'The Interview': Vince Vaughn Turned This Interview Into Self-Help

Vaughn expresses his concern that Hollywood has turned away from the once celebrated R-rated comedy genre due to overly cautious and controlling studio executives. He reminisces about a past era in Hollywood where creative freedom fueled the success of this genre and suggests there’s still an appetite among audiences for the kind of comedies that have now fallen out of favor with the industry.

Vaughn believes Hollywood executives have become overly cautious and controlling

Vaughn believes that studio executives have become excessively wary, following a set of unwritten rules designed not to innovate but to avoid termination. He argues that this overly cautious approach stifles creative freedom, which is essential for the success of R-rated comedies.

Vaughn argues that R-rated comedies were successful when studios gave young, funny talents the freedom to improvise

Vaughn reminisces about the environment on set when young, funny talents were granted the latitude to experiment and play off each other organically. He recalls the liberty to change lines on the spot and how making each other laugh was key to the authentic humor that resonated so well with audiences. He implies that this improvised, freewheeling style is a far cry from the micromanaged conditions enforced by today's studio heads.

Vaughn suggests the cultural climate has not actually changed

In his view, the decline of R-rated comedies isn’t attributable to a change in the cultural climate or audience preferences. Rather, Vaughn attributes this downturn to the timidity of studi ...

Vaughn’s rich personal history, marked by diverse familial experiences, informs his appreciation for storytelling, dedication to free expression, and libertarian-leaning politics.

Vaughn's diverse upbringing

Vaughn's background includes grandparents from vastly different walks of life, which provided him with a comprehensive view of the human condition and the diversity of perspectives. One grandfather, an Italian immigrant, left school at age eight to eventually own a carnival park and work as a jeweler and pawnshop broker. Meanwhile, his other grandfather was a sharecropper and steelworker with a hundred-acre farm. These contrasts, combined with his paternal grandmother's Christian Lebanese heritage, created a multifaceted cultural environment in his household.

His father's achievement of being the first in the family to attend college marked a significant change in socioeconomic standing for Vaughn's family. Vaughn himself experienced a lifestyle shift, going from living in apartments to inhabiting an upper-middle-class suburb at the age of eight. This transition exposed him to a broad sweep of perspectives and societal views.

Free expression through art

Through his understanding of the human experience, Vaughn has developed a fervent belief in free expression, particularly in the arts. He uses the song “A Boy Named Sue” as an example of how storytelling can probe important emotions and themes universal to all. He views attempts to censor art due to controversial content as a fundamental misunderstanding of art's role in confronting real human issues. Vaughn underscores his stance on storytelling freedom by discussing how the book “Rage” by Stephen King offered him a potent look at the social dynamics and feelings of alienation among teenagers, despite its subsequent association with school violence.

Vaughn is critical of the idea that certain individuals can dictate what is acceptable in storytelling and stands firmly for the right to explore a wide range of ideas. He also invokes the profound messages in John Hughes’s films, such as "The Breakfast Club,” which delve deeper than super ...

Fatherhood has reshaped Vaughn's perspective, making him more selective about his professional choices and shifting his focus toward roles and projects that align with his meaningful and evolved view on life.

Becoming a parent has made Vaughn more selective in the roles and projects he chooses, as he strives to find work that is meaningful and in line with his evolved perspective

Vaughn has experienced a transformation since becoming a father, which has prompted him to be more discerning in his career. His drive to seek out different and unique ventures stems from this significant life change. Vaughn expresses his desire to take on roles that offer a break from his previous work, signifying a desire for growth and exploration influenced by his fatherhood journey.

Vaughn has found that fatherhood has made him more empathetic, patient, and focused on encouraging his children to explore their own interests and find their own paths, rather than pushing them to conform to external expectations

The joys of fatherhood have deeply impacted Vaughn as he navigates the responsibilities of raising a 13-year-old and a 10-year-old. Fatherhood has instilled in him a heightened sense of empathy and patience. Vaughn takes pride in encouraging his children to continue trying new things and to simply be themselves, which he believes builds their self-esteem. He adapts his parenting to suit their distinct developmental needs and respects the fact that each child's path is unique. Vaughn also appreciates the importance of setting a good example for his children by demonstrating positive behavior, understanding that children often learn by watching more than by l ...