Chris Candy – The Wedding Planners

By starrymag | April 24, 2020

By: Lisa Steinberg

 

 

 

Q) What are the recent projects that you have been busy working on?

A) A lot has slowed down since the pandemic, but I do a podcast out of LA called “Bumper to Bumper” that I’ve been releasing a few times a week. Then, I’m actually working on a feature film that takes place in the quarantine. I’m doing all the filming and the director and cinematographer are on a Zoom call. We’ve been piecing together a film. It’s a rom-com about a couple going through quarantine living in the same building, but can’t see each other. I think it will probably come out later in the year.

Q) We’ll be seeing you on “The Wedding Planners.” How was your character Nav originally described to you?

A) He was just described as an eccentric, kind of lovable thorn in the side. He was very loyal and protective of his cousin. So, initially when the job started that was the energy that they were looking for.

Q) Was there something you added to the role that wasn’t in his initial breakdown?

A) I wanted the character to be vulnerable and lovable. I wanted to make sure I brought that to the equation for him. He can be a high-energy character. Let’s see how it turns out. I had fun playing him.

Q) What did you find challenging about portraying Nav?

A) I think that any role that I work on I just want to make sure that there is some authenticity connected to myself in some regards. I found that portraying vulnerability in a character is sometimes difficult, but I also was excited with this character because I got to try some fun stuff and see if it worked or not. I enjoyed that freedom.

Q) Were you familiar with any of your costars before working with them on this series?

A) I wasn’t, but I got to meet everybody on set and they are just incredibly warm and lovely people. I had a great time. I think that was the last job that I had.

Q) What were some of your favorite moments from filming “The Wedding Planners?”

A) Ironically, I grew up from Toronto, but I live in Los Angeles. The town that they put together is based on the town next to the one that I was from. So, I knew the name of it really well. And I hadn’t traveled back in a long time. That was kind of fun on my days off to travel around and see what the neighborhood was like. I also found these shows are just fun to make. The stories are so lovely and really fun to be a part of. I just had a really great time working with a nice group of people for a few weeks and that doesn’t always happen.

Q) What do you think it is about this show that has made it such a fast fan favorite?

A) I think the show has picked up on what a lot of people enjoy to watch with movies and television shows of the past. Each week the show feels like maybe an episode of Father of the Bride or other types of films that have been out there. They tap into that energy, which is nice. And I think it’s fun for the audience to get a little slice of that. And the show does a really great job of recreating those types of worlds for television.

Q) What did you personally take away from being a part of this series?

A) Great question. I think for me it was just this was the first job where I felt very playful in the role. It was a learning process for me, but it was awesome to try stuff. If it worked, great. If it didn’t, then oh well.

Q) You have great comedic timing. Is this a trait that was passed along to you genetically or something that you have worked at?

A) I definitely have had people tell me that I have a funny bone. I definitely got some of that from my father, for sure. With comedy, there is a bit of innate energy of timing and rhythm. It’s like a song. It’s putting it together and knowing the right time to make the joke land or pull or maybe it would be funny if I looked this way or less is more is funny. There are all these little things that are going around in my head. I’ve spent kind of a lifetime so far trying to find out, but I have plenty of time to learn more. I’ve been testing things to see what works and doesn’t work. When you’re dealing with on camera stuff, I might watch this episode and go, “Ah! That didn’t work! That’s okay. Maybe someone will think it work.” But there is constantly a rebalance and a reassess on what is working and what is not working.

Q) What are some of your personal favorite projects your dad, John Candy, worked on?

A) I loved his work. I’m always kind of rediscovering movies that he worked on that were great. I love watching Planes, Trains and Automobiles. More recently, I was rewatching a movie called Delirious, which is a later or early 90’s comedy. I find those to be really funny to rewatch these and kind of see the state comedy at the time, what he was doing and what he was trying. Kind of all the things I’ve been talking about, I get the sense he was thinking the same things.

Q) When it comes to your podcast, what are some of the upcoming themes or topics you will be discussing?

A) Well, had this rapper Murs who is going to be on our most recent show. I do the show with this guy named Rick Darge who is a collaborator of mine. We make a ton of content together. We actually just released a short film called To the Stones that you can get on video. Initially, we were driving around in our cars and interviewing people. Since we have been in quarantine, the show has kind of morphed into this comedy podcast that is usually thirty minutes of checking in with different walks of life in different professions and seeing how everyone is handling and holding up in quarantine. I kind of consider our show your morning drive time radio from your bedroom to your kitchen. It’s kind of a goofy little comedy and we love doing it.

Q) You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to keep in touch with your fans?

A) It’s the current way that we’re talking to everybody these days. I like joking around on Instagram and putting up fun photos and stuff like that. I got on Instagram so early. I was there one of the first couple of months it started and initially it was a social tool that my friends and I would use during our day jobs. It grew into this platform and it is now a tool that is part of your career. So, when I got on Twitter, I was telling bad jokes all of the time. [laughs] I’m not trying to be the most important person on Twitter, but I do find they are a great platform…I look at all of these blogs like, “I’m going to share a fun photo or a news article that I like or a stupid joke.” I never got into it to be this pedestal to stand on of, “This is what is great.”

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who are fans and supporters of you and the work you do?

A) I would just like to say that I appreciate you giving me the time of day. [laughs] I think it’s really sweet. There are some people I know and some people I don’t know. Either you were a fan of my dad’s work or you’re becoming a fan of the work I’m doing; I just say thanks. I hope I am enlightening or entertaining or bringing something your way that you like.