‘The Rocker’ Tally

Saturday, August 23rd, 2008 | 83 comments

Fan report: Beesly is Love meets Rainn Wilson in Birmingham

Hello Tanster and Tallyheads! I can’t believe the photo I’ve attached is really me and Rainn!! I love fan reports — I can’t believe I wrote one!

I just got back from doing a press roundtable here in Birmingham, Michigan for The Rocker with Rainn Wilson. My heart was beating so hard the entire time; I still can’t believe I met him. My session was with three other reporters from area media.

I introduced myself as a huge fan, and probably appeared a little enthusiastic. But hey, it’s Dwight!

Rainn has been doing a LOT of press for this movie. That’s one of the first things we talked about. We got him for about 20 minutes. He has been traveling all over the place, very much like a rock star, working hard to make sure people see this film.

He was even set to hit Philly later that night. He was gracious, down to earth and animated, and looked quite cool in an Army-esque jacket with a Star Trek t-shirt underneath, jeans, sneakers and some fabulous rimmed glasses.

We talked mostly about the film, how drummers always have to make ‘the ugly’ face no matter what, his love of old-time physical comedy and lots of other good stuff. I’m still smiling about the whole experience. And I did get an Office question in at the end. Here are some highlights:

• Before getting the gig on “Six Feet Under,” he spent 9 consecutive years never earning more than $20,000 a year as a stage actor, but never gave up on making it. Every acting job he got was just a little better than the next.
• The Dwight/Angela scene at the end of Season 4 was difficult to do because Angela was 8 1/2 months pregnant of course, and he basically had to “straddle her tiny 4′ 11′ frame.” He said, “We went all around the office looking for the best place for me to be humping her. Copy machine, Michael’s desk, file cabinet in the corner. We literally were like ‘what about Creed’s desk. How would that work?’”
• I asked him what he would like to see happen with Dwight and Angela in Season 5. His answer: ” I would like to see Andy and Dwight fight it out on a paintball course for her love. And maybe they could form teams. Andy gets some of his a capella frat brothers and Dwight gets Mose and some of his Amish cousins to duel it out.”
• At the end of the interview, none of us could get the French doors open that led to the part of the suite to get out of the room! Even Rainn heroically tried — it was quite a complicated apparatus. Eventually the publicist saved us.

The story behind the photo: Before I went in the room, I had asked the publicist if I could get a photo with him. SO, at the end of the interview, one of the reporters also needed to take a photo for his paper.

They decided to take it in front of the film poster, in the small conference room we were in. However, Rainn took the poster off the easel behind him and proceeded to move in to the adjacent bedroom and LAY on the bed with his poster.

So the reporter takes his shot, and then everyone’s like “your next!” So I walk in (he is literally still resting on this bed) and I say ‘I guess I’ll just snuggle up with you’ — he said it was OK, we were both married. It’s definitely a birthday I won’t forget.

-Andrea (aka Beesly is Love)

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83 comments

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1. 
   83. Kristina  Tue. Aug. 26, 2008 | 7:50pm

   No! I feel awful that the movie bombed! I’m so sorry, Rainn! We love you and you didn’t deserve for this to happen to you on your first starring movie role!

2. 
   82. Sticious  Mon. Aug. 25, 2008 | 9:11pm

   I did my part this weekend. My theater was just about empty. Unfortunately, it was just really bad. Sorry Rainn. I still love you though. I applaud you for a very creative marketing strategy, which was very entertaining :)

3. 
   81. Tobyfan  Mon. Aug. 25, 2008 | 1:09pm

   I know that part of the problem is that it isn’t in enough theatres – I’m from a smaller town and it didn’t make it here, so we’re going to drive about 30 minutes away to go see it this week.

4. 
   80. cdollaz  Mon. Aug. 25, 2008 | 12:21pm

   This was one of the worst movies I have ever seen. I really didn’t get a good laugh once, and this is supposedly a comedy. I had a few chuckles, but that was about it. The characters are horrible, the story is stupid, and the actors had no charisma. Perhaps the biggest problem: the movie is called “The Rocker” and the music doesn’t rock in any way. It’s a bunch of bland pop music that you might hear on a teeny-bopper station. Neither the music not the comedy have any edge to them. Your 12 year-old might like this movie, but everyone else should avoid.

5. 
   79. Jim  Mon. Aug. 25, 2008 | 5:37am

   Wow. It didn’t even crack the Top 10 this week! Where was everyone?

6. 
   78. kelseroo  Mon. Aug. 18, 2008 | 7:02pm

   I love his playlist! Wow, I never realized Rainn and I have the same taste in music. His playlist is now my go-to driving mix. Thanks, Rainn!

7. 
   77. tuna tuna tuna  Mon. Aug. 18, 2008 | 4:48pm

   oh wow, neutral milk hotel is my all time favorite band (well except for the beatles but they are in a league of their own). wow, i can’t believe aeroplane over the sea is on his playlist. he just went to a whole new level in my esteem for him.

8. 
   76. Diapers Schrute  Sun. Aug. 17, 2008 | 2:23pm

   OK, I gotta see The Rocker! And I’d do it even if Jenna’s life WASN’T at stake. :)

9. 
   75. hannah  Sun. Aug. 17, 2008 | 12:21pm

   omg knowing that rainn loves most of the same artists as me (and is an indie kid in his own respect) is just AWESOME! BAH!

   yay for indie rock! i love this playlist!!

10. 
    74. Cher is Bonto  Sun. Aug. 17, 2008 | 10:43am

    Knowing that Rainn loves Radiohead as much as me just made my morning!

    Thanks for the links!

11. 
    73. Mollie  Sat. Aug. 16, 2008 | 7:08am

    Everyone listen to the yRock interview/takeover! yRock is one of the most fabulous programs you will find. As a Philadelphia native, yRock and WXPN keep me alive. It is a great station that really represents public radio and the city of Philadelphia very well. I am so happy that they were able to interview Rainn!

12. 
    72. Laura  Fri. Aug. 15, 2008 | 3:38pm

    It looks like Rainn will be doing radio station interviews on the morning of August 18. I see he’s scheduled to be on KDWB here in Minneapolis around 8:30 a.m.

13. 
    71. Courage from Coals  Fri. Aug. 15, 2008 | 1:05pm

    To add to your Rocker/Rainn tally, he is on the cover of BusinessWeek. There is a brief Q&A with him too, covering his worst job ever, the company he’d like to work for, and time management.

    I won’t have a chance to scan it, so perhaps someone else’s husband also chose to receive this magazine for free in exchange for miles that were about to expire.

14. 
    70. The Great  Thu. Aug. 14, 2008 | 4:38pm

    It is also my birthday that day, I will be celebrating at the theater!

15. 
    69. xs  Tue. Aug. 12, 2008 | 9:42am

    Bakesale!

16. 
    68. secondrink  Tue. Aug. 12, 2008 | 9:42am

    Re: Rainn’s post on Jenna’s MySpace… Save the receptionist, save Rainn’s career. hahaha

    I’ll be there for you on 08/20, Rainn!

17. 
    67. Diapers Schrute  Tue. Aug. 12, 2008 | 9:13am

    I love soup! Therefore I will see The Rocker, but probably not August 20. It’s kind of a school night. But don’t worry Rainn, we all want to save Jenna!

18. 
    66. Paulina  Tue. Aug. 12, 2008 | 9:02am

    that was so hilarious. Love the blog, Rainn just always cracks me up. Can’t wait to see it!

19. 
    65. Joanna CBM  Tue. Aug. 12, 2008 | 5:50am

    hahhahahahaha bake sale! such a great idea. I like that it’s clearly the afterthought of dousing yourself with kerosene. nice touch.

20. 
    64. Andrew (the fifteen year old)  Mon. Aug. 11, 2008 | 9:21pm

    I have to be honest…the trailers for this movie weren’t really getting me that excited (even though I’m probably the target demographic for this type of movie). But after getting online and doing some more research, I may have to give it a viewing after all.

    So many awesome people are in it: Christina Applegate (Poor soul, I hope she gets better very soon), Jeff Garlin (Curb Your Enthusiasm, YAY! My favorite show EVER, after The Office of course–but that’s a given), Fred Armisen (does a mad Obama impression), Jason Sudeikis (does a mad Jim impression), and a nice cameo from Pete Best (He’s a poor soul, too…Can you imagine? I love Ringo, though, so perhaps it was for the best).

    And the email from Rainn just puts me over the top. I’m pretty excited now.

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