Mottola needs a publicist

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"Great news for Greg Mottola: Superbad, the greatest film since the invention of the motion camera, looks to be box-office smash. The bad news: Everyone thinks Judd Apatow directed it.

"'Some of my friends said I should get a publicist just to tell people that I directed the movie, because I'm not getting any credit,' Mottola told us yesterday. 'It was just surreal at Comic-Con in San Diego. I was on the panel, but all the questions were going to Judd. But he was very quick to let the fanboys know who directed the movie and that he was hands-off for most of the shoot.'" -- from a New York magazine "Vulture" item by Steve Ramos.

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Posted by Jeffrey Wells on August 17, 2007 at 6:18 PM

comment #1

Dan Revill says ...

Mottola needs to not sit on panels with Apatow. That'd help in getting some credit for his work. Yes, sure Apatow's a nice guy and all and wants to spread the credit around, but him sitting in on the ComicCon thing was not the best deal for Mottola.

Posted by Dan Revill at August 17, 2007 6:27 PM

comment #2

DavidF says ...

That's okay - no one ever gives Paul Feig props when talking about how great Freaks and Geeks is...

Posted by DavidF at August 17, 2007 6:58 PM

comment #3

poodleskirt says ...

On the bright side, maybe they'll re-release "The Daytrippers" on DVD in letterbox and people will realize it's a much better movie than "Superbad" (not to mention the Apatows).

Posted by poodleskirt at August 17, 2007 7:00 PM

comment #4

KevinTC says ...

Just had a conversation with a friend about this on the way to see the film. It's a shame too, 'cause the guy deserves just as much credit as Rogen, Goldberg, Cera or Hill for how well it works.

Posted by KevinTC at August 17, 2007 7:34 PM

comment #5

corey3rd says ...

He's the new Norman Taurog.

Posted by corey3rd at August 17, 2007 8:00 PM

comment #6

SHR says ...

Manhola Dargis' review of Superbad today was a perfect example of a critic who doesn't know any better giving all the credit to the wrong guy (Apatow). How she thinks she knows what occurred on the set and in the editing room is beyond me.

Posted by SHR at August 17, 2007 8:21 PM

comment #7

alynch says ...

So I wasn't alone in thinking it was odd to see Apatow going on all the talk shows to promote this movie. I guess his name is the easiest to sell at this point. On the other hand, everyone in the business is sure to be aware who directed it, so it will do nothing but improve Mottola's career if its a hit.

Posted by alynch at August 17, 2007 8:34 PM

comment #8

T. Holly says ...

Is it really any wonder how they are joined at the hip knowing all this that you already know?

"In 2007, Hollywood is largely controlled by comedians, who can trace a common lineage back to TV's 'Freaks and Geeks.'

Explaining either genealogy requires charts and graphs. It might actually be easier to elucidate the intricacies of World War I than to tell how Seth Rogen got from the Judd Apatow-produced 'Freaks and Geeks' to '40-Year-Old Virgin,' 'Knocked Up' and 'Superbad.' And how Long Island native Greg Mottola, who directed Rogen in 'Undeclared' (a series written and directed by, among others, Apatow and Rogen) wound up directing 'Superbad,' which stars Michael Cera (of 'Arrested Development,' which was sometimes directed by Mottola) and Jonah Hill - who was in '40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up,' as well as 'Evan Almighty,' which starred Steve Carrel. Who starred in '40-Year-Old Virgin.' Which was directed by Apatow."

http://www.newsday.com/features/printedition/ny-etlede5333679aug17,0,6734348.story

Posted by T. Holly at August 17, 2007 8:54 PM

comment #9

T. Holly says ...

SHR, you got that Man-oh-la (spell her name, correctly next time, by pronouncing it) thinks she knows what occurred on the set and in the editing room, from this?

"...Judd Apatow, one of the movie's producers and its spiritual laughing light. Much like 'The 40-Year-Old Virgin' and 'Knocked Up,' both of which Mr. Apatow directed and either wrote or helped write, 'Superbad' largely works...

Given Mr. Apatow's tendencies, it's no surprise that the director of 'Superbad,' Greg Mottola, doesn't leave much of an imprint. Mr. Mottola, whose first and last big-screen effort was the fine 1996 comedy 'The Daytrippers,' has spent much of the last decade working in network television (sometimes with Mr. Apatow) and it shows. In 'Superbad,' his setups and camerawork serve the characters unobtrusively, as do the homey production design and costumes."

Posted by T. Holly at August 17, 2007 9:20 PM

comment #10

SHR says ...

T.Holly try reading with a little more sensitivity. Dargis' article about a movie that Mottola directed and Apatow didn't even write is almost entirely about Apatow . She gives three full paragraphs to Apatow's role and one short one to Mottola implying that the credit for the film is weighted heavily in Apatow's favor. Seems like a cheap shot to me, not that I expect more from Dargis.

Posted by SHR at August 17, 2007 9:54 PM

comment #11

hailfreedonia says ...

greg mottola weighing in here: ahem, i wasn't quoted entirely correctly in that blog piece. I did not find it 'surreal' that questions went to judd -- in an audience of 20-somethings, i didn't expect to find a lot of daytrippers fans. well, in an audience of humans in general, i don't expect to find a lot of daytrippers fans. I know it's unlikely I'll be the new norman taurog, except that I intend to live to be 1,000.

Posted by hailfreedonia at August 17, 2007 10:01 PM

comment #12

T. Holly says ...

Greg doesn't dispute. SHR, are you seeing a theme here? Make this one #3. David Denby:

Yet hereÃ¢â‚¬â„¢s an uproarious and touching picture on that theme, directed by Greg Mottola, who made the 1997 independent film "The Daytrippers," and co-produced by Judd Apatow, who wrote and directed "Knocked Up." Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg, who were high-school buddies in Vancouver, began working on the script when they were thirteen. The movie still displays vestiges of infantile glee, but, after much revision and some obvious guidance, the structure and a lot of the dialogue have become ripely Apatovian. Like "The 40-Year-Old Virgin" and "Knocked Up," the movie combines desperately filthy talk with the most tender, even delicate, emotion.

Posted by T. Holly at August 17, 2007 10:37 PM

comment #13

christian says ...

"Apatovian"?

Posted by christian at August 17, 2007 10:59 PM

comment #14

Gaydos says ...

Hold it! Us Variety-ites wait TEN YEARS for Mottola to get his due and now this??!???!

NOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!

He's a director! He's the director! As we said in 1998:

http://www.variety.com/vstory/VR1117467103.html?categoryid=38&cs=1

Posted by Gaydos at August 18, 2007 12:20 AM

comment #15

otakuhouse says ...

Hey Mottola,

Whatevs. Your epiodes of Undeclared were the best. Usually because they were the saddest. "Eric Visits Again" is almost hard to watch, which is why it's brilliant. Never caught the Daytrippers but always looking forward to your work. Looks like you're about to get the number one movie this week, too. Hope you get to make more of what you'd like to.

Posted by otakuhouse at August 18, 2007 12:27 AM

comment #16

BurmaShave says ...

On the other hand, The New Yorker gives him too much credit. I mean, he didn't write the damn thing.

Posted by BurmaShave at August 18, 2007 2:41 AM

comment #17

EDouglas says ...

Well, we're doing our part... all week we've had a picture of Greg with the subtitle "The director of the funniest comedy of the year" on our front page, so our readers know the score... and I think Greg's publicist owes me a few Asian hookers.

Posted by EDouglas at August 18, 2007 4:42 AM

comment #18

corey3rd says ...

it will be interesting if Judd pulls this hype vampire schtick with Pineapple Express.

Posted by corey3rd at August 18, 2007 5:41 AM

comment #19

Joe Leydon says ...

Hype vampire schtick -- an inspired phrase. Corey 3rd, you should copyright that immediately.

Posted by Joe Leydon at August 18, 2007 6:30 AM

comment #20

buckzollo says ...

Everyone has been hearing how great the movie is. There has also been some concern as to whether this 'great' movie would get its due. It seems reasonable to me that marketing departments would attach the movie's wagon to the white hot Judd Apatow. It is less disingenuous than marketing something around a star's cameo. I doubt they are twisting Judd's arm, but the studio is rightfully pushing him into the spotlight insuring people who loved 40 year old & Knocked Up come out for this. I doubt we are NOT going to be reading about Greg's next effort(s).

Posted by buckzollo at August 18, 2007 6:58 AM

comment #21