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Youve said that when you go into a scene, you like to try and play with it.
What does the playing feel like?In many scenes, theres a simple way of looking at it.
And then you go,Oh, I see, this scene is actually about these other things.
We have such a really special artistic relationship, and our characters do too.
Sometimes with an acidity; sometimes its real tough.
Thats what Candy and Harveys relationship is.
And they love each other very much.
In other ways, I think thats an interesting lie.
Im really interested in the ways that the conversation about sex work lays everything out on the table.
I felt like,I really am on your side.
Im trying to portray something that feels human and real, but Im not speaking for you.
This is my fantasy.
Annie Sprinkle, the feminist pornographerperformance artist, hooked me up with this woman named Madison Young.
I did and I was a little bit scared, to be honest.
Id never seen a sex show or really knew what one was.
Ididfeel like I needed to get up and go outside.
I didnt, though.
When did you see that show?While I was shooting season two.
It was a world I didnt know about!
Like nothing Id ever seen before.
I have some very old-fashioned ideas about sex, personally, that I didnt even know I had.
It made me more like Candy.
Ive been surprised by the quiet response toThe Deuce.
Its saying,Were all responsible for this.
Its the story of a deeply rooted cultural problem which stems from capitalism as much as sexism and racism.
It can be hard work.
But to me, hard work with some humor and sex?
That sounds like a great time!
What do you like watching on TV?I watch very little, but I lovedFleabag.
The second season of that show was so beautiful.
So funny and wonderful, but also so deeply soulful.
She gives this little monologue where she basically says, Coming nine times isnt satisfying to me!
I dont want that!
Its such a feminine perspective, because as a woman you could understand.
Did you know that character is called Hot Misogynist?Really?
She acts like shes so pleased!
As opposed to this, where youre like, Yes!
I dontwantto come nine times!
Thats too many times!Its too many times!
Sometimes theyre right and Im wrong!
You know morethan me!
I dont give many notes about other characters.
Every now and then Ill do it, if I see something really glaring, but mostly no.
I feel like thats the next step with us.
Maybe Ill direct something in another show with them.
But for now, I feel like thats not really the agreement we made.
Was that an explicit agreement?No, but I have felt my way through this.
Its alotof work just to take care of Candy.
But I think thats where we would go next, if we were to continue to work together.
Does it annoy you when you get questions about James Franco?
I have been asked to answer for him and I havenothingto do with it.
But I feel like its important to continue making the show.
I feel like a political wife or something.
I dont like that.
I feel, and I continue to feel, that this is a show about all of these things.
And nobody was willing to continue to make it without him.
But sometimes, big things change!
Candy was not going to be a director.
I really pushed that on them.
She was designed to make a leap into being a producer.
If shes a producer, its fundamentally about money.
I really became clear about that in the second episode of the first season.
Its the birth-of-an-artist moment.
As Candy takes increasing control of her own work, youve also been doing the same in your career.
Do you find your life and your art often intersect?I just sold my house.
It was very complicated, with many ups and downs.
I dont think Im born to be a negotiator.
Im happy with the softness of my heart.
But Im not good at it!
One of them was a straight-up, explicit negotiation, and the other ones were, metaphorically.
Is Candy an expert negotiator?
Is she better than me?
My job is finding empathy, listening, having the most open and vulnerable heart.
If youre dealing with a corporate lawyer on the other side … youre fucked!
