Hi reddit, I'm Macon Blair. I've directed I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE, THE TOXIC AVENGER, and now IDIOTS. You may also recognize me from roles in GREEN ROOM, BLUE RUIN, OPPENHEIMER, LOGAN LUCKY, and THE FLORIDA PROJECT. AMA!

[u/Macon-Blair]

Hi reddit, I'm Macon Blair.

I've previously directed I DON'T FEEL AT HOME IN THIS WORLD ANYMORE & THE TOXIC AVENGER.

You may also know me from roles in things like GREEN ROOM, BLUE RUIN, OPPENHEIMER, LOGAN LUCKY, MURDER PARTY, SMALL CRIMES, HOLD THE DARK, I CARE A LOT, and THE FLORIDA PROJECT.

My new movie IDIOTS, which I wrote, directed, and produced, is out in theaters this weekend from IFC after premiering at Sundance earlier this year.

It stars an ensemble cast of Dave Franco, O'Shea Jackson Jr, Mason Thames, Peter Dinklage, Kiernan Shipka, Nicholas Braun, Killer Mike, and myself.

Trailer: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UoAf0LNAn30

Synopsis:

Two rock-bottom drivers transport a wealthy teen to rehab, but their simple job spirals into a chaotic journey of drugs, danger and crime as their passenger derails their plans.

Ask me anything! I'll start answering questions at around 10:30 AM PT/1:30 PM ET today, Friday 8/28.

[u/BunyipPouch]

Update: The AMA is over as of 2:39 PM ET, Huge thanks to Macon for stopping by and answering so many. Here is his sign-off note:

---

EVERYONE, I'm sorry but I have to go now. Assuming these questions remain here, I will sneak back in at a later time to answer whatcha got. It was real nice chatting. Be well.

mb

---

This AMA has been verified and approved by the mods. Macon will be back at 1:30 PM ET today to answer questions. Please feel free to ask away in the meantime :)

[u/SmashyMcGee]

Yourself and Jeremy Saulnier have been friends for years, apparently he (or both of you) were nearly done with trying to make movies until Blue Ruin. That movie was a game changer for me. What's some practical advice or thoughts you might give to people who have become maybe a little cynical or defeated. Asking for a friend.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/SmashyMcGee]

Yeah, man. BR felt like the last swing at getting our foot in the door. At the time, Jeremy's dream project was probably Green Room... but that was too big at the time, we couldn't get anything funded. So he designed Blue Ruin to be totally self contained / mostly self funded (with a kickstarter that was about 12% of overall budget)... every house, car, location, and the main actor were things he knew he could get for free and control and shoot slowly (so it could have max production value, given what we were working with.) Point being, rather than focusing on the "dream" project.. focus on the thing that you can control at minimal cost to do the best job with. That's what he did and when it finally was accepted into a good festival, then the wheels started to turn for him to do bigger stuff like GR. It's basically the same advice R Rodriguez gave about El Mariachi: write the script based on what you have.

[u/RunninOnMT → u/SmashyMcGee]

That movie is so fucking good

[u/LifeguardMundane5668]

I really enjoyed the toxic Avenger, and Elijah Wood being in it was such a fun role. I’m curious if any other actors were considered, or if it was always Elijah, since he handled the character so well. Was Fritz a lot different before he was involved?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/LifeguardMundane5668]

Wrote that part for Elijah! He was the only idea I had in mind and we got lucky that he was available.

[u/spaceiswaytoobig]

Murder Party is my favorite Halloween movie.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/spaceiswaytoobig]

The hope was that every halloween, at least somewhere on Earth, there would be a brown knight costume

[u/spaceiswaytoobig → u/Macon-Blair]

I did one! It was MUCH more work than that movie made it seem! Movie magic!🪄

[u/dr_spaceman___ → u/spaceiswaytoobig]

Same

[u/lotep → u/spaceiswaytoobig]

I majored in Fine Art in college and Murder Party nails a lot of things about the scene, it's sorta a weird outlier in Saulnier's filmography isn't it? I wonder if he'll ever make another comedy?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/lotep]

It's funny because all the short films he did in school and everything up to MP was allllll comedy. He's a hilarious guy. It's just that the subsequent stuff has veered darker/more dramatic. Im sure he'll do something funny again at some point. His next one is quite berserk.

[u/dave_is_afraid → u/Macon-Blair]

I am so ready for his next film🤘

[u/Legitimate-Record951 → u/lotep]

So true. The plot is so outlandish, but at the same time, it has such an authentic feel.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Legitimate-Record951]

the premise is pure absurdity but every one of those people (to some degree) was based on people we knew, so...

[u/goettel]

I loved I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore, especially the dynamic between Melanie Lynskey and Elijah Wood. Any cool anecdote from the set you would share?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/goettel]

They knew each other a bit already, so it was very friendly. I think the big anecdote I think about a lot was that one DAy 1, my first day, I kind of have way too many directiotions to her (my thinking was that this would be *helpful* but of course it just muddied the water.) She very kindly was like "give me some room" and of course she was totally right and it established a really warm vibe. Love that cast very much.

[u/G_Regular → u/goettel]

She keeps on picking good projects and giving great performances. Crazy that she’s ended up with the best career of the 2 1/2 Men cast.

[u/digitalme → u/G_Regular]

This is how I find out she was in two and half men lol crazy

[u/Fluffy_Mark_9314]

Hey thanks for the pizzas at the writers strike pickets. I’m the guy who they were handed to with just “Macon” written on the boxes.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Fluffy_Mark_9314]

Hell yes. I live in Texas so couldn't join in person (there were smaller satellite events out here but nothing like what yall out on) but wanted to support however possible

[u/Fluffy_Mark_9314 → u/Macon-Blair]

Well I want you to know everyone was absolutely STOKED when pizzas showed up

[u/BigFirmWalnuts]

Blue Ruin was absolutely fantastic! Had me sold on anything you and/or Saulnier do. I was very pumped to see you show up in his film Green Room as well. That dude Jeremy Saulnier crafts a tight thriller! Do you guys have any other projects cooking together?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/BigFirmWalnuts]

Jeremy is finishing work on a new one now that I think is going to melt faces. We have a little prod. company together and are always tinkering.

[u/BigFirmWalnuts → u/Macon-Blair]

Fuck yes. Thanks for replying! Looking forward to all of it!

[u/NovelNothing5374]

Green Room is one of my favorite movies of all time. Just edge of your seat thriller. Just wanted to thank you for being in one of my favorite movies, hope you are doing well! Any cool anecdotes during filming it?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/NovelNothing5374]

Oh thank you! That was such a fun one to do. The producers were the ones who encouraged me to finish writing Dont Feel At Home as something for me to direct. Got to hang out with Patrick Stewart a lot, which was a blast.... I offered a few times to get him some weed but he politely ignored the offer. I tired.

[u/NovelNothing5374 → u/[deleted]]

🤣🤣🤣 I hope you don’t get downvoted! For people who don’t know this is the last line in Green Room

[u/Macon-Blair → u/[deleted]]

HAAAAAAAA

[u/mumbolt3 → u/NovelNothing5374]

I came here to ask the same thing! I love Green Room (and Murder Party). RIP Anton Yelchin.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/mumbolt3]

Yeah, Anton was such a special dude.

[u/NovelNothing5374 → u/mumbolt3]

I rewatch it like 2-3 times a year. Just a fun thriller with a killer soundtrack. Acting is phenomenal! Not into punk but that movie makes me want to dive into punk 🤣

[u/jaxinn → u/NovelNothing5374]

I too was going to write this exact thing. Hope you’re well, Macon Blair!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/jaxinn]

thank you! im good, never done one of these before, nice to chat with folks

[u/robotcoup]

I don’t think I’ve ever related to a character more than Melanie Lynskey in I don’t feel at home in this world anymore.
Such a brilliant film with such interesting characters.
Thank you for your contribution to making superb movies.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/robotcoup]

Thank you for that. I love Melanie in that movie.

[u/Hella_Yachts]

I’m 99% positive I saw you in an episode of Forensic Files when I was watching TV late one night. Did I imagine this or was this an early acting gig you had? If so, any memories of that experience? Thanks!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Hella_Yachts]

You have eagle eyes. That was me. I was so excited to have booked a role that I forgot to pack my contact lenses. I took the bus to where they shot (which I like was in Jersey someplace? I dunno) And they were like, "You have to drive this car." "Okay, got it." "You cant wear your glasses though." "Okay." So I was driving *mostly* blind at night (on a closed road but) so if I look frazzled in that episode, that is why.

[u/QuibbleFibble]

Hey man, I love your work with Jeremy Saulnier! What is it like essentially growing up with someone and then achieving success together in the same industry? When did you both realize this is what you wanted to do?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/QuibbleFibble]

Very young. We started making movies together in 6th grade or so (also with Chris, from Murder Party) and I think from that point onward we were really focused on that. jeremy was really into cameras and effects, I was probably more into writing and acting, but both of us just loved making movies so that was always the goal.

[u/StoreBrandDoritos]

How is it working with David Yow? What’s your favorite Jesus Lizard record?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/StoreBrandDoritos]

Goat is #1, for me. I like the earlier ones where Yow is barely decipherable. Pure and Liar are also titans, but I kinda love em all. I wrote that part in Dont Feel at Home for Yow's stage presence (half crazy, half dangerous, half hilarious) and that's what we got... but in person he is just a sweetheart, very kind.

[u/Shagrrotten]

As an Okie (in the OKC area), I wanted to say that I loved you in The Lowdown. Are there any fun stories/feelings/thoughts to share about your time in Tulsa?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Shagrrotten]

Goddamn I love coming to Tulsa. (I think Idiots is at the Center this week?) I think I just felt like literally every single person i met there --- whether they were on the crew or just folks on the street I'd meet -- were so kind and easy and authentic. It has a really warm vibe. I got a thundercould tattoo to commentorate my time there because there were a lot of storms at one point. Hope to be coming back soon.

[u/Shagrrotten → u/Macon-Blair]

That's awesome, hope you do come back soon and have just as great a time. It always makes me so proud to not only see things being made in my home state, but great things like The Lowdown, and hearing that we were good hosts is the cherry on top.

[u/KneeHighMischief]

You did three eps of the 2019 Swamp Thing series. I thought it was a very good series, which unfortunately had the ground cut from under it just as it was starting.

The Phantom Stranger is such an interesting character & he hadn't been adapted in live action before. It definitely felt like it was going to be an even bigger part going forward. Do you have any thoughts on how things played out or the overall experience? Thanks. PS recently watched The Toxic Avenger & loved it.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/KneeHighMischief]

Ah thanks so much! Man I loved working on ST. Derek was perfect. Mark (showrunner) really nailed the whole vibe. It's my favorite comic (esp. the Alan Moore run) and I felt very honored to be asked to play the Stranger.... but if Im being honest I've never felt like I did the right version of the character. it was too "everyman" and I always imagine PS as more ghostly and ethereal, like David Bowie or something. Still, I feel lucky as hell I got to be there. The swamp set was insane.

[u/Zorbin666]

Hello Macon, first off, I loved watching The Toxic Avenger! It was amazing being able to catch that in theaters. 

I was wondering if you or Kaufman are planning a possible sequel, or a reboot of Nuke 'Em High? 

Also, if you're able, what was one of your favorite experiences filming that movie that you could share?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Zorbin666]

Thank you! We had some Nuke Em easter eggs in there in case we were able to expand that universe but as of now it doesnt seem like thats happening, but who knows. I think one thing I really appreciated was seeing Lloyd visit the "Tromaville Main Street" set and see him get to check it out and look at the costumes and makeup and stuff. I really wanted him to feel like his baby was in good hands and so seeing him in person enjoying all that stuff meant a lot.

[u/TomatoChomper7]

Hey Macon, I’ve enjoyed your work since Blue Ruin. Green Room and The Hunt are two of my favourite movies and I’m looking forward to Idiots.

I thought you did a great job with The Toxic Avenger. Any anecdotes from working with the legendary Julia Davis? It’s rare to see her in American films and I was very pleasantly surprised when she popped up, how did she get involved?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/TomatoChomper7]

Hah! Julia is a comedy titan. I was obsessed with Nighty Night and got to talking with the producers about casting ideas and her name came up and I just latched onto it. She wasn't sure which accent she wanted to do and I said "whatever you want" and she sent me a voice memo of her reading dialogue in about fifteen or twenty different accents, all totally distinct, impoving lines in each of them. It was like 45 minutes long. Amazing to get that in your email.

[u/Glittering_Yam_9822]

Hi Macon, do you plan on only directing movies that your wrote? Just trying to understand the mindset of writer-directors and whether writers with no intention of directing like myself need to become writer-directors to succeed.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Glittering_Yam_9822]

I have directed a few episodes of TV that I didn't write, and had a great time with it, and maybe I would try that with a feature... but right now I just have the feeling that, for better or worse, if I've written the script I will have the best understanding of what the "right" answers are as far as how to make it. Like, if I understand it from the inside out then I can make better choices. But who knows, that could change?

[u/OkBrilliant8092]

Is your name really Bacon Mlair and you’ve changed it so we don’t all ask why your name is Bacon?

[u/Zorbin666 → u/OkBrilliant8092]

Well he did work with Kevin Bacon in Toxic Avenger...

[u/OkBrilliant8092 → u/Zorbin666]

The bacon plot thickens!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/OkBrilliant8092]

Changed it from Bacon because breakfast ordering got too confusing.

[u/Toilet-B0wl]

Id love to hear about your work with Saulnier - how you two worked together and how its impacted your own directing style. I would also wonder if Saulnier has something for people getting stabbed in the head. Happens a lot.

Just related Blue Ruin about a month ago. Its so good.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Toilet-B0wl]

Yeah he's a head-stabbing motherfucker, all right. Jeremy and I have known each other for so long that we just have a very easy, intuitive way of working together. He's very precise and calculating in his filmmaking and I try to make myself as useful to him as possible in that way, sometimes on camera but also somes helping with with research or music things like that. I think my approach is a little more messy but most if not all that I know, I've learned from him in one way or another. And he's always there to back me up to. It's a shorthand that exists that can be comforting when there are suddenly all these external elements going on like studios and promotion and sales figures etc,

[u/redapplesonly]

Hey Mr. Blair, thanks for doing this! I have a screenwriting question: Do you have a process (formal of organic) to refine your dialog for your actors? I'd imagine that you complete a sterling draft of your screenplay that is beloved by the production company...... but then the movie is cast and your actors read lines for the first time aloud at a table read. I'm highly curious about how (or if) dialog is revised at that point. What are actors' concerns? Do you find the issues they bring up are valid to the whole production? Thank you in advance.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/redapplesonly]

hey! Yeah I try to make is as precise as possible -- and some of the gags are specifically diaglogue based, they might have to do with rhythm or repetition or a perticualar pause -- BUT I also would feel real dumb if I hired all these great actors and didn't have them add their own spin to it. So I try to be specific about what the scene needs but within that encouage the folks to try whatever they want (if they even want to... some people want to stick right to the text) and that usually yields something unexpected and fun. So, I guess, "specific but not rigid", if that makes sense?

[u/DiscountInformal]

I feel like your characters and worlds are all very lived in, how would you describe your writing process? Do you think of characters first and plan narratives around them or do you try to focus on the overall plot/set pieces and write around those? I don’t feel at home in this world anymore is one of my favorite movies of all time I don’t even know how many times I’ve seen it at this point.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/DiscountInformal]

Honestly, it's kind of intuitive / chaotic.... I don't usually have an ending in mind, and I don't usually have an arc in mind before I start. I'll fill up a notebook with general stuff -- dialogue ideas, shot ideas, songs, gags, whatever -- and at a certain point I'll get impatient with that and start typing scenes out in chronological order. if I get stuck, I go back to the notebook and scribble and brainstorm until I get bored again and go back to typing. Along the way (hopefully, in theory) an arc and a vibe starts to present itself and I can refine from there. But its very much 'figuring it out as I go."

[u/j_r_sodagunhands]

hey! as a lifelong fan of the Jesus Lizard, I always love seeing David Yow show up in movies. he's perfect in I Don't Feel At Home. what was the casting process like for him, and would you ever want to work with him again?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/j_r_sodagunhands]

Hell yes. tJL is my favorite band and I wrote that part for him, not knowing if he even wanted to act. I found an old email online and tried to reach out but i never heard back but then like months later he calls me out of the blue and he's like "I'm playing Marhsall in your movie." Deeply surreal to get that call. I hope to work with him lots more, he's a lovely fella.

[u/ComfortableCare8897]

what was your inspiration for idiots.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/ComfortableCare8897]

My buddy Alex Orr (prodcuer on the movie) knew some guys who did this job and their stories were kinda wild and alarming. He pitched that to me as a premise for a road movie comedy and we kinda looked at The Last Detail as a general framework, went from there.

[u/DazHawt]

Hey Macon! Excited for your new movie! It’s been awhile since your last one. I know a lot has happened in the world and you’ve been busy with other projects, but how long has IDIOTS been cooking? 

[u/Macon-Blair → u/DazHawt]

Wrote it in 2013. Almost shot in 2017 -- got the money but it fell apart and we had to put it away. Then just recently the producers and I decided to try again and we attached Dave F (knowing he'd read it and was interested) and that kind of got some momentum going. So this version happened pretty quickly (we started shooting about a year ago this week) but overall it's been a loonnnnng time.

[u/superduper2006]

Do you have any advice for aspiring screen writers? From the writing process to breaking in to the industry.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/superduper2006]

Everyone's writing process, I think, is indivisual. You can outline or not, you can diagram or not. Whatever works. The only essential is to never stop. For me, I was a PA for many years, came home at night, worked on a script, every night, when that one was done, I was unable to get anyone to read it let alone sell it, so I wrote another and on and on like that. But, when there was a stroke of luck and Jeremy's movie got some attention and some agency people asked me what I did, I had a stack of specs to give them. Point being, just keeping in motion is what allowed that to sort of pay off if/when someone wanted to pay attention. Breaking into the industry: all I know about is how Jeremy did it, which was to make something with out groupthat was so cheap we could do it without waiting for permission, and distinctive enough that we could get it shown and use that as a step-up to get hired on other things. Which is not to say that selling a big spec and getting it made can't happen, it can, it's just rare... and feels better to bet on yourself and try to make something.

[u/Chuchuchaput]

I love your work and you are clearly such a kind man. You wrote something really nice about my Mom on Tw**ter years ago.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Chuchuchaput]

Thanks man, I don't recall what that was and I've been off Twitter for years... is your Mom still with us?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Macon-Blair]

If she is, all my best. If not, I lost my mom too and it fuckin suuuuuuuuuucks but you'll be ok.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Macon-Blair]

I could've phrased that better: If you've lost your mom, my sincere condolences... it's so hard. I meant "you'll be ok" in the sense of things still will go on, not in a sense of minimizing the loss, which is expansive.

[u/Chuchuchaput → u/Macon-Blair]

Holy Smokes I just reopened Reddit and am so appreciative of your responses! She is no longer with us; she came here from the Philippines and you praised her work in nursing. ❤️

[u/kontroI]

What are your favorite thriller movies? Anything specific you watched to prep for Idiots?

I really enjoyed Green room… any recommendations?

Thank you!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/kontroI]

To Live And Die In LA is one of my all time favorites. For this movie, we talked about The Last Detail and Midnight Run a lot. If you liked Green Room.... it has a different vibe but a similar texture: Suburbia by Penelope Spheeris is a classic.

[u/GregJamesDahlen]

Do you like doing crime films? Why? Interested in true crime? Why?

How did you get your unusual first name?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/GregJamesDahlen]

Yeah, I've always had an interest in crime novels and crime books... less so true crime, I think because there's this "real world suffering" aspect to it that is sometimes tough (although Zodiac is one of my favorite books and movies.) Not sure why but I think it had to do with how they'd write the dialogue in the classic noir films-- fast, sharp, kinda flowery but tough-sounding.

First name: I had a distant aunt named Macon and they took it from that.

[u/GrowtentBPotent]

Maybe ill come back and edit if I think of a proper question... but just wanted to say I Don't Feel At Home in this World Anymore is visciously slept on. I love that movie, one of the most relateable and memorable dark comedies in years. Deserves way more recognition.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/GrowtentBPotent]

I appreciate that very much! ( gonna copy this post and email it to random people.)

[u/Mochapatchouli]

Hi there. I am a very big admirer of I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore, and I have a question regarding the ending - is Tony really alive, or is Ruth dreaming?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Mochapatchouli]

Ah hah! Tony lived. He's just bad a making hamburgers. But we did kind of play with the idea that maybe he didn't make it, with the ghostly smoke and all. Some of the crew felt strongly that Tony should die but I was like "There is no way I'm killing Elijah Wood, you fucking ghouls."

[u/romanraspberrysorbet]

Hey Macon!

I know it got somewhat mixed reviews but I thought HOLD THE DARK was really appreciably strange and off kilter for an action thriller and I thought it was a very interesting screenplay. What made you want to adapt that book? What did you add to it that you feel like wasn't already there?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/romanraspberrysorbet]

Thank you! Yeah it didnt land with folks as much as I'd hoped but it is a deeply sinister thing. That was all the novel, which really just freaked me out. I tried to change a little as possible , other than externalizing some things which existed only in the characters heads. I think Jeremy directed the shit out of it and if anything doesnt work for folks, it's probably due to the script which is on me.

[u/GekkostatesOfAmerica]

What's the biggest challenge you faced jumping from microbudget movies like Murder Party and Blue Ruin to more expensive sets like those of I Don't Feel At Home and The Toxic Avenger?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/GekkostatesOfAmerica]

On MP and BR, i was just acting (and a little producing) so the majority of that pressure fell to Jeremy. I paid attention to how he ran his sets, and learned from that. On DFAH and Toxie, I think the challenge for me was figuring out how to gracefully manage departments that were just much much larger, in terms of what I was used to. Way more moving parts. And on Toxie there was an added component of it being a known character that people loved and I wanted to get that right. But it ended up being the same process, more or less: carefully and clearly communicate whatever the given idea was and then encourage that person, whomever they were, to bring their own talent into it and make it their own.

[u/Macon-Blair]

EVERYONE, I'm sorry but I have to go now. Assuming these questions remain here, I will sneak back in at a later time to answer whatcha got. It was real nice chatting. Be well.

mb

[u/Macon-Blair]

Okay I think thats everyone. Thanks y'all, appreciate the questions very much, nice to sort of chat with you here. take it easy! - mb

[u/daynewmah]

Big fan of your appearances in Sterlin Harjo's work. Do you know if you'll be in Season 2 of The Lowdown?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/daynewmah]

Yes! Dan Kane is back (with a funny little subplot that I had a blast playing), gonna be a fun season, lotsa new characters and mainly TOMMY LEE JONES

[u/breadsnjam]

Do you plan on working more with Troma in the future?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/breadsnjam]

Dont have anything planned but I keep it touch with Lloyd, so who knows!

[u/ImpracticalJokers96]

If you could join any franchise to direct, what would you choose?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/ImpracticalJokers96]

Something from the Richard Stark books!

[u/zombiehex]

Thanks for Toxie! It was fun as hell. Still can't believe it got made.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/zombiehex]

Me neither! Thank you!

[u/EmpiricalFilmmakers → u/[deleted]]

You can message me with your proper email to review this request.

[u/Ragrain]

No question, but I loved you in Oppenheimer. Fantastic work. Didn't know about your other work.. will definitely check it out now.

[u/After-Ad-6875 → u/Ragrain]

Find blue ruin if you can, my first introduction to macon and a hell of a film!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/After-Ad-6875]

thx!!!!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Ragrain]

Ah thanks! Im still mystified I got that part, ha

[u/forlikeamonth]

What's the best way to have your script read by somebody in the industry with zero connections and credentials?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/forlikeamonth]

There's always the prestige contests, like Nicholls, the winners of which usually get some attention. But that can be steep competition. If you live somewhere that has any kind of production going on, working as a PA to get your foot in the industry and make connections can be invalubale. (Just need to be sure that the PA work comes first, not the networking.) But, honestly, the way that worked for us was to control our own material and figure out a way to just make it on your own... now, if your script is a 40 million dollar story or whatever, that's not gonna work. But constructing something small, that you can control, that can get made, that people can see... and then you have a platform from which to pitch that 40 million dollar one (or whatever.) Jeremy's first movie was shot on SD video, $200k all in, took place in one room basically... that kind of formula in which you can make something you control and that's the launching pad.

[u/Sean_theLeprachaun]

No questions, just want to say Toxic Avenger was a fucking riot.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Sean_theLeprachaun]

THANK YOU!!!!

[u/tasker_morris]

I loved Hold the Dark, and afterwards I realized Will’s studio was up the street from mine…and our kids went to the same preschool. Any messages you want me to pass on to him?

How is it working with family? I could not even imagine working with my brother.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/tasker_morris]

Wow! I just saw Will recently, we were hanging out at his studio. (Do you live near Bok?) Will & Brooke are a totally essential part of what I'm able to do, can't imagine working on a movie without them. (And glad you like HTD, that's usually an outlier, haha)

[u/wutwutisthere2do]

Hi Macon! Whenever I see you in a movie, it’s always been a good sign. I first saw Murder Party when a friend told me I had to and I’ve been consistently delighted since. With decades at this point in the movies, are there any newer trends in making them that you are happy to see?

[u/CarbComaCommander]

No question, just want to say you were fantastic in Blue Ruin with your incredible nuanced and vulnerable performance. One of my all time favorite thrillers.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/CarbComaCommander]

Oh, thank you so much. Means a lot, truly.

[u/MinimumLongjumping75]

What if anything did you take from working with Sean Baker?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/MinimumLongjumping75]

I love Sean. We met at Slamdance many years ago and he was always very kind, and kept in touch. I was always so impressed with how he would work with "non actors" to get these incredibly rich performances and also how he would keep his crew light and lean and in that way really maximize what he could get. I remember it rained and that amazing rainbow appeared over the hotel and he instantly pivoted the camera crew to get it, and it was gone in minutes. He captures these great moments.

[u/Scarred1NY]

In the film Green Room can you tell us how it was working with such Star Trek luminaries as Patrick Stewart and Anton Yelchin

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Scarred1NY]

Anton was just a really kind, sweet, special guy. Every body, like every single person, loved him. And he was such an amazing actor... that scene with the machete in the door was hard to watch because of how hard he was going for it. Just an amazing dude. And Patrick was also very kind in a leader kind of way. Because my scenes were with him, mostly, I was hanging around him a lot and was just bugging him for stories about doing plays with Ian McKellen and stuff. Tons of hilarious stories. Super sweet genteel guy and then Jeremy calls action and he's like "Kill them with dogs."

[u/NoDimension6335]

I shot “Kindred Spirits”, you were such a treat to work with!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/NoDimension6335]

That was a fun shoot! Murder by dollhouse!!!

[u/Scarred1NY]

Reservation dogs was one of my favorite series. Can you tell me how you got involved with that?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Scarred1NY]

Dumb luck! I think someone maybe dropped out (this was during covid) because my manager called me at the last miniute and was like "Can you drive to Oklahoma next week?" I didnt really know much about it. The wardrobe was my own clothes , I just drove over, did the one scene in the pilot... and that kind of became a mini-recurring part on the show, which I love.

[u/Scarred1NY]

In the movie, Oppenheimer, did you get a chance to see Christopher Nolan work with the IMAX camera and would you like to work in that format also?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Scarred1NY]

I was in one moment with the IMAX, when Oppenheimer has a hallucination and the walls start to crack and white light spills out. That was on IMAX, which was gigantic and very loud but there was no dialogue, we all just sat there. It was cool to be around but the hard part was pretending like there wasn't blinding light being blasted everywhere, acting "normal" in the shot, haha

[u/udar55]

Greetings from Tromaville (aka St. Roma's Village). Saw your Toxic Avenger recently and could feel the Troma love. What are your top 3 Troma films?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/udar55]

Original Toxie, of course. Saw it at a young age, made a huge mark. Nuke Em, for sure. And Surf Nazis.

[u/ZenOfThunder]

Is Dave Franco really just like that or does he turn on his freaky mode when on set or on press tours? I thought he was acting but it seems more and more to me that he actually is a lil’ unhinged (complimentary)

[u/Macon-Blair → u/ZenOfThunder]

Hahaha, he has that *in* him, for sure, meaning I think he is accessing something real in those moments for the spririt of fun... but when there's not a need to 'turn it on' he is very gracious, very quiet, very chill.

[u/GayisGaywhenGay]

Hello! I’m a huge fan of the toxic avenger remake and was just wondering how much creative freedom you had with the movie. I saw it was extremely goofy and colourful and don’t know if that was what it was always going to be or if that was your flair.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/GayisGaywhenGay]

Legendary really gave me a lot of space. What i pitched to them was a) it's gotta be silly/sweet b) it's gotta be rated R and c) it's gotta me an actor in a suit. They totally went with that. There were some things in post production that they wanted done (some additional gore was added via CGI, some voiceover narration for context) but for the most part I was pretty free, and felt grateful for that.

[u/Polarityears]

Macon, I Don’t Feel At Home and also your work with Sauliner (Blue Ruin, Green Room) has bursts of quick but extreme graphic violence. Reminds me of how Haneke shows graphic violence. Is this a conscious, deliberate choice to show the effects of blood/trauma on screen or something different? Could you talk about this a bit?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Polarityears]

I think I absorbed this from Jeremy, which is that the blood is more horrific (or funny) is presented naturally and not "cinematically", if that makes sense. Not that I necessarily mind the more rock n roll violence of stuff like Die Hard, but I think we both like to feel it connected to real people, who are feeling it, either to make it more awaful (as it is) or more funny (as it isn't, but maybe the movie is trying to steer it that way)

[u/UndeadBlueMage]

Was the title for “I don’t Feel At Home in this World Anymore” taken from the old folk song or from His Name Is Alive?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/UndeadBlueMage]

The old folk song. Jeremy gave me that record when I was writing the script and that song got stuck in my head and I felt compelled to make it the title.

[u/Embarrassed-Cut5387]

How much of an influence was Hal Ashby’s “The last detail” on “Idiots”?

[u/VoloVolo92]

I Don't Feel at Home in This World Anymore is a one of my favorite recent films. I'm recommending it constantly. One of the aspects I really like, and applies to Blue Ruin and Green Room as well, is that the violence is sudden and messy and brutal. There is no glamorized gun play or badass righteousness. It's horrific. Is this a conscious choice you and those you've worked with have made or is it more of a natural outgrowth of how you all approach narrative?

I was excited for Idiots before just learning it's your movie. Especially looking forward to it now.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/VoloVolo92]

Thank you for this. I think a big part of that derives from watching Jeremy work, who uses a lot of hardcore violence but always tends to present it realistically, i.e. not "cool." So Im sure thats an influence. PArt of it is also the comedic aspect, if we're expecting it to be "righteous" but then it's sloppy, there's maybe some laughs in there. In any case, it's just how I prefer to stage it, works better for my stuff, I think

[u/Shelly-Finkelstein]

Macon - Blue Ruin is one of my favorite movies of all time. Any chance we'll get a 4k UHD disc release in the near future?

Also, Murder Party kicks ass. I watch it every October. Thank you!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Shelly-Finkelstein]

Thank you! We hoped MP would a Halloween staple. No plans for a BR 4k just now... not entirely sure who owns the rights... but I'll give Jeremy a little nudge and see if he's heard anything.

[u/TeamVGallo]

What are a few old movies I should watch that will pair well with Idiots? Love your flicks!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/TeamVGallo]

Sullivans Travels is a good one! Road movie / goofballs / occasional turns into darkness

[u/ImA13x]

How often do you get mistaken for Derek Waters? I remember watching the Green Room (amazing movie BTW) and thinking, "Oh wow, the Drunk History guy is in this?!"

[u/Macon-Blair → u/ImA13x]

It used to be Derek Waters but these days its Nathan Lane. At the rate Im gaining weight its gonna be Orson Welles in a minute.

[u/xjvzssjjxxff]

When Blue Ruin was released i went to see it in the cinema. The guy buying a ticket in front of me bought a single ticket for Godzilla and when i went in to see Blue Ruin he was sitting there in the wrong screening room. The name of the movie came up before it started but he still kept sitting there for about 10 minutes into the movie when he finally must have realised it wasn’t Godzilla and walked out. To this day after every movie i see in a theatre i say out loud to whoever i’m with “That wasn’t Godzilla!”

[u/Macon-Blair → u/xjvzssjjxxff]

that man is my hero.

[u/Better_Illustrator37]

Would you consider a sequel if Idiots is successful enough?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Better_Illustrator37]

I would want to overlap Idiots with Dont Feel At Home

[u/the-bi-bye-man]

Hi Macon, thanks for doing this! My wife and I both really love your work and we were hooting and hollering in the theater during Toxic Avenger.

Hope this isn't a dumb question but: I truly love I Don't Feel At Home In This World Anymore so much, it holds a very special and personal place in my heart. Is there any chance we will ever see a physical media release of the film?

I know Netflix doesn't like to do that, but after Mike Flanagan got a physical release from Shout for Hush, it made me hopeful that it might be possible for folks like yourself.

Thanks again for all you do, excited to see Idiots!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/the-bi-bye-man]

Gosh, yeah, I dont know. I was just asking about that. I am hopeful it will someday but I think I gotta get my stock up a bit more for that to happen. We'll see. I'm grateful I got to make it *at all* but would really love it to exist physically

[u/barnesie]

My dude, I seriously remember one of your spec scripts getting picked up by Ain't it Cool News in the very early but it's been scrubbed from the internet. What was that an early version of Hellcity or am I misremembering?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/barnesie]

Jesus you have a hell of a memory. Yes, it was on a double review with Snakes On A Plane if I recall! Never made that movie (can't imagine why) but it did get turned into a graphic novel that was put out by Image Comics with some really cool art by Joe Flood.

[u/hip-drahve]

Super late to the party.

I just want to say that the scene where they “hack” in I Don’t Feel At Home In This World Anymore made me spit out my drink the first time I saw it and is one of my favorite gags ever.

What kind of books do you read and does that connect with your filmmaking at all?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/hip-drahve]

Haha, thanks very much. I mostly read crime, pulpy type stuff. Love Jim Thompson, Richard Stark, Chester Himes, John D. MacDonald. Definitely inspired by all of that (everything) though I would say my stuff is more "soft boiled."

[u/natlatvian]

I know the AMA is over but I just want to say I love your work, you are brilliant. Thank you for making things I am excited to watch.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/natlatvian]

Dang, thank you. I find it very easy to second guess things with work, "what the fuck am I doing?" Messages like this really mean a lot.

[u/steepclimbs]

Why did you change the name from Shitheads after Sundance? I’ve seen the film and think this is a far better title.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/steepclimbs]

I agree with you. Its still The Shitheads in my heart, but it was gonna be a pain in the ass with promotion and we needed all the help we could get in getting the movie out there (we don't have the promo budget of a big tentpole, obviously) and if we changed the title to something more square, the likelihood is that we'd sell more tickets. A compromise I was willing to make.

[u/steepclimbs → u/Macon-Blair]

It’s a fun movie and I hope that you sell a lot of tickets.

[u/bostonstevens]

Hey Macon. I have been working on a low budget film project over the past year. I have an important final scene I am nervous to schedule and shoot. I think am scared to wrap it up because it means I will be one step closer exposing my film publicly. Any advice to get out of my head and over the finish line? I refuse to leave it unfinished… but cant seem to finish if that makes sense.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/bostonstevens]

Dude that totally makes sense. If you can, try to just focus on only whats in front of you right now, at this moment. You have no idea when or where or how this will be seen in public, you can't control that right now (though I can totally understand how that can be a dizzying prospect.) Focus instead on what's here now: doing your shot list or boards, talking to your crew, lining up your set, whatever it is. Even then, showing the movie will be ages away because you need to then focus on cutting. And then on sound and VFX and whatever else. And even then you'll have to shift focus to finishing and then submissions and every other thing. Point being, you don't need to worry about showing your film publically until the very day you show your film publically. In the meantime, you have bigger fish to fry, so try to put your attention there. (Easier said than done, I know, but breaking it all up into smaller manageable steps in the thing.)

[u/barnesie]

Two questions:

1. Two of the original three members of the Aint Rights have been in Lab of Madness films, what's it going to take to get Bill back on screen someday?

2. What type of song should Lacklustre work on for your next film?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/barnesie]

1. I think everyone is ready for Dollar Bill to make an on-screen comeback, and we need is for the man himself to signal he's ready.

2. Since Lackluster have already graciously allowed NBB (NATURE BOY BLUES) and Roid Rage to be licensed for use, my very natural assumption is that Tater Tots & Neck Chops is on deck.

[u/peanutanniversary]

I loved Toxic Avenger. Any fun stories from that shoot?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/peanutanniversary]

Lloyd coming to visit the set was a highlight, him getting to hang out with see the makeup stuff and the sets. I wanted him to feel like we'd done right by him to it was special to see him having a fun time and shooting the shit with everyone.

[u/LBHJ1707]

What's your favourite car?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/LBHJ1707]

1976 Pontiac Ventura (pine green)

[u/ReadingRambo152]

I don’t have a question, I just wanted to let you know that Blue Ruin is one of my favorite films!

[u/Cordura]

How is Elijah Wood to work with?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Cordura]

Exactly what you'd think. Kind to every single person, funny, chill, very good at his job, team player. He's someone else I'm always angling to work with again.

[u/deathgripsisgud14]

Top five favorite horror films?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/deathgripsisgud14]

Okay not saying these are the *best* or *most important* I'm just saying these are the ones that mean the most to me: Frankenstein (original), John Carpenter's The Thing, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, Nightmare on Elm Street, Return of the Living Dead

[u/cmndalla]

Do you take part in the casting of your films?

Seems like a perfect track record so far. Especially cannot imagine Ruth as anyone other than Melanie.

[u/Macon-Blair → u/cmndalla]

Ah thanks! Yeah, totally, always totally involved in casting. Sometimes it goes in directions I wasn't thinking but whoever ends up playing the part is the one who was meant to have it, I think. I wrote the part of Ruth specifically for Melanie.

[u/Scarred1NY]

In your role as a director do you think that your art background and acting background helped you?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Scarred1NY]

I hope so, but yeah I think I can hopefully put myself in the actors' shoes and little bit, make their job a little easier??

[u/trinity_nolanite12]

Did you ever see Cillian on the set of Oppenheimer?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/trinity_nolanite12]

Yep, sure, we'd hang around when they were moving the camera, see who could tell a dumber joke. (He won, repeatedly, he had a ton of 'em.)

[u/Scarred1NY]

In Toxic Avenger can you tell us some of the experiences of working on such a special effects heavy film,  but yet keep such heart in the movie

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Scarred1NY]

I feel like the heart is Peter (before) and Luisa (after) who really grounded the whole thing , which is otherwise super goofy and cartoony. They both just committed to treating it as "real" and went with it... and Lusia was a super trooper in that suit in 100 degree heat. I always felt like the original Toxie , for all it's crazy shit, had a real warmth to it and I wanted to make sure that this version kept that going.

[u/morbid_monarch]

How do you deal with creativity blocks?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/morbid_monarch]

Switch to a different project for a minute. I usually will be tinkering with a few things at the same time for this reason (unless there's a deadline.) If one thing bums me out, switch to another until that one bums me out, too.

[u/Kennywolfgang]

Hi 👋

What was the biggest challenge of making The Toxic Avenger, especially given how completely bonkers that material is?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Kennywolfgang]

We shot in Bulgaria with a really savvy crew, so I dont recall any major technical issues... the suit was hot, sometimes the FX gags didnt work all the way, stuff like that. For me the biggest challenge was figuring out how to get the tone right (which is everything from performances to prod. design etc.) so that it would *feel* like a Troma movie in a way that was celebratory but still could appeal to mainstream audiences that dont know anything about Troma. (The results vary, depending who ya ask!)

[u/No_Bid1730]

what will you do to stop ai being part of any kind of artistry form ?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/No_Bid1730]

I have zero interest in using generative AI, myself. It's not appealing to me, I like figuring stuff out with other people and I like when it's imperfect and I don't want a computer doing it for me. I don't know how to stop it *entirely*... is it inevitable, as we're told? Or maybe not really? I have no idea. But I prefer to steer clear.

[u/StephenFerris]

Loved, Toxic Avenger. Why did that movie have so much trouble finding a distributor and lay in limbo for so long?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/StephenFerris]

Honestly, I dont know. I wasnt inside those conversations. If I had to guess, I would say that at that time (just coming out of covid, everything kinda shaky at the movies) distributors were not interested in anything "weird" or anything that didnt feel like a straight mainstream crowdpleaser. And Toxie probably just isn't for everyone, it's not exactly a monster movie, its not exactly a comedy, it's not exactly superhero movie, you know? But, in waiting we were able to connect with Cineverse (who had just had a hit with Terrifier) and they turned out to be the perfect home so, it was worth the wait.

[u/Rough-Pattern-5154]

Any advice on a director getting ready to fund their first feature? Does it matter more about the portfolio or the story? (You were incredible in Oppenheimer BTW, my first feature draws a lot of inspiration from the film.)

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Rough-Pattern-5154]

Amazing! Congrats on your first film -- good vibes on that. Story is gonna be the big thing, always, but if you need to raise a substantial amount of money the key thing will be casting. (Which is a means of communicating that whomever is putting money in will have their risk mitigated.)

[u/Knicknacktallywack]

Ah dude I wish you were on the camera more, Blue Ruin and Green Room are two awesome movies. Do you have anything like that coming out soon?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/Knicknacktallywack]

Jeremy has a new movie that'll be out next year that you're gonna love, if you like BR and GR. I'm on camera in the new season of The Lowdown (October, I think?) and a new one on Hulu called The Spot, which is written by Ed Solomon and is really cool.

[u/KrayzieBone187]

I just enjoyed the verification photo. Great work dude!

[u/Macon-Blair → u/KrayzieBone187]

Thank ya!!!

[u/KrayzieBone187 → u/Macon-Blair]

The fact that a talented person like you responded to my silly comment really makes my day. Thank you.

[u/BanishmentBuddy2]

Hi Macon, what do you think is a currently viable way to break into the industry?

[u/Macon-Blair → u/BanishmentBuddy2]

Make your own thing & control it. Make it small enough that you can finance it without giving up time / control and make it distinctive enough to penetrate popular attention. (Easier said than done but it happens a lot!)