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Q&A with Ansel Elgort and Mike Birbiglia from The Fault in Our Stars Movie Set

2013-10-04 · John, Ansel Elgort, Mike Birbiglia · watch on YouTube · Books & writing · conversation qa

On the set of The Fault in Our Stars film, John puts Nerdfighter questions to Ansel Elgort (Augustus), who tells how a rotten Dutch sandwich told him he got the part, and talks with Mike Birbiglia (Patrick) about how he joined the film.

What is said

00:00:00 — Greeting; the film's support group says hello; John on set for weeks; thanks Hank for his shutdown video

  • ★★ John says he has been on the set of The Fault in Our Stars film for the last couple of weeks, where very little news gets in. — 00:00:05 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)
  • ★ John thanks Hank for his video about the government shutdown, which he previously didn't understand at all and now understands only as 'are you serious?' — 00:00:10
  • ★★ John says that earlier in the week he asked Ansel Elgort, who plays Augustus Waters, real questions from real Nerdfighters. — 00:00:19 · The Fault in Our Stars (film), Nerdfighteria

00:00:25 — Ansel Elgort answers Nerdfighter questions: John's new phone, working with John, 'Johnsel', favorite scene

  • ★★ John says many people ask whether 'Johnsel' (John plus Ansel) is going to be a thing; John says it is and that he ships it. (playful) — 00:00:46 > «what they call 'Johnsel'»
  • ★ Ansel says he thinks 'Johnsel' is already a thing, and ships it too. (playful) (hedged) — 00:00:46
  • ★ John says his wife, who is on set, told him that on Twitter he acts like he has a crush on Ansel. (playful) — 00:00:53 · Sarah Urist Green, Twitter
  • ★★ Asked for his favorite scene so far, Ansel names a car scene with Gus filmed Friday night (John stops spoilers) and calls it his favorite scene as an actor. (hedged) — 00:01:06 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)

00:01:25 — Ansel tells how he learned he got the part: a package from Shailene and a rotten Dutch sandwich

00:02:15 — Mike Birbiglia (Patrick): the real story via The Spectacular Now's screenwriters, then a made-up scroll version; the bad hug

  • ★★ John says he also interviewed Mike Birbiglia, one of his favorite comedians and people, who plays Patrick in the film. — 00:02:15 · The Fault in Our Stars (film)
  • ★★ John sums up Birbiglia's real route to the film: he loved The Spectacular Now and befriended its screenwriters, who recommended The Fault in Our Stars; then they invent a funnier version. — 00:02:34 · The Fault in Our Stars

00:03:36 — Sign-off muddle: the shutdown swapped the Tuesday/Friday schedule

  • ★★ Signing off, John muddles Tuesday and Friday and blames the government shutdown for swapping the usual John-Tuesday, Hank-Friday schedule. (playful) — 00:03:41

Humor (significant)

  • Asked a viewer question about what it's like working with a brilliant author like John Green, Ansel answers deadpan. — 00:00:36 > «Um, y'know what, I thought it would be better. I was expecting much more.»
  • John says his wife thinks he acts like he has a crush on Ansel on Twitter. — 00:00:55 > «Because I do. Acting!»
  • Birbiglia and John improvise a 'better for television' version of how he joined the film: he wrote John a letter, long, like in the Middle Ages. — 00:02:41 > «It was on a scroll.»
  • John confuses Tuesday and Friday because the shutdown swapped the schedule. — 00:03:41 > «I'll see you at some indeterminate point in the future. Thanks, government.»

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