- Have YOU got a story? Email [email protected]
Whitney Cummings detailed her painfully awkward audition for five-time Academy Award winner Francis Ford Coppola's self-funded sci-fi epic, Megalopolis.
While reflecting on her 'horror audition' for an undisclosed role in the drama, which ended up starring Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Chloe Fineman, the comedian, 42, described the process as 'core trauma for' her.
After getting a call to test for the film, the actress said she immediately spent 'days' preparing and three hours in hair and makeup before coming in.
Within moments of coming in for her audition, Cummings explained that it became clear that it would be very different from the traditional experience.
'Everyone is so quiet. There’s no vibe of, "We’re at an audition. Hey, what’s up? Hi, how are you? Nice to meet you." It’s just so awkward,' she recalled on her Good For You podcast.
The mother-of-one continued: 'I go in, I’m like, "So, where do you want to start first?" And he’s, like, "Oh no, no, we’re not going to do the scene." I was like, ‘OK, OK. It’s three days of my life."'
Whitney Cummings detailed her painfully awkward audition for five-time Academy Award winner Francis Ford Coppola's self-funded sci-fi epic, Megalopolis
To her surprise, Cummings learns that Coppola does an experimental audition process, which involves improving lines based on prompts he delivers.
'He would just throw things at me,' the star said of Coppola.
This includes asking her to say goodbye to her son, who was going to war in one scene, with an English accent, then using while using an Australian accent, to respond to her husband leaving for her sister.
'Because I did the show Punk’d, I was like, if I’m being Punk’d, this is actually genius,' she mused.
The process was so excruciating for her, Cummings admitted that she 'disassociated [during] the entire thing.'
'I started glazing over, and then he was, like, "That was great." I don’t know where I went. I just completely disassociated,' she told listeners.
Cummings proceeded to explain that she's usually a pro at improvising, but was caught off guard working with Coppola, who is considered one of the greatest directors of all time and famously directed and co-wrote the Oscar-winning movie The Godfather.
'I am improvising my head off to just nothing,' she said. 'Why am I acting with him? He’s, like, "It’s going to be me and we’re going to improvise the scene." I’m, like, "But you don’t [improvise]." Has anyone ever told you the truth since Apocalypse Now? Right? Has anyone told you the truth? No,' she quipped.
While reflecting on her 'horror audition' for an undisclosed role in the drama, which ended up starring Adam Driver, Aubrey Plaza, Shia LaBeouf and Chloe Fineman, the comedian, 42, described the process as 'core trauma for' her
Within moments of coming in for her audition, Cummings explained that it became clear that it would be very different from the traditional experience
By the end, Cummings said she was 'so embarrassed' and on the verge of tears
By the end, Cummings said she was 'so embarrassed' and on the verge of tears.
Still, she revealed that she didn't leave the audition empty-handed.
'He gives me a signed copy of his new book. He signed it in front of me as if I had shown up to an autograph signing as if I wanted [it]. Like, thank you. And then gave me a bottle of Francis Ford Coppola wine. It was just so humiliating — that’s the only [word] — and so confounding in that moment.'
When asked if the movie ever came out, she confirmed it did, but that it 'did not go well.'
'I guess I won that round,' she joked, alluding to how Megalopolis made headlines as one of 2024's biggest box office bombs.
Under footage of her talking about her 'horror audition' for the film, Cummings replied to one comment stating that they totally saw 'Aubrey Plaza killing that audition.'
'I guess I won that round,' she joked, alluding to how Megalopolis made headlines as one of 2024's biggest box office bombs; Francis Ford Coppola seen in September 2024
'For sure,' Cummings agreed while others marveled at how auditioning for the project sounded 'crazy.'
Megalopolis was released on September 27 and self-funded by Coppola.
During filming, actors reportedly were encouraged to improvise and he made his own last-minute changes to the script.
It only grossed $13.9 million, despite taking $120 to make.
