Dax Shepard on the Chuck Norris-Less Brother's Justice, and His Hunger Games Obsession

Back to Brother's Justice; what are your tips for getting a movie made in Hollywood?

I'm of the opinion that the technology is in a place where there's really no excuse not to just make your movie. We shot this entire movie for absolutely nothing; I don't want to say the real number because of the people who bought it, but it was almost literally nothing. You get a couple lavs and a camera dude, and there's no reason not to make a movie. The technology's come so far, even from when we started; you can see in the third act it starts looking a lot better and that's just because we started on a Panasonic P2 and then as we came back to shoot we had a much better camera. But anyone has access to 5Ds and 7Ds and 60Ds, and it can absolutely be done. You've got to use your friends' houses and your friends' cars and your shit... exploring the route of getting that magic meeting where you pitch some high level exec and they get excited and green light it - you have movies, not to be fatalistic about the industry, but you have movies with great writers and big stars and directors attached at studios that aren't getting made. They're making so few movies that you really just have to make it. It's going to be the only way you end up getting work. I don't believe anyone's going to really go out on a limb and just throw millions of dollars on someone that's not been proven. They're going to have to show somebody something at some point.

Was that what this film was for you, your calling card to show people what you can do as a filmmaker?

Oh, absolutely. I'm now directing a movie with a drastically higher budget this summer based solely on the fact that I proved that I could maintain a tone throughout a movie. Especially over the course of a few years with a lot of different elements; there are tons of issues and tons of mistakes and shittiness about the movie, but there's also a pretty fucking even tone from beginning to end, and a lot of different actors with a lot of different clout. The fact that I just did that was enough to make people go, 'We can trust him with more money.' So yeah, I had to do that. If I had not just shot something, I would be in meetings explaining how much I know about lenses and shots and movies. It would have taken a leap of faith on someone's part.

The film seems to cover a period of about 2006-2009; I'm curious, why doesn't Kristen [Bell] make an appearance?

We had shot the first and second act prior to Kristen being in my life, so by the time we shot the third act there was really no place for her. But she is the star of the movie I'm directing in June.

Can you tell me more about that project?

It's currently called Outrun, I don't know if that will stay; it's like a Sundance version of Smokey and the Bandit, a car chase movie. A low-budget car chase movie. All my friends are in it, all of the same group of guys who were in Brother's Justice are in it.

Did Tom have to lobby for a bigger part, as he does in Brother's Justice?

He didn't lobby, but he does have a bigger part. He probably, actually, has the best part in Outrun. He's certainly the most lovable character in it.

There's another of your projects mentioned in the film: Get 'Em Wet, the hot tub salesman movie you were to do with Will Arnett. There's a moment in the film where you take off for North Carolina to finish the script. Whatever happened?

That is a project that [Will] Arnett and I pitched and Paramount bought, and we were going to make. And then Let's Go to Prison came out and made nine dollars and they said, 'I don't know if we want to be in the Dax and Will combo business.' So it never got made. And I really would go to Asheville, North Carolina to do rewrites. That's kind of my favorite place to go.

What's in Asheville that makes it such a special place for you?

Waffle House, The Biltmore House... I went there as a kid and just kind of fell in love with it, and I like to go back there when I can. In fact, they're shooting Hunger Games in Asheville. I'm so jealous!

Oh my God. Those are the magic words. I'm sort of obsessed with The Hunger Games.

Oh, we're super obsessed! And Josh Hutcherson was in Zathura so I've been friends with him since he was 13 and really kept up that friendship. I just went to Bob's Big Boy with him a couple of weeks ago. I think he has the best role; I mean, Peeta's the greatest.

So you've read all of the books in the series?

Well, the funny thing about the books is that Kristen had read them and was obsessed, and she kept explaining them to me. I'm like, 'Mama, that sounds terrible.' Post-apocalyptic girl fighting? That sounds so bad. And finally she was like, 'If I read it to you, will you listen?' I said, 'Yeah, of course.' So she read it out loud to me and I loved it -- both because she was reading to me and because I loved the book.

You both have to figure out a way to get cast in that movie.

We want KB to play -- [aside] honey, what was it?

[In background] Kristen Bell: Johanna Mason.

Johanna Mason. Yes, KB is hell bent on getting that role. So we've got to start a groundswell!

What about you, Dax?

I think I'm too old to be in the movie!

I'm thinking Cinna could be a good part for you.

Cinna? The dresser. I'd have to femme it up a little bit? OK. Actually, KB did go and she met with the writer. She got a hold of the people and really chased it down. She's obsessed.

The novelist Suzanne Collins or the screenwriter?

[Aside] Suzanne Collins, you didn't meet her did you?

No, she met Billy Ray.

Billy Ray! Fingers crossed for that to happen. Well, I only have time for one more question so I'll bring it back to Brother's Justice. Here's one last burning question: Does Bradley Cooper actually know Brazilian jujitsu and does he take it that seriously?

He doesn't, but wasn't he very convincing? Most people who see it think Cooper knows jujitsu.

You really sold that arm lock.

Now, the guy who beats me up in the movie, Steve DiCastro, he legit is a black belt in jujitsu. And he is one tough son of a bitch. He really broke my rib in real life! I was really fucked up when I left that day of shooting. My neck was all chafed from where he was strangling me with my gi. I passed out during it -- he choked me and thought I was fake-tapping out but I really passed out. [Pause] But that guy is now stunt coordinator in my car chase movie!

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