Entourage Press Conference Interviewsby Justine Browning
June 1, 2015
It’s been four years since the HBO hit Entourage concluded its popular eight season run. Now the Emmy-winning comedy is hitting the big screen.
The film rejoins Vincent Chase (Adrian Grenier), Johnny Drama (Kevin Dillon), Eric (Kevin Connolly), Turtle (Jerry Ferrara) as they collaborate for Vincent’s directorial debut. When they find themselves over budget, they seek the aid of studio head Ari Gold (Jeremy Piven) – leading him to become enmeshed in a creative battle with Texas financier (Billy Bob Thornton) and his loose cannon son (Haley Joel Osment).
At a recent Los Angeles press conference for the film, the cast and writer/directed Doug Elin discussed reuniting, capturing life in Hollywood and what the series has meant to people.
You guys have been together for 15 years, how has the essence of your character changed?
Kevin Dillon: My character has changed the least amount and is still striving for the same thing which is fame. Not really fortune so much, he’s really about the fame. That’s what I love about him, I don’t want him to change too much.
Adrian Grenier: One thing about this crew that’s so special is despite all the changes and all the ups and downs, there is still something that remains steadfast which is their loyalty to each other. Vince has certainly inspired a generosity amongst them.
Jerry Ferrara: I think turtle is the last to start the evolution process but I like to go back to the early, early years of the character where he was telling girls to make out with him and show them where Vince eats breakfast in the morning, to dating Jaime Lynn who was out of his league to basically being a millionaire. I used to joke around with Doug (Ellin) all the time asking when is Turtle going to grow up a little more and this was in season 2 and he said in season 8. So when we got to season 8 I told Doug that it was time. But I love the evolution of this guy and I’ve matured a little bit as he has too.
Kevin Connolly: I think all the characters have evolved, when you look at season one compared to season 8, I think Drama has become a bit more evolved too. Of course E and Sloan are taking a big jump in this one and adding a tiny member to the entourage. It’s a big step for anybody in real life.
Emmanuelle Chriqui: It’s been an incredible journey for the characters. For me it’s been six seasons. I’d say Sloan was a little more naive in the beginning. As E and Sloan’s relationship evolved so did so many conflicts and things that we worked through. It’s just nice that come the movie – they’re too real adults.
There were some rocky times trying to get the film together. How did you keep at it going and what were some of the challenges in cutting down the show from episodic to a film?
Doug Elin: The rocky road to the production was kind of overstated by people. The rockiest road was getting the script right. And the biggest ‘tragedy’ and reason that I love doing this, at the same time — is that these are my friends. So they all have input. When you have that group, you want everybody to be serviced in the movie. In a half hour show, one week you can focus on one character or storyline.
When you’re doing a movie for 90 minutes, you want to service everybody. It was a challenge to do that and keep it moving and keep up the pace. But the reason to do it is, honestly, because we love it. We get to be with our friends, we get to be in great locations and meet interesting people. The whole process of doing it is like when you get back together with your best friends from high school.
Haley, could you talk about being the newcomer to the group?
Haley Joel Osment: There’s a really great sense that people enjoy working together on set and have a very close connection. So that was a lot of fun. It was a lot of fun to come in and play a character who was just a total asshole! Doug created a really fun and fun project to work on.
Kevin did you ever have a bad audition that you kind of brought to Drama? How did you work that into the script?
Kevin Dillon: I’ve had many bad auditions. I smoked cigarettes back then and I was five flights up. So I ran downstairs to smoke then they said they were calling me so I ran to the top if the steps and I went in there huffing and puffing and I was sweating. It just looked like I was a nervous reck, it was awful.
Do you think Drama will ever find happiness in Hollywood?
Kevin Dillon: I think he will. in the end, It’s all about the fellas and the guys. He’s got a big heart.
Kevin Connolly: Also if Drama had an IMDB page it would be pretty impressive. The guy has done a shit ton of work.
Kevin Dillon: I’ve had a lot of actors come up to me and say, “You’re really carrying a torch for actors.” He stands up to these producers at an audition.
Adrien, I’m sure you’re heard that there’s going to be a real Aquaman movie. They’ve cast Jason Momoa, who has a bit of a different look. I assume it’s going to be reboot of the James Cameron Aquaman. I’m just wondering if you have any advice for Jason?
He should slim down a bit. The friction in the water
Kevin Connolly: I would like to quote James Cameron, he wanted a more fluid swimmer. Don’t go against what James Cameron said.
Doug Elin: It is amazing though that they’re making that movie. I look forward to it. When we were first coming up with that idea – we thought, “What’s the one superhero movie where it seems like there’s no way to make it a good movie and then James Cameron makes it and it sounds like a great movie?”
This movie is really about luck and loyalty? In life, who is the most lucky and who is the most loyal?
Doug Elin: I think we’re all lucky to have this show. I’m by far the most loyal (Laughs). In a couple of weeks, we’re going to have a friends and family screening in NY. [So many] characters that are named after my friends and their friends from elementary school on. So, all of us will have about 150 friends that are reflected in the show. During the casting process for the film – I cast people that were like people I knew.
Emmanuelle Chriqui: I have to say, the nature go the business is that we get busy and are working on different projects but I could swear if I ever needed anything – advice or friendship – I could call on anybody here. It’s definitely a family.
Was there ever a fear that people not in the entertainment industry would not get the little stuff in the film?
Jerry Ferrara: I used to wonder if some of the jokes and lines would get lost to people who didn’t live in LA but you’d be surprise how many people are obsessed with the inner working of the business. You would just wonder if they’re getting it.
Kevin Connolly: I remember after we did the Sundance episode and getting calls from ten of my friends from Long Island telling me they’re now going to Sundance. I told them no you’re not going to Sundance, you’re not going to get it, you’re going to be standing outside in the cold, so don’t do it! We’ve open a lot of people’s eyes to the different aspects of the business.
Adrian Grenier: It’s also a testament to how layer the show is, even if you don’t get the jokes you can still enjoy it.
Kevin Dillon: I remember telling Doug that I wasn’t sure if anyone was going to get this outside of Hollywood and he didn’t care and said the audience will figure it out.
Kevin Connolly: We’ve made the traffic worse in LA. We’re responsible to tons of people moving out to LA because of the show and I tell them, “are you carpooling?” Lots of people have looked at us as a group and said if these guys can do it so can they.
Obviously you guys took a big break from shooting the show to filming the movie, how long did it take to get back into it?
Kevin Connolly: It was pretty quick.
Kevin Dillon: After the first take it felt like the second one was better. We started the walk and talk, which is one of the hardest things you have to do. There’s about one take and there is no cut in there.
Kevin Connolly: It didn’t take very long. We started shooting the movie a year and a half ago, so it’s been four years but for us it’s been three years. It really wasn’t much more than an extended hiatus.
You guys had so many cameos in this film, how did the process work and did you send out a wish list?
Jerry Ferrara: I’m not sure if Doug ever got enough credit because it’s not easy when Mike Tyson just shows up on set in six hours. Where it just doesn’t look like here is Mike Tyson. I don’t think he’s gotten the proper credit in working these cameos in and it’s part of the story and part of the world.
Kevin Dillon: Sometimes he will pan it off to the actor saying, “Hey Dillon we have Jon Favreau coming in and you guys have to figure something out. Go to your trailers and figure it out”.
Kevin Connolly: When the show first started, especially the pilot we couldn’t get anybody to do it. We were sitting around asking each other who do we know and who can we call and who would do this. Nobody knew what the show was and people were a little bit confused. Our first one was Ali Larter. To get a cameo in a pilot is a tricky thing.
What was it like to be back on set and acting again with Jeremy Piven especially after he spent three years in London on his TV Show?
Kevin Connolly: I think Jeremy would still have been just as good without his Mr. Selfridge. Nothing against his show but Jeremy is just great no matter what he’s doing. I don’t think Mr. Selfridge gave him new acting tips (laughs).
Jerry, how was it getting into the ring with Ronda Rousey, and did she take it easy with you?
Jerry Ferrara: First of all it was very humbling because I know my friends would think that since she’s a woman they could handle her but that is incorrect. She would dispose of all my friends and me very quickly. She’s a professional fighter and she’s great at what she does. It was just a treat for me to get in the octagon with an athlete that’s at the top of their game and their prime. She definitely took it easy because there is a part where she kind of has to flip me and I did let the stunt man do it because she has broken ribs before. I wanted to do my own stuff but I told her you’re the pro here I’ll listen to you. She does it every single day of her life, that’s the easiest way to describe it. She fights!
Kevin Connolly: I just need to say that I think I could last, no but there was always some discussion on set and rumors but I would be killed in five seconds.
With all these cameos involved was there a lot of improv?
Adrian Grenier: Doug just killed it in the script and it’s just a matter of us making it feel as natural as possible. In fact he gets mad if we go off script sometimes because he’s taken such great care making sure our lines are the best.
