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)
I saw a free preview of The Rocker, and I’ve gotta say, it is AWESOME. Rainn is unbelievably funny, and the movie had me laughing out loud time and time again. I cannot waaait until it comes out for real so I can see it again.
Wow…a lot of hate comments on the ‘Sasquatch Blog…’ I can tell you that’s why you don’t make Seattle music scenesters angry…we aren’t very forgiving.
I saw a Rocker poster at a movie theater, and I laughed out loud at the Little Rainn on the poster! Can’t wait!
I went to Sasquatch and was wholly surprised to see Rainn up on stage! It was quite a treat and my friends can attest to my spastic “BWAH?” when he showed up.
I also have two handy “The Rocker” handkerchiefs now, so win-win-win!
That looks pretty funny, actually! I love Christina Applegate. Should be good.
this movie was great!! some great dwight-like moments. i LOLed many times for sure as did the audience.
Haha. Naked Drummer. Not quite Dwight.
I caught a free preview last week and laughed so hard!! Rainn is so great in it!! But I have to say, I saw the tiniest bit of Dwight.
The only person that wants to see that naked drummer would probably be Angela. I’m sorry but it’s going to be pretty difficult to separate Rainn from the Office.
I saw the film at a preview screening a couple of weeks ago and I can’t share the enthusiasm, but I can share that in the film, the crack is on full display, unlike in the clip, so…warning.
Also of interest, the indian guy in the orange shirt in the middle of the clip is the soon to be Office spinoff’s very own, very funny Aziz Ansari.
This Office cast member vehicle looks HILARIOUS.
hahaha “im going to take a little dinner break!”
I gotta go with #1. This looks awesome.
Not gonna lie…this looks pretty bad. But then again…you never know.
You know, from time to time I do wonder what certain male cast members of the Office look like in their birthday suits. Not sure if I ever imagined Dwight/Rainn in the buff. Now I won’t have to.
Wow, this looks pretty good. I might actually go see this.
Just got back from a free screening I attended. Rocked my world! Highly Recommended. Can’t wait to see it again.
They have a huge poster at my theater, it made me laugh! Can’t wait!! Go Rainn!!!
Finally, an Office cast member appearing in Dallas! Woo hoo! I’m there.
I’m from Houston and I’m really hoping I can drive up there! It says first come first serve, how early should we get there?
I get to go see it free tomorrow, I can’t wait!
I saw it last week, it was funny and I loved how Will Arnett was in it. Rainn was crazy in it.
Vanessa,
I recommend arriving about 90 minutes early.
Anyone who’s seen it: How was it? Funny, or funny just because Rainn’s in it?
Yay! I’m so excited it’s in Dallas so I can go. Once I heard about this I was like I’M THERE! :)
I saw it last night in a preview screening — I wanted it to be so good, and Rainn tries his best but he just isn’t given a lot to work with. The lead singer of the band is one of the worst actors I’ve seen on screen in quite a long time, and folks like Will Arnett, Fred Armisen and Dmetri Martin are wasted.
I just got back from the Dallas screening…seeing Rainn was such a treat! His Q&A was fun. He talked about the studio being hesitant to cast him for the lead in the Rocker, but after seeing the clip from Safety Training where Dwight’s playing air guitar, they had no doubt he’d be great. We were a bit disappointed that we didn’t get pictures or autographs after driving four hours to see him, but there were a ton of people there and just being so close to him was awesome! What a cool guy!
This movie is insanely funny!!!! Went to sneak preview last night and would pay to see it today if I could… A friend and I(we’re 40) took our kids 12 and 14 years old and we all laughed through the whole movie…
Yikes! Rainn looks just like the silence of the lambs killer in the promo pic.
“It rubs the lotion on its skin!”
I wonder why they moved the release date? Does anybody know if/when the Hollywood premiere will be?
That picture of Rainn Wilson scares me slightly…not gonna lie…
It was smart that they moved the film’s release. I read its box office wasn’t tracking so hot.
and Rainn will be on the 10! show in philly on wednesday. nbc 10, at 10am and 2pm.
Boo. I don’t like the new date. It’s too close to Step Brothers, which will most likely rule the comedies for a couple weeks.
I went to the Detroit screening last night with Rainn! He talked mostly about the film, but there were plenty of Office fans in attendance. The cutest thing, Office-wise, was when he talked about how he kept accidently looking into the camera while filming Transformers 2. He also led everyone in “The Office” wave, and told everyone he and John K. don’t memorize their lines, they just write them on their desk calendars. (Not sure if that’s true, but it was funny!)
Yay, Beesly! You got to go! :)
Thank you for sharing your experience!
rainn will be on the Today show tomorrow morning with kathy lee and hoda!
[from tanster: i think it’s rita wilson, not rainn wilson.]
Does anyone know when the nyc premiere is?!?!
Underneath the “Rocker” picture it says the movie is scheduled for release Aug. 20, but it’s actually being released July 30. Just thought I’d let you know!
[from tanster: no, it’s been changed to Aug. 20.]
I just got back from the Philly screening, and he was really awesome and stuck around to sign everything for people and get pictures. I felt bad that he was so crowded by people, but it was nice. He commented on my Schrute Farms Beets tshirt as we got a picture together! “Ah, Schrute Beets! Are you a fan of agriculture?” haha he’s great
Rainn also talked about his movie with jason reitman about the alcoholic ninja in the san fernando valley haha
Hi guys, I’m new here on OfficeTally! I wonder how some of you can be so calm after you meet Rainn and he talks to you. I’d be rubbing it in all my friends’ faces! Ah. The Rocker looks super-funny!
haha oh believe me i rubbed it in friends’ faces until they just stopped responding to my text messages so i figured i was getting annoying. and i know that people here at least care. oh and i got a few small video clips of the Q&A on my phone, and only uploaded one to youtube already. the video quality is horrible, but the audio is good. he was asked ‘what was it like working with his younger co-stars?’ Link
I interviewed him Tuesday for the film and was shaking so bad at first! I got a cool pic of he and I that I’ve been “showing off” here at work — obnoxiously, I’m sure. I sent it to Tanster, it’s kind of cute, he’s laying in the hotel bed, and I’m sort of leaning down towards him.
He was on the 10 Show in Philidelphia today! They made him play a song and then they brought out a big thing of jell-o it was so funny!
I saw a commercial for “VH1 Rock Honors- The Who,” and it showed Rainn dressed up as a certain Pinball Wizard. It comes on on July 17th- I’m definitely going to watch it!
So then I went to VH1.com and they had this video of him interviewing The Who posted! He even talks about The Office with them!
All of this is surely a semi-subtle promotion for The Rocker, of course.
I posted a question for Rainn! Hope they use it. i’ll be in a blue dunder mifflin shirt *Maybe cut off b/c of camera*
What a great fan report, Beesly is Love! I got a little giggly while reading your post! Rainn is such a riot! I would have expected nothing less :D
Congratulations on meeting the man behind “Schrutes produce very thirsty babies.” Best. Line. Ever.
Awesome fan report, Beesly is Love! Heh heh. You did more than just MEET Rainn. You got him in bed. ;)
His interview with The Who was great. It was really funny. Roger Daltrey and Pete Townshend seemed to think he was funny too. Rainn was great as the Pinball Wizard, too.
Wow. Rainn’s wife and I have something in common – we both love Rainn AND Dave Grohl, though Rainn knocked Dave out of the top position on my list of Dreamy Imaginary Boyfriends list.
My husband is as understanding as Rainn is with his wife. Awesome.
OMG Rainn Wilson called me cute as a button! in the internet video i’m the only video they used. ahhhhh i’m bouncing off the walls with happiness!
Awesome, Hats! Where’s the link? I wanna see!
I SAW RAINN!! I figured no one would really appreciate it as much as office fans. I was walking past Rockefeller Center around 4:30 after an interview, and looked up and there was Rainn with two assistants leaving Fox News. He walked right by me, and it took a lot of courage for me to keep walking like he was just another Joe on the street. I am still smiling from the experience. I’ve been living in New York for a month now and he is my first celebrity sighting.
Awww, I’m so happy The Rocker got a good review! Go Rainn!
I went to an advance screening in Boston last night…some cringe-worthy lines and moments, but I would totally let Rainn join my band (if I had one…)! I wish him the best of luck!
hahaha, I loved the video of Rainn on the Today show. You could almost feel how irritated that anchor was that Rainn kept calling him the wrong name.
Will Arnett in that video of everyone being on the office is the exact reason they need him on the show formerly known as the office spin off
I could see Jane Lynch guesting right now – she’s co-starred with practically the whole cast in other projects anyway – I see her heading corporate! And Will Arnett (30)Rocks, but I’d rather see him on the chip off (instead of spinning off, it’s a chip off, as in “inspired by”) with his wife, Amy Poehler. And was that a vintage Minnesota North Stars hockey t-shirt he’s wearing? Oh, be still my heart… the boy’s got taste…
Somebody’s gotta tell Teddy Geiger.
haha i loved that. especially teddy.
Hahah what a great video!
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.
hahhahahahaha bake sale! such a great idea. I like that it’s clearly the afterthought of dousing yourself with kerosene. nice touch.
that was so hilarious. Love the blog, Rainn just always cracks me up. Can’t wait to see it!
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!
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!
Bakesale!
It is also my birthday that day, I will be celebrating at the theater!
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.
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.
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!
Knowing that Rainn loves Radiohead as much as me just made my morning!
Thanks for the links!
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!!
OK, I gotta see The Rocker! And I’d do it even if Jenna’s life WASN’T at stake. :)
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.
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!
Wow. It didn’t even crack the Top 10 this week! Where was everyone?
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.
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.
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 :)
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!