Tracy Lehman (2:43)

Well, I think, you know, it had started to change my life pretty quickly when it happened, you know, I was looking for My dad, he was mad at me, wouldn't call me back, wouldn't email me back. So I put his name into Facebook. Cause I'm a recovering people please back then, the straight up people pleaser. And, and I wanted to fix it. So I put his name into Facebook and accidentally friended another man with his name who had access to my heart because of his name. And so I think, I think the seed was kind of planted with, with the, the awe of, of the healing from a stranger, these small acts of kindness from a stranger. He would like something, say something positive. This went on for years and I didn't know how to thank him. So I, I, I don't, John, I don't know if you know this, but I, I wrote like a short version of the script just to say thank you. And they all became a family. And I was like, oh, I'm gonna give this to him. And that, I never really had that opportunity to give that to him. So I was a little, you know, I was extremely filled with regret that I had never told him what he meant to me. And so I didn't know what to do with that. And I had to, I kind of had to make this movie. It's really my thank you and a way to pay it forward, you know.

Alison Stewart (3:47)

John, what attracted you to this film.

John Leguizamo (3:49)

A very kind film about a young woman who finds connections with a stranger?

WNYC Studios Announcer (3:55)

Well, first of all, indie films are my favorite genre of art of film. It's the thing that, that got me started. It's the thing that fuels me. It's where all experimentation and beautiful films that are made about characters and respect character. It's not just made by committee and, and, and commercial success. And so I, I got this great script. I loved it. Tracy and I met at my favorite restaurant, Morandi, and we hit it off. I felt like we were like, you know, kin or something, you know, spiritual kin for sure. And, and I just love the subject matter. I mean, these two strangers being kind and respectful and decent to each other. I, I just feel like we're missing so much of that right now in this, in this new regime that is so divisive and so, you know, promoting hate constantly and fear mongering. I just to put something so beautiful and touching and you gotta see it in community, you gotta see it in a theater, because hearing hundreds of people laughing and crying at the same time is life changing.

John Leguizamo (5:09)

Traci, what did you think when this person that you didn't really know, you knew his name, but you didn't really Know him. Started liking your posts.

Tracy Lehman (5:18)

Well, you know, for a split second, I woke up to the notification with my dad's name. Likes it, right? And I was like, all right, my dad likes something of mine. We're back. You know, And. And. And I was. Then I looked, and I'm like, oh, it's not him. You know, But I was like, but that felt so good. I. I kind of need that. And, you know, healing and family, chosen family come in strange ways sometimes. So I. I knew I needed it, so I just thought, I'm just gonna stay friends with him. And. And, you know, it went on for years, and. And, you know, I'm still gotten closer, probably. So I think it was just showing up for the healing that was happening, and it'd be something as small as. Like, my dad never came to any of my screenings all these years or never congratulated me on anything. And yet this stranger would say, I get a comment with my dad's name. Way to go, kiddo. Or I got a little bullied when I cut my hair because I had really long hair and I shaved it during the pandemic. And there was. Some people were like, oh, why'd you do that? Or something. And then with this one comment, I think, you know, for my dad's name, I think it looks great, you know, and, you know, sometimes it only takes one positive comment in a sea of negativity, you know, it's like one person standing up against a bully, you know, just. Just. Yeah. And we think we don't have that power, but we absolutely do have power to make a difference.

John Leguizamo (6:33)

John, your Bob, he's hiding out a little bit. Doesn't seem to have a lot of friends. What. Why is he hiding?

WNYC Studios Announcer (6:42)

He's not. He's not hiding.

John Leguizamo (6:43)

He's.

WNYC Studios Announcer (6:43)

He's just a type of guy. He's just a regular guy, first of all, and such an exciting thing for me to play, just a regular, normal, nurturing, caring dude, because I get to play all the eccentrics and. Which I love, but it's nice to just be something that's a little closer to me, just a regular dude. And Bob is not hiding. He's just a. He's a loner. He's. He's not lonely, but he's sad. You know, we all have carried a lot of sadness and still function and still do great things in our lives, but I love that Tracy's capturing just a regular guy like this. Most of the world is filled with regular guys. You know what I mean? Not everybody can be Exceptional. And there's no reason to always have to be exceptional. And I think. I love. That's what I love about Bob is this regular, sad guy who functions, and there's a need of. To nurture somebody. You know, he's childless, and he wants to nurture. And he takes Lily under his wing and gives her everything that was never given to him. You know, and even though they're strangers, you can still do that with your chosen family, your found family. And I think that's such a beautiful message that Tracy puts into the world, because that's who Tracy really is. I mean, Tracy is one of the most kind, gentle, generous, giving, creative people that I have ever met. And it was such a joy to be in her presence and work with her.

John Leguizamo (8:08)

Let's listen to a film from Bob Trevino. Likes it. Facebook. Bob agrees to fix a toilet for Lily. She doesn't know who to call, so she calls him. And then they go to the hardware store for a plunger, and he sort of discovers that she doesn't exactly have what she needs in life. Let's take a listen.

Character from Film (8:28)

So what other basic necessities of life do you not have?

Character from Film (8:32)

College education, health insurance, car.

Character from Film (8:37)

So in other words, you don't have any tools, huh?

Character from Film (8:41)

Not really, no.

Character from Film (8:43)

So if a problem arises, what do you use? I mean, how do you fix it?

WNYC Studios Announcer (8:52)

How are you even alive?

Character from Film (8:55)

All right, kid, come on.

WNYC Studios Announcer (8:57)

Are you sure you don't have the other type of flashlight?

Character from Film (9:00)

You know, the kind that you wind.

WNYC Studios Announcer (9:01)

Up zzz like that in case power.

Character from Film (9:04)

Goes out and she has to. You know, her phone dies and whatnot?

Character from Film (9:06)

I will make sure it's on the next shipment.

WNYC Studios Announcer (9:09)

Yeah.

Character from Film (9:09)

Yep.

Character from Film (9:10)

All right, so I have to get it next time, then.

WNYC Studios Announcer (9:14)

Yeah, no worries.

Character from Film (9:16)

No biggie. Making you. You had the rest.

Character from Film (9:20)

Mm.

Character from Film (9:20)

I'll go get a card.

Alison Stewart (9:24)

Hi.

Character from Film (9:26)

You know, I think I'm gonna have to use a few cards, if that's okay.

Character from Film (9:30)

Oh, it's been taken care of. Your dad got it.

Alison Stewart (9:43)

That's from Bob. Trevino likes it. Barbie Ferrier is playing Lily, by the way. So, John, what do you think Bob is getting out of this relationship with Lily?

WNYC Studios Announcer (9:55)

Oh, he's getting so much.

John Leguizamo (9:56)

These.

WNYC Studios Announcer (9:57)

These two people complete each other. You know, you find those friends in life that just, you know, just fill your life with all the things that were missing. You know, that's what community does. And Lily gives him a sense of importance. He feels like he's needed. You know, he's been needing that. He. He. He loves to have a place to give all his philosophies to. And all his corny jokes to. He had nobody before, and that's what he needed. He needed that audience, and that's enough for him, you know.

Alison Stewart (10:30)

Oh, it broke my heart when he says, she doesn't have the tools, Tracy, because she doesn't have so many of the tools we discover over time.

Tracy Lehman (10:40)

Yeah, absolutely. You know, I think a lot about a plant that never gets to bloom because it's never watered. You know, we just sometimes, like, when you grow up without these things, you just need a little bit of water and you can bloom. And there's so many people that just need somebody to see them and say, I care. I see your experiences, and I'm. I'm going to show up for you. And I feel like, look at how much Lily changes just from a little bit of kindness. It means everything, and, you know, this every day. There's magic in the everyday, you know, that's what I really. One thing I really like about this film is there's magic in someone buying some tools for you at the hardware store. There's real magic in that. You know, there's magic someone holding the door open for you or, you know, saying, are you okay? You know, I think this film really celebrates that.

Alison Stewart (11:21)

We're talking to actor John Leguizamo and Tracy Lehman.

John Leguizamo (11:26)

We're talking about the new film.

Alison Stewart (11:27)

Bob Trevino likes it. It opens in theaters this Friday. So French Stewart pays her dad, biological dad.

John Leguizamo (11:33)

And Tracy, you had. In a way, we have to kind of understand him.

Alison Stewart (11:38)

We don't have to like him, but we sort of have to understand where he's coming from.

John Leguizamo (11:43)

What traits were you going to give to this character?

Alison Stewart (11:47)

What direction did you give to the.

John Leguizamo (11:49)

Actor so that maybe we understand him a little bit?

Tracy Lehman (11:54)

I think, you know, I never. I never try to judge. I don't really judge. I try not to judge in real life, and I definitely don't judge when I'm directing, you know, so even that character, I was always on his side. I had to be, you know, And. And hurt people. Hurt people. It doesn't mean that. That you shouldn't have boundaries or you should invite them in, you know, but I think we all had an understanding that he was hurt, you know, and. And we wanted the nuances in. In his performance and, you know, who knows what's next for. For him, you know, let's hope he figures it out, you know.

Alison Stewart (12:27)

John, what questions did you have for.

John Leguizamo (12:29)

Tracy about her experience?

WNYC Studios Announcer (12:33)

Oh, my God, I had so many questions, and she answered all of them. I mean, Tracy had such an interesting life. I mean, her life is so fascinating in so many ways. I mean, to be estranged from your father. I mean, I mean, I also have father issues, so I really related and Barbie has as well. Not that I'm, you know, revealing something that she hasn't revealed already. So it was interesting. We had father issues. She went on online to look for a Facebook dad. I find my father figures elsewhere. You know, I feel my father hunger with mentors and people in my life that give me that father that I never had. And then, you know, Tracy, I love that she also includes disabled people in all her work. I find that so powerful and inclusive and dei. I love dei. And it's so important to be inclusive of everybody. You know, diversity is important and Tracy believes in that and bringing Lolo on. Oh my God, her performance is so amazing. And she's disabled, but, you know, amazing.

John Leguizamo (13:50)

She's funny. In Secret Lives of a College Girl. She's hilarious.

Character from Film (13:53)

Yes.

Alison Stewart (13:54)

What was something, John, that Tracy told you as a director, which really stayed with you that you were able to really use in your performance?

WNYC Studios Announcer (14:06)

Wow, these are great questions.

Tracy Lehman (14:09)

No pressure. No pressure, John.

WNYC Studios Announcer (14:11)

Yeah, well, you know, you know, we were trying to make a really complex character together, me and Tracy, you know, because it was, it's, it's, it's not as easy to play just a regular guy, you know, play yourself. It really isn't. I mean, if everybody thinks, oh, he's just being yourself, it really isn't because you have to also come up with the shades. And me and Tracy really talked about his sadness and, and how to keep that alive, you know, so he's a regular dude, but he carries this sadness and, and, and, and I felt that was also really important. Me and Tracy worked on every scene to make sure that we map that out. You know, not, not heavy in a hand, heavy handed way, but just, just it was there infiltrating. And through osmosis, you pick it up.

Tracy Lehman (14:53)

And, and I found it so amazing that John was able to be such a kind Bob, you know, our Bob. I feel like he's all of our Bob now and, and, and, but not a saint. You know, he can't be a saint.

WNYC Studios Announcer (15:06)

Right, right.

Tracy Lehman (15:07)

That's not interesting. Right. And so, so it's to play a good guy and make him so interesting and so relatable and so real. That was, it was in kind of the nuances of that and the struggle with what he's dealing with internally. I think too, Tracy, he's not a funny Guy.

WNYC Studios Announcer (15:22)

He's a corny guy, you know, I mean, and we love those corny guys. You know, they're always so hopeful because I guess they don't see that other people are judging them.

Alison Stewart (15:33)

Such a sweet innocence I was really curious about. Also with the pacing of it, well into the film, Lily has to make a decision about whether she wants to, let's say, talk to her biological dad or engage with him, we'll say. And she does. She decides to go for it. What brought Lily to that moment when she decides, I really don't have anybody. I have to talk to my biological dad?

Tracy Lehman (16:04)

In my experiences, you know, it's kind of. In a way, it's kind of like I imagine or what I've heard about, like, leaving a cult or something, you know, like. Like they have your. Their hooks in you. And so as you're healing you, you with. From a relationship with a narcissist or someone who's abusive or toxic, they do have their hooks on you. So as much as he's healing and growing, it's still. That's still what she knows. And what you don't know is scary. And is it going to stick around? Is what you don't know going to stick around, or is it going to abandon you? You know, so. So I think she's still in this space, kind of in the midpoint of the film and trying to figure it out. And sometimes people go back many times before they finally leave.

Alison Stewart (16:44)

John, Facebook Bob. He doesn't know a lot about her backstory, but he jumps into the friendship. Why doesn't he want to know more? Initially.

WNYC Studios Announcer (16:58)

I think sometimes you just want to be respectful of people's privacy, you know, meet people where they're at. And sometimes you can. You don't need to know all that history. You just need to know the people in the moment that you're speaking to them. I'm kind of like that a lot. You know, I don't always pry into people's past unless I'm doing research. Then I'm incredibly snoopy and nosy. But in real life, I like to, like, meet people where they're at as well. You know, just who are you right now? And. And what. What do you want me to see? What are you presenting as? And I'm cool with that.

Tracy Lehman (17:36)

I think there's an emotional reciprocity, too. That's really nice because, you know, she shares, then he shares. And if you're not used to it, it's almost like he's sharing to make her comfortable, like oh, you were vulnerable. So, here, I'll give you something, too, so we can. You're not alone in that.

Alison Stewart (17:48)

You know, it's interesting. So I want to play this clip from Bob Trevino likes it. It's when Lily is kind of. You said that you're her dad, but you're not her dad. And she gets called out on it. Let's take a listen.

Character from Film (18:03)

Okay? Listen, kid. I've always, always used protection, okay? And I haven't touched another woman since I met Jeannie.

WNYC Studios Announcer (18:12)

How old are you?

Character from Film (18:13)

I'm 25.

Character from Film (18:14)

25? Was your mother the estate lady I messed around with?

Tracy Lehman (18:19)

No.

Character from Film (18:19)

No, she wasn't.

Character from Film (18:20)

It was the adjuster who came to.

WNYC Studios Announcer (18:21)

My house to assess the truck when I wrecked it.

Character from Film (18:23)

Bob. No, it's nothing like that.

WNYC Studios Announcer (18:26)

No.

Character from Film (18:28)

I may have let Daphne believe that you were my dad.

Character from Film (18:35)

Why'd you let her think I was your dad? I'm not your dad.

WNYC Studios Announcer (18:39)

My dad.

Character from Film (18:40)

You understand. I need you to understand that. That I'm not your dad. I'm nobody's dad.

Character from Film (18:45)

You don't have to be so mean about it.

Character from Film (18:47)

I'm. I'm not being mean. I'm just a little upset. I just need you to understand that I'm not your father.

Character from Film (18:56)

I know, but you talk to me and you listen and you give me advice, and you liked all my posts.

Character from Film (19:05)

I'm sorry if there was a misunderstanding, but that was not my intent. Come on, come on. Where you go? Where you going? Where you going?

WNYC Studios Announcer (19:11)

Come on. Lily.

Alison Stewart (19:13)

Tracy. It's such an important scene in the movie that you can have a fight but still be friends, ultimately.

Tracy Lehman (19:20)

Yeah. It was a big realization for me in life, too.

Alison Stewart (19:22)

Yeah.

Tracy Lehman (19:25)

Major. You know, you don't always. Not all of us grow up with that, you know, so. Yeah, and it's amazing. I. You know, we tried to show, you know, their triggers. Lily gets triggered, you know, there. She has a lot of symptoms, and she gets triggered by abandonment, by feeling like she failed, or the disconnection with people, things like that. But there's also glimmers, you know, these kind of positive triggers, for lack of a better word. And those kind of come with Bob. They come with these realizations that the way that you are taught isn't the way it has to be. And there are other people that won't treat you that way. And that can be very, very, very shocking for someone who's grown up in the environment, like our character or me.

Alison Stewart (20:05)

John. You know, some people would think this is kind of weird, like a grown man and this woman and they Meet on Facebook and they're friends. Even Bob's wife is like, what's the deal?

John Leguizamo (20:15)

She wants money from you.

Alison Stewart (20:16)

I mean, why do you think. Why do you think people have such an aversion to people meeting on social media?

WNYC Studios Announcer (20:30)

I mean, because everybody focuses on the negative aspects of social media. You know, catfishing and. And people being seduced on. On. On. On social media. But I find. I find social media is. Is just a tool. It just depends on the people on the other side, what they. If they have a good intention or evil intention or a bad intention. But that happens in real life, too, anyway. That happens in bars. That happens in all situations. I think we all have to be super smart about who we're getting involved with. But I thought Lily did it all, right? She met him during the day at a cafe. You know, it's all the things you're supposed to do to stay safe. And they always met, you know, during the day in public places for the most part. And he wasn't. He didn't have ulterior motives. He was a happily married man. You know, he wasn't looking to stray. He was looking to be a father. You know, he was like. He just rented dad.

John Leguizamo (21:29)

We're not gonna give away any spoilers from here on. I'll stop there, but I'll ask both of you, and I'll ask you to first, Tracy. You know, there's been such an uptick in loneliness in our culture and how people just feel alone a lot. What does this film say about loneliness and the cure for it?

Tracy Lehman (21:52)

Yeah, I think. I mean, social media started to connect us, and now it's being used to divide us. And the pandemic, we're still in kind of this. All these effects from the pandemic and being so isolated, and our country is divided. And I think we are told every day that we're so different. We're all so different. And this film. Look at these are the people from all walks of life coming together, you know, through small acts of kindness. And when we're in that theater, you know, together, laughing and crying and loving these wonderfully, wonderfully lovable characters. We are not all so different. We see that. We feel that in that room. And so that's. That's something I really hope for the film, is that people just get to the theater and have that experience, because I just hope it's a reminder that we're not isolated, we're not alone, and we. We're all. None of us are perfect. And that's okay. We all need each other and we actually can have. We just show up.

John Leguizamo (22:46)

John, what do you think?

WNYC Studios Announcer (22:48)

You know, definitely social media and the digital revolution has caused a lot of loneliness because we spent a lot more time like this one on Zooms, on our Instagrams, on Facebook, we're on our computers. So there's a lot of loneliness because we're, we're seduced by our phones and technology and we're not in community, we're not hanging out, we're not spending time with other people. And that creates a huge amount of loneliness. And especially for our young people who don't know how to break out of it or create social opportunities, it's difficult. It's difficult. And that's why that movie talks to us right now in the moment that we're going through.

John Leguizamo (23:25)

Tracy Lehman, she's the writer, director and the producer. John Leguizamo, he is an actor. The name of the movie is Bob Trevino likes it. The film opens in theaters this Friday. Thanks for making time for us.

Tracy Lehman (23:38)

Thank you, Alex.

WNYC Studios Announcer (23:38)

Thanks for having us.

Character from Film (23:45)

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Tracy Lehman (24:07)

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WNYC Studios Announcer (24:08)

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Progressive Insurance Announcer (24:09)

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