Overview of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend — Josh Safdie
This episode of Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend features filmmaker Josh Safdie (co‑director of Uncut Gems) in a wide‑ranging, often comic conversation with Conan O’Brien, Sonam Vochiar and Matt Gourley. The discussion mixes personal anecdotes (hunger, snack habits, celebrity smoothie naming), deep dives into Safdie’s new film Marty Supreme, filmmaking craft (casting, working with actors, training actors for physical skills), and behind‑the‑scenes stories about collaborators like Adam Sandler, Abel Ferrara, and Timothy Chalamet. The episode balances humor with thoughtful insights about the creative process, fame, and the emotional aftermath of making intense personal films.
Main topics discussed
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Personal banter and bits
- Light, recurring comic bits about hunger, snacks, Walnuts (comic claim re: semen/sperm health), Erwan/Haley Bieber smoothie, and Conan pitching himself as a smoothie celebrity name.
- Adam Sandler stories: Sandler’s mannerisms (“the best”), drop‑in friendliness, and his emotional range noted by Safdie.
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Marty Supreme (Safdie’s new film)
- Safdie describes the film as a partly inspired, mostly fictional portrait centered on a driven, unlikable-yet‑rootable protagonist who wants to be the greatest table tennis player.
- Key themes: ambition, loneliness of dreams, youth and naïveté, the gap between likability and love (Safdie: “love is more important than likability”).
- Safdie likens part of the film’s approach to Frank Capra’s attention to memorable small characters—casting many distinctive faces (non‑actors and eccentric personalities) to create a vivid, lived world.
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Casting and use of non‑actors
- Safdie explains his process of spotting and elevating “iconically themselves” people from diners, racetracks, and day jobs (examples: Mitchell Wennig, a HUD worker and autograph collector; Marianne from the Stern show; a viral “man with the golden voice”).
- He emphasizes getting the essence of people and guiding them into authentic performances rather than over‑perfecting everything.
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Working with Timothy Chalamet
- Safdie confirms Marty was written with Timothy Chalamet in mind; discusses Chalamet’s intense, long‑term preparation (years of training) for the role, including table tennis choreography and guitar work inspired by Dylan.
- Chalamet’s physicality (wiry, kinetic) made table tennis a fitting sport for the character; choreographer Diego (Forrest Gump table tennis sequence connection) and expert coaches were used to make the matches convincing.
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Table tennis, history & choreography
- Ping‑pong diplomacy (U.S.–China thaw in the 1970s) comes up as context and inspiration. Safdie recruited specialists and archival footage to choreograph authentic, suspenseful sporting sequences.
- The sport is framed as an underdog arena that creates investment and narrative tension, helping audiences root for Marty.
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Filmmaker emotional arc & awards season
- Safdie shares the hollow feeling that can follow finishing a major personal film (he felt lost after Uncut Gems despite success).
- He discusses being sensitive to awards season, how making a film for years shapes personal identity, and the difficulty of moving on creatively.
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Notable anecdotes and collaborators
- Abel Ferrara: chaotic behind‑the‑scenes behavior and legendary Conan interview; sobriety and his eventual contributions.
- Casting cameos: surprising choices (Kevin O’Leary, Gwyneth Paltrow) and the value of fearless, unconventional casting.
- Festival memory: an odd/awkward Poland film festival experience (volcano travel disruptions, rushed Auschwitz visit) illustrating festival bureaucracy and surreal moments.
Notable quotes & insights
- Josh Safdie: “Love is more important than likability.” — a core idea underpinning why audiences root for flawed protagonists.
- Conan quoting Lorne Michaels to Conan: “People like to watch you work.” — about Conan’s appeal in live awkwardness/effort.
- Safdie on filmmaking: casting is often about seeing “the essence” of a person and giving them space to land where they naturally will.
- On dreams: “Dreams are lonely” and pursuit of greatness can be a pursuit of transient happiness — the film frames dreams like heists: risky, suspenseful attempts to control fate.
Why the episode matters (takeaways)
- For filmmakers: a practical look at casting non‑actors, integrating real voices/faces to build authenticity, and how to choreograph physical performance (sports/music) convincingly.
- For film fans: context for Marty Supreme — its inspirations, casting choices, tone (comic + tragic), and Timothy Chalamet’s immersive preparation.
- For general listeners: an entertaining mix of personal stories, industry anecdotes, and reflections on creativity, ambition, and the emotional toll of making deeply personal work.
Actionable next steps / resources
- Watch:
- Marty Supreme (Safdie’s new film) — to see points discussed (table tennis, casting, character).
- Uncut Gems — Safdie’s previous breakout, useful for understanding his creative trajectory.
- Look up:
- Conan’s classic Abel Ferrara interview (recommended by Safdie).
- Historical coverage of “ping‑pong diplomacy” (U.S.–China, 1970s) for more on table tennis cultural influence.
- For creators: consider Safdie’s approach—cast for essence and allow non‑actors room to be themselves; treat athletic/music sequences with specialist coaching and archival reference.
Episode & credits (brief)
- Show: Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend
- Guest: Josh Safdie (filmmaker)
- Hosts: Conan O’Brien, Sonam Vochiar, Matt Gourley
- Notable collaborators mentioned: Adam Sandler, Abel Ferrara, Timothy Chalamet, Gwyneth Paltrow, Mitchell Wennig, Diego/Wei Wang (table tennis consultants)
- Production credits and promotional mentions appear in the episode (Team Coco & Earwolf production, theme by The White Stripes, etc.).
(Sponsors and ad reads are present throughout the episode — LinkedIn, Grainger, CarMax, Hyundai, eBay, T‑Mobile, Mitsubishi, and others.)