I always loved Steinbeck, so I started looking back through all the Steinbeck books that I loved, you know, growing up.
We're the guys who are going to change all that.
It's starting to happen.
We're trying to change things.
I think he's really nice and a really good actor.
Know that I will crush this strike, marry each and every one of you.
It's on us, man. This is on us.
Hi, Ronnie Star.
Hi, James.
Hi.
We met in 2010 when you came here for 127 hours.
That was an interesting conversation.
Are you a big goofball?
A little bit. A little one.
Thank you so much.
Yes, what attracted you to this film and the subject?
I always loved Steinbeck, and I had done a production of Mice and Men on Broadway two years ago.
And after doing that, I realized, you know, I wanted to do more of Steinbeck and maybe do a film.
And there had already been two film adaptations of Mice and Men.
So I started looking back through all the Steinbeck books that I loved, you know, growing up.
And in dubious battle was one that was lesser known, but it had never been adapted.
And when I re-read it, I realized that there was a great dramatic arc in this, in the book.
And I just thought it would actually, you know, be incredibly cinematic.
So we got the ranks.
It's not about you and me. It's about Lisa's kid and what kind of world he's going to grow up in.
Finally, someone who's shorter than me. This is going to be fun. Hi, Lola. How are you doing?
Good.
So tell me a little about your role in this film.
Well, I had a lot of fun doing it.
And...
Why'd you have fun doing it?
Because it was in the mud in Georgia.
And did you have to run through the mud?
No, I didn't have to run, but my feet were stuck in the mud.
I got to meet Nat Wolf and some other people and I made a movie that James Franco was in.
What did you want to hold true and how is it different than the book?
Actually, Obama said it was one of his favorite books when he was running for president.
And it was written right before of Mice and Men and the Grapes of Wrath, two of Steinbeck's best novels.
And so it takes... those three books are unofficially known as the Dust Bowl trilogy.
And so it takes place in the same time and place as those other books.
And, you know, we didn't make huge changes. We just did a few things to flesh out the characters and give the arc a little bit more clarity.
Any other projects you're excited about besides in dubious battle right now?
Series right now for HBO with David Simon who created The Wire and about New York in the 70s.
And, you know, we've got a ton of movies coming out.
What was it like being directed by James Franco?
Well, I didn't really get to talk to him much because he was up there and I was down here.
That's how I feel all the time too.
Is he a goofball?
Not real. I'm not sure.
Thank you so much, Lola. That's a really pretty dress you have. 127 days, a very intense movie.
Hours, sorry. Hours. 127 hours.
I'm still a goofball and I hope you are too.
I asked you at 2010 if you were a goofball.
Yes, and you said you were.
Honey, honey, you got to stop tickling James Franco.
We'll make a movie with times of cinema.
Oh my god, that was our cutest interview ever.
Uh-huh.
Lola was pretty sweet too.
