Marina Zenovich“I Chevy Chase“And You Don't” is not your average celebrity documentary. It's clear from the start of the film that the 82-year-old comedian had no editorial control over the project.
A minute into the CNN document, Zenovich (“Lance,” “Robin Williams: Enter My Mind”) can be heard telling Chase in voiceover, “I'm just trying to understand you.”
His response: “No shit. It won't be easy for you.”
“Why won’t it be easy?” – asks Zenovich.
“You're not smart enough,” Chase deadpans. “How is this?” The comedian then chuckles.
Zenovich says while she was stunned by Chase's response, she was also relieved.
“I’ve never done an interview where someone was so rude to me,” Zenovich says. Diversity. “But I was so worried going into my first interview with him about how I was going to tell him, like, 'Everyone thinks you're an asshole.' I thought that if I did this, he would throw me out of his house. So the minute he told me that, I had the opportunity to come in.”
The doc, which premieres Jan. 1 on CNN, chronicles Chase's rise from the hit show Saturday Night Live to his starring role, his three marriages, his addiction to cocaine and alcohol, heart failure leading to comachildhood abuse, depression, a failed talk show and the star's various on-set arguments with actors like Terry Sweeney and the entire cast of the NBC comedy Community.
“I wanted to find out who is really behind the conflicted, wary and somewhat fragile man we see on camera,” says Zenovich. “What was underneath the surface of his slightly intimidating superstar bravado? Was there any self-awareness there? Having interviewed Chevy at length, I have to say that yes, it's all there – and a lot of pain and heartache.”
In addition to Chase and his family, the doc includes candid interviews with the star's former employees and confidants, including Mike Ovitz, Dan Aykroyd, Beverly D'Angelo, Goldie Hawn, Lorne Michaels, Ryan Reynolds and Martin Short.
Diversity spoke with Zenovich, her husband and longtime producing partner P.G. Morgan about why Chase decided to make the doc and asked someone from Community to be interviewed.
You've worked together on a number of celebrity docs, including Lance, about Lance Armstrong, Robin Williams: Enter My Mind, Richard Pryor: Lay Down the Logic, Jerry Brown: Destroyer, and Roman Polanski: Wanted and Desired. What score does Chevy Chase show on the difficulty indicator?
Zenovich: The first time I sat down with Lance Armstrong, he was on the edge of his seat ready to spar with me. It's interesting because you don't know what you're going to get. Then I did Jerry Brown, who I tried to do the same thing with, but he didn't show any interest. So, each person is individual. Chevy was ready to go there, but stopped himself. He won't go all the way. The interviews with him were very difficult.
Morgan: There were many unknown people present at the interview. Chevy is incredibly smart and always on call, so you'll have to go toe-to-toe with him. He's also a little intimidating, and we had a lot of things we wanted to talk to him about – good things and sensitive things.
When it comes to celebrity documentaries, the celebrity is usually promoting something like a tour, fashion line, or book. Chase didn't advertise anything.. Why do you think he wanted to make this film?, Which portrait of him is not entirely flattering?
Zenovich: Someone wrote a book about him and I don't think that [Chase’s] the family liked it. I think they were trying to correct the mistake. I don't know if they think they did it because it was hard. [The doc] It was a tough experience for him and his family, but I think they will appreciate it in the end.
Morgan: I guess they felt as a family that he didn't get his due. That a whole series of documentaries have been made about other people of his generation. I think it hurt him that he didn't get the same recognition.
Do you think the people who turned down interviews, like Steve Martin and Christopher Guest, were really saying, “We don't like this guy”?
Zenovich: I can't answer for them, but I think the absence speaks for itself. Be it planning, personal or saving for your own document. In the end, I think we got the right mix of people. At first I was disappointed that more people from Community didn't come, but there are some things people don't want to talk about.
How difficult was it to get anyone from Community to sit down with you?
Every person said no. I met Dan Harmon (creator of Community) at a screening of The Deaf President Now! and I got his number. I was so excited. I thought that would be the case, but then he refused. I was very lucky to get Jay Chandrasekhar (director of Community). He has such an amazing serve and he was ready to go there. If Jay had said no, I would have been screwed.
“I'm Chevy Chase and You're Not” premieres Thursday, January 1st on CNN. The film will stream live to pay TV subscribers via CNN.com, CNN Connected TV and mobile apps on January 1.
