Bedtime Stories
Working on this movie was as fun as you’d expect an Adam Sandler movie to be. This was my third Disney movie. I am always so happy to work for them; they really know how to make great films. And Adam is the nicest guy you could ever hope to work for. We knew each other from around the LA comedy clubs, and it was such a blast to walk into work that first day and go, “Hey Adam! Long time no see! So glad we finally get to work together!” and have him go, “Hey! I don’t know you! Security!”
Adam Shankman, who directed 2007’s “Hairspray,” was the nicest, most easy-going director, and the vibe on set was just chill and fun. Partway through filming, Adam Sandler broke his ankle, and he spent most of the production in a leg brace. He never complained and hopped around set like a trooper. There was a big-screen TV off set, and in between takes we would all pile behind it to watch whatever game Adam Sandler had on. It was insanely fun.
One day we stopped filming after lunch, and no one knew why. It turned out that Adam Shankman, who is an accomplished choreographer and produced “Step Up 2: The Streets,” had a bunch of his dancers come in to shoot a response video to an online dance challenge from Miley Cyrus. I had no idea that online dance challenges exist, let alone that people actually take time to respond to them. Anyway, these dancers were insane—I couldn’t do those moves in yoga class with two spotters and an urn of BenGay. Then Adam Shankman, not to be outdone, did some kind of crazy gymnastics back-flip round-off thing—in dress shoes, I think—and it was unbelievable. We heard several popping sounds (I was like, “Did a car backfire?”) and afterward he was limping a little, but it was a small price to pay for showing up 14-year-olds. Hey, no pain, no “in your face, junior scout!”
The next day, we found out Adam Shankman had popped his ACL and would need surgery. So then we had two limpy-limpersons hobbling around set. But no one ever complained or got snippy. I have no idea who won the dance-off. I guess this will remain one of the great mysteries of my professional life. Or I suppose I could just Google it.
This was one of the most fun films I’ve worked on. And they had the best catering. One day we even had an ice cream truck! I mean, really, I love this job!
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