Hollywood, but make it real. Warm, authentic conversations with the people who make the stuff we love — and the friends I’ve been lucky enough to make along the way.
I’ve spent the past 20 years as a Hollywood producer having what’s known as “general meetings” — one-on-one sit-downs with actors, writers, and filmmakers. These personal and creative conversations have always been my favorite part of the job — the moments when the glossy version of Hollywood drops away and you connect with the real person across from you. So now, I’m bringing that to life as a podcast.
Each week on General Meeting with Becky Sloviter, I sit down with smart, funny, and talented friends — actors and writers who have made us laugh and cry, and filmmakers who inspire us — for real conversations about creativity, connection, and everything in between. My hope is that these chats will help us all feel a little more connected — and a little less alone.
Because we’re all going through it these days — but as the iconic Penny Lane says in my third favorite movie of all time: “Famous people are just more interesting.”
Welcome to General Meeting with Becky Sloviter.
This week, Becky welcomes a filmmaker she truly adores: writer/director Jason Orley (Big Time Adolescence, I Want You Back), whose upcoming film, Close Personal Friends, stars Jack Quaid, Lily Collins, Brie Larson and Henry Golding, and will be a 2027 release from Amazon.
Jason traces his path from Bloomfield Hills, Michigan to NYU film school, which led to amazingly formative years learning from our queen Nancy Meyers before writing what would become his directorial debut, Big Time Adolescence — starring Pete Davidson and a newly-discovered Sydney Sweeney, a screenplay he wrote at Jon Lovett's house just as Lovett was starting Pod Save America.
He then shares stories of his continued collaborations with Pete Davidson: on his Peacock show, Bupkis — and how Pete's appeal brought together incredible actors like Steve Buscemi, Edie Falco, Joe Pesci, Bobby Cannavale, and even former Vice President Al Gore — as well as his yet-to-be-made (but someday - we're manifesting!) Ramones biopic with Pete at the center.
Jason also recalls what it was like to have his debut film open in theaters the weekend the world shut down, and how he made I Want You Back — his rom-com starring Jenny Slate and Charlie Day — masked up during the pandemic (yet still a fantastic experience).
Plus: some behind-the-scenes scoop on Close Personal Friends, including the Meghan Markle cameo — which finally gave Becky the opportunity to share a heartwarming personal insight about the famous Montecito resident. Jason and Becky also dive into the imposter syndrome that often accompanies first-time directing, and why the fact that it took a while to get his first movie made actually had some upsides.
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Host: Becky Sloviter
Guest: Jason Orley - https://www.imdb.com/name/nm3753276/
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