Seth Rogen and Jason Segel recently shared humorous anecdotes from their collaborative experiences with director and producer Judd Apatow during a candid interview. The pair, known for their comedic roles in several Apatow projects, reflected on his memorable outbursts on set, including his infamous advice to focus on emotional depth over crude humor.
Apatow directed Rogen in the breakout film The 40-Year-Old Virgin. He’s executive produced some of Rogen’s most famous comedies like Anchorman, Knocked Up, Superbad, Step Brothers and Pineapple Express. Segel also had a close relationship with Judd Apatow after having starred in Freaks and Geeks and Undeclared. He received widespread recognition for his starring performance in the 2008 film Forgetting Sarah Marshall, which Apatow produced. They do this while keeping an ongoing collaborative practice. Right now, they’re working on projects including The Studio and Shrinking, with Apatow attached.
In their remembrance, both actors pointed out that Apatow never failed to let you know when he was unhappy in an over-the-top comical way. If he saw a scene he didn’t like, he’d have to yell “Booooo” from a different room. One memorable directive from Apatow stood out: “Less semen, more emotion.” This phrase has since become a tongue-in-cheek joking touchstone between Rogen and Segel, showing Apatow’s weird creative process.
“Less semen, more emotion” – Judd Apatow (via Seth Rogen)
Segel joked that every chuckle spent making the film was a dollar lost. “Every time you laugh [during a scene], it costs me thousands of dollars!” he remarked, highlighting the pressure of balancing comedy with production costs.
All three have been hard at work together on exciting projects. Perhaps the greatest highlight is Apatow’s cameo as himself in Seth Rogen-produced film, The Disaster Artist. This only casts a brighter light on the tight-knit world that they work in, filled with respect, shared experiences and family.
Beyond his own feature directorial work, Apatow has been instrumental in launching the career of both actors. Rogen revealed that Apatow once advised him, saying, “The only way you’re going to make it is if you write your own material.” Rogen has taken this advice and run with it. In the process, he has established himself as one of the most successful writers and producers in Hollywood.
