Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend Mary Bronstein
10 snips
Oct 16, 2025 
Mary Bronstein, the talented writer-director behind If I Had Legs, I'd Kick You, shares her journey from suburban fandom to filmmaking. She hilariously recalls faxing Conan as a teen for a school project. The conversation dives into Conan's acting debut, casting Rose Byrne, and the creative challenges of directing. Mary reveals her hands-on approach, balancing dark comedy with emotional depth, and even discusses Muppet inspirations for the film's title. It’s a blend of laughter, behind-the-scenes insights, and creative inspiration!
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Teen Fan Fax That Changed A Career
- Mary faxed Conan questions at age 14 for a school project and obsessively checked the gas station for his reply.
- Conan's handwritten, smiley-faced fax reply became a formative moment making show business feel reachable to her.
Direct In The Room To Shape Performance
- Mary prefers directing from inside the scene so she can witness performances live and shape framing in the moment.
- She watches takes like a play, then reviews footage to decide whether to do another take.
Intensity Followed By Hysterical Release
- Mary and Conan describe an intense scene where Rose Byrne screams inches from Conan's face, then erupts into hysterical laughter after cut.
- The laughter was a physical release that surprised Conan and revealed Rose's visceral acting process.
