Obviously, as a veteran as a veteran actor, writer and director. But thank you so much for everything, Billy. Appreciate.

Billy Crystal 45:58
You're welcome, nice talking to you.

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