We were on the scene for The New York Premiere of A24’s GOOD TIME, directed by Josh & Benny Safdie at SVA Theater.
From the film: director/writer Josh Safdie, director/actor Benny Safdie, writer Ronnie Bronstein, cast members Robert Pattinson, Buddy Duress, Barkhad Abdi, Taliah Webster, and Necro, producers Paris Kasidokostas-Latsis, Terry Dougas, Sebastian Bear-McClard and Oscar Boyson, co-producer Brendan McHugh, co-executive producer Stephanie Meurer, cinematographer Sean Price Williams, composer Daniel Lopatin (Oneohtrix Point Never), and production designer Sam Lisenco walked the red carpet.
Additional guests included Demi Moore, Marisa Tomei, Chloe Sevigny, Chris Abbott, Ashley Benson, Justin Bartha, A$AP Ferg, Josh Ostrovsky aka The Fat Jew, Casey Neistat, Cynthia Rowley, Cipriana Quann, TK Quann, Ira Sachs, Emma Roberts and Rostam Batmanglij, to name a few.
Check out our red carpet interviews below:
Robert Pattinson
While working on this film, at what point did you look in the mirror and go, “Oh my god, I don’t recognize myself anymore?”
Not really. I always recognize myself, but I was really surprised by the end when we just got through the entire movie and there had never been anything, there was never a cellphone picture, nothing, which is incredibly satisfying and relieving.
How do you feel about the Oscar buzz?
I don’t think about that all. It sounds terrible considering I’m doing press now, but I was done with my desires at Cannes. This is all just gravy.
Can you speak about collaborating with the Safdie Brothers and what you admire about them?
Their discipline and the level of energy they bring to jobs.
Safdie Brothers
Taliah was saying that Rob was always in character. Was he method?
Josh: I don’t know if he was method, but he had a hard time leaving the character. He would sleep in the costumes sometimes.
He was brooding?
Benny: Yeah, he was always brooding, kind of like running all of the stuff through his head, you know, at any moment.
Josh: He was super self-serious.
What did you guys do to cement the co-dependency of your characters as brothers?
Benny: We actually did a bunch of stuff beforehand … where we did camera tests but they were kind of like historical tests where we worked at a car wash and he would see what it was like to have a brother like this in the real world, you know, without anybody watching. It developed kind of a kinship between us and also it allowed him to see what the world would be like if he did have me in there.
How does it feel to have Martin Scorsese produce your next film, because that’s happening?
Josh: Literally like the burning bush calling your name.
Benny: It doesn’t. It’s like a third degree burn, you don’t feel it.
Josh: It’s him and Scott Rudin so it’s like this like insane …
What are those meetings like?
Josh: Well they’re never in the same room at the same time.
So what’s your meeting like with Marty?
Benny: He gets more involved in post. So, our meetings with him have been brief.
I saw Demi Moore is here.
Josh: Demi is amazing. I met her recently I’ve been a lifelong fan of hers.
Did you write something about her?
Josh: Always, yeah! That’s the thing. When this project came to be there was no Good Time and we built it around Rob
Benny: And then you meet people, and if they ooze something, you know, you can kind of feel it and she definitely puts something out there.
What is a New York night with all of you guys together? What does that look like?
Josh: It’s improvised, you know. I don’t know. I mean, sometimes it feels like Good Time, you know, it’s like a non-stop thing, but, you know … this past 19 months I’ve been slaving over this movie, so it’s hard to think of any life out … everyone would make fun of me, it’s like, “Oh, you’re just going to be working all the time.”
Do you feel like you’re New York auteurs?
Benny: We keep lifting up the sidewalk and being like, “Oh, that’s interesting! Oh my God look at that!” You know, there’s so much to mine here.
Were you always going to play the brother? Did you always have that in mind?
Benny: The short answer is no … We were looking at casting some other people, maybe some people with disabilities, but, it didn’t feel right, so then, basically what ended up happening was is we realized that I had been developing it… Once I was gonna be the character I just kinda went all in.
Taliah Webster
How did you get involved?
My acting teacher was like, “Here’s a casting call. I really think you should go.” I go, and a lot of callbacks later, and here I am.
Where are you from?
I’m from Bronx, New York.
Where are you taking your classes?
High school. I’m also having acting classes at HB Studio.
What is it like to be in such a buzzy, independent film?
It’s amazing. You never think that you’re first thing that you do in the acting business would be a movie and it’s a pretty great movie.
How is it working with the Safdie brothers?
It was fun. You create bonds with everybody. Everybody is friendly with each other.
Speak a little bit about your character’s journey and what you loved about it?
I loved how she was so much like me. I understand what it’s like to be in a home that you don’t want to be in no more, like you want to leave. Any the opportunity you have, you want to go. This is kind of my goal. The movie was my goal, my escape from everything.
You got to Cannes, how was that?
Cannes was beautiful. Nothing that you would ever experience all the time.
How was collaborating with Rob? You guys have a significant amount of scenes.
It was fun being with Rob. That’s my admiration. I adore this man. I’ve watched every single Twilight, so it was like actually doing it is just fun.
When you told your friends and family, were they like, “Oh my gosh, that’s crazy”?
Most of them was like, “Oh my gosh, wait, you’re lying. You’re just going to have to tell me when the movie comes out, so I can go see it myself.” I’m like, “Fine, we can do that.”
What’s next for you?
Whatever comes is whatever I’m trying to take. I’m trying to do short films, any films that comes towards me, I’m willing to take it.
Barkhad Abdi
Your character gets beaten up pretty bad in this movie.
It was fun doing it honestly. We had a lot of laughs working at it and I can’t wait to see the movie.
And how was filming in New York?
Yeah it was fun, it was just cold.
Speak about working with Rob.
He’s cool. He’s hard-working and he’s just really focused on what he does.
How about collaborating with the directors?
Yes, they’re brothers, they’re really hard-working people. They pull it off, I’m really excited for them. All the hard-work they put in. I love film-making. I believe fifty-percent is believing in yourself. You had that clear from them, they believe in this project and they did whatever to make it happen and look at them today. That’s what motivates me. I’m really excited for them. I’m part of it as well so that’s why I’m here. I can’t wait to see the movie.
A fun party followed at Flash Factory where guests enjoyed White Castle and Pizza. The film is now playing.