S5 EP8: Michael Cera on working with Tom Cruise, featuring in 'Barbie', and never graduating

Michael Cera on Fame, Awkwardness, and Making Movies

1. The Main Idea in a Nutshell

   • Actor Michael Cera explains how becoming super famous was surprisingly difficult and overwhelming, and how he's now focused on making his own movies to have more control over his life.

2. The Key Takeaways

   • Early Success: Michael Cera’s big break came when he was just a teenager on the TV show Arrested Development, where he learned from hilarious actors like Jason Bateman and Will Arnett.
   • The Downside of Fame: After the movie Superbad became a massive hit, Cera struggled with being recognized everywhere. He felt a "huge loss of control" and had bad experiences that made him uncomfortable with all the attention. Fact: He was only 19 years old when Superbad made him a household name.
   • Choosing a Different Path: To deal with the pressure, he purposely chose to step back from the spotlight. He even decided not to pursue a role in the Fantastic Beasts (Harry Potter) movies because it was a huge, multi-year commitment.
   • From Actor to Creator: Now, he's focused on writing and directing his own films. He talks about how hard it is to raise money for an independent movie, because investors are taking a gamble on a first-time director.

3. Important Quotes, Explained

• Quote: "> I did sort of uh, make a conscientious choice to like, um, I don't know, like limit my exposure a little bit or something or just try and be a little more in control of it."

  • What it Means: He's saying that he deliberately decided to step back from the spotlight. Instead of taking every big role offered to him, he chose to do things that wouldn't make him even more famous, so he could feel like he was in charge of his own life again.
  • Why it Matters: This is a big deal because most actors are trying to get more famous, not less. It shows how much the pressure of fame affected him and that he valued his personal well-being over becoming a bigger star.

• Quote: "> I was feeling a little bit of shame about my reaction... Because if you don't think of yourself as being a dick. Right. And then you notice you being angry by things that maybe you think other people wouldn't be triggered by, then you're like, gosh, maybe I am a dick."

  • What it Means: He's talking about how he felt bad about the way he sometimes reacted to fans. He didn't like getting angry or annoyed when people recognized him, and it made him question if he was turning into a jerk.
  • Why it Matters: This is super relatable. It shows the internal struggle he was going through—not just dealing with the outside world, but also with how fame was changing him on the inside and making him act in ways he didn't like.

4. The Main Arguments (The "Why")

   1. First, Cera explains that his career took off unexpectedly at a young age with Arrested Development, putting him in the company of amazing adult comedians.
   2. Next, he argues that the massive success of Superbad was a double-edged sword. While it was great for his career, the sudden, intense fame was overwhelming and made him feel like he'd lost control of his life.
   3. Finally, he points out that this experience led him to be more selective about his roles and eventually inspired him to create his own work, like writing and directing, to regain creative and personal control.

5. Questions to Make You Think

   • Q: Did he ever graduate from high school?

   • A: No. The podcast reveals he was doing online school while acting but was one credit short in Physical Education (P.E.). He decided not to go back and get the diploma because doing P.E. with kids younger than him sounded like a "living hell."

   • Q: Why did he take the role of Allan in the Barbie movie if he was trying to avoid huge projects?

   • A: The text explains that he's mostly outgrown his earlier fear of fame. Also, the movie was filming in London for five months, and he thought it would be an amazing experience for his wife and new baby to live there for a while.

   • Q: Who is "McLovin" and why do people yell it at him?

   • A: McLovin is a famously nerdy and hilarious character from his movie Superbad. Even though Michael Cera didn't play McLovin (the character was played by Christopher Mintz-Plasse), the movie was so popular that people associate him with it and yell the name at him on the street.

6. Why This Matters & What's Next

   • Why You Should Care: This story is a cool reminder that what looks like a perfect dream life on the outside (like being a famous movie star) can have its own serious challenges. It shows that it's okay to feel overwhelmed and that it's important to find ways to take control of your own life and happiness, even if it means not following the expected path.
   • Learn More: Check out the movie Superbad. It's a classic teen comedy and is central to the conversation about his experience with fame. It will give you a perfect idea of why he became so famous so quickly.