May 7, 2025 • 27 mins
Movie magic doesn’t end when the credits roll—and no one knows that better than Angela Vesagas, Vice President of Creative Content at Focus Features. In this episode of Seen on the Screen, Jacqueline Coley talks with Angela about her path from selling tickets at Universal Studios Hollywood to crafting award-nominated campaigns for films like Downton Abbey and Nosferatu.
Angela shares how her early passion for storytelling — from rewinding Moulin Rouge on DVD to cosplaying Scott Pilgrim characters — fueled a career defined by creativity, innovation, and a fan’s eye for what makes a movie unforgettable. Hear how she helped pioneer Focus's original digital series, why she believes storytelling around movies matters just as much as the stories themselves, and what it’s like to build a creative home for film lovers everywhere.
Angela shares how her early passion for storytelling — from rewinding Moulin Rouge on DVD to cosplaying Scott Pilgrim characters — fueled a career defined by creativity, innovation, and a fan’s eye for what makes a movie unforgettable. Hear how she helped pioneer Focus's original digital series, why she believes storytelling around movies matters just as much as the stories themselves, and what it’s like to build a creative home for film lovers everywhere.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This episode of Scene on the Screen is brought to
you by Peacock Movies. Transport us to new worlds, connect
us to unlimited possibilities, and bring to life our wildest dreams.
With Peacock, It's all possible right from your living room.
Stream hit films from Universal Pictures, Illumination, Focus Features, DreamWorks, Animation,
(00:20):
and more. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show because
the best movies are home on Peacock. Did Pride and
Prejudice just celebrate another anniversary?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Is it fifty? I think it is or twenty?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It's twenty maybe? Yeah, I think it is twenty. Oh,
let's not say it, but Joe Wright, you're a genius. Sir. Hello,
I'm Jackal and Coley. Welcome to Scene on the Screen,
brought to you by Make It Universal and Rotten Tomatoes.
While we talk movies with some of the people behind
the scenes at NBC Universal. When entertainment works best, sometimes
(00:55):
it opens a window into a world we've never imagined.
Other times it's us a mere image of our lives
with the heightened sense of home. Today we're going to
dig into the question what have you seen on the
screen that has done that? My guest today is Vice
President of Creative Content at Focused Features, Angela Visagas. You'll
hear about the surprising classic film that instilled a love
(01:17):
of behind the scenes content, the satisfying feeling of witnessing
the three year process of a new release, and why
she's always up for baz Lerman.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
My.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Angela, Welcome to the Scene on the Screen podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
I'm so excited to chat with you because we've worked
together before, So I'm going to ask a x slightly
awkward question, but hey, so who are you and what
do you doing to be universal?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
My name is Angela Vesagas, and I am the VP
of Creative Content at Focus Features.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
And I love that I got to chat with you
at the beginning of your time at Focus Features. It
was a journey to get here. But tell me a
little bit more about what your position sort of entails.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, I mean, I've been at Focus for almost for
seven years now. Creative content is kind of a traditional
role at a studio. Essentially, like the main part of
the job is I'm in charge of bringing on our
cruise to capture behind the scenes footage on our productions
or if we acquire a film, either at a film
festival or through some other means. Then I'm in charge
(02:22):
of kind of taking in all of those bets materials
and essentially sharing it with the world. So there's a
little bit of that. I also run all of our
productions and special shoots for any marketing type of shoots.
And then over the course of the time that I
was at Focus, we started developing what we call digital series.
It's kind of a spin on a behind the scenes
(02:43):
featurette where it's a little bit more formatted and there's
kind of like a through line and essentially like certain
beat you got to hit. Sometimes they're hosted and so
we produce those too. So it's busy all the time,
which is great.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yeah, and you work on every Focus features film.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it's kind of from beginning to end. So as
soon as something goes into production, we're pulled in early
to read the script and to kind of figure out
what days are most important to capture while we have
everybody on set, and then all the way through the
marketing campaign and all the way through theatrical release, and
then sometimes movies come back people from the home entertainment
(03:19):
side need anything or anything like that. We kind of
get pulled in again. So but it's fun. You get
to see kind of the full life cycle of a
film in its marketing campaign. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And I think did Pride and Prejudice just celebrate another
anniversary pretty soon?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah? Is it fifty?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I think it is? Or twenty?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's twenty maybe? Oh, cairl god, I think it is twenty.
Don't want Yeah, I think it is twenty. Oh, let's
not say it. But Joe Wright, you're a genius, sir.
And that's like another one of those things that you
definitely work on. And your job is one of these
ones that I tell people this podcast is so valuable
for because unless you worked in LA or like knew somebody,
you wouldn't necessarily know that that job existed. So how
(04:01):
did you come to it? Because I feel like it's
one of those like secret, little stash away things. It's
like a little paradise.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Sure, sure. I mean when I started my career, I
was just thinking, Okay, what can I do that's tied
to film? And maybe marketing felt like a nice formal
place where it felt a little secure and I could
study or try something out and kind of get in.
So that was what I had in my mind, not
(04:27):
realizing how big marketing is, especially in the film world
and entertainment in general. So I actually started a pretty
traditional agency. They did a lot of print, radio TV
for Hispanic audiences. So we were working with clients like
Farmer's Insurance and Dunkin Donuts and Kaiser Permanente, so very
(04:51):
different from what I'm currently doing, but the goal had
always been entertainment. So I kind of had an opportunity
come up for an unpaid internship. I had a digital
agency doing digital marketing. So this is back in the
day of like flash advertisements on websites. We were just
learning about HTML websites because mobile phones started becoming a
(05:12):
bigger thing and more people had Internet on the go.
So it was really kind of at this interesting time
where marketing, especially in the digital space, was kind of
just sparking and growing. We had some of the very
first social campaigns, which is very weird to say now
(05:33):
considering everybody is on their phones all the time on
social media, and so that was kind of my bread
and butter. I learned a lot of digital marketing and
kind of saw it go through a bunch of different
early phases, and I was doing that. I don't know.
I made around six years or something like that. Then
I had a short stint at BuzzFeed where I took
a lot of the content creation part of being at
(05:55):
an agency and tried to kind of work into kind.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Of branded content.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, at BuzzFeed, So I did that, and that was
where I was right before I hit Focus. When I
got to Focus, I was overseeing brand marketing. So that's
everything focused features on social online. It's like YouTube, and
at that time, you know, if Facebook Watch was really new,
So I was kind of tasked with, hey, can we
(06:24):
do anything a little bit more long form? Is there
anything you can bring from your you know, content creation
background into it? And that's when we started developing our
digital series, our first one that you were a part of.
So that was really fun. That one was called you
know that scene, and that was back in God was
(06:44):
that twenty seventeen.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Sixty seventeen, yeah, seventeen.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, so it'd been a minute and that one was
really successful, and so we were essentially greenlit to do
a bunch more. And I feel like now we have
about maybe twenty different formats so and they kind of
run the gamut in terms of production values. So we've
we've got a travel show called Real Destinations, but it's
all about filming locations. We have a fashion based one
(07:08):
cooking show too, and a cooking show for down to Nabbey,
so kind of a little bit of everything, right, and
then we also capture content with our talent at Junkets
and kind of do more short form things for them
as well, which work well on social.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
So you really followed the matchurization of digital media through
all of those spots kind of along the way, like
you were kind of growing up in your career. At
the same time the Internet was being legitimized in commerce,
so you really kind of had a first sty look
at all that it was.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It was a crazy time, you know, And I feel
like marketing for me was always really interesting because it
was constantly changing, I think, especially in the digital space
and trying to figure out, you know, what's the next
big thing that we can do or what's the next
different thing that we can do. I think now with
like ar VR and just kind of even AI, like
all of the different technologies within a digital space constantly
(07:59):
keeps us on our toes to see, like what is
the next coolest thing that we can do? To get
our movies out there.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Very cool. Well, I know one cool thing we can
do right now that is dive into some quotes. OK,
so these are things that you've seen on the screen though,
so no.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Reason, So I don't have to. I will just sit here.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I know this is different for you.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I know.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
When I'm around you, I kind of feel like I'm
on drugs. Not that I do drugs, unless you do drugs,
in which case I do do them all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
That is Scott from Scott Pilgrim versus the world trying
to impress Romona Flowers. Yes, you are.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Doing a great a great vibe check today. It feels
very Ramona.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I will take it. I've cosplayed as Ramona and I've
done it many a time.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Really actually dig that even more, Scott Pilgrim. It's such
a kind of iconic universal film.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
And it's like just the kind of just the right
amount of like over the top awkward humor at the
same time with action and cool music and video game
references which I really like.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And then also, I mean, it wasn't a huge hit
when it first came out, but again, it was just
this movie that everybody sort of built a home a
cult following in the home video sales for it, along
with like now it has a TV show.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah, I was working at the theme park when that
movie came out, and I remember they did and like
a screening on the lot here at Universal, and I
brought my little brother. So it's like one of those
movies that we watched together, me and him, and then
we dragged our sister into it.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So yes, okay, so tell this whole story because you're
a Universal girl, born and bred, like you're from southern
California and you worked on the park before you now
work here.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah, so I yeah, born bred, rays never left kind
of situation. Grew up in the valley and so the
Universal the theme park was always a place that we
would just go to. So during the summers, you know,
we'd always have an annual pass. We'd go with our parents.
We'd go and family was in town, and that was
like always one of the stops. My favorite ride was
(09:59):
the Trap because you could learn a lot about how
movies are made. I could give my own version of
the backlot tour on a golf cart, which I'm pretty
proud of, and so it was funny. I like, And
then I worked at the theme park selling tickets in
the ticket booths. So it was kind of like a
full circle thing when I ended up back at Universal
(10:21):
in the in the guy's the Focus Features.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Yeah, now that's really dope. And you know, back on
the lot as they say, yes, next quote welcome. This
is where the magic happens. And as we all know,
by magic, I mean nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
That is Emma Stone an easy a welcoming her friend
to her room because he came by to just say
hi and give her a proposition.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yes, this was this was where she was on her
pathway to get that scarlet day. This is such a
good movie. It's kind of like a perfect little like
pick me up movie? Is that what it is for you?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
One hundred percent? I feel like it's one of those
every time I kind of see it, I wanted to
turn it on. It's one of those fun ones to
have in the background, one of those other movies like
can quote all the time. Emma Stone's amazing in it.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Her last and most frequent collaborator to this point, your
ghost Lanthemos y'all have his next movie as woll.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah, so Bogonia is over at Focused Features slated for
this year, so Emma is starring in it along with
Jesse Plemmins, and she's also producing, which is really cool.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, And honestly, like, I just I hope that you
got her some kind of easy a reference to sort
of like tie that circle or better yet, make him
watch her an Easya that would be even better.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, your most please approof Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Please approve exactly. I love Easya too, And also the
movie that kind of told us that Emma Stone was
going to be incredible. Third quote, the greatest thing you'll
ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
That is a quote that used to make me cry
all the time when I was in high school and
very very emotional. That that is Boz Lrman's Mulan Rouge.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I love Milan Rouge. I love the like craziness of
it and just how his sort of like cinematic mind
is just exploding off of that film.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yeah. I think it was one of the first movies
that I would watch over and over and over again
just because visually it's so stunning, and then you know,
as a very emotional teenager, it was just something I
attached myself.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It really does give you the feels. Man bas is again,
such a singular filmmaker. But why is he special to you?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I mean, Mulan Rouge is my It's like my go
to favorite movie of all time if anyone ever asks me,
that's kind of what I say, Baz Luhrmann. For me,
it was, you know, maybe the first time I geeked
out over a filmmaker. He's got a visual style, he's
got a musical sense that is all kind of entangled
(12:51):
in a beautiful way in all of his films. So
every single time I see his name attached to something,
I always want to go see it. Like the first
film that I saw from him was Romeo plus Jewel
Yet and that one I think hits home for a
lot of millennials. I guess it does. But you know,
even going back and rewatching a lot of these movies,
it's it's just amazing to see and to see kind
(13:13):
of how he crafts a story with all of these
different elements put together, it's a it's a visual feast.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I will say which it was awarded for, because I
think it got two Oscar wins for costuming and for
production design. And speaking of awards, though, we talked about
these series that you did earlier. Did you not get
an Emmy nomination.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
For a couple of Yeah, we got two Emmy nominations,
one for Real Destinations, which I mentioned, our travel show,
and then one for Dressed, which is our costume show.
So it's crazy because we've had a lot of iterations
of them. One of them we actually launched pre pandemic,
but just right before it happened, and Dressed I think
(13:54):
we actually launched during the pandemic. So during that time,
the series also changed quite a bit, so we had
like virtual versions and we had to do a handful
of interviews over zoom, and then it kind of evolved
some more for us to go back onto locations again
once everything started opening up. So it's been a labor
of love for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Let's get it. I dig that, and especially for that
type of content. I mean people expect that from certain
like you know, PBS series or whatever, but really just
like for the love of movies, such an accomplishment, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
It was exciting, awesome, all right.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Quotes were done and you did amazing. Let's move on
over to our second one, which is these are true
or false?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
The nineteen fifty seven film Old Yeller was the first
live action film produced by Disney. True or false.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I think that's false because I remember it was part
of a string of a bunch of live actions that
they had just started doing, so it probably is not
the first.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
No, the first one was actually seven years prior, in
nineteen fifty and it was Treasure Island, so that was
actually the first. But I mean, set everything off. We
don't get the MCU without Treasure Island. Apparently old yell
Are sad? Are you an old Yeller person?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I mean, I'm a dog person, which is probably why
I level, wait, what, No, he died?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Spoiler alert, he dies? How may you be a dog person?
It's such a sad movie.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It's sad, but it's a story about a boy and
his dog at the end of the day, and it
doesn't hurt at the end unless you've really had that
connection with a dog. So that's kind of why I
love it so much. But it is very sad.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
I just want to say, we need more time to
examine this because I know dog people that won't watch
a movie if the dog dies, even if it is
old yellert you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Sometimes you got to get the tears out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I think I'm just feeling like you want the feels,
and so you're like, go for the jugular, let's go
for the dog movie.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
I can respect that.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I mean it's funny too. I just feel like I
had the VHS growing up, and I probably asked my
parents to buy it because there was a dog on
the cover. But that's, you know, a VHS that I
watched front to back, and it's really funnily enough. You know,
there's behind the scenes features on the back end. You
just have to wait through all the credits and so, oh, yeah,
(16:16):
why you're weeping. But he does get a puppy in
the end. No, it's a little happy, no. But you know,
I always loved watching behind the scenes content, which is
kind of funny that I'm working in that now. And
I don't know why this is a core memory, but
on the old Yeller VHS, there was a segment about
Folly artists and they're talking about like the scuffle scene,
(16:37):
and you can see them like moving twigs and stuff
in the dirt to kind of make sounds for that,
and you can hear them like opening and closing doors
and that kind of part of the movie. Magic has
always resonated with me and has always been really cool.
So it's fun that I get to kind of do
that now in my day to day job. I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Next trivia question, the nineteen twenty two film Nos Vara
Tu was the first time a vampire died from exposure
to sunlight? True or false?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I want to say true, just because I know how
much people love that version of the movie, and I
feel like that would be something new that they that
made kind of push them to like it so much.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I did not know it was true, but I definitely
remember that scene, mostly because it features prominently in Interview
with a Vampire with Brad Pitt. It is like the
see where he's like, I first saw the sunlight, and
he said he first saw it watching No Sparatu, So
I guess that was the first time there was the
sun See. There you go connecting, connecting the dots by contextclues.
But yeah, previous vampire novels such as Bram Stoker's Dracula
(17:42):
had shown vampires disliking sunlight, but No Saratu was the
first time it killed them. And you have the latest
No Saratu from Robert Edgars.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, Robert Eggers reimagining of No Sparratu is probably one
of my favorite films that Focus has done. It's a
horror movie, for sure, and it's very scary. I'm not
the biggest horror fan because I'm usually the one covering
my face and my ears because it's a little too
scary for me. But in addition to it being a
(18:16):
masterful horror movie, it's it's pulling all the stops in
terms of the creativity, in terms of like getting heads
of departments on a production that are kind of at
the top of their game. The performances are amazing, and
he really really builds this world that you kind of
get sucked into no pun intended, and it's it's a
(18:39):
gorgeous film, and I think that adds to how scary
it is because it's really kind of it drapes itself
in this kind of amazing war and kind of gothic look,
and it's very realistic because Robert Eggers is all about
detail and all about that the history and the research
that goes into its movies, which makes them awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And I know this was like, first of all, a
big moment for Focused Features because of how big the
film was. But it was also I think a special
moment for you, like putting out content with it, because
it was again, it's a very special film.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Yeah, this movie was the it's like, I think probably
the first movie I went to set, like while we
were in production to film one of our digital series.
So we filmed an episode of Dress there and did
a really nice intimate conversation with Linda Murra, our costume designer.
We were in the costume department. All of the costumes
were propped up and laid out for us to take
(19:33):
a look at, and just the amazing detail that was,
you know, in every single piece, and kind of what
that told about each character and what it kind of
added to the story was really really fascinating. She collaborated
really really closely with Rob to get that look down
(19:54):
and a lot of things that you know, he had
suggested to kind of bring it to life. When the
movie had come out, I think from start to finish,
because we were there on the production feels like, I
want to say, three years and so I feel like
I had been working on that movie for so long,
so so satisfying to see it out on the big
screen and seeing how everyone had reacted to it.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, Okay, last trivia question. The mahogany desk and chair
in the music room at Downton Abbey once belonged to Napoleon.
True or false.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
High Clare Castle is Downton Abbey, and I feel like
that estate has been around for so long. I wouldn't
be surprised if that's true. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
True. They were bought by the third Earl of Carnarvon
in eighteen twenty one after Napoleon's death.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, the chair was made for Napoleon and they had
a sketch made of him circa eighteen oh four.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I'm wondering if I've seen that there, like when I visited,
and I'm trying to like.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, the Lord and the lady are the ones that
had the sketch made of him. It's kind of crazy though,
I Mean, I guess rich people can do what they want,
just go shopping, just make a chair and like all
of this stuff from Napoleon. It's cool though. But listen,
that's the big film this year for Focus.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Yeah, it's the third and final installment of Downton Abbey.
Although you know, you can always find a reason to
go back.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, And because Downton had this built in fandom myself
included of people from the show. When you got to
put your work into the production of the film, you
really got to do a lot, both for the first
two and now for this one.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, I mean Downtown Abbey is a really special one
to work on because, like you said, the fan base
is just eager for everything and anything. As a fellow
fangirl just in general, it's I try to see what
would I like if I was like the biggest fan
of this movie. It's cool. We you know, real destinations.
(21:52):
We shot our pilot episode for Downton Abbey and that's
when I was able to visit High Clear, along with
a bunch of other plays that were featured not just
in the film but also the TV show and then
outside of that for the second film, the biggest thing
that we did we did I think it was a
four or five episode series. There was a cooking series,
(22:13):
cooking show called Downton Kitchen. It was hosted by Ninie
Wynn who was on Top Chef. We had mister Molesley
Kevin Doyle come in and cook a couple of recipes
with her, and then also the historian who wrote the
or helped write the cookbook. She was there for an
episode as well, So it's kind of a fun way
to again trying to think out of the box in
(22:34):
terms of how to market a movie and kind of
give fans something that they'd be excited to see.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Lovely, you did amazing, perfect score. Now I am going
to dive into the world of universal pictures a little
bit and I'm gonna hand this over to you and
if you can pop that top, just pop it open
like a like a top of a literally pop. It
really does pop, just like popcorn buckets. See, we just
(22:59):
got to keep that theme going. Uh, this is for me.
These are multiple choice. You're gonna give me a movie
quote and I'm going to have to pick it out
of a lineup. And there's a reason why it has
to come out of a lineup, because the devil is
in the details of those. When I'm telling you, all right,
let's get started.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
We're going to have to watch that temper of yours.
Is that a hell Boy to the Golden Army b
Hulk or see kick Ass two.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I'm gonna say Hulk, Yes, thanks.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
He's got a temper.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Is that the ban of Hulk? Or is that the
Norton Hulk.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Both probably had tempers.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
All of them are good, all right.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I once saw him beat a guy up with a
starfish A forgetting Sarah Marshall, be Hot Fuzz or See
by the.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Sea forgetting Sarah Marshall. Yeah, I don't know what that is.
Is that Paul Rudd? Is that Paul r that? I
think that's part saying that.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
I can totally imagine I just.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Because he's so random in that movie. But he is
so good.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, nice little cameo. Alright, let your heart guide you,
it whispers, so listen closely. A about Time, B the
Land before Time or see Fast Times at Ridgemont High
did there with the evaid?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I think this is the Land before Time, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
It is? Yes, little Foot cry cries.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Do you know how many Land Before Times there are?
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm definitely more than fourteen, because I head up to
fourteen on VHS.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I think it's like seventeen or more. Now it's there's
more now, like that is a that is a well
that does not run as dry?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Little foot, it's little foot, Steven Spielberg.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It'll always hit that one. Yeah, Yeah, that was a
good time.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
All right. Last one at the Beep please leave your name,
number and a brief justification for the ontological necessity of
modern man's existential dilemma, and we'll get back to you.
That's either a how sitter be the real McCoy or
see reality Bites.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Girl. We were doing so well, we were doing so well.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I have this. It's hard.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I have literally no justification for this other than it
is an answering machine, and reality Bites would have an
answering machine.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
That's correct, yay, But.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
I did not know that. I did not know that
I've seen Reality Bites, but I did not remember that
context clues. The context clues gave you that one away.
They are being kind to us. I appreciate it, I
will take it. Or maybe we're just so experienced producing
film content together that this just bled into it.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Maybe these were hard, though, so I give you props to.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
I thought, I finally feel like I achieved something does
not normally go this well, trust me, absolutely does.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Like I've listened to some of the other episodes.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
No, yeah, oh no, I know I know how much.
I know how much you suck about this. Thank you, Angela.
But before we get out of here, a little rapid
fire favorite movie snack popcorn just by itself with butter Okay, yeah,
nimpty have to last show you binged?
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Oh this love is blind?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Count absolutely actor who can do no wrong.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I'm gonna go with Ewan McGregor.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Oh, that's a great one. That is a great one.
OPI one going to the movie theater alone, yes or no?
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Yes, I actually just did that recently. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
I'm more surprised at people that say no in our
job for doing that because I'm like, we're always in
a theater.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I started doing it recently. But it's nice.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Uh, favorite classic Universal film.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I'm gonna go with E T.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
The reason I hesitated was because when I worked at
the theme park, we were you put on your badge
favorite Universal movie, and I put Broke Back Mountain, which
was is my favorite focus movie of all time. And
then at that time too, Scott Pilgrim Versus the World
just came out, so I really wanted to put that.
But if going classic, I'm gonna go eat.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
No et is a good one. Yeah. Great answers. Thank Angela.
It was so great talking with you about your career
at NBC Universal and all of the incredible films you've
seen on the screen.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.
This episode of Scene on the Screen is brought to
you by Peacock Movies. Transport us to new worlds, connect
us to unlimited possibilities, and bring to life our wildest dreams.
With Peacock, It's all possible right from your living room.
Stream hit films from Universal Pictures, Illumination, Focus Features, DreamWorks, Animation,
(00:20):
and more. Sit back, relax and enjoy the show because
the best movies are home on Peacock. Did Pride and
Prejudice just celebrate another anniversary?
Speaker 2 (00:30):
Is it fifty? I think it is or twenty?
Speaker 1 (00:33):
It's twenty maybe? Yeah, I think it is twenty. Oh,
let's not say it, but Joe Wright, you're a genius. Sir. Hello,
I'm Jackal and Coley. Welcome to Scene on the Screen,
brought to you by Make It Universal and Rotten Tomatoes.
While we talk movies with some of the people behind
the scenes at NBC Universal. When entertainment works best, sometimes
(00:55):
it opens a window into a world we've never imagined.
Other times it's us a mere image of our lives
with the heightened sense of home. Today we're going to
dig into the question what have you seen on the
screen that has done that? My guest today is Vice
President of Creative Content at Focused Features, Angela Visagas. You'll
hear about the surprising classic film that instilled a love
(01:17):
of behind the scenes content, the satisfying feeling of witnessing
the three year process of a new release, and why
she's always up for baz Lerman.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
My.
Speaker 1 (01:35):
Angela, Welcome to the Scene on the Screen podcast.
Speaker 2 (01:38):
Thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (01:38):
I'm so excited to chat with you because we've worked
together before, So I'm going to ask a x slightly
awkward question, but hey, so who are you and what
do you doing to be universal?
Speaker 2 (01:46):
My name is Angela Vesagas, and I am the VP
of Creative Content at Focus Features.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
And I love that I got to chat with you
at the beginning of your time at Focus Features. It
was a journey to get here. But tell me a
little bit more about what your position sort of entails.
Speaker 2 (02:01):
Yeah, I mean, I've been at Focus for almost for
seven years now. Creative content is kind of a traditional
role at a studio. Essentially, like the main part of
the job is I'm in charge of bringing on our
cruise to capture behind the scenes footage on our productions
or if we acquire a film, either at a film
festival or through some other means. Then I'm in charge
(02:22):
of kind of taking in all of those bets materials
and essentially sharing it with the world. So there's a
little bit of that. I also run all of our
productions and special shoots for any marketing type of shoots.
And then over the course of the time that I
was at Focus, we started developing what we call digital series.
It's kind of a spin on a behind the scenes
(02:43):
featurette where it's a little bit more formatted and there's
kind of like a through line and essentially like certain
beat you got to hit. Sometimes they're hosted and so
we produce those too. So it's busy all the time,
which is great.
Speaker 1 (02:57):
Yeah, and you work on every Focus features film.
Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah, it's kind of from beginning to end. So as
soon as something goes into production, we're pulled in early
to read the script and to kind of figure out
what days are most important to capture while we have
everybody on set, and then all the way through the
marketing campaign and all the way through theatrical release, and
then sometimes movies come back people from the home entertainment
(03:19):
side need anything or anything like that. We kind of
get pulled in again. So but it's fun. You get
to see kind of the full life cycle of a
film in its marketing campaign. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:30):
And I think did Pride and Prejudice just celebrate another
anniversary pretty soon?
Speaker 2 (03:34):
Yeah? Yeah?
Speaker 1 (03:35):
Yeah? Is it fifty?
Speaker 2 (03:36):
I think it is? Or twenty?
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's twenty maybe? Oh, cairl god, I think it is twenty.
Don't want Yeah, I think it is twenty. Oh, let's
not say it. But Joe Wright, you're a genius, sir.
And that's like another one of those things that you
definitely work on. And your job is one of these
ones that I tell people this podcast is so valuable
for because unless you worked in LA or like knew somebody,
you wouldn't necessarily know that that job existed. So how
(04:01):
did you come to it? Because I feel like it's
one of those like secret, little stash away things. It's
like a little paradise.
Speaker 2 (04:07):
Sure, sure. I mean when I started my career, I
was just thinking, Okay, what can I do that's tied
to film? And maybe marketing felt like a nice formal
place where it felt a little secure and I could
study or try something out and kind of get in.
So that was what I had in my mind, not
(04:27):
realizing how big marketing is, especially in the film world
and entertainment in general. So I actually started a pretty
traditional agency. They did a lot of print, radio TV
for Hispanic audiences. So we were working with clients like
Farmer's Insurance and Dunkin Donuts and Kaiser Permanente, so very
(04:51):
different from what I'm currently doing, but the goal had
always been entertainment. So I kind of had an opportunity
come up for an unpaid internship. I had a digital
agency doing digital marketing. So this is back in the
day of like flash advertisements on websites. We were just
learning about HTML websites because mobile phones started becoming a
(05:12):
bigger thing and more people had Internet on the go.
So it was really kind of at this interesting time
where marketing, especially in the digital space, was kind of
just sparking and growing. We had some of the very
first social campaigns, which is very weird to say now
(05:33):
considering everybody is on their phones all the time on
social media, and so that was kind of my bread
and butter. I learned a lot of digital marketing and
kind of saw it go through a bunch of different
early phases, and I was doing that. I don't know.
I made around six years or something like that. Then
I had a short stint at BuzzFeed where I took
a lot of the content creation part of being at
(05:55):
an agency and tried to kind of work into kind.
Speaker 1 (06:02):
Of branded content.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Yeah, at BuzzFeed, So I did that, and that was
where I was right before I hit Focus. When I
got to Focus, I was overseeing brand marketing. So that's
everything focused features on social online. It's like YouTube, and
at that time, you know, if Facebook Watch was really new,
So I was kind of tasked with, hey, can we
(06:24):
do anything a little bit more long form? Is there
anything you can bring from your you know, content creation
background into it? And that's when we started developing our
digital series, our first one that you were a part of.
So that was really fun. That one was called you
know that scene, and that was back in God was
(06:44):
that twenty seventeen.
Speaker 1 (06:46):
Sixty seventeen, yeah, seventeen.
Speaker 2 (06:48):
Yeah, so it'd been a minute and that one was
really successful, and so we were essentially greenlit to do
a bunch more. And I feel like now we have
about maybe twenty different formats so and they kind of
run the gamut in terms of production values. So we've
we've got a travel show called Real Destinations, but it's
all about filming locations. We have a fashion based one
(07:08):
cooking show too, and a cooking show for down to Nabbey,
so kind of a little bit of everything, right, and
then we also capture content with our talent at Junkets
and kind of do more short form things for them
as well, which work well on social.
Speaker 1 (07:20):
So you really followed the matchurization of digital media through
all of those spots kind of along the way, like
you were kind of growing up in your career. At
the same time the Internet was being legitimized in commerce,
so you really kind of had a first sty look
at all that it was.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
It was a crazy time, you know, And I feel
like marketing for me was always really interesting because it
was constantly changing, I think, especially in the digital space
and trying to figure out, you know, what's the next
big thing that we can do or what's the next
different thing that we can do. I think now with
like ar VR and just kind of even AI, like
all of the different technologies within a digital space constantly
(07:59):
keeps us on our toes to see, like what is
the next coolest thing that we can do? To get
our movies out there.
Speaker 1 (08:05):
Very cool. Well, I know one cool thing we can
do right now that is dive into some quotes. OK,
so these are things that you've seen on the screen though,
so no.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Reason, So I don't have to. I will just sit here.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
I know this is different for you.
Speaker 2 (08:18):
I know.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
When I'm around you, I kind of feel like I'm
on drugs. Not that I do drugs, unless you do drugs,
in which case I do do them all the time.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
That is Scott from Scott Pilgrim versus the world trying
to impress Romona Flowers. Yes, you are.
Speaker 1 (08:40):
Doing a great a great vibe check today. It feels
very Ramona.
Speaker 2 (08:45):
I will take it. I've cosplayed as Ramona and I've
done it many a time.
Speaker 1 (08:49):
Really actually dig that even more, Scott Pilgrim. It's such
a kind of iconic universal film.
Speaker 2 (08:55):
And it's like just the kind of just the right
amount of like over the top awkward humor at the
same time with action and cool music and video game
references which I really like.
Speaker 1 (09:06):
And then also, I mean, it wasn't a huge hit
when it first came out, but again, it was just
this movie that everybody sort of built a home a
cult following in the home video sales for it, along
with like now it has a TV show.
Speaker 2 (09:17):
Yeah, I was working at the theme park when that
movie came out, and I remember they did and like
a screening on the lot here at Universal, and I
brought my little brother. So it's like one of those
movies that we watched together, me and him, and then
we dragged our sister into it.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
So yes, okay, so tell this whole story because you're
a Universal girl, born and bred, like you're from southern
California and you worked on the park before you now
work here.
Speaker 2 (09:38):
Yeah, so I yeah, born bred, rays never left kind
of situation. Grew up in the valley and so the
Universal the theme park was always a place that we
would just go to. So during the summers, you know,
we'd always have an annual pass. We'd go with our parents.
We'd go and family was in town, and that was
like always one of the stops. My favorite ride was
(09:59):
the Trap because you could learn a lot about how
movies are made. I could give my own version of
the backlot tour on a golf cart, which I'm pretty
proud of, and so it was funny. I like, And
then I worked at the theme park selling tickets in
the ticket booths. So it was kind of like a
full circle thing when I ended up back at Universal
(10:21):
in the in the guy's the Focus Features.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
Yeah, now that's really dope. And you know, back on
the lot as they say, yes, next quote welcome. This
is where the magic happens. And as we all know,
by magic, I mean nothing.
Speaker 2 (10:36):
That is Emma Stone an easy a welcoming her friend
to her room because he came by to just say
hi and give her a proposition.
Speaker 1 (10:44):
Yes, this was this was where she was on her
pathway to get that scarlet day. This is such a
good movie. It's kind of like a perfect little like
pick me up movie? Is that what it is for you?
Speaker 2 (10:55):
One hundred percent? I feel like it's one of those
every time I kind of see it, I wanted to
turn it on. It's one of those fun ones to
have in the background, one of those other movies like
can quote all the time. Emma Stone's amazing in it.
Speaker 1 (11:07):
Her last and most frequent collaborator to this point, your
ghost Lanthemos y'all have his next movie as woll.
Speaker 2 (11:14):
Yeah, so Bogonia is over at Focused Features slated for
this year, so Emma is starring in it along with
Jesse Plemmins, and she's also producing, which is really cool.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Yeah, And honestly, like, I just I hope that you
got her some kind of easy a reference to sort
of like tie that circle or better yet, make him
watch her an Easya that would be even better.
Speaker 2 (11:37):
Yeah, your most please approof Yeah.
Speaker 1 (11:39):
Please approve exactly. I love Easya too, And also the
movie that kind of told us that Emma Stone was
going to be incredible. Third quote, the greatest thing you'll
ever learn is just to love and be loved in return.
Speaker 2 (11:54):
That is a quote that used to make me cry
all the time when I was in high school and
very very emotional. That that is Boz Lrman's Mulan Rouge.
Speaker 1 (12:02):
I love Milan Rouge. I love the like craziness of
it and just how his sort of like cinematic mind
is just exploding off of that film.
Speaker 2 (12:11):
Yeah. I think it was one of the first movies
that I would watch over and over and over again
just because visually it's so stunning, and then you know,
as a very emotional teenager, it was just something I
attached myself.
Speaker 1 (12:23):
It really does give you the feels. Man bas is again,
such a singular filmmaker. But why is he special to you?
Speaker 2 (12:29):
I mean, Mulan Rouge is my It's like my go
to favorite movie of all time if anyone ever asks me,
that's kind of what I say, Baz Luhrmann. For me,
it was, you know, maybe the first time I geeked
out over a filmmaker. He's got a visual style, he's
got a musical sense that is all kind of entangled
(12:51):
in a beautiful way in all of his films. So
every single time I see his name attached to something,
I always want to go see it. Like the first
film that I saw from him was Romeo plus Jewel
Yet and that one I think hits home for a
lot of millennials. I guess it does. But you know,
even going back and rewatching a lot of these movies,
it's it's just amazing to see and to see kind
(13:13):
of how he crafts a story with all of these
different elements put together, it's a it's a visual feast.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
I will say which it was awarded for, because I
think it got two Oscar wins for costuming and for
production design. And speaking of awards, though, we talked about
these series that you did earlier. Did you not get
an Emmy nomination.
Speaker 2 (13:34):
For a couple of Yeah, we got two Emmy nominations,
one for Real Destinations, which I mentioned, our travel show,
and then one for Dressed, which is our costume show.
So it's crazy because we've had a lot of iterations
of them. One of them we actually launched pre pandemic,
but just right before it happened, and Dressed I think
(13:54):
we actually launched during the pandemic. So during that time,
the series also changed quite a bit, so we had
like virtual versions and we had to do a handful
of interviews over zoom, and then it kind of evolved
some more for us to go back onto locations again
once everything started opening up. So it's been a labor
of love for sure.
Speaker 1 (14:13):
Let's get it. I dig that, and especially for that
type of content. I mean people expect that from certain
like you know, PBS series or whatever, but really just
like for the love of movies, such an accomplishment, Thank you.
Speaker 2 (14:25):
It was exciting, awesome, all right.
Speaker 1 (14:28):
Quotes were done and you did amazing. Let's move on
over to our second one, which is these are true
or false?
Speaker 2 (14:36):
Okay.
Speaker 1 (14:42):
The nineteen fifty seven film Old Yeller was the first
live action film produced by Disney. True or false.
Speaker 2 (14:50):
I think that's false because I remember it was part
of a string of a bunch of live actions that
they had just started doing, so it probably is not
the first.
Speaker 1 (15:00):
No, the first one was actually seven years prior, in
nineteen fifty and it was Treasure Island, so that was
actually the first. But I mean, set everything off. We
don't get the MCU without Treasure Island. Apparently old yell
Are sad? Are you an old Yeller person?
Speaker 2 (15:14):
I mean, I'm a dog person, which is probably why
I level, wait, what, No, he died?
Speaker 1 (15:19):
Spoiler alert, he dies? How may you be a dog person?
It's such a sad movie.
Speaker 2 (15:24):
It's sad, but it's a story about a boy and
his dog at the end of the day, and it
doesn't hurt at the end unless you've really had that
connection with a dog. So that's kind of why I
love it so much. But it is very sad.
Speaker 1 (15:36):
I just want to say, we need more time to
examine this because I know dog people that won't watch
a movie if the dog dies, even if it is
old yellert you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Sometimes you got to get the tears out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (15:46):
I think I'm just feeling like you want the feels,
and so you're like, go for the jugular, let's go
for the dog movie.
Speaker 2 (15:52):
That's fair.
Speaker 1 (15:53):
I can respect that.
Speaker 2 (15:54):
I mean it's funny too. I just feel like I
had the VHS growing up, and I probably asked my
parents to buy it because there was a dog on
the cover. But that's, you know, a VHS that I
watched front to back, and it's really funnily enough. You know,
there's behind the scenes features on the back end. You
just have to wait through all the credits and so, oh, yeah,
(16:16):
why you're weeping. But he does get a puppy in
the end. No, it's a little happy, no. But you know,
I always loved watching behind the scenes content, which is
kind of funny that I'm working in that now. And
I don't know why this is a core memory, but
on the old Yeller VHS, there was a segment about
Folly artists and they're talking about like the scuffle scene,
(16:37):
and you can see them like moving twigs and stuff
in the dirt to kind of make sounds for that,
and you can hear them like opening and closing doors
and that kind of part of the movie. Magic has
always resonated with me and has always been really cool.
So it's fun that I get to kind of do
that now in my day to day job. I love it.
Speaker 1 (16:54):
Next trivia question, the nineteen twenty two film Nos Vara
Tu was the first time a vampire died from exposure
to sunlight? True or false?
Speaker 2 (17:05):
I want to say true, just because I know how
much people love that version of the movie, and I
feel like that would be something new that they that
made kind of push them to like it so much.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
I did not know it was true, but I definitely
remember that scene, mostly because it features prominently in Interview
with a Vampire with Brad Pitt. It is like the
see where he's like, I first saw the sunlight, and
he said he first saw it watching No Sparatu, So
I guess that was the first time there was the
sun See. There you go connecting, connecting the dots by contextclues.
But yeah, previous vampire novels such as Bram Stoker's Dracula
(17:42):
had shown vampires disliking sunlight, but No Saratu was the
first time it killed them. And you have the latest
No Saratu from Robert Edgars.
Speaker 2 (17:53):
Yeah, Robert Eggers reimagining of No Sparratu is probably one
of my favorite films that Focus has done. It's a
horror movie, for sure, and it's very scary. I'm not
the biggest horror fan because I'm usually the one covering
my face and my ears because it's a little too
scary for me. But in addition to it being a
(18:16):
masterful horror movie, it's it's pulling all the stops in
terms of the creativity, in terms of like getting heads
of departments on a production that are kind of at
the top of their game. The performances are amazing, and
he really really builds this world that you kind of
get sucked into no pun intended, and it's it's a
(18:39):
gorgeous film, and I think that adds to how scary
it is because it's really kind of it drapes itself
in this kind of amazing war and kind of gothic look,
and it's very realistic because Robert Eggers is all about
detail and all about that the history and the research
that goes into its movies, which makes them awesome.
Speaker 1 (19:00):
And I know this was like, first of all, a
big moment for Focused Features because of how big the
film was. But it was also I think a special
moment for you, like putting out content with it, because
it was again, it's a very special film.
Speaker 2 (19:12):
Yeah, this movie was the it's like, I think probably
the first movie I went to set, like while we
were in production to film one of our digital series.
So we filmed an episode of Dress there and did
a really nice intimate conversation with Linda Murra, our costume designer.
We were in the costume department. All of the costumes
were propped up and laid out for us to take
(19:33):
a look at, and just the amazing detail that was,
you know, in every single piece, and kind of what
that told about each character and what it kind of
added to the story was really really fascinating. She collaborated
really really closely with Rob to get that look down
(19:54):
and a lot of things that you know, he had
suggested to kind of bring it to life. When the
movie had come out, I think from start to finish,
because we were there on the production feels like, I
want to say, three years and so I feel like
I had been working on that movie for so long,
so so satisfying to see it out on the big
screen and seeing how everyone had reacted to it.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
Yeah, Okay, last trivia question. The mahogany desk and chair
in the music room at Downton Abbey once belonged to Napoleon.
True or false.
Speaker 2 (20:27):
High Clare Castle is Downton Abbey, and I feel like
that estate has been around for so long. I wouldn't
be surprised if that's true. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
True. They were bought by the third Earl of Carnarvon
in eighteen twenty one after Napoleon's death.
Speaker 2 (20:42):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Yeah, the chair was made for Napoleon and they had
a sketch made of him circa eighteen oh four.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
I'm wondering if I've seen that there, like when I visited,
and I'm trying to like.
Speaker 1 (20:54):
Yeah, the Lord and the lady are the ones that
had the sketch made of him. It's kind of crazy though,
I Mean, I guess rich people can do what they want,
just go shopping, just make a chair and like all
of this stuff from Napoleon. It's cool though. But listen,
that's the big film this year for Focus.
Speaker 2 (21:12):
Yeah, it's the third and final installment of Downton Abbey.
Although you know, you can always find a reason to
go back.
Speaker 1 (21:19):
Yeah, And because Downton had this built in fandom myself
included of people from the show. When you got to
put your work into the production of the film, you
really got to do a lot, both for the first
two and now for this one.
Speaker 2 (21:32):
Yeah, I mean Downtown Abbey is a really special one
to work on because, like you said, the fan base
is just eager for everything and anything. As a fellow
fangirl just in general, it's I try to see what
would I like if I was like the biggest fan
of this movie. It's cool. We you know, real destinations.
(21:52):
We shot our pilot episode for Downton Abbey and that's
when I was able to visit High Clear, along with
a bunch of other plays that were featured not just
in the film but also the TV show and then
outside of that for the second film, the biggest thing
that we did we did I think it was a
four or five episode series. There was a cooking series,
(22:13):
cooking show called Downton Kitchen. It was hosted by Ninie
Wynn who was on Top Chef. We had mister Molesley
Kevin Doyle come in and cook a couple of recipes
with her, and then also the historian who wrote the
or helped write the cookbook. She was there for an
episode as well, So it's kind of a fun way
to again trying to think out of the box in
(22:34):
terms of how to market a movie and kind of
give fans something that they'd be excited to see.
Speaker 1 (22:39):
Lovely, you did amazing, perfect score. Now I am going
to dive into the world of universal pictures a little
bit and I'm gonna hand this over to you and
if you can pop that top, just pop it open
like a like a top of a literally pop. It
really does pop, just like popcorn buckets. See, we just
(22:59):
got to keep that theme going. Uh, this is for me.
These are multiple choice. You're gonna give me a movie
quote and I'm going to have to pick it out
of a lineup. And there's a reason why it has
to come out of a lineup, because the devil is
in the details of those. When I'm telling you, all right,
let's get started.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
We're going to have to watch that temper of yours.
Is that a hell Boy to the Golden Army b
Hulk or see kick Ass two.
Speaker 1 (23:32):
I'm gonna say Hulk, Yes, thanks.
Speaker 2 (23:34):
He's got a temper.
Speaker 1 (23:35):
Is that the ban of Hulk? Or is that the
Norton Hulk.
Speaker 2 (23:38):
Both probably had tempers.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
All of them are good, all right.
Speaker 2 (23:45):
I once saw him beat a guy up with a
starfish A forgetting Sarah Marshall, be Hot Fuzz or See
by the.
Speaker 1 (23:52):
Sea forgetting Sarah Marshall. Yeah, I don't know what that is.
Is that Paul Rudd? Is that Paul r that? I
think that's part saying that.
Speaker 2 (24:01):
I can totally imagine I just.
Speaker 1 (24:03):
Because he's so random in that movie. But he is
so good.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Yeah, nice little cameo. Alright, let your heart guide you,
it whispers, so listen closely. A about Time, B the
Land before Time or see Fast Times at Ridgemont High
did there with the evaid?
Speaker 1 (24:21):
I think this is the Land before Time, isn't it?
Speaker 2 (24:24):
It is? Yes, little Foot cry cries.
Speaker 1 (24:27):
Do you know how many Land Before Times there are?
Speaker 2 (24:29):
I'm definitely more than fourteen, because I head up to
fourteen on VHS.
Speaker 1 (24:32):
I think it's like seventeen or more. Now it's there's
more now, like that is a that is a well
that does not run as dry?
Speaker 2 (24:40):
Little foot, it's little foot, Steven Spielberg.
Speaker 1 (24:43):
It'll always hit that one. Yeah, Yeah, that was a
good time.
Speaker 2 (24:48):
All right. Last one at the Beep please leave your name,
number and a brief justification for the ontological necessity of
modern man's existential dilemma, and we'll get back to you.
That's either a how sitter be the real McCoy or
see reality Bites.
Speaker 1 (25:06):
Girl. We were doing so well, we were doing so well.
Speaker 2 (25:10):
I have this. It's hard.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
I have literally no justification for this other than it
is an answering machine, and reality Bites would have an
answering machine.
Speaker 2 (25:19):
That's correct, yay, But.
Speaker 1 (25:21):
I did not know that. I did not know that
I've seen Reality Bites, but I did not remember that
context clues. The context clues gave you that one away.
They are being kind to us. I appreciate it, I
will take it. Or maybe we're just so experienced producing
film content together that this just bled into it.
Speaker 2 (25:37):
Maybe these were hard, though, so I give you props to.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
I thought, I finally feel like I achieved something does
not normally go this well, trust me, absolutely does.
Speaker 2 (25:48):
Like I've listened to some of the other episodes.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
No, yeah, oh no, I know I know how much.
I know how much you suck about this. Thank you, Angela.
But before we get out of here, a little rapid
fire favorite movie snack popcorn just by itself with butter Okay, yeah,
nimpty have to last show you binged?
Speaker 2 (26:11):
Oh this love is blind?
Speaker 1 (26:13):
Count absolutely actor who can do no wrong.
Speaker 2 (26:18):
I'm gonna go with Ewan McGregor.
Speaker 1 (26:19):
Oh, that's a great one. That is a great one.
OPI one going to the movie theater alone, yes or no?
Speaker 2 (26:25):
Yes, I actually just did that recently. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (26:27):
I'm more surprised at people that say no in our
job for doing that because I'm like, we're always in
a theater.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
I started doing it recently. But it's nice.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
Uh, favorite classic Universal film.
Speaker 2 (26:38):
I'm gonna go with E T.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
That's a good one.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
The reason I hesitated was because when I worked at
the theme park, we were you put on your badge
favorite Universal movie, and I put Broke Back Mountain, which
was is my favorite focus movie of all time. And
then at that time too, Scott Pilgrim Versus the World
just came out, so I really wanted to put that.
But if going classic, I'm gonna go eat.
Speaker 1 (27:01):
No et is a good one. Yeah. Great answers. Thank Angela.
It was so great talking with you about your career
at NBC Universal and all of the incredible films you've
seen on the screen.
Speaker 2 (27:12):
Thank you for having me. It's been a pleasure.
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