Working with friends can have its downside, especially when the parties involved don't see things the same way. But Rogen says that's not really an issue when he works with Apatow. "We argue about things sometimes, but not really. The good thing is that I don’t care that much to argue about things. I have a very benign attitude. I know he wins the argument so that’s why I don’t bother arguing. It’s not much of an argument (laughing)."
Seth Rogen on How Much of the Script Made it Into "The 40 Year Old Virgin:" "Not very much I don’t think. I have half a mind to go back and look through it to actually compare, but I really don’t think very much. Everyone kind of came up with their own twists on their own lines. I mean, I would say not very much. A relatively small percentage. It’s shocking."
Seth Rogen on Bonding With His "Virgin" Co-Stars: "You know, we did a lot of rehearsals where we just spent a lot of time together. We hung out and we all kind of knew [each other]. I knew Steve [Carell] and Paul [Rudd] because I had a tiny part in "Anchorman." And Rom [Malco] and Paul had done a movie together. Steve and Paul and I had worked together in "Anchorman," obviously, so we all kind of knew each other beforehand. And then we were together every day for 10 weeks so that kind of really solidified it. We were beyond bonded by the end of it."
Seth Rogen on Keeping It Under Control: Were there any scenes that he or other members of the cast had a tough time holding themselves together for? "A lot of them, actually. You know what’s funny is that as we were shooting, I thought we were being very professional. I remember even saying, ‘We’re not going to have a blooper reel. None of us are laughing. We’re all keeping such good heads about this.’ Then like a week ago they actually sent me the blooper reel on the DVD and we’re all laughing hysterically throughout the entire movie. It’s ridiculous (laughing). We wasted millions of dollars just laughing."
How can his memory of the time spent on the set be so different from what actually took place while they were filming? Laughing, Rogen explained, "I guess I buried it in my mind. In my head it was like a little snicker that no one could notice but on film, man, it’s a ruthless beast - that film."
Seth Rogen on Filming Scenes Specifically for the DVD: "Yes, we definitely did. We just filmed much longer versions of scenes that would never have been in the movie. Stuff with me and Jane Lynch talking. Stuff with Rom and me and Steve… There’s so much extra stuff that we were really just constantly thinking, ‘Is this funny? Yeah, well at least it will go on the DVD if nothing else.’ It made it so we wasted a lot of film."
On the R Rating: Rogen said there was never any consideration given to making "The 40 Year Old Virgin" anything but an R rated film. "It’s really a movie all about sex and with the rating systems the way they are, that is deemed something that should be restricted to older viewers. We always wanted it to be an honest movie and help people talk about sex and that type of thing, so we knew from the get-go that if it was going to work it had to be an R rated movie."
Seth Rogen's Take on the Rating System: You can blow up people and still get a PG-13 tag, but the ratings board moves faster than a speeding bullet to slap an R on any movie as soon as sex enters the picture. Rogen admitted he's as dumbfounded by the system as the rest of us.
"Judd [Apatow] always says that I have a terrible sense about things because I’m from Canada and they show uncensored movies on TV, so I literally have no gauge of what is and is not appropriate to do and show on television. I don’t get it. I’m as confused as anyone."
Seth Rogen's Advice for People Who Have Problems Dating: In keeping with the 'virgin' theme of the film, I asked Seth to offer some advice to singles who have a really hard time getting dates.
"I would say just hang in there guys. If it can happen to me, it can happen to anyone (laughing). And go see the movie. I think that’s really going to help," advised Rogen.
On Why Ticket Buyers Should See "The 40 Year Old Virgin" Instead of a Summer Action Movie: "It’s a no-action movie. It’s the exact opposite. It’s the antithesis. Balance out the universe by seeing this movie. That’s what I would say."
