As I reflect upon the making of Saturday Night, my mind is flooded with a kaleidoscope of memories – each as vivid and vibrant as the characters we brought to life. But if I were to pinpoint one moment that would take center stage in my reminiscence decades from now, it would undoubtedly be the day we shared our laughter, camaraderie, and collective joy.
On Saturday evenings, Gabriel LaBelle, the star of “Saturday Night,” didn’t envision himself mastering roles that portray giants of the entertainment world.
In the 2022 semi-autobiographical drama The Fabelmans, Canadian actor Paul Dano portrayed the teenage character standing in for Steven Spielberg, named Sammy Fabelman. This fictional character’s budding filmmaking skills coincided with his family’s separation. To truly embody a teenage Spielberg from the ’60s, Dano had all the resources he needed, thanks to Spielberg generously sharing his family’s private archives, revealing much more than just films.
At the start of 2023, when “The Fabelmans” made its premiere in London, director Jason Reitman attended the event following a day’s work on “Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire”. Impressed by LaBelle’s acting, Reitman arranged a meeting the next day. After sharing coffee and watching the “American Psycho” musical together, the multinational filmmaker realized he had found his equivalent of Lorne Michaels for “Saturday Night”.
Rather than focusing on a specific formative period like Spielberg did with LaBelle, Reitman decided to zero in on a 90-minute slice of Lorne Michaels’ life at the age of 30, during which he put together and dismantled the first episode of Saturday Night Live.
LaBelle emphasized to The Hollywood Reporter that she primarily zeroed in on the specific time period within this script, and where her character could potentially evolve. Essentially, she concentrated on Lorne’s relentless determination to achieve his goals in life, never faltering in his pursuit.
LaBelle didn’t reach out to Michaels for firsthand recollections, photos and home movies like he received from Spielberg, but he did have a brief meeting with him after Josh Brolin’s SNL taping in March of 2024.
Lorne showed us immense kindness and generosity, and he shares a strong bond with Jason Reitman. He extended an invitation for us to join him at SNL, which allowed us to meet him. LaBella expresses his gratitude, calling it a wonderful gesture. However, Jason felt it would be more appropriate for me to focus on him as a young man since he has significantly changed over time.
Michael and Spielberg, both hailing from Jewish families in the mid-1940s, have left an indelible mark on popular culture that will endure. On a smaller scale, Spielberg is renowned for his ability to decide on camera angles and shots each day during filming, while Lorne Michaels of Saturday Night Live appears to have made his most impactful creative choices spontaneously.
In a subtle manner, LaBelle drew some inspiration from the way Lorne Michaels is frequently imitated by his former Saturday Night Live colleagues on talk shows, such as Bill Hader, Jimmy Fallon, and Conan O’Brien, among others. He didn’t strive to make direct comparisons, but the impressions served as a source of inspiration for him.
Initially, I observed them, but let me clarify, he doesn’t genuinely sound like that. Instead, these individuals are comedians who find each other amusing. They appreciate and admire him, and their reactions are a form of respect. It’s an exaggerated portrayal. However, I did catch some recurring mannerisms among certain performers, and I thought, ‘If I could incorporate a touch of that, subtly incorporate it here and there, it would be entertaining.’
In a recent chat with THR, LaBelle shares reminiscences of the Saturday Night team that still resonate, along with the burgeoning appreciation for his low-key maturation movie titled Snack Shack.
From now on, you’ll stand alone as the one who portrayed both Lorne Michaels and Steven Spielberg. It’s hard to envision when you were young that you’d eventually be the preferred choice among real-world stars in the entertainment world.
Indeed, it’s quite an extraordinary turn of events. I find myself incredibly fortunate that the perfect chances have found their way to me when I was ready and in the right spot.
Are they two pioneers of the same era whose work significantly shaped popular culture beyond measure? I’m curious if there are additional, deeper similarities between these two individuals that you’ve noticed.
As I delved into the books about Lorne, I found myself drawn to his early years and the people he encountered along the way. With the first episode of SNL looming, I decided to zero in on this period and see how it would unfold within this script. What stood out to me was that Lorne was someone with a clear vision for his life, and he left no stone unturned in achieving his goals. This is something I can connect with personally, and I believe many others can as well. That’s the story we wanted to share.
One of the most striking scenes in “The Fabelmans” features Sammy envisioning himself filming his parents’ divorce announcement. This scene suggests that he perceived life primarily through his camera lens. Could it be possible that Lorne has a similar perspective, consistently viewing the world from the standpoint of what could make for an effective sketch comedy?
Lorne is the one who can provide the correct information about that topic. Engaging with Steven allowed me a deeper understanding of his private life. When interacting with Lorne, our conversations remained centered around those 90 minutes, and I must admit, it’s just my personal perspective.
Yeah, with Sammy Fabelman, you were given the keys to the kingdom. But in Lorne’s case, you just had a really quick meeting after Josh Brolin’s SNL taping?
Absolutely, Lorne showed us remarkable kindness and generosity, and he maintains a wonderful bond with Jason Reitman. He extended an invitation for us to watch Saturday Night Live, allowing us the opportunity to meet him, which was truly thoughtful. It was a kind gesture indeed. However, Jason felt it would be more beneficial for me to concentrate on his youthful years since he’s undergone significant changes since October 11, 1975. This was prior to Saturday Night Live’s debut. Therefore, I chose to delve into his early days instead.
I understood the main point, but several ex-SNL cast members have remarkable impressions of Lorne Michaels. Even though the spirit is usually more crucial than the impression itself, did you consider revisiting these imitations to see if they might reveal something genuine that could benefit your work?
To clarify, while I may have watched him, what struck me is that he doesn’t truly sound like the character portrayed. These comedians are essentially having a laugh among friends, not trying to perfect an impression for a performance. They all hold him in high regard, and this is their way of expressing it. It’s more of a caricature than an accurate representation.
Does Canada celebrate Lorne often? Does the country make it known that he’s their progeny?
I have yet to read a statement from the Government of Canada to commemorate him into the Canadian Hall of Fame, but Canada is very proud. (Laughs.) Also, not a lot of people who watch Saturday Night Live every Saturday even know who he is. He’s very behind the scenes in that regard. He’s not as much of a [Canadian] personality as Wayne Gretzky or Terry Fox.
On a Saturday evening, Jason and his team filmed using 16mm film, and this traditional method offers less leeway compared to digital. Could the employment of celluloid have contributed to some of the tension in the narrative’s underlying themes?
Working on this project was already an exhilarating challenge, but taking it to celluloid made it even more thrilling! The grainy texture and vibrant hues of Eric Steelberg’s lighting simply leap off the screen. Using film for this complex task was like adding the perfect finishing touch to our collective effort.
Has this movie increased or decreased your desire to host SNL someday?
For as long as I can remember, being associated with Saturday Night Live has been a dream of mine, whether it’s as a cast member or behind the scenes. As a child, I yearned to be in the show’s cast. I hold Saturday Night Live dear to me; it was a significant part of my upbringing, and I am a devoted admirer of it. This production has given me immense creative satisfaction, and being a part of this talented group is truly an honor for me. Therefore, I would adore hosting the show, but I feel content. I feel like I’ve contributed my share. If they ask me to host, I would be thrilled, but it feels so near that if it doesn’t materialize, it doesn’t matter. It would be fantastic if it does, but I won’t get my hopes up.
In the movie, Lorne keeps his tension bottled up, but his eyes pop out in surprise when he seizes the crane at the end. Can you recall a day when your stress level reached an equally intense moment like that?
The exceptional aspect of our time there was the 10-hour workdays, which meant we’d leave at 6 or 6:30, allowing us to enjoy nearly eight-and-a-half hours of sleep each night and wake up refreshed. However, after several months of daily attendance, the long hours began to take a toll. It wasn’t so much the stress that affected us, but rather the overwhelming physical exhaustion. There was one day when I felt so drained that by lunchtime, I yearned to go home. On this particular day, Rachel [Sennott] comforted me, massaging my back as I leaned on her shoulder. Now, looking back, I cherish that moment as a very sweet memory.
Which 90-minute segment of your career so far would make for the most captivating film similar to Saturday Night?
Wow, this film seems so captivating that I’m left wondering if my life holds enough depth and excitement to fill 90 minutes on screen. Yet, I haven’t managed to capture that essence in a movie of my own. Whatever those 90 mesmerizing minutes are, I believe they’re still waiting for me to live them.
Lorne Michaels and Steven Spielberg are quite ambitious individuals, but their ambitions pale in comparison to the extraordinary drive demonstrated by Moose Miller.
(Laughs.)
I have to compliment you on Snack Shack. I was late to it, but it’s such a gem of a movie.
Thank you so much.
Are you feeling lots of belated love for it as people catch up to it on streaming?
Absolutely, it’s becoming increasingly the case. More individuals are approaching me personally about it, which is unusual as it’s often discussed online on platforms like Letterboxd. However, since MGM+ released it, a larger audience has been able to watch it, and that’s fantastic news! We’re extremely proud of this film, and we believe everyone should experience it. So far, I’ve only spoken with people who have adored it, which is truly heartening. Knowing that you’ve put so much effort into something and it brings joy to others, makes all the hard work worthwhile.
Your film was released prior to the premieres of Challengers, and intriguingly, despite neither of you originating the love triangle plot, you both tackled similar themes simultaneously.
Yeah, a lot of people are making that comparison. It’s funny.
Despite the fact that Moose regularly smokes cigarettes and drinks homemade pilsner, it always puzzled me how he managed to stay fit. This confusion turned into laughter when, quite unexpectedly, I saw him performing tricep dips during our conversation.
(Chuckles.) Indeed, you caught him in action! That’s just his nature. He’s more like a wild creature. Maybe he was rolling around and gulped down plenty of liquids, possibly milk. Yes, he was reared freely. And remember, he was still young, so his metabolism was functioning at its peak.
On Saturday Night, Rosie (Rachel Sennott) inquired about Lorne’s preference for her name credit at the film’s beginning, and he didn’t provide a clear response about whether she should use Michaels or Shuster. Later, when she decided on Shuster, it seemed as if he was taken aback by his own reaction. What must have been going through his mind in that instant?
There’s a rich underlying meaning to that tale, since I don’t have a personal relationship with Lorne and Rosie, I’m eager to learn various perspectives about that pivotal moment. However, it seems clear that Lorne cherishes Rosie deeply, and his concern extends beyond the immediate request for credit for the show; he’s genuinely interested in her future career progression. So, in essence, the conversation might have begun as, “We merely require your credit for the production,” but it delved into a discussion about her professional journey ahead.
On the set of this film, the cast didn’t have personal trailers. Instead, each actor had their own dressing room, and there was a communal area styled after the ’70s featuring board games and continuous loops of Saturday Night Live’s first season on TV. Are you interested in working under such an arrangement more frequently?
As a gamer, it’s mind-blowing how seamlessly we all gelled together in this production. We’ve known each other for eons, and as actors, we’re like a wild band of misfits, sailing through the stormy seas of this stressful movie project. But during rehearsals, table reads, and screen tests, we found our common ground, fostering friendships that went beyond the silver screen.
When you look back on the creation of this film years down the line, which day do you think will stand out to you first?
Instead of recalling specific days, I recall vivid moments and scenes, and there are countless memories from this shoot. As I was journaling during this time, I’m certain I’ll look back and remember a great deal of it, but what I’ll likely remember most is sharing laughter with everyone. That’s how I’ve come to remember it now. Some scenes were nerve-wracking and others invigorating, but the real highlight for me was the camaraderie of the cast and the sheer enjoyment we shared together. If you played high school football, you don’t recall the games themselves, but rather the bus rides to the games. In the same way, I already feel this way about the shoot, and I imagine I’ll continue to in the future.
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Saturday Night is now playing in movie theaters.
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2024-10-16 02:56