“IF YOU CAN’T CRY…FAKE IT”

Throughout the 52-day shooting schedule the mood on the set was lively, due in large part to the on-set banter between Wilson and Vaughn, which kept the cast and crew alike laughing long after each take.

“Owen and Vince played off each other so well that they reminded me in a way of Abbott and Costello,” says David Dobkin. “They are a great comedy team because Owen has a very slow methodical delivery and Vince is like a machine gun. Their energy levels and timing were always spot-on and they’re definitely two of the best comedians out there today. It's been amazing to watch them work together because they both raise each other’s game.”

For Wilson and Vaughn, having great chemistry also meant being able to keep up with each other when they would go off the page and improvise during a scene.

“You're never going to get the last word with Vince,” laughs Wilson. “He improvises a lot and is super-fast and glib. Being from Texas, I have a much slower pace and rhythm, but I think it's a funny coupling because although we have completely different deliveries, we have a similar sense of humor. Vince had some funny ideas for my character and gave me some great lines to say and sometimes I would have an idea for his character in the scene.”

“Owen has always been one of the guys out there that I’ve enjoyed watching because he’s really funny and has great timing,” praises Vaughn. “We both worked really hard before we started shooting to develop the story line between our characters. Most of the film, Owen is more of a straight man and I’m the crazy friend, which left a lot a room for my character to go off and riff in certain situations.”

Producer Andrew Panay credits the actors for keeping the atmosphere on set light.

“Everyday there was tons and tons of laughter on the set and it kept everybody loose and willing to take chances,” says Panay. “The real fun began after take three or four when David would let Owen and Vince have a free take to do whatever they wanted. Almost every time they would come up with these gems and it was difficult not to laugh during the middle of the take.”

A master at the art of improvisation, Vaughn shares his thoughts on the subject matter.

“Being able to improv doesn’t always involve coming up with the funniest thing to say,” offers the actor. “In a lot of ways, improvisation is very similar to method acting in that you’re listening and staying in the moment so that you’re open to what that specific moment brings. It’s not a planned course and if you know your character, his background and point of view, then sometimes things will pop into your head during a take to say and do.”

For director of photography Julio Macat, making sure he captured the unpredictable nature of Wilson and Vaughn’s on-screen antics required specific camera set ups and placements.

“You have to be loose with Owen and Vince so you’re not restricting them to hard marks for the lighting,” explains Macat. “If you’re not loose, you can miss a moment. In certain situations we did things like cover two people from across each other at the same time, which isn’t easy because it ends up being a jungle of flags and cutters. It takes more time to set up, but really pays off with guys like Owen and Vince, who may improvise their lines, but always get to the thematic point of the scene just by saying one little thing that touches a chord.”

Dobkin adds, “I think magic happens all the time, especially when you're improvising, which is why it’s imperative to use multiple camera set ups. I also didn't want to make a film that conformed to the typical look of a comedy, so I infused the film with style wherever I could. I like my movies to look big, beautiful and really pop on screen. I look to cinematographers for exposure and balance and how they light the frame and Julio’s exposures were phenomenal.”

Macat says he tries to make comedies that look gorgeous and have a richness to them. “In this film it’s high end weddings, so those scenes have to almost look like something out of The Great Gatsby,” he says. “Ever since I shot Home Alone, I’ve always believed just because the movie is a comedy, it doesn’t mean the lighting has to be brighter or flatter.”

For Dobkin, in order to keep the laughs coming, it was imperative to keep a loose and light atmosphere on set.

“Comedy should be fun to shoot,” says the director. “I like my actors to enjoy themselves as much as possible because when they are having fun on set it usually translates on screen. I didn’t want the actors to play it tight because they had to be willing to miss and miss big. I tried to provide them with a collaborative arena in which they felt comfortable taking those deep shots.”

The actors responded to the environment that Dobkin created.

“What I love about working with David Dobkin is that he is open to new ideas and gives you the confidence to try different things,” says Wilson. “As an actor, you don’t want to work in a creative environment that makes you doubt yourself or feel nervous that a bit may not work. Both Vince and I have worked with David before and feel very comfortable around him, which made it easy for us to come up with new material and ideas.”

Although there was a lot of improvisation and spur of the moment ideas on set, the production was still meticulously organized.

“David Dobkin is the most well-prepared director I’ve ever worked with,” says producer Peter Abrams. “He comes to the set and knows exactly what he wants - it is posted every day on his story boards so the cast and crew know exactly the work at hand and is prepared for the next shot.”

Andrew Panay adds, “This film has a large ensemble cast of actors with different personalities and processes and he was able to meld them all together into one cohesive unit. He also has a great film sensibility because we obviously wanted this movie to be funny, but we also wanted it to have heart. He did a great job balancing those two elements in the film.”

After 52 days of production that included location shoots in Los Angeles, Washington, D.C. and the Maryland Eastern Shore, principal photography wrapped on June 7th, 2004. For the filmmakers, cast, and crew, the experience was one that left them feeling like they had all shared in a magnificent comedic journey.

“The locations and my fellow actors have made this a really amazing experience for me,” says Rachel McAdams. “The Maryland Eastern Shore is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been and I felt guilty sometimes spending the day on the beach hanging out with Owen Wilson. I’ve always had a great appreciation for Owen, Vince, Chris Walken and so many of the other actors on the project. It’s been a thrill to be able to work with them and observe their processes. Owen and Vince are comedy gurus for the younger generation and it was really cool to be part of that dynamic.”

“NEVER LEAVE A FELLOW CRASHER BEHIND”

With production wrapped, Peter Abrams says he was thrilled with how the project ultimately turned out.

“You always hope that you find a title as good as Wedding Crashers because it says it all,” says Abrams. “I believe this film will attract a diverse audience because women will see Owen and Vince in tuxedos and pick up on the word ‘wedding’ and men will see Owen and Vince and pick up on the word ‘crashers.’”

For Owen Wilson, the title is even more simplistic. “Wedding Crashers – it's not complicated, we go to weddings to pick up girls and my character breaks the biggest rule and falls for one of these girls and hijinks ensue from there,” he says.

Producer Andrew Panay concludes, “I think audiences are going to be a little surprised because they’re going to expect to see the fun and craziness of the wedding crashing, which is definitely there, but they are also going to get a big dose of heartfelt moments, watching these two bad boys getting caught up in the concept of love and commitment.”

In the end, the film even had an impact on director Dobkin’s view of weddings in general.

“I used to hate weddings because expectations are so high and everyone hopes their wedding is going to go perfect,” laughs Dobkin. “Inevitably, something always goes wrong and those are the memories that everyone remembers the most. After this film experience, I think I will enjoy weddings much more because I now have the inside track on making the most of the wedding experience.”