"Experience Cinema" (w/ Michelle Yeoh) (RE-RELEASE)

must see if you haven't already. And in fact, we do get into some spoilers. So just if you're listening now, just know, you know, maybe hold off on listening to this episode. Please go see the movie first. Yeah, implore you, because we really get into you know, we really talked to her about what it was like to work on this and it was just such a special conversation. It's really I mean, this is I think one of my

favorite moments we've had on the podcast. Not likely because you know, she's such an incredible icon of screen and just like cinema history, but also she was a very real person and I think that she had a lot to say that like really resonated about how she prepares and how she never stops learning when she's on set, and she just really a very grounded person and you wish that someone like her gets her do like this.

You know what I really do, you really do? And it's that you know, classic thing where at this point, you know, this is something that Matt says all the time, which is can anyone else do this role? Can anyone else do which this actor does in any given project? And we definitely feel like that's not the case with Michelle and everything everywhere else once like the role was

written for her. There aren't that many Asian female actresses who can pull off action in a sci fi comedy, who can pull off physical comedy as well as martial arts like that is like she's I've listened to her talk about the nuance and the different between physical comedy, which he's never done before and martial arts, which she has, and like how much fun it was for her anyway, we're really just like soaring from this interview. It was

so fun. It's a little bit tighter than usual because of the time constraints we had, but so much fun. I Mean, it's just unreal because I've seen the movie now twice as as you'll hear, and I'm so overwhelmed because it's that thing, bo you know, way back when we first met the people that we we all met, and like you had a feeling about certain people and then coming to find out it happened to be true. So Stephanie Shoe is like our old friend from college.

Like I think we probably all met when we were like nineteen nineteen. I was probably I was eighteen. Yeah, so bo And is famously a little bit younger than us. What she just mentioned, which was which was which was not rude at all to mention his young age. But Stephanie is literally one of those people that you meet and it is just Yeah, she's truly limitless in terms of what she's able to do perfect word. I'm also really happy that she got to show off her beautiful

voice in this movie. So it's everything I mean, and it really bowled me over bow because I'm more and more I'm realizing that like those people that we had a good feeling about from way back, actually that was true, you know, And how how lucky to be in the orbit of some of these people. I Mean, this is such a incredible performance, and all the performances are amazing, but I have to like sit here and tally as well, you know what I mean, Like you gotta see it

to believe it. I texted you right after I saw it the first time. I was like, Steph is gonna blow your fucking mind. And you know what's funny, It's like, first of all, this is like the most Steph movie of all time yea, from everything from like from like the Chaos of It to like the Bagel. I was like, Steph found the step Shoe movie to do. And maybe you know step from Marvelous Missus masl or you've seen

her on Broadway. She was in SpongeBob and Ye Be More Chilled, so people are aware of her, but now they're going to become super aware of her. Just watching my friend. It's crazy, you know, because she was there, like she does all these different things, but she was there the whole time, and I was like in this in this amazing way, you know what I mean, And I was just like, oh my god, that's step I know.

You know. She always says like, oh I gave up on comedy because the hours were crazy and she had other things going on. But like she was doing political subversities. It was the show in New York City, like at the same theater that pap Roulette did shows out like Steps, which is one of those people that you would like kind of run into all the time and be like, oh, what are you working on? And to see her do this is really incredible and I just were so so

so thrilled. We must have her on the podcast and I'll sort of mention some stuff to her then, But I'm just thinking back to like conversations we had in college and truly like such a like a great friend, and yeah, I just like I'm like sitting around like emotional. I'm so emotional about the movie because of the messages in it, but also it's just really special to see someone that you care about who's so talented, I know, just and so full of love and always was supportive

of us, which she would. We shared a couple days on set together at Norah. This was right before she was about to start. Daniels directed that episode of Nora The Daniels directed the flashback episode of Nora from Queens where you know at all, like it's Grandma telling Nora like her story and it all kind of gets shot in the style of like a seed drama or a K drama, and you know, and that's where the Daniels like met, like Harry sham Junior, who's who's in the movie.

She's so so funny, so great. I've never been more excited to support a project that, like I had nothing to do with, which sounds so disgustingly vain, but it is weird when someone's like so hype for something that, like in our business at least, like it's someone's hype for something that like they hadn't no part of. Yeah, but we need more of that. I know, I totally agree, because I always feel like that's how we get interesting. Yes, I don't, I don't. I don't even know what I'm saying.

It's just like, I mean, that's really what I want this podcast to be anyway as I would I would love you know, that's so interesting talking about it, like three hundred episodes in like what we wanted to be. But I guess that's a good sign. Yeah that, like you know, now that we're able to have access to someone like Michelle Yo, like, it's so mind blowing. But I do think that, like, especially nowadays when people aren't

necessarily going out to the theater. Like I'm happy like that that, like there's things out there that are there's really challenging things out there available to us that we can go see. Like I'm going to New York um next week and I'm gonna see five Broadway shows and

I haven't done that in years. But I think there's like there's like a renewed interest in me and like seeing things and absorbing things, and I think that that's that's like a really important thing now that the world is opening back up, as I knock fucking would, but um, like you gotta get out there and see stuff and then share what you loved about it with people. I mean, I know that's like a simple, maybe like you know, sort of stupid thing to say, but like tell people

what you like. I mean like, and I guess that's what is so podcast. That's like this podcast, and that's what I want it to be. And that's why I feel like, while this feels like a crazy episode for us, because I never in a million years bo that we started this on fucking Mercer Street in New York thought that we would get to the point where we could

have Michelle Yo on our podcast. But now that we can, it's like I'm so excited because I genuinely feel like I can't express enough how this movie enriched me likewise, and like there aren't that many movies that I can like rattle off that have like had such an effect on me like you have. I didn't even get to say this to her. I watched that movie. All I can think about is my mom. And that's that's what. That's what, that's what I think about. I think by

my mom all the time. When I see Michell Yow movies. I remember going and Crouching Tiger with my mom and being like, wait, she kind of talks like my mom does, and like she has the same sort of like warm than energy and strength and whatever. Anyway, I'm just talking about my mom now. But with everything ever, everywe at all at once is literally the story of this woman

who's like, what if I had done things differently? But my mom, in her loving way, She's not saying this in like a way to like give me an existential crisis or like throttle me into that kind of crisis, but she always is, like, you know, I think about all the time if I had stayed in China, like I would have been this very successful doctor, I would have not had you because you're the second child, because you know, back then was one child only, Like in

Cheap it's a very common thing in the immigrant experience, at least, not to make it specifically about that, to be like what if it's very much about that, though, no it is, but it's a universal thing, like everybody walks this earth going what if I had done things differently? What if things were different enough that we're out of my control? You know, like everyone is in that space all the time. And it's the perfect concept to bring into a multiverse movie. It's just so I loved this

movie so much. It's so smart on so many different levels, and it's also fun and it's moving, and it's because and it's because the thing about this film is and we should just say, it's also wild. I mean, like, it's a truly crazy movie and you will be asking yourself what the hell is going on? You've never seen anything like this, and then it becomes clear. But the thing is, while it is so expansive and so ambitious and so audacious, it's also very simple in terms of

the story. It's actually just about a family trying to come back together, and it's about realizing what you have and it's about understanding possibility but embracing reality. And it's just it's just so good. It's about accepting whatever reality you're in. Yeah, and noticing noticing this movie. It was so good and also especially and blah blah blah. But in a time when everything is a sequel or you know, a franchise movie, like you gotta go out and support

this movie. What we say in the episode, like put on a mask if that makes you feel better, if you haven't been out to the theaters, like this is the movie to go see. You won't regret it. You really won't regret it. It's not the kind of movie that you will be like whatever, yeah, no, no, no, no no, no no. At the very least, you'll have a strong reaction. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yeah. And isn't it fun to go to a movie and potentially hate it. I don't think you will, you won't,

but it. But also like I don't know, like it made me feel all the feeling I mean, I just I did not just say yeah, but that's like it's just I don't know, it really transported me back to like I don't know, maybe even feeling like that childlike thing of like going to the movies and something just

is completely new. It's movie magic. And she not just not to spoil the interview, and you know, if you haven't skipped all the way to when Michelle Yo starts talking, God bless, you think you're listening to us talk, but she gets into that like, yeah, movie magic, Like it's

this thing that's hard to come by. Especially I felt this way before I saw the movie, Like I feel like I've been a little desensitized, just a little bit desensitized to like the viewing experience or the intake or consumption of something that I'm watching because I'm like in bed watching it like from a TV or an iPad or like it's sedentary, it's passive. Like there's something so literally activating about this movie that you watch it and you cannot help but go, oh my god. Yeah, yeah, yeah,

that sensory overload that happens in that atmosphere. Yes, yes, that is not replicable at home. It really isn't unless you have, like, you know, a crazy Dolby setup or something. Unless you have a crazy Dolby set up, Honey, you're experience. It's it's really culture number four. You're not gonna get that experience, honey. Anyway, as do we have any anything else to say? It's a bit of nothing else say. I'm like so tapped from this conversation, Like, yeah, I'm

just excited. I'm so excited. She was so generous with us, just was so honest. She was giving ponytail through a white baseball cap. Un girl, can we talk about I guess people know this already, but a hard reminder needs to be set that, like this is a fucking style legend. Yeah, okay, glamour Icon, glamour Icon. She just came out with her interview magazine photos where she looks fucking amazing. Yeah. The Ring and crazy rich Asians is her ring. Oh wow,

did you hear that? Have you heard the story? I think I actually do like like like the props, like like like because the ring is like a plot point. It's like the like the Young Ring, and it's like wow, the eleanor Young Ring, and it's like they like did like a pretty generic looking but still like you know, like something that communicates wealth or whatever that this family has. But she came on to set or she saw the ring for the first time, she was like, no one better,

I have a collection she has. This woman is like very unassuming in a lot of ways. But also I'm just remind ended of the fact that she is married to the former CEO of Ferrari Oh Jesus, Like, this woman knows fucking lavishness and luxury, and yet she still is like such an artist in her way, and like it doesn't like would never let that show, like, doesn't let that inform anything about her in her work brings up. But I just I'm obsessed with that. Like she's a

fucking glamour She's like, it's it feels old Hollywood. It feels like so fucking Oh, I love it. It's so lucks But anyway, it's her ring, that giant fucking emerald. I don't know what cut of diamond that is, but so beautiful. Yeah, this was I mean, we're doing the fluffing of the century here, this four play that we're doing with the readers. I say, let's just play of the episode. You're gonna hear us ding dong again. The intro is very short with her. I swear to god,

we're getting to Michelle Yo. Very very very soon. This feels like when you're about to get on the roller coaster, but like there's like a technical problem. It's like you waited for an hour and then you get there and they're like we're experiencing technical difficulties and you're like, fuck off, right, but with no, with no further ado Bo, that's welcome, Michelle fucking yo, come on, Dan du lost culture racist

calling oh bo. And it's a moment in time. Man, again, what was the last movie you saw multiple times in theaters? Besides everything everywhere all at once. I would have to go back, but I can't remember, like sometime a movie that I was immediately excited to see again, you know, like that's how it happened, especially in the theater, especially like pursuing the IMAX experience of it. I was like, I have to see this on a giant screen with

a bunch of people. I will say this, The last time I saw a movie repeatedly, again and again and again was A Star Was Born with Lady Gaga and Bradley Cooper, which I famously did see four times opening weekend. Now that does not mean that I wasn't equally moved by this new film everything everywhere, all at once, which I've twice this week in the theaters, and I know Bowen has as well. And I have to implore all of the readers of this podcast, everyone out there, to

get to the theaters to see this. Bowen, I know you were as just as excited as I was. I was. It's it's the superlatives are are there aren't enough? Do you know what I'm saying. I think I told you immediately. Our friend Stephanie Shoe is in it. We went to college with her. I can't we can't wait to get into this, can't wait to talk about it with our guests. So there's really no need to introduce her, I mean the way. She's truly a legend in cinema in so

many ways. Just we're so inspired and privileged to have her. So please welcome Michelle Yo. Hello, Oh my god. What an introduction to everything everywhere, all at once. I love you boys already well, especially because you have friends with my baby girls. Stephanie Shoe. We went to college with her.

I did sketch comedy with Stephanie Shue. I first met her as you know, the hilarious, funny girl who could do anything and then as I got to know her, I realized how she's so good with drama, musical, She's in completely insane person. She's everything everywhere all at once. Absolutely it is. I mean, she is amazing in this

She's amazing, poll stop anything. So you are very lucky to have met her at the early age, and I can't wait to see all the amazing things that she will continue to do and have the opportunity to do what was like to set up that relationship and to sort of brown that into something that was very, very convincing because by the end, I mean, Matt and I've talked about this, I never cry at movies, and I did. I did cry multiple to multiple both times I've seen it,

especially in that last thing. We won't spoil up, but there's a last moment with you and Stephanie's character Joy, between Evelyn and Joy, like, how how did you? What was the process like of just getting into that relationship? Okay, but first of all, I really really want, I want want to say thank you for you too having given the shout out about going to the cinema yat this movie. It is a shared experience and hello, Matt, if you don't watch it more than four times. I'm coming okay,

I know. Hey it is the lady Yaga step aside. Okay, he is going to say to Brad out of my way? Is you? Okay? Absolutely? I love that movie. This one is unique. It's different, right and all right. It is like the primal way of our ancestors, where you sit under the stars and you're a great storytelling. You have to see it in the cinema because that's when you devote yourself to that magic of filmmaking. Yeah. Yeah, And it's like you don't want to go on a roller

coaster ride by yourself, No, I never. This is like the more incredible rollercoaster ride that you're going to have in the cinema and you're doing it. You have to do it with people. You have to do it with your friends, your family and strangers. And the most important thing is like having conversations afterwards. Oh yeah, on all the different issues, whether it's the mother and daughter, the father and daughter, the husband and wife, just a relationship.

Look at the two antagonists because yeah, you know the audit, the tax auditor, who is like that you think the scariest person, but who is a real human being? Yes, and you meet and you don't want to be left out of the conversation, do you when everybody is going have you seen this movie? Do you know what we're talking about? And God forbid, You're like, no. It is

that though. It is a cultural moment, and I really do believe that this movie is going to be something that as more people see it, as more people talk about it, is going to become a cultural conversation because it's unlike anything. It's unlike anything. It is the Daniels just I call them my evil geniuses because he had the audacity, the courage to put it all on paper. You know, it's like five genres of film in one movie.

And they took a very ordinary, totally unsuccessful immigrant Asian aging woman, immigrant who is trying to pursue the American dream with the love of her life, came here to the complete disagreement and disapproval of her parents, especially of her horrible father. I'm sorry, Jeff to say that. It's almost like a vicious circle. It's like, that's how you are. You. You understand that your parents want the best for you. They tell you what to do and you should do that,

and God forbid you disobey them. And it's like when she sees her daughter. That is the core of the core of the movies is this mother daughter relationship. And you right, Stephanie and I found the bond. We didn't we didn't have you know, we are an independent film. I only arrived in January. We had eight weeks to shoot this, thirty seven days. Because you know, there is a union. We can work like constantly, like twenty four seven, right.

So we but every character from Stephanie, myself, Kei Kuan, Jamie, Lee, Curtis, James, Honest, the Daniels, every character was completely invested and knew who

they were. I saw I seeing this woman on this we've passed by this Evelyn Wall, the supermarket, or when we are if we're in Chinatown, we see the mothers, the aunties, the grandmothers, where they are weighed down by the responsibility of keeping a family together, keeping a business alive, you know, doing what is right and helping the facts the family survive. And she you know, she doesn't walk straight. She literally waddles her way through, right, She's waving through

all these like problems and things. So what is the American dream? It is tough it is also tough, but the Daniels have given her such a strong voice to highlight and to tell her story and give her an opportunity to be a superhero because at the end of the day, we believe in love, we believe in our family, and we will never give up on that, and that

journey needed to be told in this way. This is something I've observed, And I don't know if this is what maybe jumped out at you when you first read the script, but I feel like in your career you portrayed power in such a such a wonderful way through so many ranges, through such a wide range of things, whether it's you know I when or young, or you know, Star Trek with you know Phil so yeah, yeah, but it's like I mean, you know, or even in mar

never dies. Like I feel like the Michelle Yoe in her roles up to this point has been about portraying a woman in power, which is wonderful. But this is someone you look at, Evelyn, and this is someone who is vulnerable at every level, socially, economically, emotionally, physically. Did you recognize that to be something unique and different immediately?

Because you're right, like, this is a woman we've passed on the street who is basically invisible to a lot of people, Like, how how did you dive into that vulnerability? That's a great question. Thank you for that, you know, it's it's very i think at the beginning of my career to show because we were all the ming bass the Asian woman is like the fragile, you know, who needs to be carefully catered to and all those kind of like whatever, the very stereotypical indication of what it

is to be an age Asian woman. And for me it was very important spell no, no, no no, no, we're not that. We are at a mother. We are strong, where independent, we are in control of our lives. And it was it's a choice to portray and give a voice to that because we cannot be seen as the victims only. But with Evelyn Wong, she's not a victim. No. She is trying to be the strong, the successful and all that, but life has beaten her down in every turn of the way. And that's a reality that surround us.

It's not that everybody gets to be successful even though they give it they are hundred and two hundred percent right. Unfortunately, that's the reality of life, but to be able to say, yes, she is a failure as so many things that she does, but every failure becomes it's an impact on our lives and we have to learn to be to learn from

that and be stronger with that. And I think for Evelyn Wong, if she was not open to be always trying to be better or do something, she would not be able to go into these multiverses and tap into that and have an open mind. And I think that was what that really attracted Yes, because we are all flawed characters. We are all flawed human beings. And in the beginning of my career playing the Strong, you know, more and more dynamic characters were important because it empowers

you to believe that you can do this. And now it comes to a stage where it's like, I want to give the people who are not seen right the chance to have a voice and say they can have a different life too. And the Daniels have given us a perfect opportunity to say, well, guess what in a science fiction world, we can you know, because you're going to be able to go into all these kind wolves and see what could have happened, But what can you choose?

That's very important. That is I think, and I'm actually emotional even thinking about this, but what moved me so much about the film was the message of choosing each other and you know, even in seeing the vast possibility in choosing the love in your life and in noticing the things in your life that have actually given you

the strength that you didn't know. Because even though Evelyn acquires skills and she's able to tap into these different universes, it is her the whole time, and she is the soul that we're with, and she is the person at the end of the film who makes the decision that

she makes. And I cannot remember being more moved than towards the end of the film when there is a specific montage with Keys character and you are and I just want to say, Michelle, like, there is so much power in the way that you receive that you are outstanding in this movie. I mean, it is an outstanding I will say it Oscar worthy performance. I know it's whatever, but this is the kind of thing where I just don't think there is another person in the world that

could do this. And when I tell you how moved I was, it had so much to do with keys performance but also the way you receive that, and you can see the character realizing so much about her life, her reality, and what she wants in that moment. So just that message I think is so important, you know, in showing the beauty and the love in a life that's big, but also a life that feels quote unquote small. And so I just was that something that jumped out to you in the script and maybe made you say

like absolutely, this is it. Oh my god, now you're making me emotional some moved by the movie. No, I think what it is it's like because when you read it, it resonates, you know, like you say, with a husband and wife relationship, any relationship is continuous work, and sometimes we get sideswept, bocked down by the things, problems and all those kinds of things, and we start looking at the other person like why couldn't you be better at this? But then we forget why did you fall in love

with this person to change him? Right? You love him because he's a little darky. He knows how to find like joy and beauty in the most horrible places, and he's trying to instill happiness, and that was why you loved him. In the first place, and you were ready to you abandon your family, your parents, to go in search of a new life because you love this man. And I think sometimes we get lost along the way, and I think what happened was like it didn't hit

her until when she saw the divorce papers. They were like, what the f are you talking? It real? And then it was yeah, right, But that was his point. It was like, I don't really want a divorce, but I think this will force you to stop because it happened to somebody else. It stopped them to think. It's like, do you really value this relationship? And if you have lost complete respect and for the man or the woman and the relationship, then yes, maybe it's time to step away.

Because you don't want to hate each other because it's a very fine line. But if there is real love, then you have to fight for it. You have to fight for each other and you have to continue to

do that. I think where the Daniels were very very clever when they wrote this is the emotional thread between each character with even like the simple you know when Jobu Chaki, then Stephanie comes out with all these like amazing costumes and things incredible, she looks a comfortable but I looked into her eyes and I see the longing of I'm looking for my mother. Yes not you know, even though my mouth says nothing matters, your eyes don't say that. And that's what I see from from that

what bonds us together, because that's what Evelyn is seeing. Right. It's like you know how sometimes children they say the worst things. They're like I wish you're dead or your blah blah blah. Always say it too because I wish they never had you, Like what, don't be ridiculous, Okay, but you say things you think to hurt each other because you want them to feel, to hurt you are feeling, yeah, and then you just take like silly things at each other.

But that's where you know when you are working with someone like Key and Stephanie, who we look at each other and we see love and we know this is where we have to go because if you don't believe that you love me, nobody else going to. You know, your eyes are as an actor, the eyes are the windows to someone's soul. Yes, and I believe in Evelyn Wall as Stephanie believed in Joy and to packy. So you know when we walk into that even though she's

like clinging those adult toys around. Yes, what the hell? And that's where the geniuses of the Daniels are. They put you in the most unapologetic raunchiness, silliness or whatever, because you are thrown off balance, your head is getting like messed up like Evelyn, watch right, and then they pull the rock from under you and they watch you

fall going a genius evil genius. But this is something, This is like the opposite end of what you've always said that you know martial arts scenes are, which is there's always drama and emotional sticks to any fight scene

you've done. And even with even between these characters, even though there are all these insane visuals going on, there's still that dramatic core, that thread between these two characters that like makes you you can't take your eyes off it because you understand what's going on on some different emotional, different levels, the emotional curve for these two women they're

fighting me. You know, if it's like with Jobu Chupaki, she she thinks she's trying to kill this woman that's her mother, right, but she's she's testing her to the limits. Is how much do you actually want me? Yes? Right. It's like our children test us all the time, from the minute they know how to crawl. They test you to see, right, that's what we do and that we do that with our friends. We do that with our

the people that we love. Right. You don't do that to people that you don't know, because it's the ways of the time. Right. But you you test your limits, you test each other's limits constantly. But does that mean that you don't you love that person? That's why you are testing the boundaries. That's why you know how much more than I can I achieve from this? And even with the fight sequences with like the Late lay Brothers, you know, with the mud clouds and all this kind

of thing, it's all about survival. It's all about that and what I loved right at the end, you know, when I was doing it, it it was like, huh, I opened my arms and I fight love. At first, I was really like, what the hell are you two boys trying to do? It's like, how do you fight for love? That's a very interesting thing. How do you say I'm going to now not fight you with the physical like you know, you are coming at me with knives at bombs,

you know, the whole staircase. Other alphas is like they are they are ready to kill me and ready to kill Evelyn wrong, and she has the google eyes and she suddenly realized all the googly eyes it's all about love and joy and this. But how do you present to them. It's like, I'm not gonna fight you with my fist. I'm going to embrace you and fight you with love. So we were standing there going like, how do you do that? How do you present that? Well, I guess I would just call right, Loma, this is

something you know. We are in the industry, so we know this, but these films are shot out of sequence and so and so. So that must be a real mind f for you to sort of like, you know, have the script and you're reading the script and then you get a shoot schedule. And that is something that

is also really impressive about your performance. Is it all feels It's extremely specific, emotionally and continuous, which has to be incredibly difficult because you could be shooting one scene that leads into another at the end of the shoot from the beginning of the shoot. So how did what was your process for keeping that line that I am going to post on my Instagram very soon my script. Oh how I normally work a script. It's like I tag you know, when you get your script and I

tag them which are the scenes I'm appearing in. If it was an action sequence, they get a red tag, and if it was a very heavy dramatic one, it gets like a blue one. So you know, you work it out. And then because you have to see as the character, you see the entirety of the script, right, And that was how you the emotional arc of where

you're going or whatever it is. I think one movie that I had was as challenging but not quite as this was The Lady, where it spanned like twenty years of her life, right, And like you say, we don't do it in order, You never do. I mean for so many reasons. So you have to know that if you go into the eighties or then the twenty two thousands, what is the mindset? Where are you going from your hair, a wardrobe or whatever that helps you recreate this this moment.

But with everything everywhere all at once, it is everything everywhere all at once, you're self. Then you're like, oh what okay, I'm like back to this universe and then I'm jumping into the jail whatever you know. You But when you see how I have tagged, I am literally every scene of them. Yes, oh yeah. Emotional art goes work, work, work, he goes sideways, up and down and every It really

is insane. And the amazing thing is like, even though she goes into the other multiverse, Evelyn is still Evelyn Warm, right. She she sees what this multiverse is about. She doesn't live that multiverse. It's not like, Hey, his character Wayman when he is can travel, right, but in that universe he is who he is, like the CEO. He doesn't know about the other uni versus, so he is very contained with who Wayman is in that universe. But with her, it's like she sees, this is like why am I here?

And can you imagine when she went into the hot Dog Dutiverse Nightmare atagonist Jamie Lee Curtis whose dear reader whatever her name is, like yeah, and it's suddenly her lover and coming at her with these like hot dog you guys and wanting to hug her and Kissa like don't touch me, you know, And that was the amazing thing about the whole thing. It's like, first you have to know your spirit. I am like Stephanie. She is brilliant with ad living and you know she is quick

to change and do stren right off the skin. She always and I say, I don't do that to me. Okay, I'm not I'm not gonna make up. You have to a certain guidelines that we're going to do this the point. Yes. So then it's like when you get into all these things. One thing I always say to my dinos, you are my you are my anchors, right because we are going to be jumping from here to there all these kind of times. I'm going to look to you and say, okay, and we passed out? We rock are we? I mean earlier?

It's like and because it's into cutting the whole time. Yeah, the two geniuses know exactly where they're going with Lockin our DP, and I think at the end of the day with Paul our editor, Oh my god, they had it down to the team. Like the action sequences. We don't have much time to shoot it, right, we have like a day and a half or two days maximum for the entire sequence of you know, the thing and the dad and the butt plugs and all these kind of things. Yeah, they have to know what they need

and take that time. They can get attle bit more, but they first have to shoot what they need. I can't believe from like an art direction and set decoration standpoint that this was shot in eight weeks. That is crazy. That must have been like stepping into a completely different film every day. Yeah, exactly. I think what grounded us was the IRS building. We were very fortunate. You know, when you're you're an ND film, you have to be creative.

You have to know where you can save the money and you know, put it where you need to spend it. And so with this abandoned IRS building, it grounded us because we shot six weeks there. Yeah, this place you could build little sets and things like that in there, So we had a place to go to which we were familiar with. I mean it was a huge place, but it had us to sort of have it centralized

in some way. And I heard this great story from Keihuai sharing having his dressing room next to Jamie Lee's, but Jamie Lee never being there, and then he finally was like, why are you ever in your dressing him? And she was like, even with her career that spans decades, she goes, I never learn anything in the dressing room. I always learn everything when while I'm on set because she's she is. She's not just an amazing talent. She's

not just an amazing actress. She's an amazing human being, thoughtful, she's generous, she's always giving, and she's always learning. And that's what we all need to do, is that you wake up in the morning and not think I know everything? So why don't you just go back to sleep? Then? Right? The whole process of being alive is about learning and experiencing and being there. And Jamie is going to it's it wants to direct her own movie. She oh wow,

oh you will, so that she will. I mean she has children's books, she has her own podcast, she has so many things she he's ever ever inventing and creating and things like that. So the next step for her is to tell her own story or direct her own film. Right, absolutely, right, He's right. What is she going to live sitting in the you know she has she's and she's always out there because she loves people, always watching, and it's sometimes it's not fun. It's like the legendary Jamie is watching

your performance. Why does she just go back have a cup of coffee. Ye, but our friend Tally Metals plays Stephanie's girl. She's so wonderful in this broo, oh my god. Really that relationship that she has very very little lines. But it's not how much screen time you have, is what you do impact you have that And she has such a beautiful presence, that expressive eyes and face. She doesn't have to say a word, but you can, you know.

So that's exactly it was so well cast in that way she gave brilliant She was saying that you were so so kind to her, You were so just curious about her life. You made her feel so at ease, and I just I read that she know, she posted this to her Instagram, and I just got so emotional. I wasn't surprised that you were gracious, but I was like,

I mean, yeah, like you're the star. You're setting the tone and the environment for that kind of project that is so ambitious, and um, I don't know, I just I just I just think that's so special that you and Jamie Lee and Kihwi Kwan just being like these three people who have seen various signs to this business all coming together kind of like handing it down to another generation of people. No, um, not handing it down,

not handing it down. Sharing, sharing, I'm sorry sharing, you know, like, but but teach not yet, not yet, not yet, I'm so sorry. But teaching it in a way, you know, like I you know, I don't think I am good enough all we don't try to teach. We try to share. And I think a lot of years just like when you see someone young and talented, you have to tell them that they are talented, but making them understand. Don't just take it for granted. I don't think I'm entitled.

There is no entitlement. We have been in the business so long and you look at us and say, oh god, you guys are the successful, legendary la la la la. But every day we learn, we find things to learn. We don't just sit back and go, well, you know, wow, No, and I want them to already begin their incredible journey understanding. It's like, as long as you have grounded, you will fly to a lot of places, but you always feel the earth. But can you imagine if you fly and

you don't know where to land, it's a long way down. Yeah, yeah, And it's it's interesting to hear you acknowledge, um, you know, people coming to you with this this verbiage of legend like you know, and even the movie is aware of that because when when you need to acquire the skill of martial arts, you know, there's a funny montage that cuts to essentially b roll of your life and it doesn't inform that. But I wonder, like, what has it been that has kept you grounded and kept that in

mind mindset? I mean, you've worked with some incredible legendary people. I was looking at the list of directors you've worked with. I mean, ang Lee, Rob Marshall, you know, upcoming, James Cameron. I mean, and I'm gonna be asking about that, but I I bet, I'm sure I can ask and you will give me nothing you right now, But is it that is that the people you've worked with that have kept that instilled in you? What has what has anchored you?

My family and friends, my real friends? You know, It's like I remember at the beginning, very start, and someone says, you have to remember every time, don't let every flashbulb like make you go. Always appreciate your opportunities that you are given. Love what you do, because the day that you don't love to do it. That means maybe it's time to find move on to something else that you find joy it. And yes, when you meet it's very interesting.

The more successful they really are, the more grounded they are. Yeah, they are not taken them back by the bs of you know, glitz and whatever it is. Yes, we love that, you know when we walk down the red carpet and all this, because this is part and parcel of the allure, the magic shut the movies or you know, TV, and that gives our audience, our fans that ah, it's not great. Yes,

it's part of the whole thing. I mean you don't really want to see your stars coming out in their sweatpants and go like yeah whatever, you know, Yeah, yes, and for a night or two to dress up and have fun and you know, look fabulous. Why not. It's it's nice, it's fun. But do I want to do it every night? Now? Absolutely not. But I think what it is is like your real friends, your family, and a lot of times you make real friends in this world as well. Right, they ground you because they remind

you who you are. You're not some character in a movie or a TV series. You are who you are and you should never ever forget that and be present, you know, appreciate what you have. That's that's the thing

that really grows me. Wow, thank you. I mean, just going back to your script being tagged in all these ways, I mean, how did you develop this sense of for lack of a better word, I'm using this word again, development like because I feel like it's always so finely tuned that you always match the tone of the project.

But then this is just so you know, to go from like wild West Hong Kong beginning of Hong Kong cinema days where like no scripts, you just go in, they tell you what to say on the day and then you do it where you know you don't have to think about it, like you know, on those sort of macro conceptual terms. But now you i'd be hearing you talk. I could hear you talk forever about the way you prepared for this role, Like what what was the process like for what was your journey like to

sort of get that instinct. It's learning along the way. It's like from no squitts and learning to shoot from the hip. You're like going whatever is thrown at me. I mean, when we started, we have time for rehearsals. We have no rehearsals. You get there, you get on the set, you're all dressed in your costume, and they will choreograph the action sequence. You learn it, you shoot it,

and you do something else. And like you say, sometimes the lines are not given and you're going like one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight nine, ten. Oh yeah, many of many times. And then finally when you see the final cut of New oh, that is what's going on in that. Yeah, because they edit and they filmed so fast, I mean for the longest of time, even Jackie Chatt. We didn't have we didn't use, we didn't dub our own movies right right, somebody else did it for us. Yes, they were only

from when I did the song Sisters. That was the first time I actually it was. I think it was recorded right on the set Prior to that. Never because you know, the we didn't have that kind of technology. It wasn't done and it was much faster, easier after they edit and get someone to do it. As you know some Alltelians, while we're filming, their editors someone is recording it. So wow, that process didn't really come into play because there was no none of that time for it.

Yeah yeah, but what you did learn was that you watched and you listen and it was like how these I was very fortunate to work with some of the best actors in Hong Kong as well, so I watched how they did it. It was like, I was fascinating, How the hell do you cry on? Like, yeah, so what do you do? Where is that coming from? Yeah? Right? And I think that's the time when you're young and you have to be like, I am a ding dong,

I have no I am I am learning. And if I am so proud and say then you look nothing, I would go in too, like Dani Yip and say please teach me. Wow. And you know, then you work with like Jung Win or you know all the amazing Maggie Chung and yeah, oh my god, we were best friends. But you know, I'm not afraid to ask my best friend.

I have no clue what I'm doing. Okay, maybe I can do martial arts better than you, but when it comes to the performances, you guys, and Maggie is like an award winning actress is to have a conversation with her and like, so tell me how do you do this? But I must say it's also the directors, starting with you know, with Tomorrow That Never Dies really was my first international sure, and we have a bond girl in the zoom everyone, okay, I have some respect to This

is our first bond girl ever on Lost Cultures. That's it's a huge moment. And I remember Roger Spotters were turning to me and he says, do you know I can double you when it comes to the action. We don't need the martial artists or whatever it is. You are here because you demonstrated in your auditions that you can carry the role of playing way Lynn. You don't need us someone who can fight, because I can't double you when it comes to the emotion. Yeah, emotional tide. Right.

So that's where you learned that how you have to be invested in the character. And every director gives you something and taught me tremendously about giving the character a full background. Yeah, that's very clear when you we watched the film again last night Crouching Tiger in preparation for this, and even when you first come in and you see Chaw Yun Fat for the first time, there is so much history on your film and it is very lived

in he's obviously an incredible director. Yeah, because I've had the privilege of working with like Danny Boyle, like Rob Marshall and all these kinds of people. They it's a learning process. But if you are ding dong in off not to open your heart and mind to that, then

you've lost great opportunities to learn. And so you know, you gather all these kinds of things and you learn how important the script is, how important the director is, how important your co stars are are, because you know that making a movie or TV series, it's not a one person thing. It's true collaboration on all the different levels and all the people behind the scenes. Yes, and you know the crew that whether it's the gaff or the DP. You know the set designer, the costume designer,

your hair and makeup. They help. They're the accessories that make this character. That how you build this character and make a real They could really really, like you say, have a life. And yeah, and I just because I know you're not going to be able to tell us anything about the plot of the Avatar sequels, which you are, Here's this is the question. I will ask you, what did you learn working with James Cameron on these films. If that's something you can answer. He's a bringing genius.

He is so creative. He multitasks like madness. He's a writer, he's the creator. He dreams of all these universes that we can't even begin to fathom. I okay. The one thing I said to him, can't you turn me blue? I don't want I'm like hope. So I also learned that he is also very resolute in his decisions. Yeah, he seems to be a capital D director. Yeah, you know what it is you have to be. Yeah, that's how you have to be, how you lead a discipline. Yeah,

it's a determination, the discipline. You know. The dude, you have to be the duo. You have to be the one that says yes no, I imagine, I have to visualize this. I have to fight for what I believe in, and it's cost with the director, like here in the Daniels cases with them so, oh my god. Before but before I forget you mentioning Maggie Chung, I just I just think it's incredible. It's it's incredible, everything all everywhere,

all at once. It's incredible for movie lovers, just because you you can't believe you're watching like snippets of a wonkr Y film, like you doing Maggie Chung. You know, I was gonna doing Tony Lung Like it's just so incredible, And I just think back to you in this movie, like for any actor this would be so so so it's steeping yourself in so much work on a technical lovester obviously it's just a master class. So Michelle, I'm

just just congratulations. We do do a thing on the podcast where we brought this up to you at the top, and I know you can answer it. We asked the question what was the culture that made you say culture

was for you? And I just want to know what was it When you can think back to your childhood or maybe when you were, you know, a teenager, how did you decide to go along this path of becoming you, Like, what was that thing you saw or received from the universe that made you say I'm gonna do this okay? As a child, I think it was very open to the world of music, dance, and my mom used to say, you know, you could dance before you walked, and so but I think one I never dreamed that I would

be an actush I did not have that dream. I was always like the ballet, so watching ballets and you know, seeing these ethereal creatures on the stage. But one thing that always fascinated me was the cinema. My mom was an avid cinema goal so human. As a small child, we would go as a family to watch all these like whether it was Indian movies, comm these love stories, Dracula, New Magic, and my dad was like the Nature of

Us so documentaries, Tarzan ben Her. But that that feeling of the magic of cinema, sitting there and like I still see myself, you know, like watching like the Sound of Music, Wizard of Us. It was like all the all the things that I love into that. But I did not understand at that point the magic of cinema, you know, telling a story through cinema. It was just enjoying it and taking it in that whole experience. Did

it lead me to this? I think when I was given the opportunity to join it, when I was went to Hong Kong to do the commercial, the Watch commercial with the Jackie Chan and I was given the opportunity to partake in this world, and you go like, oh my god, I remember the magic of it. Yeah, maybe I can be part of that. Maybe that was the culture thing that drew in and I had to say it sounds like it was, yeah, right, So I said yes.

And today I still recognize that as a fact. And I think when we went to watch Everything Everywhere, all at once in south By Southwest, and I think for so many people it was the first time they had gone to the cinemas in two years. These last two years has been such an impact on people's lives and

so many different levels. And you know, with our industry on how it's been you know, touch and go and opening up more like streaming and different platforms for creative people, which is good and sometimes you please don't just rush into it and turn it all out, because good things does take time, and time is something that we feel that we're always like, oh come on, come on, I need more of. But sitting in that cinema and watching not just our our love on there, but sharing that experience, yeah,

with with everybody. Oh yeah, I would like when you hear them laugh and yeah, they actually find me funny. You were like, you know what's funny? You were so funny, and you were talking about how it's that communal experience.

The first time I saw it, I did go by myself, but it was in a packed theater and during the end of the movie, I truly cried during the last thirty minutes, and I looked over at the guy next to me, and we were having the same experience, and it was really fun because even though I didn't know him, it was that community connection, right, It was community in connection and that and I don't know anything about him,

you know, I don't know anything about his life. I don't know anything about the woman he was sitting next to, but we knew that we were receiving the same messages and we were internalizing them. And maybe it meant something different to him when he was thinking about his relationships in relation to the movie than it was for me. But we were both moved. And when I went back with my friends last night, it was the same situation

where I was just excited to share it. And so I would say to everyone listening, if you've been hesitant about going to the movies, now is the time put the mask on. If it's going to make you feel better, go, I mean, it's just it's a movie that, especially you know in the sequences where your reality is breaking and they have those incredible montages, and kudos to the editor. Just watching that in the theater, it was breathtaking. It

was just simply breathtaking. Nicely, and with our last five minutes with you, we are going to do I don't think so, honey. So this, Michelle, is our one minute segment on lost cultures, this very podcast where we take something in pop culture or in our lives that are bothering us and we do a rant for one minute about it, using the phrase I don't think so honey. The demonstration first, you're gonna get two one from that one from me, and then you'll all set to go.

So for now, let's have Matt Rodgers go. This is Matt Rodgers. I don't think so, honey. As time starts now, I don't think so honey. Stephanie Shoe as a Texter girl, it takes you a day to get back to me, and I know you can text your old girl from college back sooner than that. I know you're on a worldwide press tour, Mama. I know all of a sudden we're at International Film Star suddenly and about to pop all the way off into another stratosphere. But you can

text me back because you listen. We have a sole connection. Stephanie Shoe and I connect. I remember when you were Flarge and a sketch character in college. This is just for me and you right now on people in Hammercats. But I remember all the trips we took. I've seen you get drunk on college campus as a girl. I have photos of you you do not want released. So text within eighteen hours. Let's say I'll give you a day. Text me back within eighteen You always get back, and

it's always very warm and happy. Don't forget about Matt Rogers me. We used to have lunch and downsteam. We shared emotional connections. Stephanie Shoe as a text her, I don't think so, honey, Stephanie Shoe as a person, I do think so honey. You're the most lovely person in the role, and I can't wait to hug you and squeeze you. We love It is crazy Wow. We are we gonna be? Are we gonna be the project that scares Michelle Yo after she's done so much, The project

that Michelle YOUO walks away from. I can see where you guys definitely went to the same college. Two crazy rents just like that. I mean you should see. I mean I think Stephanie Shoe and I think I've been in more situations with Steph Shoe and Bowen Yang then I can remember. But um, anyway, I love Steph. I just love. I want to be texted back. She's got

a text back. She is very busy right now. Maybe she did say, Stephanie, if you don't texting back, god knows what the next rent is going to be about. She has always been a flaky text her. I will say that some people are not a text thing. Are you a good texter, Michelle? I am the worst, the worst. I've gotten worse. Yeah, Bowen has gotten way worse. Actually sorry, and again it's when it's when they get famous. I'm

telling you, no, we having other things to do. I'm not going to say important things to do, but yeah, other other All right, Boon Yang, are you ready to do your I don't think so. I'm ready. I'm ready there, Bowen yangs, I don't think so, honey. His time starts now. I don't think so, honey. I Love Before Time by Coco Lee and the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon movie not winning Best Original Song at the Oscars in two thousand. I tell you can you guess which song won that year?

I bet you can was a two thousand. It was two thousand. It was Things Have Changed by Bob Dylan from Wonder Boys Things. Who cares? I all do respect to Bob Dylan. We love Bob Dylan on this podcast. But A Love Before Time is one of the most iconic Mandarin to English translations international hits thirty seconds? Can

you think of an international hit from that time? Like for a movie to cross over that way and for the song to be nominated for the Oscar and to impact nations, communities all around the world, and to not receive it. To do is abominable to me. Second song is auditory memory to me. It's sense memory to me. When I think about Crouch and take your hind Dreg and I think about Michelle, I think about Chaw, you and Fat, I think about things Z, I think about everybody.

But that song deserves more seconds. I can't believe we as a culture have forgotten about A Love Before Time by Coco Lee. That's one and that's one minute. Wow, absolutely correct, Bo, look at the show right now. She is moored. Michelle can do it. You can do it. I know there's something in pop culture that grinds your gears. Can you bring me a bottle of whiskey? Please? Whatever else? You do it for as long as you want. We won't. It won't be the full minute. But it's something that's

like on your mind, maybe from this press tour. Perhaps. Okay, you know what I think. One thing that I wish says, I don't think so, honey, and put your phone down and have dinner with your most adorable cuckoo and all of you are still on the freaking phone. What are you texting someone on the table that's next to you,

and you can't have a real conversation. And when we go to the cinemas, you freaking put your phone down, sweet, and don't try and receive messages in the middle of a movie when your life st are so bright and you're taking me away from this amazing movie or everything everywhere all at once. And if you don't look at it and watch your phone for two seconds thirty seconds, rip on what is happening? So I don't think so

honey that you can't put your phone down. You have to put your phone down because you want to have a gorgeous dinner with your adorable godmother or auntie or whatever it is, and you second phone down and if you're in the cinemas, if I see you one more time, I don't think so, honey, you're gonna get away with it, because I'm let the hell out of you that phone at eight you Okay, you that one, Michelle, you really very delete on that one. You were great. That was perfect.

Oh my gosh, I did that, you know the Alamo Drafthouse where I saw the first time I saw um everything everyone all at once. I love they really they make it funny too, like they're like, seriously, put the phone away, seriously, put the phone away, and you do. But it's crazy that we have to get to this point where we're like threatening the audience because they really can't put the phone down. No, it's so crazy. And then they answer the phone. It's like, yeah, I'm watching

a movie. Okay, Yeah, I'm in the cinema okay, yeah, yeah, yeah, I mean in the cinema watching a movie. Like what the hell? Yeah, I know you're not on the movie anymore if you're on the phone. Wow, this was so so special. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk to us, Michelle, Thank you both of you. And the movie is everything everywhere, all at one, and luckily for you, it's now playing nationwide everyone lucky audiences everywhere. Um, and you have to go. You have to go, and

you you're going to be moved by it. You're gonna be surprised by it. You will laugh, scream, cry, feel all the emotions. It isn't that why we go? Yeah, it's why we go. Thank you so much, Michelle, Thanks, thank you, thank you, thank you, and thank you Matt. It was a real pleasure talking to Thank you foraking the time. Of course. Well well well that was um yeah, just really fantastic. I want this is I won't get over this. This is a highlight of my year, highlight

of my life. You texted me right after Cloud nine, Cloud nine, Cloud nine, and thank you for bearing with this structurally different kind of episode. You know, she this opportunity to talk to her. It came in a little last minute and we were like, yes, let's we've got to make it work. No matter what. I texted people like, you know, producers at work. I was like, I need this hour blocked off. Yeah, I'm it's a very important thing that I have to do, so please don't schedule

anything around it. I've never pulled that before. I was like, you need to leave this open. So um completely worth it. I think, Yeah, this is amazing. And we only jumped on because we want to give the readers a full episode. Um, well, you see we jammed in the culture question. We jammed in. I don't think so, honey, and we're gonna jam in the fact that we finished every episode with the song great Hi would see fuck bye, hey bye bye. I see in your eyes the world I know they do.

What tie? It's an amazing whoa, I love that time. That was good. Listen to it. It's like it's like an R and B song mixed with like a traditional Chinese like gujang Bob Like it's it's quiet, says and I agree, he did get quiet really like my gain is my gain is off? Yeah, something happened. I thought you did it on purpose? No, no, did you touch the mic? Consa saying, Um, I don't think so. How's how's it now? Is it better? Better? Yeah? Okay, okay,

I think you have to sing it again. Really it got quiet in the song, very okay and we're keeping this whole thing. You have to sing it again. I would do bye bye in your eye. The world I know fades away before time time. I butchered the last little melody, but I think it was one of the most stunning vocal performances of the of the decade. I think Coco Lee. Her name is Coco Lee. Can you think of a better pop star name? I can't, and I know names like Camila Cabe and I still think

this name is better. Thank you well, goodbye bye. Do you hear the rest of that song? Listen to a love before time Bye Coco Lee on the Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon sound. I'm putting it on a checklist for today. Bye Bye,