(You canwatch the trailer here.)
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DEADLINE:How did this docuseries come about?
SAM JONES:Jason asked me if he thought there was a documentary in there.
‘Smartless: On the Road’HBO
I kind of pitched them with trust me enough to give me a key to your hotel rooms.
They agreed to that.
DEADLINE:So you accompanied them to all the shows?
JONES:Oh yeah.
We were an embedded group the entire time.
We had three cameras, and I was one of the them.
I was in their rooms more than I was in mine.
Each episode is a city.
DEADLINE:Did you decide early on that you werent going to show what happens at the live show?
I tried to make the onstage stuff feel that way, as well.
Its not like it was from the audiences point of view.
It was more like we were up there on stage or in the wings.
Its almost like a band documentary or a brothers documentary.
DEADLINE:Why did you shoot it in black and white?
JONES:I just love it aesthetically.
I think it gave you a feel that this is a behind the scenes thing.
DEADLINE:So after spending even a few days with them, what did you learn?
JONES:I think theyre all such brilliant comedians.
They were all very open to being themselves.
That was the thing.
Whether the cameras were on them or not,thoseare the guys.
But they wanted to be as transparent as possible.
They were as open to the experiment as I was.
They realized if theyre being honest and true and human, its going to work.
Theyre not trying to create personas that make them look good.
Thats what makes them so lovable.
Those guys trust their ability in the present to find the right direction to take a conversation.
They have minds that are quick enough to find the humor without prepping anything.
DEADLINE:Did you find stuff for them to do before the live shows?
So I really tried to leave it in their hands.
DEADLINE:Did they at least prepare for the live shows?
JONES:They didnt prepare for the live shows at all.
I mean, they would get a Wikipedia page and take a look at it.
What was interesting to see is that they didnt have any nerves about it.
They were willing to let it be what it was, and they didnt venture to overly control it.
I think thats sort of their secret.
DEADLINE:What were some of your favorite moments from the six episodes?
JONES:One of the things that I wasnt expecting happens in episode four or five.
They start asking each other questions about their upbringing.
Will asked Jason about the pressure he felt being a child actor.
We were learning things about the anxiety or the pressure he felt.
Then Sean started coming out to his mother when he was still a teenager.
It was this island of complete sincerity in the middle of this fun, rollicky comedy tour.
It took me by surprise, and its one of my favorite moments in the whole thing.
DEADLINE:So if they go back on the road again, is there a season two of this?
JONES:Oh God, I hope so.
It was probably the most fun job Ive ever done.
Directing something like this is more about listening and observing and staying out of the way.
It was such a unique experience and I would love for them to take it to Europe.
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