The promotional tour for the new film Trainwreck recently made its way through San Francisco and along with an early screening of the movie, the film’s director also brought some of his cast for the ride.

The director in question is Judd Apatow whose comedy credits include The 40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up and Funny People. His calm and personable demeanor is a welcome surprise given that he has many film and TV projects up in the air at all times. He’s known for godfathering talent and Trainwreck is no different. Not only has he given rising comedian Amy Schumer her first movie but she is the star and writer of it as well. It’s a huge gamble that pays off in many ways, mining comedy from Schumer’s own personal experiences and bad life choices.

The following is a transcription of our interview with Apatow and Schumer along with some of the film’s supporting cast, Colin Quinn, Dave Attel, Mike Birbiglia and Vanessa Bayer. We discuss the origins of the movie, LeBron James’ comedic talent and the signs of spotting a real-life trainwreck.

Q: What’s your reaction to the popularity of some of the big sketches from your show?

Amy Schumer: It’s very unexpected and very awesome. The scenes that have been picked up and shown around, some of them we hoped would get seen and some we didn’t see coming.

Q: What was the transition like from writing on the show to writing your first feature film?

Schumer: I don’t think of it as writing sketch because I’ve never taken a sketch writing class. I think of it as writing little scenes with some stakes in them. So to play just one character in the movie was relaxing and then to write it was a challenge but the tools that I got from writing on the show made me feel less overwhelmed.

Q: I first saw the film at SXSW and even though the film wasn’t 100% locked at that point it still played incredibly well. Do you see the film festivals as an unofficial test screening process to fine tune your films?

Judd Apatow: It’s nice to see it with a real crowd so you can change things if anything goes wrong. That’s always a great place to show a movie.

Q: Judd, you godfather a lot of projects both as a director and producer. What makes you decide to devote your time to a project?

Apatow: I never know. Sometimes I have an idea about a project I want to write and sometimes I don’t. It takes a while to write and I get just as excited working with other people and their ideas. I just like a great idea and great people to collaborate with.

Q: What do you look for in your actors to feel more comfortable on set?

Apatow: I just feel actors do better when they have more time. So when you say to an actor we’re rushed and we only have one take that’s when they get stiff, especially in comedy.

Q: I almost didn’t recognize Tilda Swinton in the movie.

Apatow: That’s because she has a tan. (laughs)

Q: Amy, since you’ve based a big part of the screenplay on your past experiences, are there things you realized about your own life while writing it?

Schumer: That I was broken and things were not OK, that I had trouble accepting love and believing that I was lovable.

Apatow: Just that. (laughs)

Q: LeBron James obviously knocks it out of the park in this movie with his comedic timing but so does John Cena. Did you know in advance these two were capable of that or did they just surprise you on set?

Apatow: John had auditioned and to me he was just an actor who was really funny. Then we did a table read and he got the biggest laughs of anyone in the cast. With LeBron we had seen him on SNL and talk show appearances so we know he could do it but we never imagined he would bring down the house the way he did. We shot it the week he decided to go back to Cleveland so he was in a great mood. No one has ever been that excited to get back to Cleveland.

Q: Vanessa, since this is your first film what did you find creatively different coming from SNL?

Vanessa Bayer: At SNL you get to improvise when you’re writing sketches and gathering ideas but in this movie we got to improvise off of what was already written.

Q: Mike, are you looking to direct again soon?

Mike Birbiglia: Yes, I’m starting my second movie in August. I’m keeping the details on the down low but I’m pretty excited about it. Some pretty great actors are in it.

Q: I loved Sleepwalk With Me so I’m excited.

Birbiglia: In that case I think you’ll be proud. It’s in the same tone and vein as Sleepwalk, it’s a very personal and bittersweet story about a group of friends.

Bayer: That’s the most information he’s given anyone about his new movie. (laughs)

Q: Colin, how did you find the middle-ground for your character between being a hard dad and someone you eventually make the audience care for?

Colin Quinn: I actually visited Amy’s dad. Even though it’s me there’s a lot of him in there too.

Dave Attel: That’s a lot harder than what I did. I played a street person who’s non-existent.

Q: Here in San Francisco there are many of those.

Attel: I believe here in San Francisco you call them performance artists.

Q: Judd is famous for letting the camera roll and just improving a lot on set. Do you have any improv techniques you used on set?

Quinn: With Judd you never feel inhibited because he loves a comedian’s energy. I feel everyone wants to do impov but when we do it with other comedians we feel more comfortable.

Attel: It’s almost like doing porn and choosing a good title. (laughs)

Q: What’s the best porn title?

Attel: Porn titles used to be topical so like Game of Thrones would be Game of Bones.

Quinn: What about Searching For Bobby’s Fischer?

Attel: That’s the thinking man’s porn.

Q: I remember the old titles like Intercourse With the Vampire or Best Chest in the West.

Quinn: I…I…I feel like I missed out. (laughs)

Attel: I think porn is great but I feel the only porn that doesn’t seem to click for me is Canadian porn.

Q: Why? Are they too polite in the porn?

Attel: Yes! It’s all hugs and handshakes. I think I spotted an owl in one of them and something else.

Q: Maple syrup?

Attel: Yes! (laughs)

Q: This film has drama in it but overall plays like a romantic comedy. What are some of your favorite romantic comedies?

Birbiglia: Annie Hall is one of the greats. I know a lot of people make jokes about it but Jerry Maguire is one of the best romantic comedies of the last twenty years.

Bayer: Beaches.

Attel: Fatso with Dom DeLuise.

Quinn: There’s this movie Just Friends with Ryan Reynolds that’s the most underrated movie ever. I also recently saw the original Heartbreak Kid, it’s sad and brutal.

Q: The new one is sad and brutal but for different reasons.

Quinn: (laughs) That’s what I heard!

Schumer: I like You’ve Got Mail and Sleepless in Seattle so I’m obviously a huge Meg Ryan fan.

Apatow: I would say Say Anything, as a kid that’s how I experienced those emotions.

Q: What are the signs that you’re dating a trainwreck?

Quinn: A feeling of excitement and mystery. Who doesn’t want to date a trainwreck? A good trainwreck can get almost any guy early on.

Attel: I consider myself a trainwreck.

Apatow: I was dating a trainwreck once and she had a large basket of condoms next to her bed.

Schumer: I’m flashing through a million memories right now. I think if a guy goes through four drinks while you’ve only had half of yours there’s a good chance he’s a trainwreck.

Q: He could be nervous.

Schumer: He could just deal with it. (laughs)

Trainwreck is now playing in theatres nationwide.