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Hello! Meet Aza!

2022-06-07 · collab / interview · John, Isabela Merced · 4:00 · watch on YouTube

Topic: Books & writing · mode: Q&A & conversation · tags: guest or collab, self promotion, on location

A longer version is linked in the description: https://youtu.be/eM5PIuAcaeU.

Formerly titled Hi! Introducing Aza Holmes!.

On the Turtles All the Way Down set, on the day his cameo is filmed, John talks with Isabela Merced, who plays Aza, about acting, the film's hardest scene, compassion toward oneself, favourite colours and parenting.

What is said

The parts of the video and what is said in each (★ — how much it matters to the video).

00:00:00 — Role-swap opening, greeting and introduction of Isabela Merced; filming John's cameo

  • ★★★ John introduces Isabela Merced, the star of the Turtles All the Way Down movie, who plays Aza. — 00:00:00
  • ★★ The conversation is filmed on the day John's cameo is shot, which is physically uncomfortable for him; he asks how acting works. (playful) — 00:00:00

00:00:29 — How acting works; John's praise; actors' and writers' need for affirmation

  • ★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says acting is odd to be into because, unlike singing, you can't just do it whenever someone asks. — 00:00:29
  • ★★★ John tells Isabela she was simply Aza for him, and now when he thinks of Aza he pictures her. — 00:00:29
  • ★★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says that is reassuring, since actors are in their career because they need reassurance and affirmation; John adds that the same is true for writers. — 00:00:29

00:01:10 — Whether Aza had a face for John; the hand-sanitizer scene; empathy and self-compassion

  • ★ Asked whether Aza had a face for him, John says not really; when Isabela jokes that Aza was just him with a wig on, he laughs that it is a little too close. — 00:01:10
  • ★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says she partly copied the way John talks for the role. — 00:01:10 · John Green
  • ★★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says that filming the hand-sanitizer scene, in her view the movie's climax and its most difficult scene, she blacked out and cannot remember doing it. — 00:01:10
  • ★★ John says watching that scene was painful: he wanted to stop it, turn on all the lights and make sure everyone was okay. — 00:01:39
  • ★★★ John says he can feel an empathy for Aza that he struggles to feel for himself when he is really sick, often failing to show himself the same compassion. — 00:01:39 · empathy
  • ★★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says the role taught her that she needs to give herself a break. — 00:02:09

00:02:31 — Favourite colours, the Beatles question, parenting and talking about feelings

  • ★ John says green is his favourite colour and his whole identity, but asked if it is really his favourite he is unsure, and says he likes some really deep blues, like the far end of the sky as the sun goes down. — 00:02:31
  • ★★ John says he has the energy of a dad in therapy since age 13: whenever his kids talk about feelings he leans in, and they sense his eagerness and pull back. (playful) — 00:02:59
  • ★★ Isabela Merced: Isabela says that as a parent she will always want her children to share things with her without looking too desperate. — 00:02:59

00:03:31 — Favourite animals, back to work, sign-off

In the description and comments

  • ★★ In a comment John says Isabela has a deep understanding of Aza and of human dynamics, is brilliant, and he is grateful for the love and talent she poured into Aza. — creator comment
  • ★ The description links Isabela's Instagram and a semi-secret longer version of the conversation. — video description · Instagram

Humor (significant)

  • Isabela says she is not normally herself on camera — 00:00:00

    “Funny you should mention that because I'm not normally someone else.”

  • John asks his favourite-Beatle question; Isabela already knows it from his earlier interview video with Cree — 00:02:31

    “the Beatles thing isn't gonna play”

  • John describes how he reacts when his kids talk about feelings — 00:02:59

    “I have dad who's been in therapy since the age of 13, energy.”

  • Told that dogs are John's favourite animal, the talk turns to Isabela's dog — 00:03:31

    “I take it back. My favorite species of animal is your dog.”

Threads in this video

Where the stories that moved here went next

Mentioned

Central: Aza Holmes · Isabela Merced · Turtles All the Way Down (film)

Also: Cree Cicchino · empathy · parenting · psychotherapy · Self-compassion · The Beatles

Only in the description or credits: Instagram

Also centred on Aza Holmes: John Reads the First Chapter of Turtles All the Way Down

Also centred on Turtles All the Way Down (film): On the Movies · An Amazing Day · Hello! Meet Daisy! · A Casting Announcement · Director Hannah Marks Is Nervous To Meet You · The Truth of How Books Become Movies

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