Doug Ellin
How easy was it to get back into the mindset of getting the guys back together and getting into their world?
Doug Ellin: You know, it’s like high school. When you see your best friends you get right back where you started. It actually feels like we never stopped.
Was this the story that you always wanted to tell for the film?
Doug Ellin: I don’t know. I don’t have any stories I really want to tell, you know? Whatever kind of feels good is what I do. As you know, we change it somewhat depending on who the cameos are, so it’s always kind of a fluid thing. The script changed 100 times since I started it two years ago.
How much fun was shooting the Hyde sequences?
Doug Ellin: Amazing. I didn’t direct them so I got to just sit there and watch and it was unbelievable. We had Calvin Harris in that. It was very cool.
When did you know when you would be able to make the movie, and what was it like filming in Los Angeles, California?
Doug Ellin: When we got that tax credit, honestly I think that was the key for us. That got everything moving very quickly after that. For a studio movie, we are modestly budgeted, so I think that was a huge thing for us.
Can you talk about some of the cameos you’ve lined up for this film?
Doug Ellin: There are so many I’d hate to list, but I just think of whose current. We have Liam Neeson and Mark Wahlberg and Calvin Harris and Tom Brady and Russell Wilson. There’s tons.
Coming back to this, was there anybody who you were surprised by where they were in the film?
Doug Ellin: Well when I look back at Turtle, where he started in the first season and now, Jerry has transformed his body and the character as well. He’s probably the character that’s seen the most growth since we started.
You’ve been Instagramming a lot of photos. How much does that go through the studio and legal, or do you just say fuck it?
Doug Ellin: Well I would always respect the studio. I wouldn’t say fuck it, but I didn’t post anything that gives anything away I don’t think.
At what point while filming the show did it kind of hit you that it was going to be a huge success?
Doug Ellin: I’m still not even sure whether it is or not. HBO was actually a great place, but the world is much bigger. As we saw with Sex and the City, it really turned into a whole other thing with the movies. So we have no idea what’s going to happen, but we’re doing the best we can. We hope people like it.
Obviously there’s going to be people who have seen the movie that have never seen the show, so how are you dealing with that?
Doug Ellin: I’ve taken a lot of time to make it so if you’ve never seen the show you can turn on this movie and you’ll know what’s going on. It’s a movie about a movie star and his friends and quickly you’ll know the characters and then you’ll follow the story, I hope. That’s the plan.
Adrian promises full frontal nudity.
Doug Ellin: Not on this movie. Not on my watch!
We’ve been hearing PG-13 and R for the movie. Can you confirm either one?
Doug Ellin: I’d be surprised if this is not R.
Have you put any possible thought as to what will come next?
Doug Ellin: No. When I was doing the show I always was just going from where we left off. I don’t try to figure it out that way. It’s not The Sopranos or a Game of Thrones where the plot is everything. It’s about the vibe and the feel, and if you like being with these guys we can figure out another way to take them.
Vince and Ari have a lot invested in this movie. Did you want to create a larger sense of stakes for them?
Doug Ellin: Yeah, absolutely. We wanted everything to be bigger, from the locations to the stakes the guys are dealing with. Everything is bigger. It’s like a supersized episode.
Speaking of where things left off, are you surprised at how many people interpreted that Sloan would get married after the end of Entourage?
Doug Ellin: No. I think that’s the expectation that they had, but I went with where I went. When I ended the show I didn’t think, “Oh let’s leave it open for a movie.” I kind of tried to end the show. The Ari thing kind of left it open, but everybody else I kind of closed off.
Who is your favorite character to write dialogue for?
Doug Ellin: I don’t know. Drama and Ari and Billy Walsh are easiest because they can say anything and get away with it. E and Vince are a little trickier. They are slightly more grounded and they have to do some of the trade stuff, but they are all fun.
Are we going to see some of the other characters from the show in the movie?
Doug Ellin: Yeah, you will see a lot of them. I don’t want to forget anybody. Reese is back and we got Gary Busey coming back, so there’s a lot of people from all over the place.
Are you the type of director who cuts what you’ve shot each day?
Doug Ellin: No. Honestly I like to focus on what we have.
Does Gary Busey have some more wisdom for the guys?
Doug Ellin: Much and for me. I don’t know what will end up in this movie but it was unbelievable. With the camera turned on the guy can go on for 20 minutes and everything he says is interesting.
