The Director’s Cut - A DGA Podcast

Novocaine with Dan Berk, Robert Olsen and Drew Hancock (Ep. 536)

Apr 4, 2025

Dan Berk and Robert Olsen, the creative minds behind 'Novocaine', delve into the wild blend of action and dark comedy in their latest film. They share their nods to 80s and 90s action flicks and the unique fight choreography called 'Nate Fu' for their protagonist, who surprisingly can't feel pain. The duo also reveals their casting journey, emphasizing the compelling dynamics of Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder. Their candid discussion highlights the balance of character depth and the humor woven into the action-packed narrative.

35:50

Creator website

Episode guests

Robert Olsen

Dan Berk

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Episode notes

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Quick takeaways

The film Novocaine uniquely explores the comedic and dramatic potential of a protagonist who cannot feel pain during his rescue mission.

Filmmakers emphasized character development by thoroughly establishing Nathan's personality before the action, enhancing audience emotional connection with his journey.

Deep dives

Unique Premise of Novocaine

The film Novocaine presents a distinctive premise centered on Nathan Cain, a character who cannot feel pain due to a rare medical condition. This unique trait becomes a pivotal asset when he embarks on a rescue mission to save the girl of his dreams from a group of bank robbers. The filmmakers aimed to explore how this inability to feel pain contributes to both comedic and dramatic elements within the story. The scenario allows Nathan to confront situations that would typically be perilous, effectively turning his disability into a surprising advantage in the narrative.

Intro

2min

From Roommates to Filmmakers

7min

Balancing Action and Comedy

7min

Casting Dynamics: Finding the Right Fit for the Film

4min

Character Depth and Action Timing

16min

Directors Dan Berk and Robert Olsen discusses their new film, Novocaine, with fellow Director Drew Hancock in a Q&A at the DGA theater in Los Angeles. In the conversation, they discuss taking notes from 80s and 90s action movies to straddle the tonal line between comedy and action, their inspirations for casting Actors Jack Quaid and Amber Midthunder in the lead roles, and finding a fighting style for a character not of your typical action hero makeup.

The film tells the story of Nathan Caine, a man born with the rare condition where he is physically incapable of feeling pain. When the girl of his dreams is kidnapped by gun-wielding bank robbers, he turns his rare condition into an unexpected advantage in the fight to rescue her.

See photos and a summary of this event below:

https://dga.org/Events/2025/May2025/Novocaine_QnA_0325