Jayanth Jambulingam "Jay" Chandrasekhar is an American film and television actor, comedian, writer, and director best known for his work with the sketch comedy group Broken Lizard and for directing and starring in the Broken Lizard films Super Troopers, Club Dread, and Beerfest.
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» All Film actor InterviewsFolks, I have to sign off now. I'm about to do an interview. If you want to see me in person and you're in Chicago, come to the Music Box theater this evening, where I'll be reading from the book, doing an interview and signing books and taking pics. Thanks, Reddit!
My Proof: http://imgur.com/a/JDDds
Did you ever anticipate how devoted a fanbase Super Troopers would have?
We didn't think anyone would even want to see the film. We didn't think we'd get into a festival. We didn't see the fandom coming. Not by a long shot.
Hard to believe how devoted people are to this film.
What's a ZJ?
You can't afford it, big man.
What was it like working with that dick Farva?
I cast him as Farva because he's a dick in real life. So it was the same as real life.
So you know that one goofy looking dude from Super Troopers who ate all the drugs? Can you believe he married ~~Emma Stone~~ Christina Hendricks? Did you happen to notice he was packing a monster rod or something?
He has a forked tongue.
Have you had many people in law enforcement approach you and offer any words of praise? If not, let me just say that we staties consider Super Troopers to be a holy work on par with the Sistine Chapel or the Hagia Sophia.
Thanks for the high praise. yes, we are approached by cops all of time and let out of tickets as well. We have a very good relationship with cops, which is nice. Kevin once got a high speed escort from a cop down to San Diego Padres stadium.
As a director do you make more profit from the sale of a Blu Ray or a movie ticket?
Blu Ray
Super Troopers allowed for high visibility of young upstarts such as Geoffrey Arend. Do you feel you're personally responsible for his success and subsequent marriage to Christina Hendricks?
I would say that's true, yes.
Was there ever a point in time you worried that Super Troopers was a massive target for scat porn parody artists who'd call it Super Poopers?
Burt Reynolds once screamed at me, "I SAW YOUR MOVIE! SUPER DOOPERS POOPER SCOOPERS!" I tell the story of that in my book.
What have you enjoyed most about filming Super Troopers 2?
Working with Rob Lowe and Will Sasso. That was good fun. It was also fun to grow the mustache again. It's twice as big as in the first film. Yeah!
If Broken Lizard was trapped in a blizzard on the Oregon Trail in 1846, who would you kill and eat second (Kevin Heffernan's gotta be first, right?)?
I like a mix of fat and meat, so yeah we'd eat Heffernan first. We've discussed this and he knows it's coming.
What are your fondest memories of working with the great Bill Paxton?
Hanging with Bill in Mexico while we made Club Dread was a dream. the guy had the best show business stories, about working with Schwarzenegger and James Cameron. We went to Palm Springs to show Jimmy Buffet the film. On the way back to LA in the airport, Bill and I were walking through the airport and an endless stream of fans kept stopping Bill. For each fan, he peeled off a $20 bill, handed it them and said, "Thanks, man!" Then he told me to always carry a roll of twenties because those people are going to go see you movie and they'll take a date and you'll end up making out well. Loved Bill.
It's such a great honor to be able to finally talk to you Mr. Chandrasekhar, you've been one of my greatest heroes ever since I saw Super Troopers. The fact that an Indian American like me could achieve such a great success as you did, being a famous movie director (And the very first Indian American highway patrolman) is really inspiring.
I'm really curious as to how your roots affected your line of work, since I know firsthand both the joys and restrictions that our culture entails in regards to schooling and professions. What challenges did you face while breaking free from the norm and becoming a pioneer in the American film industry?
I'm definitely going to buy your book, "Moustache Shenanigans", and I'll be first to the midnight premier of Super Troopers 2!
Being Indian in show business at the time was challenging because there were no Indians on screen except for Ben Kingsley. So I decided to make my own way. I learned how to write and direct, so that I could write scripts, direct the movie and cast myself in a lead role. It was the only way I saw that could work. Today, there are a lot more Indians on American TV, which is great.
hey man how long until a Super Troopers 2 trailer surfaces?
My guess is 2 months.
Hi Jay, huge fan here! Out of all the Broken Lizard movies you've made, what's been the most fun you've had on set?
Club Dread by far. We were all single, at a 6 star resort in Mexico for 4 months. And there was grass, Mexican beer and beautiful women everywhere.
I love super troopers!!! When is super troopers 2 coming out?
Number 2 is coming out sometime in the next 6 months. Hopefully on the sooner end.
Can you please wait until I get back to finish that story? (Slammin Salmon is the greatest service industry movie EVER!)
That movie was based on Steve Lemme, Erik Stolhanske and I all working in the same restaurant as waiters. It was Busby's on the upper east side. Good fun.
Also will Doug Benson be in it?
If we make Pot Fest, Doug will be in it. We've discussed this. So will Willie Nelson, Snoop, Cheech and Chong.
I always wanted to know. Do the Snozzberries really taste like Snozzberries?
They do. They really do.
Hey man, big fan. You've directed a lot of episodes of some of my favourite shows and it always makes me smile when i see your name come up in the credits randomly. On to the question my dude.
What was it like working on Chuck?
Chuck vs the Suburbs is one of my favourite episodes of the entire series. Thanks.
Chuck vs. The Suburbs was a really good one, I agree. And thanks. That show was fun because it was a mix of comedy and action. Real action.
Does the group of you Broken Lizards get along in real life as well as you seem too in the movies?
We became friends when we were 18, before we had ambition. So, yeah, we're all actual real friends. It's nice to work with people who you're real friends with.
Would you ever consider doing a Super Trooper/Reno 911 cross over? Because, I'm pretty sure it would be amazing.
I wouldn't hold your breath on that one. I have some issues that their uniforms were almost identical.
Is it true you were in talks at some point to play Groucho Marx?
I'd like to see you play Groucho. I think you'd be great!
Hilarious question. I do have the eyebrows.
Jay! Love you dude, love everything you guys have made (yes, even Puddle Cruiser!). I just got one question: who's soapy?
Can't wait for ST2! Best of luck to you brother.
Our NY roommate was a guy named, Eric Soderlund. We looked him up in the phone book and saw that the only Soderlund in New York City was a guy named, Soapy Soderlund. So we started calling our friend, "Soapy." He hated the nickname, so we decided to make the nickname famous by putting into all of our films.
Jay! Huge fan! My question is, who's the nicest famous person you've ever met? Who's the assholiest?
Nicest one was Wiliie Nelson. He and I are good buds, now. I sing back up for him whenever I'm at his show.
I have a story in my book about Burt Reynolds, who I love. But we did fight a lot on the set of Dukes of Hazzard.
How will the Bears survive without Jay Cutler?
We're all turning the page.
Were you ever approached to be a supporting cast member in a P90X video?
They iced me on that. They wanted one legged comics only.
Who is the person that you have enjoyed working with the most on a tv show/movie? Excluding the rest of the Broken Lizard guys. And Willie Nelson.
I loved working with Rob Lowe. The guy is an assassin of comedy. He's a comic trapped in a leading man's body.
Is a Beerfest sequel something you guys are considering?
Thinking about it. We might make Super Troopers 2, Winter Soldiers first, though.
Definitely one of my favorite movie makers!
What was the most fun scene to play in Super Troopers?
What was the most fun scene to direct in Dukes of Hazzard?
Also, do you guys do anything to mess with each other off camera to get laughs? Stuff I guess like what the guys would do to each other in the Jackass movies?
The most fun scene to play in Super Troopers was the scene where I walk down the hall with my wife, Bobbi and then walk in on the German Swingers. I enjoyed that day.
In Dukes, my favorite scene to shoot was the car chase in Atlanta. epic.
Johnny Knoxville constantly punches your balls when you work with him, so you have to walk around all of the time with your hands covering your nuts. If you don't, he'll strike.
Hi! What's the worst part about hollywood? Ever thought about directing a porno?
You know the level of acting and lighting in porn is often bad, so sure I've thought about it. I have a lot of ideas about how to make it better, but no one has made an offer yet. Still waiting...
Can you or anyone from Broken Lizard do a show in Santa Barbara!? I would love to see you guys and perhaps have a beer!!
What's the place to do a show there? A theater, maybe? Love to do that.
do you think there will ever be a beerfest 2?
Maybe. We're going to probably make Super Troopers 3, Winter Soldiers first.
I just wanted to commend your work ethic, as it relates to your directing. You must be hustling year-round, because it feels like I'm constantly seeing your name in the opening credits of shows. Good work.
How difficult is it to acclimate to different shows, crews, casts, etc. on a regular basis?
I work on a lot of shows. The first time is more challenging because they don't yet know my style. But when I come back for another episode, we're all used to each other, so it's great.
big fan here. why do you think that your other movies haven't been as successful as super troopers? what lessons have you learned from those others that you applied to super troopers 2?
Well, Dukes of Hazzard and Beerfest were quite successful. But the others, like Club Dread probably didn't do well because of the mix of genres, horror and comedy. Our fans just wanted us to make a comedy and didn't love all of that blood.
The lesson we learned with Super Troopers 2 was to write shorter scripts so that we can improvise and keep more jokes.
Hi Jay! I can't wait for Super Troopers 2!
What's your favorite episode of The Simpsons?
Wow. That one where Homer gets drunk in the bar.
What are some of the best tourist spots in Piña Coladaburg?
Pineapple Gulch is great.
Is there a release plan for SUPER TROOPERS 2? Also, is there a chance for a release party outside of the ones from the Indiegogo campaign, say in a town that LOVES the BL lads like Dallas?
Outside of the Indiegogo campaign, no. We are doing an Indiegogo campaign in Dallas. And we'll come to Dallas to promote the film, so maybe Fox will have a screening there. I love Texas. Release is going to be sometime in the next 6 moths.
How fun was the shoot for the on-camera commentary for the Super Troopers Blu Ray DVD, especially when the girl in charge had a seizure?
It was until the seizure. Lots of fun... until the seizure.
Loved the Amazon Show. Any new word on that?
They didn't pick it up, sadly. Real bummer. I'll make a new version of it with someone else, though. I'm determined.
Hi Jay,
How do you feel about the state of standup comedy overall in 2017? It seems like a lot more comedians are getting comedy specials due to big pushes from companies like Netflix. Yet to me, the overall quality of performances seems unchanged from 5-15 years ago. Also, will syrup be replaced with Siracha in Super Troopers 2? Thanks!
There's a lot of stand up now, you're right. They've got to fill those "content" pipes. There are probably too many, but they're all my friends, so please watch. And I love Sriracha.
Yo Jay, ordered your book awhile back and it's currently on it's way, super stoked to get into it. What is your favorite chapter?
The chapter on Club Dread is my favorite.
Hi Jay, I'm a huge fan of everything Broken Lizard, Club Dread being my favorite movie. Just wanted to know will we be seeing a Beerfest 2 in the near future?
We're probably going to make Super Troopers 3, Winter Soldiers first.