Jordan Peele sat down with talk show host Conan O’Brien to discuss his journey from the popular sketch comedy show “Key & Peele” to his latest film “Nope.” The conversation between Peele and O’Brien was filled with praise for Peele’s sketch comedy work and admiration for the genre as a whole.
O’Brien expressed his appreciation for Peele’s sketches, noting that they were well-written with great ideas and executed perfectly. He mentioned how he found joy in watching the sketches and was thrilled when Peele and his partner, Keegan-Michael Key, appeared on his show to do bits and talk. O’Brien highlighted the fact that sketch comedy is an underestimated art form, and Peele and Key excelled in it.
Peele acknowledged the kind words and revealed that he fell in love with comedy and horror at a young age. Growing up in New York, he was exposed to the creepiness of his neighborhood and found both comedy and horror developing side by side within him. Peele mentioned iconic horror films like “Nightmare on Elm Street” as being influential and evoking fear in him as a child. He also cited films like “The Shining” and “Rosemary’s Baby” as movies he fell in love with, admiring their slow-building tension and manipulation of reality.
The conversation between Peele and O’Brien also touched on the similarities between comedy and horror. Peele discussed how grounding the story and characters is essential in both genres. He mentioned the importance of gradually turning up the heat and creating discomfort for the characters, which keeps the audience engaged. O’Brien compared this technique to his own comedies, where the filmmakers acclimate the audience to a normal reality before twisting things and bringing them to an insane place.
Peele also talked about his film “Get Out” and highlighted the guest’s unwelcome experience while visiting his girlfriend’s family, which created anxiety inthe audience. He referred to the theme of staying in uncomfortable situations, explaining that grounding the film and creating a believable reason for the protagonist to stay is crucial in horror. Peele expressed the difficulty in finding the right balance between fantasy and grounding in both comedy and horror, but when achieved, it makes the experience satisfying for the audience.
The conversation ended on a note about Peele’s venture into directing. He shared his initial hesitation and fear about directing his first film, “Get Out,” despite having written the screenplay. Surprisingly, a producer embraced the idea, and Peele took on the role. The film had a micro-budget of $5 million, making it a challenging yet rewarding experience for Peele.
Overall, the conversation between Jordan Peele and Conan O’Brien was filled with admiration for Peele’s work in sketch comedy and his immersion into the horror genre as a director. Peele’s journey from “Key & Peele” to “Nope” showcased his talent and passion for creating thought-provoking and boundary-pushing entertainment.
