S4 E6: Blow-Up (Part 2)

Summary

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Only Murders in the Building Official Podcast

Season 4, Episode 6: “Blow-Up (Part 2)”

Original Release: October 4, 2024
Hosts: Ryan Tillotson & Maggie Bowles
Special Guests: Kat Cohen (Trina Brothers), Sienna Werber (Tawny Brothers), John Hoffman (Showrunner/Co-creator)

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Episode Overview

This episode offers an entertaining deep dive into the making of Season 4, Episode 6, with a spotlight on the Brothers Sisters—Trina and Tawny, played by Katherine (Kat) Cohen and Sienna Werber. Hosts Ryan and Maggie interview the actresses, explore their unique audition journey, discuss what it was like to film the experimental episode predominantly on Super 8 cameras, and probe just how suspicious the Brothers Sisters really are in the ever-twisting murder mystery of the Arconia. The team also collects fan theories and Easter eggs, creating an engaging behind-the-scenes look at the wit, charm, and mystery that drive the series.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Creation and Inspiration of the Brothers Sisters

• Twins…but Not Really:
  • John Hoffman, showrunner, discusses how the concept of the Brothers Sisters came to life, noting that while they call themselves "identical twins," they are not actually identical.
    • "You sort of either know art school girls or, you know, young directors...sometimes it's to escape something else and sometimes it's to forever reach to define yourself before you really may know yourself." (John Hoffman, [02:30])
• Art School & Film Kids:
  • The characters are drawn from observations of "pure, artist-minded kids" who use art to explore or escape.

Casting and Chemistry

• Audition Room Vibes:
  • Kat and Sienna had not met before auditions, but were paired together for their first read and found an immediate, "strange rhythm" that worked perfectly.
    • "They're such kind of bizarre characters to read just for the audition, but very exciting...I hoped and I feel like I might have known that there was something there." (Sienna Werber, [07:33])
• Costume and Wig Magic:
  • To achieve 'twin' looks, Sienna (a blonde) wore a brunette wig to match Kat's hair, which they both loved.

Filming Techniques & The Super 8 Experience

• Learning Super 8:
  • Neither Kat nor Sienna had prior experience with Super 8 cameras.
    • "Super 8 camera was the kind of thing that, like, a boyfriend tells you about, and you're like, I don't know what you're saying..." (Kat Cohen, [03:11])
• An Episode Like a Play:
  • Director Jessica coordinated the episode with intense rehearsal, blocking, and attention to details, making it feel like a theatrical production.
    • "It was very much like a play in that the blocking had to be perfect. It was so much fun to shoot." (Kat Cohen, [04:18])

On Working With the Legendary Cast

• Dreams Come True:
  • Kat describes being "shaking like a leaf" meeting childhood idols like Steve Martin and Martin Short.
    • "Every single weekend growing up, I would go to Blockbuster and rent Father of the Bride...so obviously I was extremely gagged." (Kat Cohen, [09:06])
• Warmth on Set:
  • Both Kat and Sienna praise the atmosphere set by John Hoffman and the main cast, emphasizing how kindness and inclusivity made even newcomers feel comfortable.
    • "It was overwhelming from the beginning, but so exciting. All I know is it was so seamless because of the kindness of everybody..." (Sienna Werber, [24:03])

Notable & Hilarious Behind-the-Scenes Moments

• Lifting Martin Short:
  • A scene where Kat lifts Martin Short became a highlight for both the crew and her family:
    • "My dad texted me just an hour ago, did you really lift Martin Short off the ground like that? I said, yes. He goes, that's absolutely wild." (Kat Cohen, [00:02] & [11:08])
• Comedy Improv Magic – “Wiener to Wiener”:
  • The now-iconic "Wiener to Wiener" exchange was improvised:
    • "Wiener to Wiener was, was improv...I can't believe I got to say that to Martin Short and Paul Rudd. I will value that very deeply." (Sienna Werber, [19:00])

Crafting Their Characters

• Trina & Tawny as Avant-Garde Wonders:
  • The sisters' characters are over-the-top, idolizing their film professor to an extreme, longtime collaborators since their "emotionally disturbed" childhood.
• Character Process:
  • Sienna describes Tawny as “an auteur...a filmmaker with a singular vision," enjoying playing someone "quite strange" and keeping things below the surface. ([16:48])
• Finding the Right Voice:
  • Tawny’s distinctive voice came from “slightly exaggerating” her natural low register upon the showrunner’s suggestion. ([18:18])

The “Meta” Nature of the Show and Episode

• A Playful Play Within a Play:
  • Layered cameras, found footage style, and scenes staged to feel like theater all play into the “meta” elements:
    • "It felt like we were all almost doing a student film, yet we're, we're on a magnificent Hulu set." (Sienna Werber, [23:02])
• Ode to Filmmaking:
  • Sienna notes the season’s “spirit of cinema and storytelling,” finding inspiration in how each episode is named after a film and how the show joyfully honors and toys with movie tropes. ([25:58])

Theories & Suspect List — Are Trina & Tawny Off the Hook?

• Both actresses enjoy the ambiguity of their roles—Kat muses, "they're murderous, but I don't know if they're the murderers," while Sienna teases, "it ain’t over till it’s over...in any good mystery, there's twists and turns." ([29:45]-[30:08])

Fan Engagement — Easter Eggs & Theories

• Easter Eggs by the Minute ([31:01]):
  • Visual hints hidden throughout the season, including shadows, props, and a movie camera atop the Arconia in Episode 6.
• Fan Theories via Subreddit:
  • Is there a twin Vince scam?
  • Was Dudenoff’s body hidden for rent reasons?
  • Is Marshall orchestrating the mystery via hidden cameras?
  • The eyepatch switching eyes—intentional clue or red herring?

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Memorable Quotes & Funny Moments

• Kat Cohen on Super 8:
  "A Super 8 camera was the kind of thing that, like, a boyfriend tells you about, and you’re like, whatever you want, King. Pay attention to me, tell me I’m pretty." ([03:11])
• On Lifting Martin Short:
  "Did you really lift Martin Short off the ground like that? I said, yes. He goes, that's absolutely wild." ([00:02], [11:08]) "Imagine if it was improvised." (Kat Cohen, [11:33])
• Sienna Werber on Tawny:
  "She’s weird. She’s weird. I mean, let's just say it." ([16:48])
• On “Wiener to Wiener”:
  "Wiener to Wiener was, was improv…Someone was like, Sienna, you know, say that. So I think 'Wiener to Wiener' is iconic." (Sienna Werber, [19:00])
• Kat Cohen on Set Atmosphere:
  "That energy radiates down. Top down vibes. Everyone just carried that good, kind eng, as they say." ([29:20])
• Sienna Werber on the Experience:
  "Pinch me, pinch me…Definitely, like the best experience of my life. I mean, it was so full of fun and goodness and just the ode to filmmaking that this season is." ([25:58])

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Episode Structure & Timestamps

• 00:02 — Kat’s dad texts about lifting Martin Short
• 00:45 — Introduction of the Brothers Sisters, John Hoffman on their creation
• 03:11 — Kat Cohen’s Super 8 “boyfriend” story and deep-dive into filming techniques
• 06:11 — Kat and Sienna’s audition chemistry & costuming
• 09:06 — Kat on working with the iconic cast
• 11:08 — The “lifting Martin Short” moment
• 13:42 — Kat’s (lack of) student film experience
• 14:33 — Behind the scenes blocking and filming with Super 8s, the play-like shoot
• 16:42 — Sienna on Tawny’s character, their “native language” of film
• 18:18 — The origins of Tawny’s distinct voice
• 19:00 — “Wiener to Wiener” improv reveal
• 22:24 — Sienna on the meta filmmaking within the show
• 24:03 — Sienna’s awe at joining such legendary comedic talent
• 29:45-30:08 — Are the Brothers Sisters exonerated? Both actresses tease ambiguity: “It ain’t over till it’s over.”
• 31:01+ — Fan mail segment: Easter eggs, wild theories, and subreddit speculation

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Fan Theories & Listener Engagement Highlights

• Mysteries within Mysteries:
  • Theories abound about twins, swapped identities, hidden cameras, and motive, with listeners piling on clues about Vince's eye patch and rent control scams.
  • Speculation continues about the real killer, with the Brothers Sisters still under gentle suspicion by some fans.
• Interactive Easter Egg Hunt:
  • Compilation and correction of the season’s visual clues by attentive listeners.

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Tone & Style

The episode is filled with playful self-awareness, affectionate parody of “artsy” types, and genuine awe for the iconic leads. The chemistry among the guests and hosts is light, teasing, and insider-ish—making listeners feel like they’re part of the Arconia’s circle. There’s a running thread about the surreal joy of being a small part in something with Steve Martin, Martin Short, and Molly Shannon, balanced with witty on-set anecdotes and meta-commentary on the show’s love of cinematic tropes.

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Final Thoughts

"Blow-Up (Part 2)" gives fans a candid, hilarious look into the collaborative creativity and sheer fun at the heart of Only Murders in the Building. With standout moments (yes, including physically picking up Martin Short and the improv “Wiener to Wiener”), it’s both a celebration of filmmaking and a testament to how even in a “meta” murder mystery, the real magic is the camaraderie and quirks backstage.

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For Next Time:

Tune in to future podcasts for more behind-the-scenes secrets, evolving theories, and the ongoing, delightful unraveling of Arconia’s mysteries!

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Transcript

[Host or Producer]

Straw Hut Media.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah, my dad texted me just an hour ago, did you really lift Martin Short off the ground like that? I said, yes. He goes, that's absolutely wild.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Hello and welcome back to the Only Murders in the Building podcast. I'm Ryan Tillotson.

[Maggie Bowles]

And I'm Maggie Bowles. And we are looking behind the scenes and mining for clues as we meet the cast and creators of the Hulu original series, Only Murders in the Building.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Today on the show, we are are continuing our conversations all about season four, episode six, Blow Up. If you haven't seen episode six or if you haven't listened to part one of this week's podcast, go do those things first. Because today we're talking to the brothers sisters. That's right.

[Maggie Bowles]

Played by the amazing Katherine Cohen and Sienna Werber. And we'll talk about their initial chemistry in the audition room, what it was like shooting on Super 8 cameras, and whether or not we can trust. First to set the scene. We asked John Hoffman, showrunner, co creator, about the sisters. Are they based on any filmmakers you've, you've known? What, how did you decide on?

[Ryan Tillotson]

We talked about the origin of the name, we talked about the original. I'm curious about the people.

[John Hoffman]

Yeah, this is one of those that like, I think, you know, you sort of either know art school girls or, you know, young directors and it's all of that. That is when you find like, you know, some pure sort of artist minded kids that, you know, are either outside of the norm right from the get go. And I think the interesting idea of twins that aren't identical twins but calling themselves identical twins, all of it started to feel like, who are these girls? And we really dove deep on like, who are they? What is their story? What are they creating? Why are they so deeply interested in creating a story outside of themselves? What was the necessity of that sort of like really diving deep on that history and, you know, these people. But I don't have a specific, like well known sisters duo who does this, but I think in some way it's, you know, sort of.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I've went to college with these people, you know, Ryan went to film school.

[John Hoffman]

He knows, you know, and, and they're either dark girls or the, you know, goth or, you know, anything inspired. Sort of like what you watch them transform and move from whatever their interest is and to the next thing. And a lot of times they're deeply and nobly, authentically interested in the things they're going towards. And sometimes it's to escape something else and sometimes it's to you know, forever reach to define yourself before you really may know yourself.

[Ryan Tillotson]

So Cat Cohen plays one of the two brothers sisters, Trina.

[Maggie Bowles]

Before this, had you ever shot on a Super 8 camera before?

[Kat Cohen]

No. Super 8 camera. An amazing question. Thank you so much. Super 8 camera was the kind of thing that, like, a boyfriend tells you about, and you're like, I don't know what you're saying. And the boyfriend's like, it's shot on Super 8. And you're just like, whatever you want, King. Pay attention to me. Tell me I'm pretty. Pretty. But now I understand what a Super 8 is, and I had to. For the character, of course, I had to get in. I had to call that ex, get back together and get the details. So I'm glad I did that.

[Maggie Bowles]

That's great. Yeah. Some very deep research. Very good.

[Kat Cohen]

Always. Always.

[Maggie Bowles]

Because they were real Super Eights, right? In the episode.

[Kat Cohen]

It actually. It's such a special episode, and I can't wait for people to see it because we shot the whole thing, like, all the actors and all the. I guess at this point, people will have seen it, but, yeah, we used, you know, hidden cameras, our Super Eights.

[Ryan Tillotson]

It's pretty wild. We spoke with Jessica, the director, a few days ago.

[Kat Cohen]

That's amazing. She's so good.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Just to kind of understand, like, how this all went down. She said it was more like a play.

[Kat Cohen]

Yes, it was so fun. It was like, I met Jessica. She's so smart. So on top of it, like, had such a grand vision for the episode and was so good at making something very difficult seem easy for us because she had just meticulously planned every moment of it. And so, yeah, we had, like, a little rehearsal with her with using the Super Eights. And, yeah, it was just very much, very much like a play in that the blocking had to be perfect. It was so much fun to shoot. And I was really nervous I'd mess up the whole thing because there were a few takes where she was gonna be like, okay, Catherine, you have to go more this way. And I was like, but I can't see with the camera over my eye. And she's like, okay, that's not true. You can. Number one, where she's like, can you look less pained while using the camera? Because I was like, but we made it work, and it looks unreal. People are gonna be gagged.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah.

[Kat Cohen]

Also, just, like, as an actor, she makes us. Made me feel so taken care of because it's this daunting thing. And she was just so calm, so cool. She was like, yeah, well, this is where, you know, it's. Because that. And I'm like, whatever you say, Queen. Thank God you're here. I think it was quite a challenge. But that makes it an extra special ep.

[Maggie Bowles]

Definitely.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Speaking of directors, I mean, you play a director. Have you ever directed anything?

[Kat Cohen]

No, I don't want to. I don't know if that's true. I just think, you know, watching Jessica, watching directors, I'm like, damn, what they do is so different. But I have worked with enough directors to know what some of them can be like. And so I think we have, you know, obviously are playing on some tropes and kind of turning that up to an 11 and mocking certain director, certain artist types. Really?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah.

[Maggie Bowles]

Well, so can you tell us about your character, Trina Brothers, and your identical twin sister?

[Kat Cohen]

My exact identical twin, who is my exact age, is Sienna Werber. And, you know, it's so funny, we just met. First of all, this was one of my. This is maybe only my second in person audition since the Pandemic. So I was so thrilled to go in, and it was so fun because then they were like. They were pairing up a bunch of people, and Sienna was the first person I read with, and we were like the same height and we totally vibed. And I was just like, that girl's amazing. And so I was so thrilled that it ended up being us too. And she's just like such a delight, so laid back, which I obviously am too, but she's like, extra laid back. And we play Trina and Tawny Brothers, who are avant garde film directors who have been making movies since they were, you know, very, very young, just emotionally disturbed children. And they idolized their film professor to the point of Madness.

[Sienna Werber]

I don't know how that really came about, but it seemed to work out perfectly. She was leaving her audition, and then I was gonna go into mine, and then they said, hey, can you guys read together?

[Maggie Bowles]

You can probably recognize this is the voice of Sienna Werber, who plays Tawny Brothers.

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah, they're such kind of bizarre characters to read just for the audition, but very exciting too, because they're so. It was very fun so to read it with somebody else. And Cat was. It did feel like this. This feels very right that whatever's going on here, this seems. This seems to be something. So it was a very exciting read. And I think I. I hoped and I feel like I might have known that. That there was something there. Some. Something about our. I don't know what it was, but. And I've never, you know, auditioned for a role that's so. It's such a duet. I mean, what a strange kind of thing to. To approach. So we naturally just had had a strange rhythm that, that seemed to work. Yeah.

[Kat Cohen]

So funny about her is they

[Ryan Tillotson]

back to Cat Cohen.

[Kat Cohen]

She wore like a wig because they wanted us to have the same hair. And it's obviously easier to have. She has blonde hair. To have a blonde go brunette than the other way around.

[Maggie Bowles]

I guess she's a blonde.

[Kat Cohen]

She's a bit of a blonde. And so she walked out like the first day with a wig that was like supposed to look like my hair. And I was like, oh my God, your hair looks amazing. She was like, it looks exactly like your hair. But they crushed it with that wig. She looked sick.

[Maggie Bowles]

They did, they really did.

[Kat Cohen]

And the costumes were so much fun. I feel like we got some of the best looks of the season.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah, you definitely did.

[Ryan Tillotson]

So tell me about working with some of this cast.

[Kat Cohen]

Obviously I was shaking like a leaf, nervous as hell. It's like everyone I've admired my whole life. I mean especially like not kidding, every single weekend growing up, I would go to Blockbuster and rent Father the Bride, Steve Martin. I'm already short. And I would watch it non stop. It was a totally life changing movie for me. And the other movie I would always rent was Superstar with Molly Shannon. So to have them be blockbuster hits for me like that. And you remember, it's like you would look forward to it all week. It was so visceral. You'd touch the like laminated box and those were the two that I would. All those two. And Liar. Liar starring Jim Carrey. So shout out to Jim Carrey if he wants to be on a television show with me. I'm open to it as well. But those were like my faves. And so obviously I was extremely gagged. As they say to meet these legends. I become really shy, really demure. Damn. It really is a shame that that word is now like a TikTok trend and not just like a great word. Not that I like the trend, but like now you say it and everyone's like very mindful. And I go, I was actually just using the word, using the word very mindful, very cutesy. Yeah. I'm like, you're a corporation. But, but shout out to the girl that invented it because she does have true star quality.

[Maggie Bowles]

Jules lebron. She is so fun.

[Kat Cohen]

Jules Lebron.

[Maggie Bowles]

Tik tok star Jules Lebron.

[Kat Cohen]

They need her on season five.

[Maggie Bowles]

I know,

[Kat Cohen]

but yeah, everyone was like Just incredibly nice and welcoming. And it was especially fun because Sienna and I are kind of like, in Molly's world as, like, the Hollywood people. We got to, like, hang out with her a lot. And she's just the most generous, funny, easygoing, like, such a great person to kiki with backstage.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Ugh. I love it.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah, that was cool.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Was it awkward if you were shy and at one point you have to pick up Martin Short?

[Kat Cohen]

Do you know what's so funny? One of my parents just text me because they just watched that episode. They just texted me a few minutes ago. Yeah, my dad texted me just an hour ago. Did you really lift Martin Short off the ground like that? I said, yes. He goes, that's absolutely wild. My brother goes, I was wondering the same. Did they ask you to do that? Did you rehearse it or was it improvised? I go, imagine if it was improvised.

[Ryan Tillotson]

You just buds with Marty. You could just pick him up, just

[Kat Cohen]

like, watch out, bud. Um, no, that was a direction that was given to me. I'm very strong, very fit. And so we did. We did rehearse it. And obviously I was shy. Cause I was like, excuse me, I'm

[Host or Producer]

just going to pop in here.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah, it's so. That was so funny. I kind of forgot about that moment. And then I've had some friends texting me, being like, can we talk about how last night I literally watched you pick up Martin Short on tv? I need that clip. I need to post that clip on my. On my TV show.

[Ryan Tillotson]

You do?

[Kat Cohen]

Okay, I'm going to find that clip.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I love that you're getting all these texts about that.

[Kat Cohen]

That is like. That's actually the only thing people have texted me about so far.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah, It's a bucket list moment. You know what I mean?

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah. It's also lifting up a hero. Yeah, literally, I'm lifting up my heroes. But it's also funny because there's so much going on in that scene. There's like, you know. You know, there were 15 people or something on set that day. I was like, I cannot mess up this one moment. I have to, like, be in sync with everyone. So we made it work.

[Maggie Bowles]

You really did. So this is a dumb question, but the desecration of Alice, the. The student film of Trina and Tawny.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Starring Vince Fish.

[Maggie Bowles]

Starring Vince Fish, yeah. Were you ever in student films in college? Did they look anything like that? Could you imagine? I don't know.

[Kat Cohen]

You know, I think there's two paths for young artists. And I was such a theater kid that I never Dipped my toe into the film. The film pool. And I still consider myself someone who has not seen enough movies or films. I'm so sorry. You're not supposed to call them that. And so I don't know if young Catherine would have made the Despecing of Alice. So I really, really had to stretch my acting muscles for that. But, yeah, no, no student films. Although I did used to. I was always making like. Like. I mean, calling them comedy sketches is generous, but, like, funny videos with friends. Mostly just videos of us, like, prank calling people and getting in trouble with,

[Ryan Tillotson]

like, your phone or what did you have a camcorder?

[Kat Cohen]

One of my friends had a camcorder. And then one year for Christmas, I was gifted, like, a preteen toy, which was called, I'll never forget the Intel Digital Blue. And it kind of looked like it was almost modeled after a Super 8. It was like this little blue, like, toy camera. And that was life changing for me. I was like, this is the most exciting thing I've ever seen. I can't imagine, like, not to be so old hag, but I can't imagine now growing up being just like, able to film stuff constantly.

[Maggie Bowles]

Same. I'm curious about that scene. We talked about it a little bit earlier, but where you and Sienna are in the center with your cameras and the trio is all around. Can you just tell us about filming that scene and, like, what it was like?

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah, it was actually very high school play. It was very, like. It's a. You know, the whole show. It's a. Who done it? It's giving clue and it's just about hitting those beats and. Yeah. Figuring out the pacing of it all and just showing up ready to rock. And I think everyone did that.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah.

[Ryan Tillotson]

It's a lot of rehearsals and then just. Let's just now do it for real. Is that kind of what's.

[Kat Cohen]

I guess. I mean, I'm trying to remember. I feel like, you know, we would just take turns being the one who was actually shooting versus the one who was being on camera. But it's one of those things where there was. There was so much happening at once. You were just kind of always assuming you were being captured from some direction, which did make it feel quite theatrical.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah. That was a really fun day. There's a really. There's a really funny line in that scene when Marty says the thing about Zabar is the guy in the lobby who's always talking about Zabars. Remember that?

[Sienna Werber]

I don't remember that part.

[Ryan Tillotson]

No.

[Kat Cohen]

I hope it makes it In.

[Sienna Werber]

But he.

[Kat Cohen]

Anyways, there's a joke. There's like a button to that joke. That is very funny. Oh, my God. Guys, they just identified the other left shoulder.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Was it the guy who used to scream in the lobby about loving Zabars? I haven't seen him for ages. What was his name?

[Kat Cohen]

It belongs to Dudenoff.

[Ryan Tillotson]

We have two murders now. Who killed Saz and who killed Dudenoff?

[Kat Cohen]

Who was pretending to be Dudenoff cashing the checks at the bodega? We need to look into them.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Oh, my God.

[Kat Cohen]

That's it. What do you got?

[John Hoffman]

Doug.

[Ryan Tillotson]

The guy who used to love Zabars. His name was Doug.

[Kat Cohen]

Okay.

[Ryan Tillotson]

After the break, Sienna Werber tells us about her favorite line from her sister Trina. Brothers.

[Maggie Bowles]

And both Sienna and Kat share their thoughts on whether we can cross them off our list of suspects.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Welcome back. Today we're talking to the brothers sisters. Sienna Werber plays one half of that directing duo.

[Maggie Bowles]

Tell us about your character, Tawny Brothers.

[Sienna Werber]

Where to begin? I think she's an auteur. You know, she values the unique. She loves filmmaking with all her heart and lives and breathes it. I feel she's a bit telepathic with her sister. The way they approach filmmaking is very personal. She's weird. She's weird. I mean, let's. Let's just say it. She's. She's quite strange. And that wasn't. That wasn't that hard for me to really slip into, really. It's kind of quite. Quite fun to be able to play someone who, I don't know, keeps a lot inside, I suppose. But, yeah, just a filmmaker with a singular vision is how I'd like to view Tani. What you are about to see is a testimony of the accused, but in our native language, the language of film.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Where in the process did the voice. The voice come from? You know, John did a. I was a huge fan of. Of your wiener. To wiener.

[Sienna Werber]

Oh, thank you. Thank you, John.

[Ryan Tillotson]

John did a. When we spoke with him last, did a. Like an imitation of you doing it.

[Sienna Werber]

No way.

[Ryan Tillotson]

And so I'm just kind of curious about.

[Sienna Werber]

He said he loved your read.

[Ryan Tillotson]

He loved your read. Thank you. That's specific. I'm just curious, like, where that came from.

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah, yeah. Once again, a very natural. And John did mention this, I think in the audition he saw, you know, some things and he's like, I like. I like the lower register. You know, he said to us once, and I do kind of have a low register voice. I do think I just slightly exaggerated it. Or kept it quite, quite, quite in the depths of me. That just felt right for her. It just felt right. You know, she's. She feels like a very self assured person who is not speaking when she doesn't need to speak and when there is something to say, it's coming right from her gut.

[Maggie Bowles]

I know Wiener to Weiner was Ryan's favorite line. Did you have a favorite line that you got to say or anything like that throughout the show?

[Sienna Werber]

I mean, Wiener to Wiener is pretty great and I don't know if I could have ever wished for anything better. And you know, funnily enough, Wiener to Wiener was, was improv that was not written. I think. I think what happened was, was that whole little bit at the end was. Was improv where, where Paul ran out and did that. And I think it was because he, he ran out like as a joke, I think, and. And then just did that. You know, I'm actually trying to realize how that came about, but weirdly it did. And then someone was like Sienna, you know, say, say that. So I think Wiener to Wiener is iconic. And I can't believe I got to say that to Martin Short and Paul Rudd. I will value that. I do value that very deeply.

[Maggie Bowles]

And Zach Galifianakis.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah, I heard he had a hard time keeping it together.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah.

[Sienna Werber]

Oh, yes, yes, the three of them. I mean, it was surreal to be there and then to kind of get to direct them was quite funny.

[Kat Cohen]

Try one back to back. You share a vertebrae and a shameful secret Shameful secret.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Okay,

[Sienna Werber]

now turn around. Wiener to Wiener Stubbins.

[Kat Cohen]

Shawn Penis.

[Maggie Bowles]

Have you ever done any directing or filming filmmaking yourself? Or maybe acting in a student films like the Desecration of Alice? I don't know.

[Sienna Werber]

You know, it's funny you ask. I haven't really done any directing. Although funnily enough, every, you know, I'm still finding my way, that's for sure, as an actress. But every project I have done has always been about a film being made. It's really quite, quite interesting. And I have played the first thing I did right out of school, this Netflix series. I was the actress in the short film of a filmmaker. It followed this filmmaker, this kind of like supernatural journey of this filmmaker trying to get her short made. And I was the actress in it. And it was very meta once again. And then the second thing I did, I was playing the assistant to a director while a film was being made. So I've definitely been. There's something about me. I think that the filmmaking process is very much Something that is in me and I hope to actually direct. And even recently I've been very much watching so many more movies and thinking about directors in a much more serious way. And I've met some people recently who have really inspired me. My friend is a director. I was just in his short. And yes, I'm super, like right now. I'm particularly interested in that and just the vision of that. The confidence, the vision. And of course I love acting, but would love to attempt directing someday.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah, I can't believe that it's just been a bunch of movies about movies or shows about movies.

[Maggie Bowles]

Yeah, Meta. Very meta.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah. So interesting. So in episode six, we've heard from other people that it kind of felt like a play. I'm just curious if you could talk about your experience shooting that episode. Did it feel different than shooting any other type of movie or television?

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah, episode six was a very specifically shot episode and it was very fun. It was very fun. It did almost feel like, like we were creating like a sort of together. All of us were suddenly more immersed in it because, you know, Howard has this, this camcorder in his hand and then, you know, my sis and I have these super eights which we're actually using sometimes, like quite literally, I'm looking at, you know, the Trio through this Super 8 camera. Very, very interesting. And to know that that's actually going to be used was a bit surreal.

[Maggie Bowles]

Not, not.

[Sienna Werber]

I didn't shoot much, but there was like one thing that I actually. So it felt. Yeah, it felt like we were all almost doing a student film, yet we're, we're on a magnificent Hulu set, you know, doing a real production and once again, these meta layers because my character is a filmmaker and we're having. And a film is happening to it. So just these little, you know, that element was very fun and yes, absolutely different than other experiences shooting. It makes you feel a bit more in control when you get to look through a lens at someone else. So fun to be able to do that as an actor. Being filmed at the same time, bunch of friends making a film is sometimes how it felt. Which was so cool that they do it with like Steve Martin across from me. So. Yeah, yeah. Unique and fun.

[Maggie Bowles]

Can you tell us about joining into this cast, which is like so crazy, right? Like there's just so many amazing, iconic comedic actors. Yeah.

[Sienna Werber]

I mean, I really could not ask for a more mind blowing, incredible group of actors. It was overwhelming from the beginning, but so exciting. All I know is it was so seamless because of the kindness of everybody, which I'm sure you guys know from having talked to these people, like, they're just exuberant, kind, joyful people. And. And John Hoffman, I mean, from the very beginning in the room with me, was like, the most radiant person I've ever met. So I was. I felt so comfortable and happy around him that I think that tone just carried with me, and then meeting everybody, that. That energy was always there, and, you know, it's a fine balance of, wow, this is crazy. Pinch me. Like, the most iconic people are around me right now, true icons. But I have to go, like, do this scene, and I'm still a nervous actor myself, so it's like trying to. You almost have. I almost had to try and ignore that for a minute, but then there'd be moments of just sitting there, looking around. I just did a lot of looking and trying to be present because it was such a phenomenal situation to be in.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah. I mean, we spoke to Richard Kind not too long ago, and he. I feel like he, to me, is like an iconic actor, but he was having the same moment. He said, I'm just sitting there, and I'm watching Eugene Levy, and I'm watching Steve Martin, and I'm just like, look at me.

[Sienna Werber]

Yes, yes, you've made it.

[Ryan Tillotson]

And so I just. Yeah, I get it.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah.

[Sienna Werber]

And Richard Kind. Exactly. Another person I consider obviously iconic. He's there. It's just too many. It almost became too much. Like, I couldn't even process it. Every single one of them, they're all icons. So for me to be there, I just.

[Maggie Bowles]

So grateful.

[Sienna Werber]

And. Yeah, it was every. Every day. Pinch me, pinch me. But such funny and just such funny people. Right? This was probably like. Yeah, definitely, like the best experience of my life. I mean, it was so full of fun and goodness and just the ode to filmmaking that this season is, I find quite beautiful. And how every episode is named after a movie, and just the spirit of cinema and storytelling that it kind of honors, yet plays with, I find so inspiring and interesting. And to be around actors and filmmakers that, you know, because you could say an actor is a filmmaker, is just deeply inspiring. So, I don't know. I guess that sentiment just. Long live art, cinema, collaboration, you know, all the stuff that it entails, which is so profound and important, I feel this. This season embodies. And I got to kind of be in.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Was there a particular moment that just had you laughing a lot or you couldn't keep it together or where you broke or anything like that?

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah. I mean, the episode. What was it? Yeah, adaptation. The. The mirror. The mirror scene. That was just. Yeah. The wiener to wiener night, I remember, just was extraordinarily funny in so many ways. The improv. I got to witness the little. The little moments. And Cat, I think it's. It's in that episode too, when. When Kat says to. To Steve Martin, like, go, go have them fix your makeup. And she does that little sing. That little sing.

[Maggie Bowles]

Make him look less.

[Sienna Werber]

Oh, tell me what that means. Yes, let's take five.

[Kat Cohen]

Charles, go to makeup. Tell them we need you to look a little less. They'll know what that means.

[Sienna Werber]

That. That broke me right after that. I completely. Such a true laughter emerged from me. I just. That was so. That was so strange and so funny. That was my. Probably when isn't that funny? Like, Kat is also an icon to me. She's also like a comedy icon, and she had me cracking up so much. Like, in addition to who I was watching, she is so, so funny. So there were so many humorous moments. But honestly, that moment from her does stand out.

[Kat Cohen]

Yeah. I just felt so lucky to be a part of it. And I don't know, like, it's just, I think maybe cheesy, but just. It's just amazing to watch comedy legends that you idolize do the work. And it's. It's just the same as, you know, it's just like you show up on set, you be there on time, you learn your lines, you just do the job. It was just cool to watch those people work and kind of, you know, note like, ooh, what kind of questions are they asking? Or what are they thinking about? And, you know, how they would just have really, really thoughtful questions about how certain moments would influence kind of the arc of their whole character. And I'm like, oh, wow. They're really thinking, like, there's just so much to weave together. And they're thinking dramaturgically as well as comedically. And yeah, it was just. It was tight, dude. To sum it up, and also the may. Also my. Maybe my main takeaway is that because John Hoffman is like the most special, warm, kind person. That energy radiates down.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yeah.

[Kat Cohen]

Top down vibes.

[Host or Producer]

Yeah.

[Kat Cohen]

And so everyone who works for him, all the writers, all the, like, everyone on the crew, everyone just carried that good, kind eng, as they say.

[Maggie Bowles]

By the end of the episode, we've learned that the brother sisters would kill Ferdudinoff, but that they probably didn't kill anyone.

[Kat Cohen]

I think they're murderous, but I don't know if they're the murderers.

[Sienna Werber]

Mm.

[Maggie Bowles]

I see. So they're capable.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Clearly.

[Maggie Bowles]

Clearly. But maybe we've exonerated them. I don't know.

[Kat Cohen]

Perhaps.

[Maggie Bowles]

Any thoughts?

[Ryan Tillotson]

I. Man, I don't know. I think one of them's involved still. I don't know.

[Maggie Bowles]

Really?

[Sienna Werber]

Really,

[Kat Cohen]

I can't say anything else.

[Ryan Tillotson]

No, no, of course not. Of course not.

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah. What I will say is, it ain't over till it's over. And, you know, in any good mystery, there's twists and turns until the very end. So, you know, always keep thinking, always keep your eyes open. But I think the brothers sisters, they're mysterious girls, and I'll leave it at that.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Okay, that's fair.

[Maggie Bowles]

That is fair. If you haven't seen it, I definitely recommend checking out Cat Cohen's Netflix special, the Twist. She's gorgeous. It's very, very funny. All right, shall we get into theory and mail?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yes. Thank you so much for all of your emails and comments. We got some very good theories in the mail this week. Here's what you're thinking.

[Maggie Bowles]

Well, first, thanks to Tim, Stephanie, and the other 450 people who corrected my Easter eggs list, I will share this with you now. This is the approved list from all of the listeners. Episode one, there's a shadow of an airplane across the building, signifying the travel out west for the movie.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Yep.

[Maggie Bowles]

Episode two, the Hamon in the window, because there's the shower. Episode three, two sets of three director's chairs.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Got it.

[Maggie Bowles]

Signifying the doppelganger actors in the episode. In episode four, this is one that I missed. There's a shadow of clovers breezing by the building, and that's Clovers because Paul Rudd comes back as Irishman Paul Rylee.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Glenn Stubbins.

[Maggie Bowles]

Glenn Stubbins.

[Sienna Werber]

Yeah.

[Maggie Bowles]

Irishman Glynn. Episode five, another one I missed. Not only is there Howard and Hammy Faye, but there are little footprints underneath them, which is signifying the footprints on the. On the sticky sheets that they're looking for.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Got it.

[Maggie Bowles]

And then episode six, this new one, there is a movie camera at the top of the building. Obviously, cameras everywhere. This is a camera episode.

[Sienna Werber]

Okay, so that is missing Easter eggs.

[Maggie Bowles]

That's the missing Easter EG thank you all so much for pointing out.

[Ryan Tillotson]

I love it when they point out all your failures.

[Maggie Bowles]

Now, theories.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Thank you, Stephanie D. Thinks Lester and uma did it.

[Maggie Bowles]

Liz S. Doesn't trust Dr. Maggie and thinks that if Glenn hadn't been on that rat baffler, she might have killed Charles with her bare hands, which I just. Any opportunity to say rat baffler.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Okay, and now here's Hannah from the Only Murders Subreddit.

[Maggie Bowles]

I also, before we go to Hannah. Okay, do you guys even enjoy hearing us read tell you about the theories? Like, because some of these theories are so long and like, I can't even. Is it because, like, I. I feel bad for Stephanie D. I'm not even, like, explaining why they think Lester and Uma did it. So, like, am I short? Are we shortchanging Stephanie D. What about

[Ryan Tillotson]

all the people that we just didn't even include?

[Sienna Werber]

Well, I'll tell you, one of them

[Maggie Bowles]

was really, really long. And that's why. Anyways, let us know if you actually enjoy this part or if it's a waste of our time.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Here's Hannah from the Only Murders subreddit.

[Host or Producer]

Yeah, hi Maggie Ryan and everyone listening. Episode six has given us found footage and crazy revelations, and now we have two murders to solve. So I'm back with theories from the Only Murders Subreddit. First of all, our main suspect regarding Sazh's murder is still Marshall. For now, we're just like last week. A recurring theory is that Saz really is the one who wrote the script and Marshall killed her to get his opportunity. Some people also think our killer or killers may have been targeting stunt doubles, particularly Blue Bleeding Heart. I don't really think the targets were Charles and Oliver at all. It was Saz, and this time it was Glenn Stubbins, both stunt doubles. So maybe it has to do with the stun double bar or maybe Saz's stunt double school. I don't think a person with a sniper rifle shot two wrong people accidentally. Now, regarding Dudenhoff's murder. Our members mostly suspect the Westies and whether or not it was intentional. ShoreCheesecake2950 says, I think nobody killed Dudenoff. I think the Westies found him dead of natural causes. They realised that they only got their cheap rents from him, so they hid his death, they put him in the incinerator, and then pretended that he was still alive. And speaking of the Westies, Vince Fish is still very much a question mark amongst our members. Here's user Munstermonch with a theory regarding Vince and this season's doubles theme. So, in the most recent episode, Vince's pink eye had jumped. As he has stated several times to me, the fact that his eye patch keeps moving cannot just be just a cute affectation. There has to be a reason. My theory, based on what we've seen so far, is that there are two Vinces the brothers sisters clearly like to work with twins and it would explain how he got into their movie. Perhaps the Vinces have a scar, eye color or revealing feature around their respective eyes. We couldn't see this in the film as it was in black and white. The Vinces are therefore pulling a double scam with the rent control scheme by having two people living in the same apartment. Maybe one of the Vinces is involved with the murder and the other one doesn't know about it. I just feel there's more to the eyepatch than meets the eye. Another mystery yet to be solved is who placed the mysterious camera that was connected to Saz's phone. Discuss Zacharias suspects Marshall. Here's what they have to the suspicious camera belongs to Marshall. His line in the last episode about his movie coming to life was quite ominous as the camera position was over his left shoulder, peering at the trio like a fly on the wall. Also, if the trio's apartments are bugged, it's very plausible that that is how Marshall was able to be so accurate in his characters without ever meeting them. And finally, we have a thought from bacon quiche 74 about the cameras and the show's timeline. They say Oliver received the End the podcast or I will end you note in season one, Episode three. At this point the podcast had only been out for a single hour and had only four listeners. Has there been a tap in the apartment since season one? And to that I will add that season one was three years ago in the show and in real life. And three years ago is when we find out the brothers sisters had last heard from Dudanoff. So leaving you on that thought and I'll be back next week with more theories from the Only Murders in the Building subreddit.

[Maggie Bowles]

Thanks for listening to this episode of the Only Murders in the Building podcast. Please continue to send us your thoughts and theories at only murders strawhutmedia.com you can even send us a voice memo and we might play it on the show.

[Ryan Tillotson]

If you enjoy the show, take a minute to subscribe. Rate Follow us and leave us a review. The Only Murders in the Building podcast is a production of Straw Hut Media, hosted and produced by Ryan Tillotson and Maggie Bowles. Associate Producer is Steven Markley, original music by Kyle Merritt and Only Murders in the Building theme music by Siddhartha Khosla. Assistant Editor is Daniel Ferreira, Production Assistant is Carolyn Mendoza.

[Maggie Bowles]

Thanks to Kat Cohen and Sienna Werber for taking the time to talk to us this week, and thanks to Hannah over at Reddit for sharing the theories.

[Ryan Tillotson]

And, as always, a big, big thanks to John Hoffman and the entire Hulu team. Bye.

[Maggie Bowles]

Bye.

[Kat Cohen]

My TV keeps turning on, ruining my life. Include this.

[Sienna Werber]

Include this.

[Host or Producer]

Okay?

[Kat Cohen]

It's trying to get me to connect to it so it can steal my data. Who cares? My data's out there.

[Ryan Tillotson]

Do you know what happens

[Maggie Bowles]

at the end?

[Ryan Tillotson]

Whatever you think.

[Kat Cohen]

I mean, I am being mysterious and I read the script so long ago.