Townhouse Confidential: Meet Actors Samantha Simone, Lee Tyler

Samantha, Lee, thank you so much for joining us Townhouse Confidential coming out video on demand January 31st. We just checked out highlights of the trailer with a chance to chat with the filmmakers Patrick and Rosalind and man. This is one fun romantic comedy that doesn’t just involve the pitfalls of online dating today. But also the never-ending issue of real estate hedge funds and all that jazz and it kind of marries the two together and kind of a Perfect Blend. How did you two get involved with this film. Yeah, first got the audition from my manager. He sent it over and I read the breakdown and the scene and was like, oh my God the audition scene was the cupcake scene, which if you haven’t seen the film.

It’s an iconic, you know scene. And I read the screen the scene and was like, oh my God, this is so funny I’m so excited to audition for it. And then from there. I think it was two callbacks in a chem rate or something like that. It was like there were a couple other you know, processes to go through. But it was fun from start to finish. I’ll say. Yeah, it was about the same for me. I mean, I think it was all one week of you know, I think I taped it taped the first round on like a Monday heard back about a call back within a 48 hours.

We got you know, did a live call back. I don’t know if we were on the first round together or not, I don’t know. I’m like Friday I want to say. And then Saturday was second round. And then got a call from Patrick, our director a couple hours later and so yeah, it was really nice week. I remember it was Fourth of July weekend going into Fourth of July weekend of 2021. And so finding out on the third that I booked it and then going all the Fourth of July parties was it was good. It was like, most cathartic fireworks in at least a few years at that point.

That’s for sure. Yeah. And YouTube did a great job. And speaking to the filmmakers they were telling me that as far as getting everybody in the same room at the same time. It wasn’t easy, especially, you know, because with the pandemic still going on and everything else. So you two had great chemistry on screen, but how much actual time. Did you have together in person before you started rolling Lee and I had what coffee date. And then we like ran limes. We had a table read that was with everybody who could be present in New York for maybe another like two hours or. So yeah, very minimal.

I mean, we it was a quick process because like you know, we the cast came together in early July? I mean, probably by mid-july is when the full cast was put together and then we were shooting by the first week of August. So, it was like really fast Sam. And I lived close together, as we ran those lines. And then yeah, so just a couple times. Yeah, we had that group read we had a couple costume fittings. Maybe and then it was like, yeah Sam. You were on set for a couple days before I showed up. I think and then yeah, I know my first scene was that fireplace sequence where it was like one long take.

That was my first scene. And I think we I think we pulled it off. That’s one of my favorite scenes in the film and I know some people have enjoyed it just because it stands out as like not being full of cuts and it’s just kind of like plays out. But yeah to have that be day one with the working fireplace was a little intimidating, but you know, we had fun with it. I’m glad we at least got a few hours to like, you know, hang out before the first day. What’s been the biggest takeaways for YouTube during this whole period from like 2020 to present is it either the whole adjusting on the Fly are there some things that you two learned about each other and yourselves as actors during the whole process of this film and just really in the crazy time we’re in.

Yeah, definitely with the audition process. I mean, it was the first film I’ve join where like I hadn’t met anyone in person first. I mean, I know self tapes have been a thing for a while obviously at least for the first round, but you know in, you know, pre-covered there would always be then like at some point in the callbacks you’d go in person. And do some reads in person. And you know, Sam. And I have talked about this a little it’s like you want to be able to show a director that you can take Direction in the moment and you know, give it another shot the downsides of it being a fully virtual realm is it?

You know, you don’t get that opportunity to feel the chemistry with the creators in person. And it’s a whole different skill set to be able to like, you know, both rounds of callbacks being on Zoom, you know, it’s like, okay. Whereas before my training is like how do I relax my body to be at ease in this room with these people in person, but now it’s like how do I adjust the script on my screen. So that it’s near the lens. So that I’m looking correctly. It’s like this whole other layer of digital skill sets. That’s required and I mean certainly, you know, when we were shooting it.

It was right at the height of the like Delta wave of Summer 21. And so we were all super cautious with everything and you know, I felt always like I was trying to catch up to just, you know, make sure I was on top of, you know knowing how to audition on a lens on Zoom only. So I found it challenging, but I mean, you know, besides masks and testing and everything once we’re on set. It was just a set, you know, I mean the extra precautions, you know, put, you know a few extra roadblocks in the way of things. But you know, at the end of the day.

We were on set, having fun making a movie just like it was 2019, but with Mast on in between, you know? Yeah, I would say the biggest hurdle is. It’s sort of what we were saying with not getting anything from the creatives in the room when you get a script as an actor. Sometimes you don’t get the full script. Like we didn’t get the full Townhouse Confidential script until much later. So when you’re seeing these scenes in piecemeal. It’s like, okay, where is my character coming from where are they going to what is the history what just happened with these two folks and you’re kind of creating that in a bit of a bubble.

And hoping like, you know for lack of a better metaphor throwing spaghetti at the wall and hoping something sticks. And making these big choices by yourself, you know, your who’s ever can be in the room reading with you or on zoom and you know, things like that. So it adds a different layer to it for sure. And learning how to just trust your Natural Instincts instead of being like? Oh, I’ll just ask them a question in the room because you don’t have that lip that luxury anymore with self taping. My favorite part of the zoom callback process was like, I don’t know if I’ve ever told you this but after we did our last round together.

He made me so angry like in real. Like it’s a scene where I actually get mad at him and I got so angry and they were like damn you’re released and I was like, great. Thank you so much and I slammed my laptop closed and I just went. Oh, he infuriates me. I hope we both book it because like that is exactly like the feeling you should have of like, oh my god. And it was similar to being in the room, you know of feeling these like emotions in real time. The worries for me are usually technical of like I live in an apartment in Brooklyn.

I have a dog he tends to bark anytime he believes it, you know, so it’s he’ll be quiet up until I press go and then he’s but yeah, it’s definitely just learning to trust yourself your instrument and the process a little bit more. I’m really glad to know that I made you that angry. You made me so mad. Oh, yeah. Yeah. It was the confrontation with the like why haven’t you fixed all this stuff electrical outlets type of thing. And yeah, well, that’s good. That’s good. I mean, that is a big difference too. You’re doing a live callback on zoom and like if you’re in person, you know, maybe you get to kind of like go out with the actor in the hallway be like, well, wow, you know, pat on the back like, hey, you know, we’re just people, but at the end of that one you’re infuriated with your closed laptop by yourself in a room.

It’s like where do I put this energy, you know, you mentioned being in an apartment in Brooklyn and you know, it’s obviously New York is very loud and you have your dog. I have two cats and I can’t control them sometimes either now factor that in with YouTube filming on location and pretty much the entire film in New York, whether it be in, you know, the writer Roslyn townhouses or somewhere in one of these. You know, iconic local businesses in New York, you know, how is it dealing with that and everything with the noise with the different elements, especially with not to give too much away, but there was a rooftop scene from I understand that was particularly challenging.

Yeah. Yeah, I think the Magnolia Bakery shoot day was it’s a beautiful set of shots. And like was amazing to work on and film and location, but it was an overnight shoot due to the bakery just like needing to be a bakery, you know. So my first like truly overnight 12-hour shoot day. Ever in my career. And I was like, wow, this is, you know, it’s hard in a different way because when everyone’s you know, my boyfriend was leaving or coming home and I was leaving. I was like, see you later at 9 00 a.m when I’m done. And staying up, but also present to be, you know, on camera like that was super hard there was also a day where one was running down the street in front of rosalind’s house someone had stolen this girl’s phone and she was like running after him asking for help to like get her cell phone back and the director and the DP like ran outside to go help this woman and I don’t know how like things escalated trash cans were thrown like I’m not really sure.

But it was just like one of those moments where we’re like yeah, we’re making a movie in New York and that’s crime and like it’s happening right? Outside. It’s true. It’s true. That was an insane day. I mean, we went straight from it was like, yeah, our like key grip and DP. Yeah, they like ambushed this guy who’d stolen this lady’s phone. And it was a whole thing. I mean, some of the there was a real police encounter happening outside of the diner where in the movie, you can see like some red and some flashing cop cars and stuff and there was a whole situation happening outside and I had to like be out there around that and enter into the scene for multiple takes and like watch this really tense situation develop and like I wanted to see what was happening and I came into that scene with that energy where it was like, you know responding to a real life difficult situation was happening and then bringing that into a fictional encounter where it was supposed to be tense and it was like, well, what do I have these are the ingredients the universe has given me for this moment and I’m just gonna ride that speaking of that overnight shoot though.

I was supposed to show up for like a brief shot. I didn’t have a line. And I realized that I’d have to be there for the whole overnight shoot just to have this one little moment of me like buy a wall like watching it and I’m like, how do we really need this moment. They’re like, that’s okay. I’m like I got an extra night of sleep because that was a long one. But you had mentioned the rooftop that was you know, surprisingly surprisingly smooth. We had a huge crane that went up like, you know, five stories to shoot. Us from like across the street and it was fairly smooth my problem though.

Was that I don’t feel like I was I had warmed up properly we had to do a bunch of yelling and I basically lost my voice at some point. I had I didn’t have code, but I had some kind of throat thing. And when we went to shoot the like party scene the next day which was in the club that happens earlier in the movie where we’re all right at this bar. I could barely speak like my I felt okay, but my voice just was literally disappearing and I sounded like Vito Corleone. It was ridiculous. And so all that audio that dialogue is AVR from later that we pasted in I hope I’m not if some movie secrets should stay Secrets, but it was just it was a well-edited pixarue.

So we had a few little hiccups there, but I don’t know for the most part. It was pretty smooth. Awesome. Well, Townhouse Confidential as I mentioned comes out video on demand January 31st at the time we’re recording this weekend for one week only it’ll be playing at Village East in New York City, but before we let you two go, we always like to ask our guests some random and Rapid Fire questions just to get to know you two better. Are you ready? Yes. Bring it. Favorite cheat meal or late night snack cheat meal? I don’t eat gluten or dairy anymore. So like that sucks to be me.

But I would say I like the modern bread and bagel see. I don’t really live with enough rules. So nothing feels like cheating because everything is there’s just nothing to break, you know what I mean? What are your favorite spots in New York? Could be a favorite landmark? Could be like a favorite restaurant hole in the wall like what’s called like your go-to place. If I’m going there. And it’s not like something touristy like what would you take it’s Washington Square Park for me. I mean, it’s always been that way since I first visited the city in 2006. Fell in love with that spot. I think it still retains the unexpected chaotic qualities that make New York, great.

You see so much great music and art and skateboarding and weirdness and we shot our most of our film like a block away. So it was like felt like a real full circle moment for me personally. So, yeah, if I ever am with a tourist or someone who’s never been here Washington Square Park is always on that walk for sure. Yeah, well, if you come to Brooklyn. There’s a taco truck restaurant. It’s like a taco truck parked in a lot with a bar called chillos ever. So like that’s my restaurant of choice. And then actually we found it during filming or I’ve never been until filming kettle of fish this like all cash bar in like right across from Washington Square Park and like right?

Over there. So that was cool. And a fun find that I now go to often yeah, but you know, they had a fire there. And it’s closed right now the duplex it’s right next to duplex bar and kettlefish and I haven’t been able to go back. I might be behind the times. Maybe they’ve reopened, but like I’m rooting for them to return great. Great spot kettle of fish like I’m praying for them. Yeah, we definitely wish them the best now you two were fantastic characters, of course, you played George Barrow Sam. You played Liz Perry who are your favorite characters in Townhouse Confidential besides yourselves, well, you know, I got a I had a few scenes with the both the Sals a lot and those guys together.

Joe dimafio and Al Linnea really you know, cracked me up repeatedly especially when we were at that pizza restaurant there was just all kinds of hijinks taking place. And you know, one-on-one either of them is a great time, but together they really are like non-stop comedy routine. So, they always made the set life a little bit more sparkly and delightful. So, I’ll give it to the Sals, I would say Mr Jonas who plays Tommy Leroy. He was another one that during the Callback process. He made just such a fun choice. That was like gross, but also like totally fit the character. And I was like, oh my God, I yeah, I’m obsessed with you like this is awesome.

Because it was just such a cool acting choice and I was like what? Oh my god. And then he’s just like such a great human being. And so funny his laugh in the movie is his laugh in real life, which like will literally just like make everyone around him crack up. And then I’d also give shout outs to my on-screen sisters. Played by Brittany and Allison. They are just two of the sweetest people in the entire planet. So, no matter what we were shooting and their characters are fun in their own regards. Like Britney’s being, you know a little she goes out a lot and Ally’s who never goes out at all.

They always made the set. So warm. And yeah, we’re like real tight in real life, which is great. I have two new sisters. I have a real sister don’t tell her I said that. Good choices. Yeah. Yeah, your secret is safe now Sam. I gotta also ask you and I think this was in one of the promotional Clips. There’s a scene where you and Tommy Tom Eric the handyman and it’s kind of such when it’s going in One Direction, it goes another way and involves you wicking? Well, I guess you two both looking cupcakes very passionately. I’m wondering how many takes did that? Well, take because I can’t imagine keeping a straight face doing that.

Oh, yeah. That was a hard one to film. I think we got that like three takes mostly because we’d mess up like my makeup would be up my face. So I think we got it in three. But it was as soon as the camera’s cut we both would die like crack up laughing. It was so fun for both of us. Yeah, was that gluten-free it was gluten-free though, right? It was a gluten-free dairy-free cupcake because I would not I would be in a really bad bad place if it wasn’t. There you go. There you go, did a little bit of a quick IMDb research on YouTube.

So I gotta ask completely objective question, of course, what’s a better University Michigan or Columbia. Oh, baby go Blue. I mean, we’re also blue. So, oh, yeah. That’s right? So, wait we can say blue and still be on the same team. Yeah, we’re look, we’re I’m from Michigan Sam’s from Jersey, New York Columbia it’s like, you know, we’re representing there. I think Michigan had a lot going for it in terms of like having that Big Ten thing, but also having a small acting Conservatory. So, I feel like I got the best of two different types of college experiences at once. So I don’t know. It was like at Columbia, but you know, I got to you know, look, look.

I was about to go I was about to say I got to see like cool shows in Detroit, but I’m talking to someone who went to college in New York City. I’m like, what am I supposed to do. I mean, look, I love Ann Arbor. I love Detroit, but like I mean? What am I gonna how am I gonna compare Colombia. I think wins. No, it’s a great experience and just like a beautiful campus like this time. They the main like strip. They just put like lights up and when it snows. It’s just like picture perfect over there. But I mean Lee where did George Barrow go to school God.

You’re right? Yeah. Yeah, I wear I literally wear a Columbia t-shirt at some point in the film. So, I may be fighting against myself here. So hey, whatever, I’ll give it to Columbia today just for townhouse’s sake, but in my heart. I’m bleeding Amazing Blue. Why should people watch Townhouse Confidential because it’s a light-hearted jaunt in such times as we live there is a need for. Lightness and joviality amidst the, you know, very important conversations happening in society and like personally I gravitate toward, you know, heavy issues very naturally and like really always want to put myself into like, you know, the center of really hard conversations and you know for what I for what I would think are good reasons and you know, I have so much respect for so many films these days that are you know fighting the good fight and having asking you questions and delivering new answers.

And you know, it was kind of interesting to be making like a very silly rom-com. While, you know outside of the set. I was thinking about very different things and you know, I’ve come around to just the notion of just, you know, giving more space for laughter in my life and like you know, putting down the heavy bags for a second. So, you know, the acting is great the writing is really fun. And I think that there’s just a lot to be said for giggling in the midst of the storm. Sometimes I would say I would walk, you know, the West Village and be so jealous of these people who had these townhouses and I was like, oh my God.

Like they must be super super wealthy, so to step into the shoes of Liz Perry where it’s like she inherits this house. That’s falling apart around her and they can’t get rid of it, but they want to kind of but they don’t because it’s also their parents and their feelings. And there and all of that was really real to me and made the people of the West Village real people instead of like, oh super celebrities that live and own these homes where it’s like no, there’s not they still have the same problems of like there might be a really big roach in the basement or you know, whatever the case may be that really grounds it in the reality of these characters.

Yes, they’re going through these like Larger than Life type feelings. And emotions and events that are happening, but at the core they’re real people going through real things. And I love that. And I’m also a sucker for a happy ending like yes, girl get your Prince Charming. I was a Disney kid Beauty and the Beast is my favorite movie. So like get you know, do that thing. And I love that this has a happy ending for most of the characters have a happy ending. Yeah. This is definitely a movie that on VHS would have come in. One of those like old Disney like plastic crunchy boxes.

I could really see it sitting next to like lady in the Trap and feeding the Beast or something like that. Awesome. Well, Samantha Lee, I really do appreciate the time. Before we let you go, where can we find you two online and where can we find you next? Samantha Nicole Simone.com. Well, I’m heading to Sundance Film Festival for I teach as well. So one of my clients is in one of the movies out there. So, I’m really excited about that while this is going on. And then yeah right now just auditioning and putting as much work out there as I can and hoping for some positive waves coming in 2023.

Yeah, definitely into the approaching waves myself. I have a short film. That’s about to hit picture lock called female narrative. It’s a brief short film. Made by my dear friend Isabel monkey Aid her and I accidentally she wrote it our great director Matthew Lejeune is a really really talented dude and we’re hoping to submit that around shortly also auditioning. Yeah, I’m on Instagram at Lee Tyler C that’s a s-e-e at the end and yeah, I got a basic website out there. I’m not really on Tick Tock either. Not super into Facebook either, but you can find me. Yeah, I’m bouncing around great. Oh, hey, look up Samantha Simone Lee Tyler we’ll find you?

And of course, you could find them in Townhouse Confidential coming out January 31st video on demand.