Take Me Home Tonight's Dan Fogler on Drugs, Dance-Offs and Sex with Supermodels

Is there one line that you're particularly proud of coming up with?

I threw out a Dirty Dancing reference that I liked. I was dancing with a girl and I kept yelling, "Does anyone have a watermelon?!" I'm glad they used that in the final cut. A lot of the physical comedy was me. Everything in the bathroom, where I am doing coke -- that was improv.

What is it like doing fake cocaine? Do you actually snort it?

It was powdered milk. I snorted it by accident several times and it created the drip, which people who have done coke told me was pretty authentic. And then I'd just clench my jaw a lot. I have a lot of energy naturally too so that was easy to pull off.

In every scene, you made really good use of your space. Even in the dinner scene, when Topher Grace's character is getting into a serious argument with his parents, you are in the background drunk -- after losing your job -- and overflowing your wine glass. How aware are you of your physical contribution to each scene even when you are not the primary player?

Well, I come from theater so I am always aware of where I am in the scene and what my character is doing and thinking. I also direct so I am aware of my space a lot. I like to play in it.

Do you prefer stage?

No, because I have a more romantic outlook on film since I'm still kind of new to it.

You also write comics and direct. Which is your artistic priority these days?

Well, acting pays the bills and my priority right now is paying some bills. But I can't sit still. I have to keep creating. I love comic books though. I have this one out now called Moon Lake which is like Twilight Zone on acid. I just love creating. I used to sculpt when I was a little kid.

What did you sculpt?

Little characters with weird faces. Faces within faces. I don't really do it anymore though.

You have to have a special room for it. The clay starts to smell after awhile. You have to wrap it and keep it moist. Anything that you have to constantly keep moist kind of becomes a burden after awhile.

Is there one actor whose career you'd like to emulate?

Kind of like a hybrid behind Orson Welles and Robin Williams and Jonathan Winters and Zero Mostel and Philip Seymour Hoffman and Paul Giamatti.

Have you met Paul, Philip or Robin?

I was doing a play in New York a few years ago and Philip patted me on my back afterward. I was so taken aback. I think I actually called him "sir." I said, "Thank you, sir." Paul lives in my neighborhood so I'm down to meet him. I want to get him in my movie.

Don Peyote, which I read is like Annie Hall.

Annie Hall meets Easy Rider meets a Terry Gilliam film meets a Michael Moore film.

And you play the main character.

Yeah, he's this kind of every man who hasn't found a purpose in his life. He bumps into a guy with an "End is Near" sign and my character is so obsessed with what that means that he starts collecting information and interviews and goes overboard over the course of the hero's journey and by the end, he is the one holding the "End is Near" sign.

Finally, let's play "My Favorite Scene: 80's Edition." Is there one moment in an 80's film that really affected you growing up for one reason or another?

The float scene in Ferris Bueller's Day Off -- when he's just taking over the entire city and singing "Twist and Shout." It is just so big and cinematic and fantastical. I just loved it.

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