Both of these lovely ladies, as well as director Jason Reitman, are receiving all kinds of critical fellatio and awards buzz for “Juno,” this year’s ‘Little Indie That Could.’ The film, which tells the story of a small-town teen dealing with a surprise pregnancy, handles the story with wit, panache, and barely a trace of the melodrama that usually comes hand-in-hand with the subject matter. It’s a solid movie that is slowly turning into a massive hit, and come Oscar season, expect to see it become even more popular.

Even if the film were garbage, however, it would be difficult not to be charmed by Diablo Cody and Ellen Page. In person, they are both sweet and silly. Very silly. When I sat down with them they had been doing interviews all morning and it quickly became clear to me that they were becoming a little stir crazy. I decided to throw most of my questions to wind and see what happened. What followed was one of the craziest—and most enjoyable—interviews I’ve ever done.

So the first really cliché question is: “How did ‘Juno’ come about?”

DC: You know, there comes a time in every young woman’s life where she thinks to herself, ‘I’m going to write an original screenplay.’

Really?

DC: No. But, in my case, I was an unlikely candidate to be writing a movie. I’d never done it before; no formal screenwriting education; I was a blogger-slash-stripper. I was contacted by this dude out in Hollywood who said he enjoyed my blog and felt that I had a good comic sensibility, and he thought that I should try writing a screenplay. And, if I were to do so, he would represent me. So I wrote “Juno,” went out with the script, it was received very warmly. Then [director] Jason Reitman came along, Ellen Page came on and… The magic happened.

…So has pretty much everyone in this situation asked you that question?

DC: Yup! That’s always the first one.

It is?

DC: Yeah.

[Putting on my best “pompous interviewer” voice.]

So Ellen… When did you get involved on the project?

EP: [Laughs.] Yup! I knew it! Um… I was in high school, grade 12, in Halifax—it was a couple of years ago when I first read it. And when I read it, it just totally floored me. It was one of the greatest things I’ve ever read. So unexpected and so refreshing. And it wasn’t just “Oh, I like this, I want to pursue it,” it was “This needs to happen. I have to play this role!” It was one of those situations.

DC: Awww.

EP: And then eventually it kind of all came together a little while later when I was doing a movie in L.A. That’s when I met [Diablo]. I was shooting a movie called “An American Crime” and I…

DC: [Giggles.] Isn’t that the one where Jason Biggs fucks the pie?

EP: [Laughs.] No, it’s “An American Crime.” It’s a true story where I’m horribly tortured and starved! And I was worried on set because I was like, “I am starved and delusional right now.” But we hit it off and then I was, like, in the movie and whatever.

So… For the record, by the way, we do not have to talk about my really lame reporter questions.

EP: No! We can!

DC: Yeah, sure! We can answer them all! Like, why don’t you ask Ellen why she typically plays strong female characters? Ellen, why do you typically play strong female characters? Like the kind you played in the hit film “Hard Candy!”

[Ellen Page tries to keep a straight face…]

EP: Uh, you know what? I just like to pursue roles that—

[…And fails.]

EP: But it’s funny that I play these roles that, to me, just feel like well-written young women are called strong and feminist roles. If I was a young male actor, you wouldn’t ask me that question. If I was Emile Hirsch… Like, does anyone go, “Oh, Emile Hirsch! Why do you play such strong male roles?” No one’s going to say that to him.

Well, I probably wouldn’t go “Oh, Emile Hirsch!” for one thing.

EP: But yeah, no one’s going to say that to Emile Hirsch or Ben Foster or…

Or Michael Cera?

EP: Or Michael Cera! Thank you.

DC: Well, no one’s going to say that to Michael Cera because he doesn’t play strong males. [Giggles.] I’m just kidding! Michael Cera is amazing!

EP: But do you know what I mean? It’s kind of insulting because whenever I play a young woman that’s honest and whole everyone says, “She’s so unique and abrasive.” And it’s like, shut up! It’s just a fucking character. But if I was a guy, no one would come up to me and say stuff like that.

DC: And no one says to Akiva Goldsman, “You write such incredible male characters! ‘A Beautiful Mind’ was so manly!”

Well, I thought “Batman & Robin” was very manly.

DC: Well, yeah. I mean, Batman: He was physically strong! Uh… Yes! Yes, he was!

DC: So, because of all that, I’ve decided I’m totally writing the “She-Hulk” movie because, y’know, she’s such a strong female character.

EP: …Batman’s my favorite superhero.

DC: I can see why.

EP: Why?

DC: I mean, if you want to have a deep conversation about superheroes and psyches then I could tell you why Batman is your favorite. But… You’re not going to like my favorite superhero… Jean Grey from the “X-Men.”

EP: Really?

Really? That’s, like, the dullest superhero!

DC: The fuckin’ Dark Phoenix? That’s dull?! Are you kidding? She ate a star! She killed an entire race! That’s boring?

This is juicy, juicy stuff… So, more questions! One thing I appreciated about it was that is wasn’t a “message movie.” It seems that, with this subject matter, it would be very easy to sink into “Lifetime Movie of the Week” territory. Was it important to you to stay away from that?

DC: Yeah, I think when you’re dealing with a melodramatic, gushy subject like pregnancy—and pregnancy really is extremely gushy—I think it’s easy to veer into melodrama. It’s easy to get mired in sentimental clap-trap. [Laughs.] Man, I sound like I’m eighty!

“All that brick-a-brack!”

EP: “These kids with their hula hoops and their MySpace.com!”

DC: “And children cutting themselves! Implements to relieve their pain!”

Now see… That would be a “Lifetime Movie.”

DC: Totally!

EP: “These kids today with their posters of Tom Cruise and Brad Pitt and… Morgan Freeman!”

[Everyone laughs.]

DC: But… Um… No, I’m not a very sentimental person so I was probably a good person to write a movie about pregnancy because I was able to avoid those pitfalls. [Pause.] I mean, I’m a douche so…

[More laughter.]

DC: Yeah, I’m a douche, so I wasn’t going to write a movie about something overly maudlin.

But the movie does still have some sentimentality in it.

DC: There is, but that was actually kind of an accident. I had sat down and intended to—

EP: —It’s because some of us have hearts—

DC: —Some of you do, yes. I had intended to write something kind of dark and edgy and, y’know… Sarcazmic.

Sarcazmic?

DC: Yeah. Put that with a “Z.” But as I wrote it the script became sort of brighter and brighter and more uplifting. And then Jason Reitman came on and it was all over because he’s like a ray of sunshine. And then this one comes on… Little Miss Tenderheart!

EP: Tenderheart? Yes. I have to eat ice cubes just to keep my warmness under control.

And was the end result more cheerful than you had originally intended? Or rather, Ellen… What did you bring to the end product?

DC: Everything.

Everything? So you brought the heat?

EP: Oh, please… But, I don’t know. I mean, when I get excited about something and I want to play a role, I have to get emotionally connected to that role. As corny as it sounds and I’ve said it so many times, but I really need to connect my heart to that person’s heart. And that is always such an amazing experience for me: When you start a film and you start genuinely feeling. I mean, I have a job where I get paid to just genuinely feel and it’s pretty nice. It’s truly and utterly an amazing thing to be a part of. It’s my favorite part of making a movie, and this is one of the best experiences I’ve had making a film for sure. I couldn’t be more grateful being in this film. Truly. Because this script… I was in love with it.

So I’ve only got a couple of things left. I’d like to ask you about “Jennifer’s Body.”

DC: Yeah! It’s a horror movie that I wrote. Jason Reitman is producing. And have you found a director yet?

DC: We’re out to directors right now. We need to find the perfect person.

The one.

DC: The one! I am so excited about this. Horror is my favorite genre, so for me to… Well, writing alone is just a joy for me, but to be able to write a horror movie and just the fact that this is actually happening is a dream come true for me.

And one last thing, just because I have been following the whole thing and I find it fascinating… Has the WGA strike affected “Jennifer’s Body” at all? Has it affected either of you?

DC: Yeah, I definitely feel like it’s affecting my turf.

What about the possible upcoming SAG strikes?

EP: There’s gonna be a SAG strike?

That’s what I hear.

EP: Oh well, I’m Canadian so I’m also a member of ACTRA. I can work in Canada!

You Canadians have got it so good.

EP: Yeah, I got health care for free!

DC: We just watched Michael Moore’s “Sicko” the other night. It is hilarious! [Laughs.] You know, you could have the best interview ever if you just quoted me out of context the whole time.

Well, I am planning on spreading rumors on the Internet that you’re writing and directing the “She-Hulk” movie so…

[Laughs.]

EP: You know, for this press thing it’s like we’re basically on a tour, except we don’t play rock music and we don’t get to have cool after-parties. So the other day after press we just went to Diablo’s room and watched “Sicko.”

DC: And we were just like, “This is the saddest, most tragic thing…” Not the movie. Us watching it.

EP: Just crying on the bed.

Did you get room service, at least?

EP: No, no, I don’t think we did. We raided the mini-bar. Well, she did because I am not of age. I am not twenty-one. I cannot drink in your beautiful country. But I could operate a vehicle and go to war! But you’re Hollywood… Can’t you just do whatever you want? Can’t you just be like, “I was in ‘X-Men,’ baby!”

EP: [Laughs.] Yeah, I am so like that, you wouldn’t believe. I storm into a “Subway” and demand to have my sub for free!

DC: I’m sure there are people that do that… There are so many gross people in Hollywood…

Is that something you are both actively trying to avoid? The gross Hollywood thing?

DC: Oh, no way! I love Hollywood phoniness!

EP: And I want a bowling alley in my house in L.A.

DC: I actually know someone who has a bowling alley in their house.

EP: Who?

DC: Tori Spelling. [Pause.] I actually don’t know her.

[Both laugh.]

DC: Wouldn’t that be cool if Tori Spelling and I were friends? I think we would get along.

Speaking of, I really feel that you guys should’ve name-dropped a lot more during this interview.

DC: You want me to name-drop?

Yes! End this interview on a name-drop!

DC: Well, I’m friends with Allison Janney. Mention that!

The Allison Janney?! From “The West Wing” and the hit film “Juno?!”

DC: Yeah! Like, we’ve hung out a lot recently. Yeah, I had dinner with her in London.

EP: I’ll do one. I don’t know, say one.

DC: Who you’re friends with?

EP: Yeah.

DC: I think it’s cool the Sigur Ros thing…

EP: Oh yeah, I made a human pyramid with Sigur Ros!

Really?

DC: The best part was that you were so casual! Like we were just looking at pictures on her computer yesterday at the airport and she was just like, “Here’s me in a pyramid with Sigur Ros…” Ellen, you are a hipster!

Now that is Hollywood.

There you have it. Special thanks, of course, to Diablo Cody and Ellen Page for taking time to sit down with me and suffer through my bad jokes. “Juno” is in theaters now. Take my word for it: Check it out.

Comments

Written by Guest on 2008-01-08 06:23:01 oh thats was fantastic.

bitches and guns Written by Guest on 2008-01-08 12:09:09 I like these two people and the interviewer. I can't help but, think one of thim is going to pull a revolver outta her tube sock and light a cigarette with it. Thx for the good i.view. rgm

Beauty, eh. Written by Guest on 2008-01-08 18:42:00 I know DC from "real" life, and this is one of the few interviews that reminds me of my bud from back in Cheap Drink Town. Well done!

Not even a geek.. Written by Guest on 2008-01-10 22:49:18 ...but such a delightful interview. Seemed like everyone had a blast! If only all interviews could be this lighthearted, sardonic, and giddy     btw, LOVED Juno!

Sweeeeeet Written by Guest on 2008-01-10 23:47:13 I am currently obsessed with Juno and these two right now. I have read many interviews, but this is by far the coolest. These girls are so real!

fantastic Written by Guest on 2008-01-17 20:23:07 they're so genuine. i loved it

Written by Guest on 2008-01-22 13:42:03 I was linked to this interview from Diablo's blog because she mentioned it was her favorite. I gotta say, I'm facinated by her and Ellen Page. Their realness seems to come out in spades. Too bad they both make it seem so easy to put out such a unique, interesting and one-of-a-kind film. Damn them both. But damn them in a good way.

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