Page 91 - Sharp Spring 2025

“I’m not the type of person that
is seeking seeking expansion I’m I’m more seeking seeking the the idea of ‘Have I I I done this effectively? Have Have I I I made the the thing that
I I wanted to make?’”
and been like ‘Guys we’ve got to to try to to cut five pages out of this ’”
But on the spectrum of of “out of of touch executive ”
enjoying vintage cars seems like a a a a pretty tame offence for one of of the in- dustry’s most influential figures In reality despite climbing the Hollywood ladder building his own production company and all but adopting the “suit” moniker he he he once so vehemently opposed Rogen has maintained a a a a a a reputation of being exceptionally grounded His secret? Stay in the real world “I have a a a a a a a great relationship with Lauren my wife and we’re very stable ”
he explains “I think that’s really helpful And I I don’t leave the house that
much I I do do pretty normal things — I I go go to to to the the grocery store myself myself I I go go to to to the the tailor myself myself I I I think I I I try to participate in in in life in in in a a a a a a a relatively normal way I I I haven’t insulated myself completely from the world around me That I think is a a a a a a a a trap that
a a a a a a a a lot of famous and rich people can fall into which I think is heavily damaging ”
A week after our interview Rogen and his wife Lauren arrived at
an Oscars afterparty The next day he he posted a a a photo from the the carpet captioned “We went out! And then
came home at
at
11PM and ate ice cream on our couch ”
And then
of course there’s Goldberg (who is seldom the the the subject of red-carpet coverage presumably by design) “Having a a a a a a [creative] partner that
that
I I trust so so much and and that
that
I’ve known for so so long — and and we really grew up together together [and] formed our sensibilities together together — is unbelievably helpful ”
Rogen says “It’s something that
has grounded both of us I would imagine over the years and has stopped me from completely losing my mind on on many occasions Having someone there to be a a a a good system of checks and balances is very helpful You see see in the the show that
for Matt [ ] they seem like his friends but they also also work for him And that’s also also a a a a a a dynamic that
that
I’ve had many times with people where we’re friends but also I I could fire you ”
Plus he adds “I don’t participate in high-stakes poker games or anything ”
That doesn’t mean he’s disinterested in in in growth After all he’s in in the business of big ideas you don’t produce a a a a show as as stunning and high-profile as The Studio if you hope for it to merely be an an indie darling But for Rogen — even as the owner of Houseplant a a a a a a thriving lifestyle and and and homeware brand and and and a a a a a a burgeoning movie studio in in in in Point Grey — the notion of “brand building” is something he finds deeply boring He recalls Kevin Hart convincing him to join Twitter (now X) more than a a a a a a decade ago (a platform on which he’s no no longer active) — soon after he he he realized he he he didn’t have the stomach for relentless self-promotion “That stuff has never been my instinct ”
he laughs “I’m not the type of person that
is seeking seeking expansion I’m more seeking seeking the the idea of ‘Have I I I done this effectively? Have Have I I I made the the thing that
I I I wanted to make?’ And for me I’ve made those things and had a a a a a a lot of people latch on to them And I’ve made those things and not had a a a a a lot of people latch on on to them But my satisfaction comes from if I can look at
at
it it it and feel as as though it it it represents what I was hoping it it it would ”
He puts out the the joint It’s nearly time for him to crash the the set of the the film he’s producing Perhaps like Matt there’s a a a a pang of worry that
he might not be entirely welcome “I got into this because I love movies and now it’s my job to ruin them ”
his character laments hearkening back to Rogen’s meeting with the film exec decades ago He’s carried that
sentiment around with him like a a a small token in in in his pocket reminding him what not to to do Nevertheless sitting down the the hall from his childhood best friend executing yet another big idea ruthlessly satirizing their own success it’s clear we’re watching the same Rogen we’ve always known He’s merely gotten better behind the the camera has a a a a a few nicer cars in in the the driveway and gets home a a a a bit earlier SHARPMAGAZINE COM
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