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Video: THEATER CAMP Director Nick Lieberman on Creating the Film With Ben Platt, Molly Gordon & More
May 17, 2024
Nick Lieberman had 19 days to turn Theater Camp, a short film he created with his friends Ben Platt, Molly Gordon, and Noah Galvin, in a full-length feature film. BroadwayWorld sat down with Lieberman to discuss the making of the film, his theater camp memories, what it was like on the set of the film, and more. Watch the new video now!
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0:00
Hey Nick, how's it going
0:01
Hey, it's going well. How are you? I'm good. I'm so excited to talk to you about this movie
0:05
I loved it so much. And it's just been so amazing seeing it go
0:09
from the short film to the Sundance premiere and now this full feature film theatrical release
0:15
How is it just feeling watching it grow throughout these past couple of months
0:19
It feels great. You know, I mean, I think for us, it was always this thing of like, you know
0:23
starting with the nucleus of like our love of theater and our experience of youth theater and, you know
0:29
trying to make something though that like really is, you know, like kind of accessible
0:35
to a lot of different kinds of people without losing the thing that I think makes truly great
0:40
like theater films, like what is great about them is the specificity
0:45
So trying to, I don't know, I'm feeling really like positive that it's gonna get out there
0:51
and have a chance for a lot of people to connect with it as well as like the diehards
0:56
like I assume you and me. Oh yes, the diehards are so ready for this movie
1:01
And I love that you sort of just got to work on this movie with your friends, Ben Platt, Noah Galvid, Molly Gordon
1:07
What was it like just sort of getting to collaborate on this project together
1:10
You know, it's very, the DNA of this film is in the subject of this film
1:16
and that like, you know, we did grow up all doing theater together. I was in lots of shows with Ben when we were in high school
1:24
we were Stein and Stone and City of Angels and the Baker and Jack and Into the Woods
1:29
And, you know, so we kind of like, and did a lot of improv
1:34
So we have this sort of friendship forged in making things and in the process and intensity
1:40
that we like depict in the film. And I think that like
1:46
that it was just so wonderful to have that spirit and kind of like be calling back to
1:54
or feel like a direct line back to those times in our high school's drama lab
1:59
where we'd be like kind of a black box theater, like trying things, doing a
2:03
working on a scene from Glass Menagerie or something. And like, now suddenly, you know
2:07
you're here and there's this like crew and pressure on it and money being spent
2:13
And at the same time, like you lock eyes with each other
2:17
and it's kind of like, oh, it's not that different from like the core of what we're trying to achieve
2:21
The questions we're asking ourselves, like even things that were stressed about
2:26
are not that different. And so, yeah, I mean, I couldn't have asked
2:30
for a more supportive, more connected way to like take the risk of making a first movie
2:36
Yeah, for you personally, what was it like to sort of getting to make your feature film directing debut with this film
2:43
I mean, great. I, you know, I think I had, you know, I've always been like such a
2:48
all the way through like committed theater person, but like I had stopped doing theater and acting like
2:55
you know, quite a while ago. And so this idea of kind of going back into this world
3:00
that I like remembered really well and had so many experiences in
3:04
but had kind of gotten away from in terms of my like, you know, I guess day-to-day life
3:10
that kind of alignment of going like, no, that actually is like the world that I'm so grateful
3:17
Like I got a chance to live in for the last two years
3:22
three years of like really making this movie. And yeah, just trying to navigate the
3:30
like I was saying, like the, just the utter like love of the world
3:34
and trying to bring people into it and say like, this is for you too
3:39
which I think theater does a great job of and has been doing a great job of
3:42
but like there are still people who haven't yet had that experience where they go like
3:47
oh, actually this is for me. And I'm hoping this movie contributes to that
3:52
Yeah, I really like that you say that. I was watching the movie and I was thinking about how I know so many theater people who have such visceral
3:59
and like just memories about going to theater camp that will always stick with them
4:03
and they'll always tell everyone. And it's such a formative experience for so many people
4:08
And playing the campers in this movie, you have such an amazing cast of young talent
4:13
What was it like working with them for this movie? It was amazing
4:17
I mean, I think that the thing that we really wanted was like that authenticity of actual theater kids
4:22
And so I don't think kids were like really having to, you know, prepare any more than they have been
4:28
in their relatively short lives to like be that kind of kid
4:32
and that kind of obsessive that we were as well. And it's like, I think they were so brilliant
4:39
in their improv and their sense of commitment. And like, I think they took the film
4:45
as seriously as the kids in the film are taking the production that they're in
4:50
which is just such a gift. I mean, Bernie Telsey and Christian Charbonnier
4:54
who casted are so also tapped in and creative in their own like inimitable way
5:02
in terms of bringing people in and having real vision for who would be right for this kind of like
5:08
you know, especially the way that we wrote the kids. Like I think for the adults, we were very much like
5:12
we wrote it for our friends, we know who's gonna play it. And I think for the kids, it was a little more open-ended of like
5:16
okay, we think that it'd be funny for there to be a kid like this
5:20
And then suddenly a kid would walk in and say, okay, they're not exactly like this
5:24
but they're so brilliantly specific in their own way too. And so it was, yeah, that was a thrilling part
5:32
just the casting process alone. Totally. And the cast from top to bottom is so amazing
5:38
and it must've been such a fun filming experience on set and this fake summer camp
5:42
Do you have any specific memories or just days on set that you're looking back on as the movie is coming out
5:48
that have sort of stuck with you since you filmed it? Yeah, I mean, one day that kind of ties
5:53
a lot of this together was the day that we shot the audition sequence and we had like one day to shoot everybody's auditions
5:59
all the reactions. We had like another scene that we needed to get accomplished that day as well
6:03
And it was just, you know, with kids hours too, like kids can't work as long
6:07
and we only shot the film in 19 days. So a lot had to be jam-packed in
6:11
And I remember thinking like this day is simply not makeable. Like there's just no way with all the technical issues
6:18
that could come up. And like immediately the first kid came up
6:23
I think it was like Alex Bello maybe singing Epiphany from Sweeney Todd
6:29
And like, he was just so locked in, like immediately like, you know, note perfect
6:36
just like amazing right at the beginning. And like, I, you know, was like literally moved to tears
6:42
just realizing like this day is gonna be possible, but only because all of these kids gave us the gift
6:48
of taking this seriously and being prepared this way. Like any one of them not having that spirit
6:55
and professionalism and just like joy in what they're doing would have tanked us
7:00
And, you know, it's not great to be reliant on kids that way, but we got away with it on this
7:06
you know, because of how wonderful they are. Amazing. It's so amazing to see what you've sort of accomplished
7:12
in those 19 days of filming. I love the movie. And at the end, it just like is all pulled together so well
7:19
What do you hope audiences take away from this movie after they've seen it this summer
7:24
Yeah, you know, it's interesting. I think that while this is a film and I think like
7:30
as a film, I think people are craving that theatrical experience or if they haven't had it in a while
7:36
to have that experience and remember what it's like to sit in the dark and all laugh at the same thing
7:41
and have that sense of surprise and mutual gasp. And like, it's just a completely different experience
7:47
But I think that the thing is like, that's true of theater all the time
7:51
Like that's, you know, it's like there's no theater other than that. And so I think, you know, I hope that
7:58
that like kind of, as I said, people watch this film and it broadens their understanding or their sense
8:06
of like what it means for them to enjoy theater and connects kind of theater back to that
8:12
Like maybe, you know, like especially musical theater that kind of cooler, sexier, 60s, 70s
8:21
like kind of feel of like, it's messy. It's a bunch of people in a room
8:25
throwing something together, you know, it's personalities clashing up against each other
8:30
and like that feeling that is in the original Broadway cast recording of company documentary
8:37
that was a huge reference for us that I think we really tried to like bring into this film
8:45
What up out of Ronda? Listen up, squad game, maybe a vivid
8:55
Can we just get you guys to shoot? Oh, what a beautiful morning
9:02
Dope, that was dope. Welcome auditioners. You guys are so talented, so unbelievable
9:11
This will break you. This will fully destroy you. Congratulations on being the most talented kids at camp
9:17
Stop it, stop it. Jiggle like a jackal, jiggle like a jackal
9:21
These are the things we can do with masks. These people are really weird
9:28
That's a good song choice. I do believe her as a French prostitute. Famous
9:32
Oh, I'm sorry, sex worker. Thank you. Sad news, I will not be doing piercings anymore on the Hut
9:39
because there's a narc amongst us. Cassie has narc'd, totally fine. We're gonna need to prioritize the musicals
9:48
which means the straight plays are gonna have to be acoustic. Quick question, what's a straight play
9:53
There aren't musicals and then there are straight plays. So then what would be a gay play
9:58
I guess a musical. Oh, cool. I know this one's a theater camp classic
10:04
so send my regards to Broadway. We only have three weeks to create a masterpiece
10:14
It's on you now, all on you. Let's do this. And cue cocaine
10:20
♪ Baby, my heart is full of love ♪ You need to know that only 3% of people make it
10:26
The rest end up in a mental facility or on a go-go box in Hell's Kitchen
10:31
This is a complete disaster. Everything is gonna be okay. It doesn't work out right
10:35
We're theater people. We know how to turn cardboard into gold. You think this is fun and games
10:45
It's not fun, it's art. ♪ Baby ♪ Minor housekeeping issue. Whoever stole my CBD gummies, please return them
10:54
I'm pretty sure I know who it was. Ah
#Acting & Theater
#Drama Films
#Family Films
#Musical Films
#Broadway & Musical Theater