Cha Cha Real Smooth - Dakota Johnson, Vanessa Burghardt & Cooper Raiff on the uniqueness of new film (2023)

Introduction

Dakota Johnson, Vanessa Burghardt & Cooper Raiff are interviewed for Cha Cha Real Smooth. Cooper Raiff writes, directs, and stars alongside Dakota Johnson, Brad Garrett, Leslie Mann, and newcomers Vanessa Burghardt and Evan Assante. Stefan Pape asks the questions.

Plot: Fresh out of college and without a clear life path going forward, 22-year-old Andrew is stuck back at home with his family in New Jersey. But if there’s one thing that belongs on his nonexistent résumé, it’s how to get a party started, which lands him the perfect job of motivational dancing at the bar and bat mitzvahs for his younger brother’s classmates. When Andrew befriends a local mom, Domino, and her daughter, Lola, he finally discovers a future he wants—even if it might not be his own.

The film will be released in select cinemas and premiere globally on Apple TV+ on June 17, 2022.

#ChaChaRealSmomoth #DakotaJohnson #VanessaBurghardt
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Content

And I'm going to begin with you, Vanessa., I mean.

This film has been so well received within the autistic community.

I just wondered what it is about this portrayal of this character.

And what it is about what Cooper has created that has led to such a positive response., I, mean, I, I, don't know, because I don't know, like what other people respond to, but I know that she's a fully formed person, before., Like, she's, a human before.

She's, an autistic person.

And when you don't, like, sort of label the perimeter of who a person can be, they're, a lot more interesting because no one is really like that.

And.

So I think it makes her seem a lot more accessible because she's, not just one thing.

And, Dakota, I'm, sure.

You know, some of the guys have loads of scripts.

You have read many scripts in your time.

They'll be the kind of.

You know.

The boy meets girl will they, won't.

They narratives.

But.

This movie, while romantic subverts that somewhat and it's quite unique in its kind of navigation of cinematic romance.

Did.

It feel different? And was that part of the appeal for you? Well.

There wasn't a script when I when I signed on, Cooper had the idea of a story and the title, and then came to my company, me and my partner Ro.

And we wanted to make it with him, and I wanted to do it.

And.

So he went and wrote the script.

And, then we really collaborated deeply on the characters.

And the scripts.

I think that was a part of it.

I.

Think we didn't.

Cooper's talents are being very specific, and his.

He has a real gift for observing people and seeing things in them that you wouldn't.

Notice right, away., And, I think, that's.

What makes his writing very special.

And unique because it's it's detailed in a in a way, that's vulnerable and sweet.

And and then I come in and I'm, like, it's, not complex enough., Right., I think, it's more complicated than that.

The big.

The big thing is leaning on them., Like I think we're saying about the character of Lola.

A lot of it is just like the fact that it was co-created like writing.

Lola was kind of just keeping up with Vanessa and how she how Vanessa could marry the character of Lola.

And that was Vanessa really led the way and Dakota led the way in terms of Domino and Coop.

I mean, the character of Andrew, doesn't really know yet what he wants to be or where he wants to go, which is a crossroads.

So.

Many people at his age face you at the same age, kind of seems knew exactly why you wanted to be in, knew exactly what you wanted to achieve.

You're, ready kind of fulfilling those dreams.

So as somebody who hasn't known any different at that age, was that quite challenging element of the character to connect to?, No, I, really connect to him, because he is going 120%, Andrew, is, and he's failing to think about where, how, how he's grounded in himself.

And I think that I really relate to that.

I think, I go 120% making movies, but that doesn't mean that I have any clue who I am as a person.

So I think I do relate.

And.

I mean, one thing I sort of gathered from this is you seem to have a great affection Cooper for every, each and every character that makes up this story, is that very important to you as a writer to, to not, not necessarily like each person that you put on a page, but at least try and understand them I.

Think it is important to love every person that I put on the page.

And I think I have this desire to make people watching a movie love them as much as I do.

And, I think by love, I mean, I understand them.

And I think when we understand people, it's really easy to love them unless we're dealing with a miserable person.

But and so and Dakota and Vanessa, I was wondering, because you had said, I, wonder about your collaboration together.

And how you go about striking up that very close kind of intangible bonds that a mother and a daughter sort of share Well.

We we we had like a coffee date before we started working, and we had met on Zoom because in the casting process, you know, everything was on Zoom.

So.

We were watching all these tapes all the time.

And Vanessa read twice or one read.

And then we met.

So, yeah.

But then we really got to know each other when we were on set.

And, I, really just like talking to her., And, I, I like hearing about what she thinks about things.

And and I think she's, really funny and really smart and so talented.

And we just really got along well., And, I, I feel not protective of her.

I do feel protective of you.

But not in a way of, like.

You need protecting more of.

Like, I want you to feel good,? You know, what I mean? Yeah.

I, keep asking to ask her, but, I, mean, after the success last year of Coda, there's, it there's this.

You start to believe as a filmmaker making stuff.

Now that go into kind of streaming services that they're at no disadvantage now.

Anything could be possible.

It feels like now when you make a movie like this, the Oscar buzz and awards kind of season buzz is a very plausible thing that maybe four or five years ago.

It didn't feel like they would be part of the conversation.

Is that quite an exciting new thing that's happening at the at the moment in this industry? It's great to have a home that you feel like really cares about your movie and cares about platforming it in an organic way.

And and I think but I think the key is to stay organic.

So yeah, it's really cool that little movies can be seen by more people on streaming, platforms and I.

So my my final question, is, I, loved all the scenes at the bar, mitzvahs., I, mean, well.

What song gets you all on the dance, floor? Events like that., Our song and our movie movies that song.

Oh, the jazz influence.

Yeah.

Put.

It down., Yeah, yeah., Oh, I, actually like that song.

Not a lot of songs.

Rare thing for you to say.

I, know, right?, Yeah, especially., Yeah., A, dancer., Yeah., I, like also 24, G, Magic by Bruno Mars., That song, always gets stronger, one.

Right., Thank you so much for time, guys, and best of luck with the release of the movie.

Thanks.

Thank you so much., Thank, you.