Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
In this episode of Pop Culture Weekly, A Woman, a Car,
and a Toe bill for twenty one thousand, six hundred
and thirty four dollars, and writer and director Stephanie Lang
joins me and I sit down with the stars of
the film Academy Award nominee Rose Byrne and Dominic SSSA
talk about Toe.
Speaker 2 (00:15):
Let's go Welcome to pop Culture Weekly with Kyle McMahon
from iHeartRadio, your pop culture news, views, reviews and celebrity
interviews on all the movies, TV, music and pomp culture
you crave weekly. Here's Kyle McMahon.
Speaker 1 (00:34):
Nick Nana Nick, Hello, and welcome to pop Culture Weekly
with Kyle McMahon. I, of course am Kyle McMahon, and
this is the show where we celebrate pop culture, question
our life choices, and occasionally hear a story so insane
it makes you wonder how any of us are actually
functioning as a freaking society. I'm your host, Kyle McMahon,
(00:58):
of course, and we are diving in to the new
film Toe. Now, this film is really good. It's really
crazy because it's based on a true story. But it's
the true story of Amanda Ogle, who was a homeless
woman in Seattle who ends up trapped in what can
(01:19):
really only be described as Toe Company purgatory after getting
hit with a bill for over twenty one thousand dollars
twenty one thousand dollars for a toe, like at that point,
just keep the car and like, what are we even doing?
But beneath that real absurdity, it's a story about resilience,
(01:41):
about fighting back against the system that feels impossible to
win against, and somehow finding a way through it anyway.
So let's start right at the source. I'm talking with
the writer and director of Toe, Stephanie Lang, and we
got into what drew her to this story, how you
(02:02):
balance something that's both completely outrageous and deeply human and
it's real, and why stories like this matter Right now
here she is Stephanie Land. So first of all, you
I love to and I wonder you know you managed
to turn this one woman's story about a twenty one
(02:25):
thousand dollars toe bill into you know, a movie. Where
did it start for you? That this isn't just one
woman's story but this is a movie.
Speaker 3 (02:34):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (02:35):
Well I read the script and I think I was
probably five pages in when I was already infuriated with
the story and like the you know, the real Amanda's journey,
and then felt that I felt her fight and I
was like, oh, I have to I have to tell
this story.
Speaker 2 (02:49):
Right.
Speaker 4 (02:49):
So so there's a producer on the movie who knows Amanda,
who read an article and we were like, oh, he
was smart enough to go this is this is every
man's fight, right, this is going to be relatable because
we're all fighting things in our own lives with different
levels of stakes. So he was smart enough to do
that part. And then I was like, I like, much
like Amanda's journey, like finding your community to help you
(03:10):
go fight another fight. So I got sent to I'll
love it. The fell in love with Amanda, fell in
love with Kevin, fell in love with Avery, and then
I had worked with Rose, you know for many years
on the Apple show Physical and just knew it was her,
you know, and thankfully she agreed, so she took on
the fight, and then everybody else who joined in castwise,
it was like also, just like, we're gonna take on
this fight and we're gonna make sure we tell this
(03:31):
woman's story.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
How did you you know, as a director, how do
you turn essentially paperwork into cinema.
Speaker 4 (03:41):
I mean, weirdly, for me, sometimes I hear it before
I see it, so like I usually do a playlist,
and it was a lot of like for me, a
lot of pop, not but not pop, a lot of
oh my god, a lot of punk rock songs because
real Amanda, that's like what she liked. And I was like,
what do you listen to? So I started listening to
what the real Amanda listened to, and then just visually
going all right, if like, how we're going to tell
(04:04):
this story is like letting the character move the camera
and letting it just you know, so for me that
it's like that's a big part of it. It's just
like how are you visually telling it? Once once we
have it cast, and then really drilling down on the
details of the characters across the board, like what they're wearing,
what they look like. Octavia is is so interesting because
(04:24):
I don't know if anyone notices that she has like
she's an emotional eater character. She's always putting candy or
something in her mouth, and I don't know, like how
many you know, whether you notice it or not. It's
just those layers make them feel real and relatable and
you know, and then you fall in love with them.
Speaker 1 (04:39):
So did you learn more than you thought? You know,
as you're doing research, as we're diving into this project,
you know, were there instances of systemic problems, especially with
you know, the homeless community that was worse than you
(04:59):
thought going in.
Speaker 4 (05:01):
I think that, I I think it was very like
we did a lot of research and a lot of
going to comment house and meeting with with with unhoused
youth and just hearing their stories and just being so
actually blown away by like their hopefulness, you know, that
was surprising. And and then also seeing like the like
(05:24):
the wealth disparity when you would go like even just
touring locations to film it in right, Like, we went
to shelters and I kept noticing that they would use
their decorations for the time we were scouting were like
Easter decorations, but they were always on the Christmas trees
or Christmas like they just saw the lack of resources,
but they were still going to make this holiday, you
know thing. And so and then we went to one
location where they were doing you know Instagram photos of
(05:46):
dogs and bathtubs for you know, holidays, and I was
like Oh my god. The disparity here is so interesting
to me, which is why we have the transitions to
the movie that way, right, because it was like that
was like surprising, But then I was also just struck
by like like there was one teen that I, you know,
interviewed at Covenhause and she said, like, you know, things
are really bad, but you know they're good now and
(06:09):
I'm on my journey, and I just I don't think
I'll ever forget that scene because she was like she
found her community and her help and was fighting her fight,
but she still remains so hopeful and so resilient. And
I think that's kind of that's what I hope people
take from this movie, that like your voice matters and
that you're hopeful and that it's about resilience.
Speaker 1 (06:30):
I love that. Stephanie. Thank you so much. Thank you
for telling the story of the Unhoused, and I can't
wait for everybody to see.
Speaker 4 (06:37):
To Thanks for having me, of course, have a great.
Speaker 5 (06:40):
Day, Stephanie leg And what I love about this is, yes,
the story is absolutely batshit insane, but it's also real,
like legitimately real, and it's that you know, emotional truth
underneath all.
Speaker 1 (06:58):
Of that chaos that makes it hit the way it does.
All Right, so we've talked about the story behind the film,
toe let's talk about the people who had to step
into it. I sat down with the incredible Rose Byrne,
who somehow manages to be hilarious and devastating at the
same time, and along with I should say, Dominiccessa, who
(07:23):
is such an awesome talent and I can't wait to
see his career continue to just blow up. But anyway,
we talked about their characters, the emotional weight of the story,
and how you portray something that feels this real and
is this reel without overplaying it? Here they are Rose
(07:43):
Byrne and domin Eccessa. Congratulations on the film. It really
is touching and eye opening. And I wonder, Rose, if
I could start with you, was there a moment, either
reading the script or during filming, that you out, you know,
playing Amanda, this was more than just a role, but
(08:05):
like I have to do this. Was there a moment
like that?
Speaker 3 (08:08):
No. I think when Stephanie approached me with the story
and then I started reading up about Amanda, I thought,
oh wow, what an opportunity, what a gift to try
to bring this character to tell this person's story. It's
an unbelievable story, and it's an unlike She's an unlikely
hero in many ways, Amanda, she's some anything stacked against her.
And it also confronts your own prejudices around people who
(08:29):
are in house and how that happens, and what they
may or may not look like or sound like or
act like. And it really challenges you on all that level.
And that's really a part of the story Amanda was
very passionate about. And I got to spend time with
her in Seattle, which is extraordinary, and we sort of
went to all of the spots. I was like, take
me to the towing company, take me to the shelter,
take me to where you went to high school, you know.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
And it was a gift.
Speaker 3 (08:52):
It was such an opportunity to dive in. And then
there's a great relationship she has with her lawyer, Kevin,
who's like twenty years old. Junior is like, you know,
you know, freshly kind of graduated, sort of you know,
there's an optimism to him that you only have when
you're young, and this sort of wonderful naivety in a
(09:13):
way that he brings to the to the case that
I think was you know, such a such a fun
aspect of their story as.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
Well, and Dominic, did you, you know, playing Kevin or
going into the role of Kevin, were you able to
kind of channel that that optimism? I mean, obviously watching it,
you know it comes through amazingly, but were you able
to identify with that kind of optimism that he had,
(09:41):
that like, I'm going to win this for her and
for everybody else that that has that injustice? Yeah?
Speaker 6 (09:49):
Yeah, I think I definitely, especially you know, as a
young person myself have and still do, like have this
false sense of confidence certain things and optimism and also
you know, a feeling of wanting to prove something as well,
which I think all exists in this character as well.
(10:11):
But along with that, it's just really admirable how especially
at a young age and being naive and all of
that stuff. Regardless I mean, this was years, like three
years of this, and regardless of that, I would not
be able to last that long with most things, you know,
(10:32):
like like let alone something that I'm not making money for.
I barely barely know this person. I really don't have
any obligation that I'm other than the fact that I
just ran into their situation, so that I think that's
what really separates Kevin Is, at least for me as
a person, as someone in their early twentieses is his commitment.
(10:52):
And yeah, I mean, yeah, I give up on things
even when I believe that in them possible.
Speaker 4 (11:00):
You know.
Speaker 1 (11:02):
I love that. And what do you both hope people
take from this? I know what I took from it.
What do you hope people take from it?
Speaker 6 (11:11):
I mean it's hopefully encourages people in whatever situation to
speak up for themselves and and and speak up for
other people, you know, like Kevin Is is standing up
for this stranger and Amanda's standing up for herself, and
I think people seeing that and also realizing that these
(11:33):
are real people the story took place in real life,
could encourage people to speak up for themselves.
Speaker 3 (11:41):
No, yeah, I never want to prescribe like what you
feel take away from it, but I do think it's
I think there's a lot in the movie. There's a
lot of ways you can access this movie and find
an access point in it, and and the fact that
it's it really happened, and just the situation of being
unhew in America and what this is one really specific
(12:03):
example of how that can happen to anybody.
Speaker 4 (12:06):
It is very really important.
Speaker 1 (12:10):
I love that, and you know what I took from it,
besides amazing performances, is that this can't you know this,
not only can this happen, but it is happening, And
how one person's voice can make a difference, you know,
and believing in believing in a stranger and doing what's
right rather than you know what, what would make money
(12:34):
or whatever. So I think it's amazing. I can't wait
for everybody to see it. Thank you both so much.
Speaker 6 (12:39):
Thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:43):
Rose Burn and Dominiccessa. Both of their performances in to
Are they stick with you for different reasons, and when
you see it, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about.
And then you got to hit me up so we
can discuss it, because they really really are are transformative
performances because you know, sometimes it's not just about the entertainment.
(13:05):
It's the kind of thing that makes you go, wait
a second, this actually happens to people, like what the fudge?
All right? Toe is out right now? My thanks to
Stephanie Laying, Rose Byrne, domin Excessa, and if you enjoyed
this episode and you're now side eyeing every tow truck
you ever see. Make sure to follow or subscribe wherever
(13:28):
you listen, and for even more interviews, deep dives, and
pop culture breakdowns, head on over to popculturewekly dot com
or my YouTube at pop Cultureweekly. I'm Kyle McMahon And
until next time, keep watching, keep listening, and maybe double
check where you park. Just saying all right, I love you.
Speaker 2 (13:49):
Well, thank you for listening to pop Cultureweekly. Here all
the latest at popcultureweekly dot com told me baby.
Speaker 1 (14:05):
And now hurt you die? I said, why don't you try?
Speaker 4 (14:11):
Told me to be rare.
Speaker 6 (14:15):
And now hard to die?
Speaker 2 (14:20):
How you the change told me? Isout bringing down to
the now You're learning?
Speaker 1 (14:30):
No no, no, no, no no no leady