Q&A: Jason Bateman talks film directing debut, ‘Bad Words’

In addition to actor and producer, Jason Bateman adds movie director to his list of film credits with his latest project and directorial debut, “Bad Words.”

“Bad Words,” which Bateman directs and stars in, follows screenwriter Andrew Dodge’s story of a bitter middle-aged man (Bateman) who forces his way into a children’s national spelling bee.

Before the movie’s March 14 release date, the Daily Bruin’s Shelly Maldonado and Natalie Green spoke with Dodge, leading lady Kathryn Hahn and Bateman on the making of “Bad Words” and future film aspirations.

Daily Bruin: This was your directorial debut and you took on the responsibility of not only directing everybody else, but also directing yourself – were there any accompanying challenges that you didn’t expect?

Jason Bateman: As a director, traditionally, you can sit there and you know exactly what an audience member is going to see, and hear and feel. I didn’t have that perspective … We had to adjust our process a little bit where we would rehearse a lot more with my stand-in so I could see what the camera was seeing. … Then, after a couple of takes, I would go back and watch playback and be an audience member. If you watch every single take on playback in definition you’ve doubled your time in a day and so I couldn’t do that, I had to be kind of judicious.

DB: How does this project stand apart from other film projects that you have worked on?

Andrew Dodge: I’m just revving up with kind of continually being a writer. And so, to get to “Bad Words,” I had to figure out what my voice was going to be. I don’t know if I could label it, … but what I always try to do in everything is that I like the idea of creating subversive heart. … These are all human beings, these aren’t just caricatures. They have their emotions and I can relate to that emotion.

DB: “Bad Words” is your first screenplay to be made into a major motion picture. Do you have any goals, as a screenwriter, for
the progression of your writing in future projects?

AD: Many people in the industry have said this, but I want to make sure that I’m not pigeonholed, that people don’t think of me as ‘Oh, he just writes mean characters that end up having a heart of gold.’ I think I can do more than that. … I want to look for the interesting stories that resonate with me that I think I can do justice with.

DB: In many of your films you often provide the comedic relief, and in this movie, you act as more of a support system for Jason Bateman’s character. Was that different for you and how so?

Kathryn Hahn: I was so excited that he asked me to be his romantic interest for this and then we get the costumes on and I go, ‘oh I get it.’ You want to be the prettiest girl in the room, Jason. … She was definitely more of a straight role than I have been asked to play. But I really appreciated their love story. It wasn’t the typical story – they’re a bunch of misfits; everyone in this movie is a little bit of an underdog.

DB: When you were first discussing the screenplay with Andrew, was there any point when you didn’t see yourself as the leading character?

JB: Yeah, it started that way. I went after some pretty big actors, some heroes of mine to play the part, and they were either too busy or not interested. … And I thought, ‘well, maybe I should play the part because it’s actually going to end up being a little easier.’ I certainly don’t have to direct the lead actor, and that certainly saves a ton of time. For better or for worse every single take is going to be exactly the way I want it from that one particular actor.

DB: What are some lessons that you have learned in your directorial debut that you will take with you in your future projects?

JB: I guess most generally, that you never get that day back so you can never be too prepared and we were really prepared on this. … It is just like in anything, when you understand the nuts and bolts of things … then you can identify the gray areas. You kinda know what you need to have done at what point and so you can luxuriate in one place or shorten another thing. Just experience, you know. I can’t wait to do it again.