Interview: Sarah Silverman

If you wanted Sarah Silverman, you got her. A comedian who has made her ways from New York City bars and comedy clubs to the alternative scene to bit parts in films like School of Rock has finally pieced together a concert film. With some musical compositions and some short sketches the concert film covers all avenues of comedic entertainment. This is project that was long over due and her fans will be satisfied.

Everything you have come to know about Sarah Silverman’s comedy from her racial jokes, her blunt, straight to the point comedy to the awkward pauses that eventually have the audience erupting in laughter right after she delivers the much awaited punch line is there. Her routine is highlighted and around it is shaped the rest of the documentary. The camera flows in and out of her routine to show you corresponding short sketches and musical pieces. One of the particular sequences has Sarah using every racial profanity known only to be shut up by a group of tough thugs that are sick of her slurs.

In terms of filmmaking, Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic uses a style that is simple with the sketches and the routine because it is her comedy that is the most important thing. What is interesting to note are the techniques used to transition between the musical pieces, the routine and the sketches.

I sat down with a bunch of other reporters at a round table interview with Sarah Silverman.

Q: Has your comedy ever given you accolades from the wrong source of fans?

Sarah Silverman: Yes. My ex-boyfriend called that mouth full of blood laughs, like someone would come over to me after the show and say, “Yeah! I hate chinks too.”

Q: Did you always see this film as an independent film, not a special on any cable station?

SS: I had always wanted it to an H.B.O. special. Comedy Central said they would do it, but I said I always wanted to do an H.B.O. special. It was one of those things like Letterman, it was a dream. But they didn’t want me. So I said maybe I can make it into a movie. A month after the movie had wrapped H.B.O. then asked me to do a special.

Q: Did you censor yourself in anyway?

SS: No, but I did take something out before we filmed it. It was a bit about how Baer Aspirin did medical experts on Jews during the Holocaust. I guess they would pick a couple of campers and they would have to be like, “The headache is now better then the hunger.” “It’s not as bad as how I miss my family.” It was so heavy and much longer then that.

Q: How did your comedy career evolve for you?

SS: I was just doing stand up and I didn’t have some master plan. I figured I had enough material to put a show together and do this in theaters and those crowds are so much nicer. They are coming to see you. I still love the mainstream and offbeat clubs. I put this show together, then for two-three years, I added a little, dumped a little.

Q: What do you have next?

SS: I’m in Rent. I’m shooting a movie called School for Scoundrels which is a Todd Phillips – Scott Armstrong collaboration and a Comedy Central pilot that will hopefully go into production where I play myself.

Sarah Silverman: Jesus is Magic opens in limited release today via the folks at Roadside Attractions.