BTL Radio Show - 06/16/2025 with JON S. BAIRD & STEVEN ROGERS and GREG PORPER & JOHN SCHIMKE

 

This week on BEHIND THE LENS, we’ve got a lotta laughs thanks to director/writer/producer GREG PORPER and co-director/co-writer/ and editor JOHN SCHIMKE, who talk about their new, and often side-splitting comedy that opens this Friday, DON’T TELL LARRY.  And who doesn’t love musical theater, especially fresh off last week’s exhilarating Tony Awards?  Also on hand talking about their new film and first collaboration, EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT, are two filmmakers whose work I have long admired, director JON S. BAIRD and writer/producer STEVEN ROGERS.

Kicking things off is my exclusive interview with director JON S. BAIRD and his partner in crime for EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT, writer STEVEN ROGERS.  I had the pleasure and privilege and speaking with Jon several years ago about his delightful film STAN & OLLIE and before that, FILTH.  Jon is a gifted and thoughtful director who brings his light touch to EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT.  And Steven Rogers, well, you all know some of his films - I, TONYA, the wonderful HOPE FLOATS with Sandra Bullock, Harry Connick Jr, and Gena Rowlands, Stepmom, and he’s the man who came up with the story for KATE & LEOPOLD starring Hugh Jackman and Meg Ryan.

EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT is a love letter to the theater and everyone who had a dream.  A dramedy at heart, as we hear with the rousing opening strains  “There’s No Business Like Show Business”, we meet the Smart family.  Led by Buddy and Macy Smart, theirs is an unpredictable life of regional theatre while trying to raise their sons, Les and Derrick.  Les dreams of nothing but a future in the theatre (and dare I say that his dreams also include conversations with Tallulah Bankhead, Noel Coward, and Ruth Gordon) while Derrick wants only to stay in one place, go to school, have friends, and play football.  Often living on a shoestring, if even that, Buddy refuses to give up on his dreams for the family, while Macy has to try and keep the family together and afloat.  A true journey of self-discovery while grappling with identity and belonging, each member of the Smart family learns the power of owning the spotlight, no matter what stage of life you’re in.

A fantastic cast is led by Bryan Cranston and Allison Janney, with a scene-stealing and show-stopping performance by Benjamin Evan Ainsworth as Les. Jack Champion stars as Derrick—you probably know Jack from films like SCREAM 6, FREAKY TALES, and RETRIBUTION. Chris Cooper pops in as Macy’s estranged brother, Walter.

Solid production values, first-rate performances, especially when Cranston and Ainsworth are together, this is a film not to be missed. So take a listen as JON S. BAIRD and STEVEN ROGERS as they talk about EVERYTHING’S GOING TO BE GREAT, from their collaboration and the film's origins to casting challenges particularly for the roles of Les and Derrick to the upbeat positive atmosphere on the set led by Cranston and Janney to Rolfe Kent’s score to balancing comedy and drama to the beautiful visual style courtesy of cinematographer Mark Wolf which grounded the film in reality while incorporating stylized elements.

Shifting gears, we move on to laugh-out-loud hilarity with DON'T TELL LARRY, a film that I like to describe as “I Love Lucy” on crack, and my exclusive conversation with co-director/co-writers GREG PORPER and JOHN SCHIMKE.  John also serves as the film’s editor.  Talking with them, I understand completely how the comedic tone of this dark comedy arose.  Greg and John are a barrel of laughs themselves. 

DON’T TELL LARRY is the story of Susan, who tells a harmless little white lie about an office party to her truth-obsessed co-worker Larry in order to secure a promotion.  It doesn’t take long before she finds herself in over her head when tragedy strikes, and all signs point to Larry as responsible. Terrified her secret will be exposed, Susan ropes in her well-meaning but clueless co-worker Patrick to help cover up her tracks—but every move they make unleashes a whirlwind of chaos. From random drug tests and car explosions to a suspicious detective and a rising body count, Susan’s workweek spirals into a full-blown clusterf*ck.

The film stars Patty Guggenheim as Susan, Kenneth Mosley as poor Patrick, Kiel Kennedy as Larry, Dot-Marie Jones as Kim, and Ed Begley Jr as the big boss Bruce.

I don’t even know where to begin in describing my conversation with Greg and John. As not only do we break down every production and casting element, but we also touch on potential branding tie-ins for financing a sequel.  As you will hear, we highlight John’s editing process was extensive, with significant cuts to maintain pacing and tension, casting and production challenges (many of which all of you indie filmmakers of no budget/lo budget/micro budget films will appreciate and understand), as well as Jason and Nolan Livesays score and its range and impact.  The guys also detail their  21-draft screenplay journey, emphasizing the importance of setup, build, and payoff.  And let’s not forget the specific casting of Kiel Kennedy, Patty Guggenheim, and Kenneth Mosley.  But how about the visual grammar developed with cinematographer Derek Bauer, along with the film's color palette, particularly the use of yellow for Larry!  Kudos to Bauer for a nice visual tonal bandwidth balancing fear, terror, and comedy.  And you’ll find out what a “pusher and a cracker” are.  

NOW, a word of warning to you.  Once the hilarity ensued, there was no stopping Greg and John in this conversation, so you might hear some spoilery kinds of things.  Of course, they will probably make you want to see the film even more!

Enjoy!