Shadowing Practice: "It's A Comedy!" - Emma Stone Plays A Pharma Exec And Suspected Alien In "Bugonia" - Learn English Speaking with YouTube

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WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
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WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
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LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M HAPPY TO SAY MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS A TWO-TIME ACADEMY AWARD WINNER YOU KNOW FROM LA LA LAND, POOR THINGS, AND THE FAVORITE, AND BIRDMAN.
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SHE NOW STARTS IN THE NEW FILM, BOUGONIA.
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HERE'S WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
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AND I WANT TO BE CLEAR, I'M NOT THREATENING YOU.
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Or you.
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But the following is my best guess of how the next 48 hours are likely to transpire.
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The police and soon thereafter the FBI will begin a statewide manhunt using all of the methods at their disposal and the combined resources of neighboring jurisdictions.
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My company is a key job creator and economic engine of the region.
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I am crucial.
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Think of it like you abducted the governor, but worse.
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That's the level of bureaucratic urgency you're contending with here.
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In all humility, I can say that.
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I'm also a high-profile female corporate executive.
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Does that add a certain, you know, politicized optics to this?
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I would say absolutely.
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I would say that's a tremendous factor for you to consider here.
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Please welcome back to The Late Show, Emma Stone.
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OH!
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HELLO.
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HI.
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HI.
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THERE YOU GO.
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NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
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GOOD TO SEE YOU.
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YOU KNOW, WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THIS BEFORE, THAT YOU'RE, EMMA IS A STAGE NAME FOR YOU.
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YES.
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OKAY.
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AND THAT YOUR GIVEN NAME IS EMILY.
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YEAH.
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EMILY STONE IS A LOVELY NAME.
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What I haven't asked you before, and I'm really curious, what was in competition for Emma?
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Did you try anything else?
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Because when I was younger, like, young actor, I thought, like, I'll go with Xerxes.
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Like, what was...
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Did you actually go with Xerxes?
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No, I changed Colbert to Colbert.
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That's all I did.
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But does your family say Colbert?
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Some of us say Colbert, and some of us say Colbert.
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But enough about me, as fascinating as I am.
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Tell me.
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And I get it, I get it.
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You want to lay down over here?
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We'll talk.
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A hundred thousand percent.
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I know.
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DO YOU WANT TO HOST THE SHOW FOR THE REST OF THE YEAR?
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APPLY.
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I'M JOKING.
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NO THANK YOU.
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SO WHAT WAS IN COMPETITION WITH EMILY?
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OKAY, SO NOT ONLY WAS IT IN COMPETITION, BUT I ACTUALLY ADOPTED A STAGE NAME FOR, I WOULD SAY, LIKE, SIX MONTHS, BECAUSE AT SCREEN ACTORS GUILD, IT'S LIKE A BUSINESS BUREAU.
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LIKE, YOU COULD ONLY HAVE ONE PERSON WITH THAT name.
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First come, first serve on any name.
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Exactly.
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And so I decided, I was 16, and I decided I wanted to be Riley for like six months.
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So I was Riley Stone, which is a beautiful name.
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But I did an episode, like a guest part, on Malcolm in the Middle.
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And they kept going like, Riley, Riley.
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And I had no idea who they were talking to.
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Truly.
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And I was like, I cannot be Riley.
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Like, it's such a, it came out of nowhere.
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I was just like, cool name.
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I'll just be Riley.
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So I then changed it to Emma because it's close enough to Emily.
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It triggers something.
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Exactly.
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Exactly.
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Yeah, something happens.
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Well, the new film was called Bugonia.
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Yes.
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Directed by Yogos Lanthimos, starring you, Jesse Plemons, Aiden Delbiss.
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For the people who don't know, tell them what it's about.
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Well.
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Or don't.
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Or don't.
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If you don't want to, we'll just free ball this.
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Here's like an elevator pitch.
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Elevator pitch.
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I'll try an elevator pitch.
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Ding dong.
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There are two.
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Ding dong.
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There are two men who are very...
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This is what our log line is, so I'm trying to just do it from memory.
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Two conspiracy-obsessed young men kidnap the CEO of a major pharmaceutical company convinced she is an alien from outer space.
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And it's a comedy!
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Okay.
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It's really funny.
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All right.
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It's a classic story.
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Yeah, yeah, it's a tale as old as time.
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You're a suspected alien.
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There's a lot of people who suspect that there are aliens among us these days.
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And I'm curious, of the people that you've worked with in our industry that we call showbiz, who do you think would make a good candidate for a secret alien?
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Willem Dafoe.
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100%.
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You did not have to think about that very long.
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It's so simple.
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I mean, don't you?
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Of course.
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If it was like a Wilhelm if it was actually an alien, everyone would be like, yeah, obviously.
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And a great one.
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Like, if they're all like Wilhelm, then bring him on.
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That's fantastic, yeah.
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Land upon Earth, please.
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Yes, he's an alien in a very well-fitted man suit.
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That's right.
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Oh, my favorite alien.
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This is your frith time.
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I like frith.
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Frith?
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This is your frith time working with Yorgos Lanthimos here.
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I GOT TO IMAGINE, I LOVE THE GREEK ACCENT SO MUCH, AND I GOT TO IMAGINE THAT YOU'VE NAILED A YORGOS IMPRESSION AT THIS POINT.
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HERE'S THE THING, IS I'VE WORKED ON SPEAKING GREEK, I'VE WORKED ON READING GREEK, BUT DOING A GREEK ACCENT IS NOT MY FORTE.
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OH, BUT CAN YOU DO A YORGOS?
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YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, HIS MOST WELL-KNOWN PHRASE, FAMOUS AMONGST OUR CIRCLE OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE WORKED ON MULTIPLE FILMS WITH HIM IS, This is not going to SOUND GREEK.
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THIS IS A DISASTER.
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ABOUT EVERYTHING.
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REALLY?
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IT COULD BE ANYTHING.
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NO MATTER WHAT IT IS.
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YEAH, LIKE, THIS COFFEE IS A DISASTER.
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THIS DAY IS A DISASTER.
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HOW'S THE MOVIE GOING?
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IT'S A DISASTER.
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EVERYTHING.
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YOU'RE NOT THE ONLY, ONLY STONE WHO HAS MADE A REAL CONNECTION WITH THIS DIRECTOR.
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I LOVE THIS PHOTO.
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IS THIS THE SCREEN ACTORS?
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OH, YES.
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THIS IS YOU AND YOUR MOM, KRISTA, RIGHT THERE.
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Yeah.
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And your mom is a big fan.
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My mom.
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Of the director, of Yorgos.
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She's a huge Yorgos fan.
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This is like her exact, I never would have thought, but this is like her exact lane of humor and this is her kind of thing.
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She was like, Begonia is, you know, it's really great, but Kinds of Kindness was it for me.
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And I was like, wow, it's like a three hour triptych film, three and a half hours long.
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And she was like, it's just so him.
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And I was like, okay.
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Amazing.
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Does he know how much she loves him?
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He knows.
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And strangely, like, because I was a producer on Poor Things, I was a producer on Begonia, and I took her early on to, you know, early cuts when he was still taking notes for the edit.
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And I was like, maybe this, maybe this.
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And he's like, I don't know, what did Krista think?
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I was like, well, there's this one scene that, you know, I can't give away.
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But like, she thinks that it's too much of this moment, it should go like this.
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And then edited it.
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I was like...
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So your mom is giving notes on feature films now?
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He listens to my mom.
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Like, he really respects her taste.
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And he's like, well, if Chris just said it, okay.
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All right, yeah, I'll change it.
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I'm like, huh, what if we change this?
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He's like, nope.
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But if Chris did think so, yeah.
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Now, growing up with your mom and your dad, I suppose, but growing up, did you get a sense of, like, what your mother's taste was?
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Oh, yeah.
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Because she was 15 in 1975 when SNL first aired, and she would watch it with her family,
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and she introduced me to Gilda, I mean, not to the person, but to the star that was Gilda Radner, who is still my absolute hero.
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Emily Lutella, Rosanna Rosanna Dammer.
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Rosanna Rosanna Dammer, and Elisa Lutner.
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And so she was, yes, she was integral in that kind of world of SNL.
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And then my dad also, great taste.
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Steve Martin, Bill Murray, all of it.
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So that was the...
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You've hosted SNL, right?
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Five times, Stephen.
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Wow.
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I thought so.
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I thought you were a five-timer.
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I can't stop saying it.
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Five-timer.
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Have you brought your folks to SNL to see you host?
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Oh, yeah.
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That must be great.
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Oh, it's the best.
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It's so incredible.
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And yeah, SNL is like my favorite place in the entire world.
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So, yeah, it's been special.
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Well, thanks for stopping by the Ed Sullivan.
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This is good, too.
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No doubt.
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Yeah, it's pretty good, too.
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Yeah, no worries.
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I like it here as well.
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No.
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Can we do a sketch?
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Can we do a sketch?
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100%.
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OK, next time.
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Next time.
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Wait.
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Wait.
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Hey.
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No!
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Hey, I'm here till May, baby.
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Okay.
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We'll write it up.
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We'll send you some pitches.
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Now you have to do a sketch.
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I'll do a sketch.
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I'd love to.
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One of the things you did for this, you shaved your head for the film.
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Yeah.
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But you wanted the audience to be surprised that you'd shaved your head.
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Yes.
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So, you know, with the shaved head, you went out in public, but you wore really good wigs.
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Oh, that was, I only really wore that wig once.
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This is a good wig.
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It was a great wig, but the problem is, is I'm so unsubtle and just like generally stupid that I was like, the wig looked good, but the whole night I was like, can you tell it's a wig?
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To everyone, they're like, we're pretty sure she's wearing a wig since she moved it around a lot and kept saying like, there was like a lip read video where I was like, it's a wig.
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So I, and this is a wig.
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It was so, I was like, be really bad at keeping any serious.
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Have you thought about being in the intelligence community?
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Yeah, yeah, yeah.
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I've shaved my head on camera before.
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Yeah.
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How did you feel about the shape of your head?
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I loved having a shaved head.
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Did you like it?
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Yeah, I really, I really, I lucked out and I went, oh, not, no, no, not too many bumps.
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Oh, I had four moles that I had removed the next day.
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Well, it's good to know.
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And your girl was like, shouldn't this be a match since it's one take?
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And I was like, they nicked my head.
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I'm not walking around with four giant moles.
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Wow.
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Sorry.
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Did you like the feeling?
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Because I loved the feeling.
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Oh, it felt so good.
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Taking a shower with a shaved head is amazing.
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And every time you're thinking, you really run your hand over your head.
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Wow.
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I felt like I was in the shower with a stranger.
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Washing his head.
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Huh.
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Yeah.
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It was really nice.
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Were you?
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What?
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Were you?
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No.
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Oh.
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I knew everybody in there.
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Thank you so much for being here.
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Thank you for being here.
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Thanks for having me.
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The film, Begonia, is in select theaters this Friday and nationwide, October 31st.
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It's Emma, Emily, Riley Stone, everybody.
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We'll be right back with Alex Wagner.
📱

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Context & Background

In this engaging segment from "The Late Show," host Stephen Colbert interviews Academy Award-winning actress Emma Stone. Known for her diverse roles in films like La La Land and Birdman, Emma is here to promote her latest movie, Bugonia. The conversation spins around her unique experiences as a high-profile corporate executive and delves into her thoughts on identity and representation in Hollywood. This dialogue not only serves entertainment but also provides learners with real-world examples of conversational English, particularly in a light-hearted, comedic context.

Top 5 Phrases for Daily Communication

  • "I want to be clear, I'm not threatening you." - A great way to emphasize non-verbal cues in conversation.
  • "That's the level of bureaucratic urgency you're contending with." - This phrase highlights the importance of clarity and urgency, especially in corporate environments.
  • "Does that add a certain, you know, politicized optics to this?" - A nuanced way to address the influence of public perception.
  • "I would say absolutely." - A concise and emphatic way to agree or affirm.
  • "Does your family say Colbert?" - A playful question inviting discussion about pronunciation; great for small talk!

Step-by-step Shadowing Guide

To enhance your English speaking practice using this video, follow this structured approach using shadowing techniques:

  1. Watch the video once: Familiarize yourself with the context and tone. Pay attention to Emma's humor and how it shapes the dialogue.
  2. Listen carefully: Replay key segments of the interview multiple times focusing on Emma's pronunciation and intonation. Note the expressions used in casual speech.
  3. Start shadowing: Begin by repeating short phrases immediately after Emma speaks. This mimics the natural flow of conversation and helps with rhythm and emphasis.
  4. Record yourself: Use a shadow speech technique by recording your voice. Compare your pronunciation and delivery with Emma’s to identify areas for improvement.
  5. Practice in context: Try using the selected phrases in your conversations. Engage with others to solidify your speaking abilities and gain confidence.

Utilizing shadowing methods can significantly improve your fluency and comprehension. Regular practice on a shadowing site, or even collaborating with a partner through shadow speaks sessions, can accelerate your learning journey. Dive into the dialogue with excitement, and watch your English skills soar!

What is the Shadowing Technique?

Shadowing is a science-backed language learning technique originally developed for professional interpreter training and popularized by polyglot Dr. Alexander Arguelles. The method is simple but powerful: you listen to native English audio and immediately repeat it out loud — like a shadow following the speaker with just a 1–2 second delay. Unlike passive listening or grammar drills, shadowing forces your brain and mouth muscles to simultaneously process and reproduce real speech patterns. Research shows it significantly improves pronunciation accuracy, intonation, rhythm, connected speech, listening comprehension, and speaking fluency — making it one of the most effective methods for IELTS Speaking preparation and real-world English communication.

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