Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
DJ Caruso, Hello there, how are you, sir? Welcome to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
So it's director DJ Carusaw. I have to at first
acknowledge so much. You helmed so many TV shows I
was a huge fan of. I'm a huge Smallville guy.
Never mind the cut, far too short, dark angel. Uh
and then on the big screen you got my man
(00:26):
Xander Cage it does you know I want to say
to you, uh, DJ, if you don't mind my calling
you DJ. It begs the question how does a guy
go from uh, you know, such action stuff to something
like Mary and yet it's an action packed story, the
story of the Virgin Mother. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Well, you know you always you always try to you know,
you always try to learn something new or something do
on any journey or any film. So it's almost like
a brand new canvas and you jump into it. And
I started as a second unit director back in the day,
which is doing all the action and you know, long
of houses and car chases and all that. So I
had that in my background and then I did a
short film to show everybody that I can do actors
(01:08):
and tucking early in my career. But you know, I
think you really, you know, answer your question, it's each movie.
Each movie is its own beast, right, And for me,
Mary was a really compelling character to kind of jump
into and say, like, I've never been immersed in her story.
I've always been on the outside of her story. And
what if I could put the audience in with her
and like in what would it be like? What would
(01:30):
it be like if HEROD sent his Roman soldiers that
he was controlling how to slay your child and you
had to go on the run, And what would happen
if they happened to be in the same house that
you're hiding in, And so, you know, taking the scriptures
and stuff, but you know, also cinematically elevating the movie
so that it becomes a thrilling experience as well, so
that you know, in the answer question, I've done every
(01:51):
genre from a sports gambling drama to Dandard cage to
you know, you know, a meth induced of Alec Kilmer.
So I just love movies and I'm love the characters.
And Mary was a character that I loved. I wanted
to tell her story.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, you know, I went to Catholic school. You know,
I went to Catholic school for sixteen years. I'm a
former altar boy here too, and I got to say,
you know, we never really got the p the po
V as far as Mary's concerned. It's actually a really
interesting vantage point. Even as far as far as I
can recall in the Bible, we got bits and pieces,
(02:27):
but her POV would be there's a lot of challenges
to that. And are you worry about are you worried
at all about religious fury or no? Are you just
looking at this as this is my ten commandments?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah? I think what happens is, you know, I mean,
you know when you're going into this that there's going
to be some religious theory, but you go, I'm making
this movie because I want to show like the courage
and the grace and the love and show Mary as
this incredible role model and when she went through and
you know, like I said, we use the scripture is
our foundation for what we could do and how to
(03:02):
tell a story, but it's it's artistic interpretation to make
her story cinematically exciting and thrilling and still with great reference.
I mean, there's no I love the Virgin Mary and
she's a big part of my life and all that,
but I just want to do. So I put my
head down and said, look, I'm gonna probably get hit
from the sides and all that kind of stuff, but
if you're doing it for the right reason, because you
(03:22):
really want to tell the story. And I really felt like, wow,
she can really be an incredible role model for a
younger generation that's only looked at her, you know, up
as just like this great Holy Mother or the Mother
of God. Never really thought what was it like for
her to be a teenager and to be pregnant, and
to be ostracized, and to be set up with a
man that you didn't know, and to be you know,
(03:44):
your own father not really understanding how your pregnancy was.
And boy, those are a lot of contemporary issues. So
for me it was really like, that's a man, just
put your head down and tell her story.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, that's really that's really well said. And I have
to say, to get Anthony Hopkins on board, the script
had to be top notch because he's he's one of
our best. And I've felt that way for years. No
matter how many Oscar wins are, he's still on top
of his game. You know, he never got to that point.
No disrespect intended, but like the Laurence Olivier. He's one
(04:15):
of our greatest actors ever, but there were many a
great actor towards the end of their career. They stopped
really scrutinizing scripts Hopkins for him to sign off on it.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
That's huge, That is huge. It was really it was
really great And what an honor you get to work
with one of the goats. You know, he was just tremendous.
And you know, when you direct someone like Sir Anthony,
I'm always curious, like, well, what's his process? Like what
do I do? Totally Like do I just set him
off on the train tracks and let him go? Or
what does he need for me? But I realized he's,
like he's a really strong foundation builder with the director
(04:50):
prior to getting on set, and so we did a
lot of talks and zooms and things, script tweaks and
then basically just let him go and get on the train.
And I was just uh recounting a little while ago
about every take is different and that's what makes him brilliant,
Like he finds the gold and he minds it, but
then he's also not afraid to fall in his face,
so he might do one take that he sort of
(05:12):
doesn't doesn't work, but goes off the rail. But there's
a moment in that take that with the editor and
I can find this beautiful moment. So he was really
you know, it was really just an honor and to
roll the camera and to see him and you're looking
looking through the lens and looking through the glass and going, wow,
this is you got to pinch me. This is a
once in a lifetime opportunity.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And really you have to acknowledge Noah Cohen here too,
an Israeli actress in this day and age. There's like,
you say, too, that's really important as well. What a
start to I mean, I know she's got a few credits,
but very few. Yeah, really interesting choice there. Did you
(05:51):
play a role in the casting of her as Mary?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And the yeah, well yeah, that's yeah, that was That's
the thing when you when you set off to make
a movie about Mary. The first thing I was like,
please let me, let me not compromise, let me find
someone who embodies everything I think she is and more.
And so when I saw Noah's audition tape, I immediately
got a I called the cast and director and said
set up something with me tomorrow. I want to Doom
with her on Tel Aviv. I just want to talk
(06:15):
to her and see what she's like, what kind of
kid she is, because right away I just sensed that, Wow,
she has this beauty and she has this grace, but
she's also very accessible, like she's someone that you can
root forward. She's got this fire inside of her and
she yeah, yeah, and so yeah, I think Noah's great.
And this is her first international movie. She's only done
smaller stuff in Tel Aviv and throughout Israel, so this
(06:35):
is her really first time, her her big coming out party.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
And totally.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's wonderful to see see her like a billboards
in Times Square and see all this stuff and realize, wow,
her her life's about to change.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Oh, totally, And I can't wait to watch the film.
I've watched the trailer. She looks fantastic. And I'll tell you,
my Catholicism is so ingrained that all morning. The two
times anyway I referred to her as a knockout, I
felt like, really like I'm going to burn in hell
for that, Like I was uncomfortable describing her that way.
(07:08):
Tells you a bit about my upbringing.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, yeah, I think I think you got Catholic guilt,
and that's something we always carry with us. But I
think it's at the end of the time, no, I mean,
I think it's the human aspect of it. And you know,
I think there's a you know, along those lines. My daughter,
who's just turned seventeen, her and her friends, you know,
after they saw the movie. My daughter said, Dad, I
didn't know Mary was so cool. And I thought, Okay, good,
this is great. If I can get her to be
(07:31):
cool and different and people see her in a different ways,
and that's that's that's why you do it. That's why
you make the movie fantastic.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
It began. It dropped on Netflix December sixth. You can
watch Mary right now. Great for the holiday season. Director,
DJ Crew, So, I appreciate you taking the time to
come on and I can't wait to watch it. I
really cannot wait to watch it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Thanks again, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much,
DJ Caruso, Hello there, how are you, sir? Welcome to
the show.
Speaker 2 (00:04):
Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 1 (00:05):
So it's director DJ Carusaw. I have to at first
acknowledge so much. You helmed so many TV shows I
was a huge fan of. I'm a huge Smallville guy.
Never mind the cut, far too short, dark angel. Uh
and then on the big screen you got my man
(00:26):
Xander Cage it does you know I want to say
to you, uh, DJ, if you don't mind my calling
you DJ. It begs the question how does a guy
go from uh, you know, such action stuff to something
like Mary and yet it's an action packed story, the
story of the Virgin Mother. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (00:47):
Well, you know you always you always try to you know,
you always try to learn something new or something do
on any journey or any film. So it's almost like
a brand new canvas and you jump into it. And
I started as a second unit director back in the day,
which is doing all the action and you know, long
of houses and car chases and all that. So I
had that in my background and then I did a
short film to show everybody that I can do actors
(01:08):
and tucking early in my career. But you know, I
think you really, you know, answer your question, it's each movie.
Each movie is its own beast, right, And for me,
Mary was a really compelling character to kind of jump
into and say, like, I've never been immersed in her story.
I've always been on the outside of her story. And
what if I could put the audience in with her
and like in what would it be like? What would
(01:30):
it be like if HEROD sent his Roman soldiers that
he was controlling how to slay your child and you
had to go on the run, And what would happen
if they happened to be in the same house that
you're hiding in, And so, you know, taking the scriptures
and stuff, but you know, also cinematically elevating the movie
so that it becomes a thrilling experience as well, so
that you know, in the answer question, I've done every
(01:51):
genre from a sports gambling drama to Dandard cage to
you know, you know, a meth induced of Alec Kilmer.
So I just love movies and I'm love the characters.
And Mary was a character that I loved. I wanted
to tell her story.
Speaker 1 (02:04):
Yeah, you know, I went to Catholic school. You know,
I went to Catholic school for sixteen years. I'm a
former altar boy here too, and I got to say,
you know, we never really got the p the po
V as far as Mary's concerned. It's actually a really
interesting vantage point. Even as far as far as I
can recall in the Bible, we got bits and pieces,
(02:27):
but her POV would be there's a lot of challenges
to that. And are you worry about are you worried
at all about religious fury or no? Are you just
looking at this as this is my ten commandments?
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Yeah? I think what happens is, you know, I mean,
you know when you're going into this that there's going
to be some religious theory, but you go, I'm making
this movie because I want to show like the courage
and the grace and the love and show Mary as
this incredible role model and when she went through and
you know, like I said, we use the scripture is
our foundation for what we could do and how to
(03:02):
tell a story, but it's it's artistic interpretation to make
her story cinematically exciting and thrilling and still with great reference.
I mean, there's no I love the Virgin Mary and
she's a big part of my life and all that,
but I just want to do. So I put my
head down and said, look, I'm gonna probably get hit
from the sides and all that kind of stuff, but
if you're doing it for the right reason, because you
(03:22):
really want to tell the story. And I really felt like, wow,
she can really be an incredible role model for a
younger generation that's only looked at her, you know, up
as just like this great Holy Mother or the Mother
of God. Never really thought what was it like for
her to be a teenager and to be pregnant, and
to be ostracized, and to be set up with a
man that you didn't know, and to be you know,
(03:44):
your own father not really understanding how your pregnancy was.
And boy, those are a lot of contemporary issues. So
for me it was really like, that's a man, just
put your head down and tell her story.
Speaker 1 (03:54):
Yeah, that's really that's really well said. And I have
to say, to get Anthony Hopkins on board, the script
had to be top notch because he's he's one of
our best. And I've felt that way for years. No
matter how many Oscar wins are, he's still on top
of his game. You know, he never got to that point.
No disrespect intended, but like the Laurence Olivier. He's one
(04:15):
of our greatest actors ever, but there were many a
great actor towards the end of their career. They stopped
really scrutinizing scripts Hopkins for him to sign off on it.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
That's huge, That is huge. It was really it was
really great And what an honor you get to work
with one of the goats. You know, he was just tremendous.
And you know, when you direct someone like Sir Anthony,
I'm always curious, like, well, what's his process? Like what
do I do? Totally Like do I just set him
off on the train tracks and let him go? Or
what does he need for me? But I realized he's,
like he's a really strong foundation builder with the director
(04:50):
prior to getting on set, and so we did a
lot of talks and zooms and things, script tweaks and
then basically just let him go and get on the train.
And I was just uh recounting a little while ago
about every take is different and that's what makes him brilliant,
Like he finds the gold and he minds it, but
then he's also not afraid to fall in his face,
so he might do one take that he sort of
(05:12):
doesn't doesn't work, but goes off the rail. But there's
a moment in that take that with the editor and
I can find this beautiful moment. So he was really
you know, it was really just an honor and to
roll the camera and to see him and you're looking
looking through the lens and looking through the glass and going, wow,
this is you got to pinch me. This is a
once in a lifetime opportunity.
Speaker 1 (05:31):
And really you have to acknowledge Noah Cohen here too,
an Israeli actress in this day and age. There's like,
you say, too, that's really important as well. What a
start to I mean, I know she's got a few credits,
but very few. Yeah, really interesting choice there. Did you
(05:51):
play a role in the casting of her as Mary?
Speaker 2 (05:54):
And the yeah, well yeah, that's yeah, that was That's
the thing when you when you set off to make
a movie about Mary. The first thing I was like,
please let me, let me not compromise, let me find
someone who embodies everything I think she is and more.
And so when I saw Noah's audition tape, I immediately
got a I called the cast and director and said
set up something with me tomorrow. I want to Doom
with her on Tel Aviv. I just want to talk
(06:15):
to her and see what she's like, what kind of
kid she is, because right away I just sensed that, Wow,
she has this beauty and she has this grace, but
she's also very accessible, like she's someone that you can
root forward. She's got this fire inside of her and
she yeah, yeah, and so yeah, I think Noah's great.
And this is her first international movie. She's only done
smaller stuff in Tel Aviv and throughout Israel, so this
(06:35):
is her really first time, her her big coming out party.
Speaker 1 (06:38):
And totally.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
Yeah, it's wonderful to see see her like a billboards
in Times Square and see all this stuff and realize, wow,
her her life's about to change.
Speaker 1 (06:47):
Oh, totally, And I can't wait to watch the film.
I've watched the trailer. She looks fantastic. And I'll tell you,
my Catholicism is so ingrained that all morning. The two
times anyway I referred to her as a knockout, I
felt like, really like I'm going to burn in hell
for that, Like I was uncomfortable describing her that way.
(07:08):
Tells you a bit about my upbringing.
Speaker 2 (07:10):
Well, yeah, I think I think you got Catholic guilt,
and that's something we always carry with us. But I
think it's at the end of the time, no, I mean,
I think it's the human aspect of it. And you know,
I think there's a you know, along those lines. My daughter,
who's just turned seventeen, her and her friends, you know,
after they saw the movie. My daughter said, Dad, I
didn't know Mary was so cool. And I thought, Okay, good,
this is great. If I can get her to be
(07:31):
cool and different and people see her in a different ways,
and that's that's that's why you do it. That's why
you make the movie fantastic.
Speaker 1 (07:37):
It began. It dropped on Netflix December sixth. You can
watch Mary right now. Great for the holiday season. Director,
DJ Crew, So, I appreciate you taking the time to
come on and I can't wait to watch it. I
really cannot wait to watch it.
Speaker 2 (07:51):
Thanks again, I really appreciate it. Thank you very much,
Popular Podcasts
Bookmarked by Reese's Book Club
Welcome to Bookmarked by Reese’s Book Club — the podcast where great stories, bold women, and irresistible conversations collide! Hosted by award-winning journalist Danielle Robay, each week new episodes balance thoughtful literary insight with the fervor of buzzy book trends, pop culture and more. Bookmarked brings together celebrities, tastemakers, influencers and authors from Reese's Book Club and beyond to share stories that transcend the page. Pull up a chair. You’re not just listening — you’re part of the conversation.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!