Jane Seymour and Cheech Marin sat down to talk about their new film, The War with Grandpa. Check out the full interview, transcript below.
Check out my interview with Laura Marano and Oakes Fegley.
Heather Brooker:
Let’s dive right in. I want to say a big welcome and hello to Jane Seymour and Cheech Marin, who are starring in the new film, the war with grandpa. Hi guys. Thank you so much for taking the time to talk with us today. I don’t know if you can see it, but the questions are already coming in. They’re firing away. Our family press has a lot of questions, and we want to get to those in just a moment. Let me first of all, let’s start off by talking about just how much fun this film is. Cheech, let’s start with your interactions with Christopher Walken, and Robert DeNiro were so fun and really very entertaining. Tell me a little bit about filming those scenes with them.
Cheech Marin:
Well, I had to stop myself from being an all the time, get the words out, but it was great. I mean, it was a simple scene. The first ones we saw, we walked and talked. I couldn’t do that. And they were apparently could do that too. So, you know, it worked out okay.
Heather Brooker:
It did work out. Okay. It did work out. Okay. And Jane, I personally just want to know like what your beauty secret is because you look amazing. But I also want to hear from you about working on this film. What made you decide to want to be a part of it?
Jane Seymour:
Well, I mean, to play the potential love interest of Robert de Niro is, you know, right out there, sign me up to be in a movie with him and, and Chris and Cheech and Uma and everybody that costs was just so spectacular. And it was just a really, really cute movie. I just thought I could have a lot of fun with this one, and I did.
Heather Brooker:
You absolutely did. And that definitely came across. All right. So I want to get on over to our family press outlets. They have a lot of questions for you guys. Meghan Cooper, Meghan, if you want to come on camera, she has a question for Jane. Go ahead. What we were just talking about, Jane. Yeah.
Meghan Cooper:
So, Jane, you have this wonderful garden at your home, and you grow some of your own food. And I was wondering if your grandchildren like to participate when they come over to visit you.
Jane Seymour:
I do. They’re actually in the other room with the food. If you want to have the visual, don’t carry it for you. We’ve just been eating together. We’ve got these huge heirloom tomatoes. And one of my granddaughters Willa, just made a cocktail from everything she found in the garden. So it had mint and guava and strawberry guava and lemon and gosh everything. And, but we grow everything organically. It’s very healthy, and the kids level that too.
Heather Brooker:
All right. And Cammie Allen Cammie, if you want to jump on screen here and ask your question about the Dodge ball scene.
Cammie:
Okay. Let’s chat about that epic Dodge ball scene because it was ridiculous in a good way. Did you guys feel to fully participate, or were there any stunt doubles?
Jane Seymour:
There were stunt doubles, but I personally participated an awful lot. I mean, falling down and being trampled. Yeah, that was me. But I think there was one bit where somebody threw themselves, supposedly me against the side. I can’t remember if that made it into the film or not, but there was someone dresses me, but mostly I did my own. I did all my own jumping and throwing and all that kind of stuff. What about you, Cheech?
Cheech Marin:
Well, actually, I was Jane stunt double with a woman.
Jane Seymour:
Say that all he needed was a wig, right? Yeah.
Cheech Marin:
I gave it the ability to hit a wall hard. No, I mean, that was, I was, I was terrified of that scene because of certain injuries, and I didn’t want to reactivate them, you know, because that’s, that’s a dangerous. I, when I walked first walked into that room, my system is going to get hurt in this room. I hope it’s not me. You know?
Heather Brooker:
And then Kathy Bellaire, mommy, do you have a question, Kathy? Are you there?
Kathy:
Hi. Thank you. You guys, the movie was absolutely awesome. And I wanted to know from both of you, what drew you to your character and what did you take away from your character and or what do you feel like you added to the characters you played in the movie? Thank you.
Jane Seymour:
Well, I was playing someone who who’s working in a, in a, in a store, right? Like a Best Buy, or I couldn’t remember it with some fries or something. And I had my uniform on and I, it was my first day, and I was a little concerned about, you know, I didn’t know how to talk to Mr. de Niro. I said hello. And he was kind of quiet. So I thought I won’t crowd him. And next thing I know, I actually was working at Best Buy or whatever it was. And people kept coming up to me with their goods saying, can they get an exchange? Could they get a refund? This thing’s broken, whereas the warranty, where do you find this? And I was so busy dealing with personnel and people and clients that they then said, we need you on set chain for the scene. Oh, sorry. Got to go. I’m actually here acting. It was. So that’s when I knew I’d really pulled off my role. Cause nobody recognized me. They thought I was actually an associate at the company. But I, I had the best time being kind of one of the guys, which is what I sort of was a part of the team and to be behind the scenes, waiting and talking and listening to all three of these guys telling their stories of their lives. And what’s been going on in movies. I mean, it was just magic.
Heather Brooker:
Awesome. Okay. And so Donna, let’s see, Donna has a question, Don, if you want to jump on and ask about, she has a question about some of the humor and the emotional moments in the film.
Donna:
Hi, great movie, guys. There was a lot of humor and some emotional moments. And I was wondering, and this was for both of you, what was your favorite or most touching scene in the movie, whether you were involved in that scene or not? And why?
Cheech Marin:
Well, for me, it was watching Robert de Niro sit in a rocking chair and look out the window with that music on that era of worth and just missing his wife, as I said, not a word. And I was like, wow, that’s it was so slight that conveyance of emotion, I mean, but it was really powerful. Yeah,
Jane Seymour:
Yeah, yeah. I would tend to agree. I, you know, sometimes less is more. And I think that really also set the tone for the whole piece because you, you do, you did know that he was lonely and he, you know, was having a problem. I loved, you know, the, obviously the scene that I did with him, where he kept trying to scan things and couldn’t get this thing to work. And that frustration of like, why do I have to do this with a machine when I’ve always had a woman number person, a human being that I can talk to and just like, ah, I’m done. I thought that was really quite wonderful. Cause I know how that feels, you know, and how easily you can walk out thinking you paid and, and somehow you hadn’t pressed the right button easily done.
Heather Brooker:
Awesome. Thanks, Donna. Thank you. Okay. And let’s move over to Sarah from Scoop show. She has a question about your careers and whether or not you’re a fan of each other. It’s a good Sarah Petty.
Sarah:
Well, I would love to know, obviously you both are super successful. People know you by your names, your household names, and iconic. Well, I would love to know, Jane, were you a fan of Cheech and Chongs movies and Cheech, where you’re a fan of Dr. Quinn medicine woman?
Jane Seymour:
A great question, actually. Yes, very much so. We, he used to live near nearby me in Malibu, so I’d see him from time to time socially. And my ex-brother-in-law was in Up in Smoke. Is that the way he was in?
Cheech Marin:
And in Nice Dreams.
Jane Seymour:
Nice Dreams. There you go. So I have to catch up on more of my Cheech movies, but I think he’s brilliant and he’s a wonderful man, and he’s so much fun to work with.
Cheech Marin:
And I was obviously, of course, a fan of Jane’s from Dr. Quinn medicine woman. I think she’s going to do a reboot with Dr. Quinn emergency medicine, woman,
Jane Seymour:
Medical marijuana. You know, I did, I did morphine as well. I mean, I was just touching in on that Breaking Bad world.
Heather Brooker:
Maybe there’s a crossover that could happen there somehow with Cheech and Chong.
Jane Seymour:
Yes, there is, but Cheech wasn’t there. He didn’t have his product on, well, we’ll do a remake.
Heather Brooker:
I love it. Thanks, Sarah. Good question. Good question. Okay, so let’s move over to Tessa for mamas geeky, Tessa. If you want to pop on, she has a question about a sequel.
Tessa:
Yes. Hi. So we heard there’s going to be a sequel, and I want to know, did you not know, or were we not supposed to know that already?
Jane Seymour:
Well, I know when I left the set when we were shooting it all those years ago, they did talk to me about a sequel in which I would be the love interest of Mr. de Niro.
Tessa:
So I was curious, they just told us that. So I wanted to know, are you super excited about it, and are you both signing on for it?
Jane Seymour:
Well, I would, but no one’s called me. What about you, Cheech?
Cheech Marin:
As soon as they call, I’m there. Hopefully, it’ll be set in like in Fiji, you know, or something.
Jane Seymour:
Hawaii the other day, what are you? You’re moving further away now,
Cheech Marin:
But I’ve only been to Fiji a couple of times. I’m yearning for something tropical, right now?
Heather Brooker:
That’s understandable. Alright, so let’s head on over to Mel; Mel Pesa has a question, Mel, if you want to pop on.
Mel:
I was just wondering, this is such a funny, lighthearted movie in such dark times that we’re living through. What do you think? What do you want your audiences to take away? Families going to see this movie together. What do you want to take away from that and bring joy and stuff like that to such a dark time? We’re all living in.
Jane Seymour:
I think this is the perfect movie for right now. I think the timing couldn’t be more perfect. You know this is something that whether you can physically be next to one another watching it, or you watch it and, you know, get together on zoom and talk about it. I mean, I can’t wait to watch my grandchildren. I think it’s something you watch over and over again, it makes you laugh out loud, and it’s as interesting and amusing and poignant for all generations. That’s what’s clever about it.
Cheech Marin:
Hopefully, it’ll bring families together so they can see it together, you know, with their children, their grandchildren, their nieces, their nephews, the aunts, and uncles, because we need a lot of unity in this, in this country, especially right now and around the world for this, this pandemic is worldwide. So we hope that we can add something positive to that. And I think we did.
Heather Brooker:
Yeah, I think so too. Okay. Let’s head over to Mandy. She doesn’t have her name in there, but it says Mandy for you. So Mandy has a question about dynamics. There you go. Hi Mandy.
Mandy:
Hi guys. I just got to say first, Cheech. My son loves you, which got me to thinking, I don’t know what movies he saw you in, but he loves you. So this movie, I mean, onscreen, it was like the two groups, right? The old-schoolers versus the kindergarteners kinda. I just wondered off-screen. What were the dynamics between the between you and the younger kids?
Jane Seymour:
They were generally in school,
Cheech Marin:
Which is where they should be!
Jane Seymour:
–but they were absolutely wonderful. They were lovely when we had a chance to actually see them and talk to them. But you know, they, they, they work, work, work, and then they do school, school, school. And that was it.
Heather Brooker:
Alright. Let’s head on over to Robin, Robin, did you have a question for Cheech and Jane?
Robin:
Yes. Hi. So the movie was full of so many comedic, funny moments. I want to know. Were you guys allowed to do any ad-lib or improv, and how much of that made the final cut?
Cheech Marin:
There’s a, especially in the comedy, there’s always going to be moments. Most of the moments where there’s some sort of adlibbing going on because comedy has to be surprised. You know, you have to be, so by the 15th time, you say the same line and no surprise there. And so you’re, you know, the tendency is always to adlib within the framework of getting the information across, but it was fun. And I’m sure that I’m, I’m sure I ad-libbed do like the the original script at some point.
Jane Seymour:
I can’t remember. I know I adlibbed, but I can’t remember I only saw it once whether they were ad-libs or they were actually scripted, but we definitely had a lot of fun adlibbing, and they’re all ad-lib pros. So, you know, there was probably a lot of really funny stuff that didn’t make it to the final movie too.
Heather Brooker:
I bet. I bet.
Cheech Marin:
Like the shower scene didn’t make it.
Heather Brooker:
The shower scene didn’t make it. Oh, okay. It’ll be on the Blu Ray DVD. Shay Wiley has a question, Shay, if you want to pop on and ask your question.
Shay:
Sure. Hi, you guys. I also really had to say that we love Cheech in this movie as well. And we love the dialogue between de Niro and Cheech and the scene at the Sky Zone. But I wanted to know what you guys thought. What was your favorite scene? What did you love the most? Which one did you like filming?
Cheech Marin:
I think for shooting like, that sky zone was, you know, a lot of it was fraught with a danger. I was, I was terrified, you know, and, but you know, it was going to come out. Good. You knew it was because how could you not have fun in a bouncy house, trampoline deal? You’re playing Dodge ball. I mean,
Jane Seymour:
There was a certain kind of lunacy, too, because we were all pretending that we were completely fit and able to do all of these things. And I was convinced we were going to be taken out of there in stretches, but we, we had an enormous amount of fun doing that.
Heather Brooker:
It looks like it was a lot of fun. Angela Camacho, Angela, if you want to pop on, she has a question.
Angela:
Hi, thanks for having me. I have to say my family absolutely loved this film. The film actually inspired my son to play a little prank on his sister, which he put a little hot sauce in her coffee the other day. So you can hear her in the background too. Happy about that. But Cheech, I am a huge fan. I’ve been watching your movies since I was very young. Probably shouldn’t be watching them as young as I was, but I had teenage older siblings, and they would watch your movies. I love by the way. And I still appreciate them. Cheech, what was it like playing wingman Danny? And are you a prankster with your family and real life?
Cheech Marin:
Playing with who?
Angela:
Oh, a wingman, Danny, what was it like being the wingman in the movie. Oh yeah. And are you a prankster in real life?
Cheech Marin:
No. No. I’m very straight, you know, off-camera. I’m very well, not really straight, but other than what you say, it was great. I mean, you, you, you’re out, you’re playing Dodge ball with Jane Seymour and Chris Walken and then, and Robert de Niro. How could you not have fun? I played dodgeball with Robert de Niro. What’d you do?
Heather Brooker:
Awesome good question. Thank you. Okay. Patty has a question, Patty, if you want to jump on and then Angela, turn your video off. Yeah.
Patty:
Hey guys, we heard from the Peart family a little while ago as particularly about how hands-on Trey was with this whole film. So my question is, what do you think about the next generation of filmmakers? Like Trey and how was that taking a direction or, you know, I think he got it. They said executive director credit…
Heather Brooker:
He was the executive producer. He was 11. Yeah.
Jane Seymour:
I mean, as you know, he’s the one that brought the property to his father and said, ‘Hey dad, we gotta make this.’ And so we have to thank him for that. We didn’t actually know who he was. We just saw him sitting there in the chair looking very important, walking around, like he was in charge. We didn’t know. And then one point he came up to Mr. de Niro and just said, ‘good job.’ And I went, ‘okay, that’s interesting. How’s that one going to go down? ‘ My, my employee, my little employee, you know, I’m the boss. So it was really sweet, though. It was funny.
Heather Brooker:
Awesome. And then Cheech, what did you think about having this 11-year-old executive producer? They said that Guinness is going to award him with recognize, give him some recognition as being like the world’s youngest executive producer.
Cheech Marin:
That’s great. I mean, I, my only question was who is this kid? Keeps watch. And why is he onset? He’s in the shot.
Heather Brooker:
Okay. Let’s head on over to, you guys will see me squinting cause I do not have my glasses on, Amy Fultcher. Amy, let’s see, you have a question.
Amy:
Hi. So I absolutely love Jerry’s game room in the film. It was pretty awesome. So I was wondering what you guys would have in your dream rec room, game room, retirement room. Or do you already have one
Cheech Marin:
I’m in it right now?
Jane Seymour:
Yeah, yours is covered in art, right?
Cheech Marin:
Well, yeah, my home and golf momentos, I’d say I’ve done a lot of golf tournaments throughout my life. And I said, and at the end, they gave you this permanent plaque thing with a picture of you and all the bobs you played with. And so I’ve saved them throughout the years, and they’re on the opposite wall. You can’t say, Oh, let me describe them to us.
Jane Seymour:
Was I in any of those? I know we must’ve played golf.
Cheech Marin:
I don’t think we’ve ever played golf together, but I would be willing.
Jane Seymour:
We did once. I remember not together. I was in front of you somewhere, I think in Hawaii or something. And I got like a great shot in new green. I go, you’ve forgotten. I have never forgotten. I might forget that, but I, in my game room, is literally the entire house. So anywhere in the house, you will find paints, paint, brushes, pencils, paper, that’s it.
Heather Brooker:
All right. Let’s see. Tania has a question for Jane about her character. Tanya, if you want to pop back on t.
Tania:
Hi there, I loved the sass that you brought to your character. Are there any qualities that you share with Diane?
Jane Seymour:
A great admiration of Mr. de Niro? No, I’m not. I’m kind of spiky like she is, you know, I’m not afraid to get up and jump and throw and do whatever it takes, you know, I’m game that. So I’ve got that. Yeah.
Heather Brooker:
I have no doubt that you have a little bit of that sass personality as well. I bet it’s so much fun to hang out with you guys. I know it’s definitely been a joy to hang out with you all today. Thank you so much, Jane and Cheech, for taking the time to share with us about your experiences and your roles in The War with Grandpa, which opens in theaters on October 9th. Thank you so much to all of our family press, who has joined us today. And we hope you guys all head out to see the movie when it opens. Guys have a wonderful Saturday.
Transcript edited for minor grammar and removal of pauses like um, uh, and redundancies.
