The ‘Shitheads’ Team Shares a Surprising Production Challenge: Dealing with a Portable Toilet Incident on Set Day One at Sundance Studio
The Shitheads: A Wild Ride from Script to Screen
Park City, Utah — In a comedic twist of fate, the film The Shitheads, directed and written by Macon Blair, made its premiere on January 23 at the Park City Library Theatre. The film follows two hapless characters, played by Dave Franco and O’Shea Jackson Jr., who are tasked with escorting a wealthy teenager, portrayed by Mason Thames, to a rehabilitation facility. However, what begins as a straightforward job quickly devolves into chaos.
During a panel discussion featuring Blair, Franco, Jackson, and actors Kiernan Shipka and Nicholas Braun, the challenges of the production were highlighted. Blair recounted a particularly unexpected incident on set that added an unusual layer of complexity to filming.
“The motel set was a working motel, and adjacent to it was a parking lot for long-range truckers,” said Blair. “Somebody had, let’s say, left their portable bathroom lying in the parking lot, and the picture car drove over it, and it exploded. Everything was just sort of in communion with what was left over with the exploded toilet for the rest of the day of the shoot. It was goddamn disgusting, and yet there was nothing to be done about it but keep shooting shots. There was something about… and I’m not talking about the literalism of the title of the movie, I’m just talking about vibes-wise, it did feel very, very appropriate. And everybody just put cotton balls in their nose and got back to work.”
Franco joined in, recalling, “Was this on day zero? That’s what that was? I remember that smell vividly.”
Despite the challenges presented during filming, Blair maintained a positive outlook. “By comparison, every day after that felt a little bit easier. It sort of set the bar at a certain place,” he noted, reflecting on the unique experiences that shaped the production.
This offbeat adventure promises to deliver a blend of humor and unexpected twists, showcasing the unpredictable nature of filmmaking.
