The legendary Jerry Seinfeld is embarking on a new chapter in Hollywood as a movie director. His highly-anticipated feature film debut “Unfrosted,” backed by Netflix, brings the comedy icon to the director’s chair for the first time.
In a new interview with GQ magazine, Jerry Seinfeld reflected on making the jump to Hollywood filmmaking and working with the “dead serious” movie business. “They have no idea that the movie business is over. Film doesn’t occupy the pinnacle in the cultural hierarchy that it did for most of our lives,” he said.
While movies may not have the same cultural status they once held, according to Seinfeld, the stand-up comedy craft remains valuable. “Stand-up is like you’re a cabinetmaker, and everybody needs a guy who’s good with wood,” he explained. “If you have good craft and craftsmanship, you’re kind of impervious to the whims of the industry.”
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Seinfeld believes audiences flock to stand-up “because it’s something you can’t fake.” He added, “It’s like platform diving. You could say you’re a platform diver, but in two seconds we can see if you are or you aren’t. That’s what people like about stand-up. They can trust it.”
The Hollywood comedy legend recently reunited with Larry David in the “Curb Your Enthusiasm” finale to poke fun at the controversial “Seinfeld” ending. Reflecting on the iconic show’s finale, Jerry Seinfeld said, “I don’t believe in regret. It’s arrogant to think you could have done something different.” However, he does believe the final scene with the characters in jail was an issue.
“They said that they had sat and watched the ‘Seinfeld’ finale, trying to figure out what went wrong. And it was obviously about the final scene, leaving them in the jail cell,” Seinfeld commented on revisiting the finale.
As he continues his massively successful stand-up career, Seinfeld is stepping into new Hollywood territory by directing “Unfrosted.” The film, backed by Netflix, boasts an all-star cast and gives audiences a comedic twist on the invention of the iconic toaster pastries. The star-studded Netflix comedy features Seinfeld in the director’s chair and tells a fictionalized origin story of the creation of Pop-Tarts.
“It was totally new to me. I thought I had done some cool stuff, but it was nothing like the way these people work,” Seinfeld told GQ on directing his debut film. Even after decades in Hollywood entertainment, shifting to movie directing posed an exciting new challenge.
As for what Seinfeld believes has replaced movies’ former cultural dominance, he said: “Depression? Malaise? I would say confusion. Disorientation replaced the movie business.”
For the legendary Jerry Seinfeld, “Unfrosted” represents his first foray directing a Hollywood film feature. While the movie industry may have changed, Seinfeld brings his acclaimed comedic talents behind the camera.
Audiences will get to see a fictionalized take on the creation of Pop-Tarts when “Unfrosted” premieres on Netflix this May.
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YouTube and Netflix replaced movie’s cultural dominance and there’s no two ways around it.