Shadowing Practice: Jenna Ortega Doesn’t Flinch While Eating Spicy Wings | Hot Ones - Learn English Speaking with Video
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How are you feeling?
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I feel really good.
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I can see it.
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I've never been happier.
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Hey, what's going on, everybody?
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For First Week Feast, I'm Sean Evans, and you're watching Hot Ones.
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It's the show with hot questions and even hotter ways.
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Today we're joined by Jenna Ortega.
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She's a Golden Globe-nominated actor you know from acclaimed films like X and The Fallout, as well as the massive global Netflix hit Wednesday.
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She also stars in Scream 6, the latest chapter in the iconic slasher franchise, which is set to release in theaters on March 10th.
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Jenna Ortega, welcome to the show.
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Thank you for having me.
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I know that you're a big fan of hot sauce.
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How confident are you going into today's interview?
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I'm feeling pretty confident, honestly.
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I haven't been nervous at all.
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It's only been within the last 30 minutes that my friends
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that are with me today have kind of been amping me up and I've realized, oh, this might be a situation that I'm not prepared for.
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But typically, I can handle my stuff, so I'm curious.
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Yeah, I am.
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Alright.
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Alright.
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Sweet.
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Mm-hmm.
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Little baby.
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Baby wing.
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I do have to tell you, too, my...
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The gift for my...
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My father's Christmas gift was...
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The hot sauces.
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Oh!
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I pledged not to do any of them, because I thought if I ever go on the show, I cannot do it or whatever.
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But I feel like...
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I feel like they've...
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I come from a strong family.
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They've got strong taste buds I think would be good.
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So you return for your role as Tara Carpenter and Scream 6, a franchise I've really come to appreciate for its meta-commentary on the genre,
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where each film becomes like its own love letter to classic horror movies of the past.
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What are the hallmarks of a good chase scene for you?
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Like, when they work on film, what makes them work?
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Ooh, for a good chase scene, it's really difficult.
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I feel like you have to have a good course.
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You know, like the amount of rooms that you run through.
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I think a good handheld shot is also really necessary for a good chase scene
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because it makes it feel a lot more chaotic and a bit more first-person view.
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I feel like it's a bit more intense for the audience.
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But at least a couple of injuries, a couple of stabs here and there.
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And I also think a really powerful shot, and one of my favorite things to see in horror films, is when you can see your heroine,
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your main character, and then you can see the other villain kind of in the background.
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I feel like anything where it's like either they're not aware
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that they're there or you get to see the reaction and the mayhem going on behind them, I think that that's always a strong choice.
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All right.
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Too easy.
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There we go.
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I don't want to get too confident, but at the same time.
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You gotta gas yourself up as you go, you know?
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Yeah.
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Well I feel like around 6 is when people start getting weird.
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Right.
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So just enjoy this time while you got it, you know?
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Yeah.
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So you've gushed about your experience working with the master of gothic fantasy in Tim Burton.
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How did you see his obsession with aesthetic come through in the way that he directs?
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First of all, he draws a lot of his shots.
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So there were some days where I'd come into work
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and he would have his own little picture that he drew of me playing the cello or me fencing and say, this is what you're shooting.
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You go.
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Got it.
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Or even on the first day when they were trying to establish what my hair was going to look like, we ran two hours behind because,
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no, her braids are uneven.
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This one's lower.
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This one's higher.
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He didn't like the way that my fringe looked at the time.
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So he was just, hey, can I, do you mind if I do that?
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He asked the hairdresser very politely and just kind of did my hair himself.
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It would be like four in the morning in some random Romanian forest and, oh, where's Tim?
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And he's carrying two trees, throwing them in the background of the shot so that they'd land exactly where he wanted them to.
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He was very specific and like happy to do it himself, but also a really great communicator and collaborator.
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Did you come out of the other side of the deep dive into his catalog with a favorite Tim Burton production?
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I mean, I feel like Beetlejuice is a staple Classic Yeah, I've always appreciated Beetlejuice But I also, when I was younger I wanted to be one of the aliens from Mars Attacks
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so bad But not the Lisa Marie one The one with the exposed brain That, I, it, it He's got Jack Nicholson, Glenn Close in there Like,
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it's an incredible movie I feel like people don't give it the credit it deserves Wildly underrated movie Wildly underrated movie Alright,
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so far two wings down Are you ready to move on here to sauce number three?
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100%.
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Donis Cadejo here.
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Hi.
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Three spot.
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Smooth sailing.
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That one has more flavor though is this psychological as well are you gonna like feed stuff in my head so
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that it you know what i do a lot of armchair
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psychology from this side of the table yeah yeah we're a
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lot of like it's gonna be okay i do a lot of like i'm a little bit of like psychologist
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and like a little bit of a motivational speaker okay that's my role from over here, I think.
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Good to know.
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And then I understand that your Scream co-star, David Arquette, is actually a certified Bob Ross painting instructor and will sometimes give lessons on set.
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Did you ever have the pleasure of taking one of those art classes?
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I think I was actually working when people took that class, which is one of my greatest...
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I think I don't...
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There's very few times where I felt completely defeated, and that is one of them.
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He is like a little angel of a person i can't believe he's real
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but yeah he gave the entire cast bob ross lessons
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so we would walk into our collective green room
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and there would just be beautiful paintings everywhere
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but he also had a red tricycle
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that he gave us all the code to so that
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if we wanted to get our groceries oh let's just take
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dave's tricycle he was um always hanging out always like trying to update himself on k-pop
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because we had a band member who really loved k-pop it
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was he's an unbelievable man every set needs a David Arquette you know agreed it would make things
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so much better like there would be no world peace 100% all right That one's actually good.
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You like that one?
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That's an enjoyable sauce.
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Oh, you guys made that.
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Yeah, I was going to say, we'll take that.
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We'll take that, Jenna, all day long.
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I'm not trying to blow smoke here.
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So I've had some interesting conversations with actors in the past, from Tom Holland to Colin Farrell, about the challenges of working from behind a mask.
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What new tools did you have to develop in playing a character like Wednesday, whose whole vibe is to be emotionless?
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When you're gonna be the lead of a story, you have to have some sort of emotional arc, some sort of emotional payoff, and Wednesday doesn't actually have that.
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And I think that fighting the nostalgia that everybody feels for the 60s Wednesday and 90s Wednesday while also, you know, feeding into that but also giving a new take
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and making it your own to a new generation so that they're introduced to the character was like a real balancing act.
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So I found that, you know, as long as I studied the old material and took traits
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and aspects that I knew I could easily weave into my own iteration, it felt like a good, happy medium.
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All right.
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Jenna, you're doing great.
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This next sauce, halfway mark already by the way.
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Very nice.
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This is Brooklyn Deli with the ghost pepper sauce.
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I'm really trying to take it in.
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I see where we're going.
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I see where we're going.
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Interesting.
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It has some redeeming culinary qualities, but as you say that, I'm even seeing like, I'm starting to tear up a little bit, you know?
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Should I follow you as well?
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We'll be like emotional support.
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Yeah, yeah, listen, I'm gonna lean a little bit on you this interview, okay, Jenna?
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You know, we can't all...
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That's what I'm here for.
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There we go.
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I can tell I'm in good hands.
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I can tell I'm in good hands.
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So in the New York Times interview last year, you talked about not being able to care for a house plant, but spoke very reverently about protecting your 1897 edition of Ralph Waldo Emerson essays,
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what for you is the magic in collecting books?
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I typically, I don't write a lot of screenplays, but I do like to write a lot of essays.
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I am a bit of an insomniac.
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I can't really sleep, so I just stay up all night and I write random things that, you know, I take a certain thought or idea and I just kind of elaborate it on my own.
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And someone like Emerson, a lot of his work is essays.
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So I feel like the more that I read
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and kind of see the tangents that he goes on or
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or the little debates that he has with himself Kind of encouraged me to do that but books are this are incredible.
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I wish that people would read them more I don't want to read them on an iPad.
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I we need
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real
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Substance like go outside and read a book Is there a Gen Z trope
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or stereotype about teenagers that you see in scripts or on TV that gets under your skin?
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I think for me Because I also, I look a bit younger, I've been acting for a little over a decade now,
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so I've just been a teenager pretty much in stories, and I feel like it's always the bratty teen, badmouth teen, or a lot of times unintelligent,
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which I don't think is true, and I think it's hard to nowadays with all this new lingo coming around, but I feel like my generation, because there is so much accessible to them on the internet,
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there's just more opportunities for them to learn.
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I wish that they were given a bit more credit.
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We can be smart sometimes.
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I'm so excited.
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All right.
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It actually tastes like mushrooms.
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Yeah, it's got some portobello action in there.
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Whoa.
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Good for them.
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So I was fascinated to read that thing wasn't CGI'd, but rather played by Romanian magician Victor Dorobantu.
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Yeah.
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What was the most creative or memorable way
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that you saw him tap into the creative depth of that character using only his hand?
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Oh, it actually was that thing operating room.
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uh scene where um hey they weren't on him but they were shooting my coverage and it's the
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first and only time Wednesday cries
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and I went to like reach my hand out to him
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and he pepped my hand like he was like comforting me
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and I actually started crying like I restarted the line
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because it actually made me sad and we just like laughed
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and that was like a real bonding moment for Victor
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and I but and kudos to him
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because they had him in all kinds of crazy positions yeah he's like in a whole chroma key suit
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that they edit out like later
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so that's what you think you think like the hands is there
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but he's physically there acting with you
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that yeah it's there's a blue man in the entire show
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and he's just they took him out
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but he I remember they would build all these set pieces for him
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so they did like a wild desk
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so he was sitting crunched in a desk
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or they built holes in the floor but yeah that was a real task I would say he killed it Yeah,
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I'm feeling all right.
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All right.
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Got it.
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Mm-hmm.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Good flavor.
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So you called the horror genre your second home and then once joked, I don't know what it is about my face, but people always want to throw blood on it.
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When did you know that you like to scare people? people?
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Well, I know when I was younger when people would like jump out behind walls or something like that, I'm salivating a little.
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Yeah.
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When people would jump out from behind walls or something like that, I never moved, I never flinched and people would tell me that I had no soul.
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So I felt like trying to get them back was kind of the start of it all.
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I would say from a very early age.
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What makes the 80s slasher prom night to you a gold standard of the genre?
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Oh my god, it's got all the classic teenage tropes, it's got incredible gore, I feel like there's just so many staples that it's inspired so many horror films to come since then.
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It's just a proper way to do a slasher.
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Like if you ever needed some sort of guiding light, I think Prom Night is a really, really great, great one.
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And then can you explain the process of what goes into putting together prosthetics like this?
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Yeah, you go and you get green slime put all over your body.
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So you sit in a room for about 30 minutes and they create a cast, like this rubber cast.
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Then they send it to some lab, they make a mold of your face, and then they just make a bunch of skin grafts, these fake skin grafts.
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That, something like that takes about four hours to put on.
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They might add like some glycerin or water and you're pretty much good to go.
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But that will not move.
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You're good.
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As long as you don't do something crazy, you're alright.
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Alright, Jenna.
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It is that time.
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This is the bomb beyond insanity.
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I'll take like a healthy bite as well because I need the actual experience.
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It's a bit aggressive.
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I think it may have been right to be scared.
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But look at you just smiling right in the face of it, you know?
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Can you see my white knuckles?
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There you go.
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I can see it.
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And I might start hiccuping.
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I can already kind of feel it.
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Okay.
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Just giving you fear warning.
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What's the secret to a perfect guacamole in your opinion?
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Whole lot of lime.
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You need so much lime in there. And jalapenos.
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Just choose good avocados. But lime.
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Yeah.
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Lime is the answer.
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I hate it when they throw pico de gallo just on top, like very casually, just a couple of tomatoes.
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It doesn't do anything for me.
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Either fully submerge it, really mix it in there, do it the right way.
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If I don't see any cilantro in there, disappointing instantly.
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And yeah, if the avocados are too white, because then you know that it's going to be hard and they're just not ready.
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Don't rush them.
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And then in 2015, the New York Times published a controversial guacamole recipe
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where they called for a ratio of two-thirds cup fresh green peas to every three avocados.
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Fuck that.
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It's like...
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That's not even controversial.
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That's obviously incorrect.
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You know, if ever I had an episode to lean on somebody, I'm happy it's this episode because I'm going through it.
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I'm so sorry.
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If there's anything you need from me...
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Yeah.
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Yes.
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I'm...
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It's settling.
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Yeah.
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And just in time...
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To move on to the next wing.
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This number nine wing is taco vibes only.
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I have the strength if you have the strength.
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I have the strength.
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This is me leaning Jenna, alright.
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Alright.
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Yeah.
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I'm okay.
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I still feel just really vulnerable from the bomb.
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Yeah.
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Never leaves you, you know.
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You're forever changed after something like that.
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I think so.
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Can you give us one highlight and one lowlight from your most recent Paris Fashion Week?
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Ooh.
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I used to be a really big fan of Steve Lacey when I was younger, and still am.
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And he was there.
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I got to meet Gaspar No, who is like an incredible filmmaker and I've really admired for a really long time.
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I feel like I was just around like a really influential group of people.
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And yeah, I felt very lucky.
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A low light?
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Oh, I think I've never been up on the Eiffel Tower.
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And I tried to do that and then they told me no. You got rejected at the Eiffel Tower.
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Yeah.
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And I walked up the stairs, I did the whole thing, and then I was like, okay, let me get to the next level.
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And then they ushered us to like the elevator going down going down and we're like just leave.
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Maybe it just wasn't a good day.
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I don't know what they went through.
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Alright, Jenna Ortega.
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Alright.
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Beautiful bottle.
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Oh, I should shake it too, right?
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I feel ready.
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What's a good enough?
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That's a good enough.
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That's very good enough.
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Cheers, Jenna.
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What a run.
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Alright.
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Cheers.
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Cheers.
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That's delicious.
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That's actually, like, really good.
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Jenna.
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I've got the craziest thing on right now.
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Right back at ya.
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Right back at ya
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and look at us taking on the hot ones gauntlet living
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to tell the tale just one more challenge for you
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and don't worry i'm not going to bring out any more wings
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but i was fascinated to learn that one of the ways
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that you unlocked the wednesday character was when you did a take
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without blinking and then tim burton liked it
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so much he said hey let's do every take without blinking
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so to close things out what i want to do is
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a stanley kubrick style stare down staring contest you verse me
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to see who buckles first against this mounting pressure of the hot sauce
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and these bright studio lights are you ready okay wait let me I'm gonna really stress myself out all right
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that makes it harder there we go all right degree of difficulty I mean cranked
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I don't know if I should have done that okay all right you start it okay I'm gonna keep chilling.
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I'll be crying.
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There you go!
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I never stood a chance!
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I'm so glad you didn't make that awkward at the end, because that could have been like a weird way to close it.
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I thought it was gonna go on for too long.
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I was like...
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You know what?
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I was running out of gas, but I was really determined.
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You know, I could see.
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I was reaching the point right there, but I never stood a chance.
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I never stood a chance.
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I got a tear going down my face.
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And look at you, taking on the wings of death, living to tell the tale, and now there's nothing left to do.
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We'll roll out the red carpet for you.
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This camera, this camera, this camera.
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Let the people know what you have going on in your life.
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Next up, I'm...
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Sixth installment of the Scream franchise is coming out.
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March 10th, I believe.
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And if you want to go check that out in the theaters, you can do that.
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And then also, yeah, Wednesday is now streaming on Netflix, so...
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If you want, if you don't want, that's up to you.
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That makes me so happy.
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Like, what a great environment. So awesome?
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That was so cool.
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That was the coolest thing.
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I had a really good time.
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Hot Ones fans, breaking news.
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The 3-in-1 Boneless Bites Challenge is back.
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For a limited time, you can put your taste buds to the test against some of our most iconic flavors.
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The classic, Los Calientes, and the peak of heat, Apollo.
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But don't fret, Hot Ones fans.
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Even when the 3-in-1 Challenge leaves the freezer aisle, you can still pick up your favorite flavor of Hot Ones Boneless Bites.
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Visit hotoneschallenge.com for more information on products and to find a store near you because it's time to bring the heat home.
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Real-Life Conversation: A Casual Interview with a Twist
The video captures a lively chat between host Sean Evans and actor Jenna Ortega on a popular show, blending small talk, career questions, and playful banter about spicy wings. This scenario mirrors everyday English interactions—casual yet structured, with natural pauses, idiomatic expressions, and shifts between lighthearted and serious topics. It’s perfect for english speaking practice because it reflects how people actually communicate, not just memorized phrases.
Useful Chunks & Collocations to Master
- "amp up": To excite or prepare someone (e.g., "My friends were amping me up before the test").
- "gas yourself up": To boost your own confidence (e.g., "I had to gas myself up before the presentation").
- "deep dive into": To explore something thoroughly (e.g., "She did a deep dive into 90s music").
- "come out of the other side": To finish an experience, often with new insight (e.g., "We came out of the project with a better plan").
- "hallmarks of": Key characteristics (e.g., "The hallmarks of a good story are strong characters and a clear plot").
These phrases are common in both casual and formal speech, making them essential for IELTS speaking practice and daily conversations.
Your Shadowing Challenge: Mimic the Rhythm
Shadowing—repeating speech immediately after a speaker—is a proven way to improve pronunciation, intonation, and fluency. For this task, focus on the first 60 seconds of the dialogue. Play a 5-second clip, pause, and repeat it exactly as you hear it: copy the speed, stress, and even the laughter. Pay attention to how Sean and Jenna shorten words (e.g., "I've" instead of "I have") and use filler words ("um," "you know") naturally. This shadow speech exercise trains your brain to think and speak in English simultaneously, a skill critical for real-time communication. Do this 3 times, then try it without pausing—you’ll notice a difference in your fluency!
Practicing with authentic conversations like this helps you move beyond textbook English, making your speech sound more natural. Whether you’re prepping for IELTS speaking practice or just want to chat confidently, shadowspeak is a tool that works.
Grammar in this video
The structures the speaker uses most, with the exact words from the video:
| Structure | In the video |
|---|---|
| Present perfect have/has + past participle — a past action that still matters now | I've never been · haven't been · It's only been |
| Passive voice be + past participle — the focus is on what happens, not who does it | is set · were given |
| Relative clauses who / which + clause — extra information about a person or thing | franchise, which is · class, which is |
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.