JG: I most definitely wrote it for them. Yup, yup, yup. The guy I learned that from was Preston Sturges. [He] put such great care in the writing and casting of the small parts. Because you're the postman in a scene and only have two lines does not mean you should be boring in the scene. You should be an interesting postman that has something interesting to say. Not necessarily a joke, but that you're three-dimensional. Who are you? How do you feel about being a postman? I don't go through this with the actors, but when I'm writing I certainly think, "Where is he coming from?  Who is he? Who is his wife? How does he feel about what's going on? What is he contributing to the scene? How is he purposeful in this scene?" And then I will also think, "Who should play this, if I could pick anyone?"

RT: How has life been since the success of Curb Your Enthusiasm?

JG: It has a cult following, but it's also become popular. It's weird and strange to me. Very strange. I didn't expect it to be a failure, but we did what we thought was funny. When you do that, you never know how people will react. It's like my stand-up. I remember when I'd be playing in front of six people who had no idea who I was, and didn't like me. Now I play in front of a sold out show each week. When I say sold-out, it is like 100 people, but still. I'm very appreciative of all the success I have, I'm lucky.

RT: Do you hear references to the show when you're out and about?

JG: It's funny; I hear them when I walk down the street. People will say things to me, and I'm not making this up. Except for "big vagina" I have no idea what they're talking about. They'll say something to me and I'll say, "I have no idea what you're talking about." Then they'll tell me what was going on in the episode and I'm like, "Oh, right!" If I'm reminded I'll remember, but there are so many lines that I don't remember offhand.
 

RT: How was it transitioning from supporting actor on Curb to lead actor in Cheese?

JG: There is no transition. I'm just in it more. I approach everything the same way. Just throw me in an environment and I react how I react and just do what I do. There's a lot of preparation no matter what I do. I don't take myself seriously, but I take what I do very seriously.

RT: I heard you had a lot of problems on the actual shoot of the film.

JG: There are always tons of problems on an independent film. I enjoyed myself.  One got me down, but I reacted by laughing hysterically. We filmed for an entire day and the sound guy didn't record sound and so, the only thing I could do was laugh. I laughed so hard because it was so absurd. I had a vision of this dude in my office telling me how great he is and how pleased I'd be.

RT: How do you feel about I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With being available On Demand?

JG: It's IFC's First Take and it's a new program where they take independent movies like mine, and while it's platforming in theaters, it's also available at the same time On Demand.  I'd prefer that everyone sees it in the theater, but that's a little bit too idealistic. I'm happy that people can see it in any case. We have a theater in LA called the Arclight. There are no commercials and there's a doorman who introduces the movie -- everything about it means no one is going be rude and it will be a pleasant experience. I have gone to many theaters where it is so unpleasant with the commercials before the movie, the volume, and the disrespect of the filmgoers. So I understand people not wanting to go to the theater. Generally, this movie will play at arthouses, so it will get good and smart audiences. It's much more of a problem when you have a big mass release of something that you care about, because it might not get the respect it deserves in big theaters.

I find that, in our country, movies are looked on as popular entertainment. Don't get me wrong, it's entertaining, but film is an art form. It's like a painting. It's like Ingmar Bergman.Watching The Seventh Seal is like watching a painting, it's a piece of art. There's a lack of respect for popular entertainment and art.

RT: Since there is no advertising, how will fans hear about Cheese, other than word-of-mouth?

JG: All I'm going to say is try and see the trailer online, and if it appeals to you, please see it. If it doesn't, don't go see it. Or do go; that's very nice of you to go see a movie when you didn't like the trailer. But really it's all about the trailer. The trailer is not misdirection. The tone of the trailer is what the movie is.
 

RT: Chicago almost seems like its own character in I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With. 

JG: We filmed a lot of exterior shots in Chicago. A lot of the film takes place outdoors, and I felt like I had to shoot in Chicago.

RT: Looking at the cast and crew, a majority of the people involved are somehow deeply connected with Chicago.

JG: I actually would have liked to have pulled it off where everyone was from Chicago. I also wanted to show the real Chicago in a movie. In most movies about Chicago, they always show the "L." It's usually very superficial they way Chicago is shown. They'll show those things but then film in Toronto. Even with the stuff I shot in LA -- which were interiors -- it was really difficult finding interiors that looked like they could be Chicago. I also had a goal of never showing the "L". But then, by God, there's a scene where the "L" comes by in the background, but it was perfect.  I thought, "Okay, I'll keep it.  I'm not going to be a jerk about it."

RT: Not too many films are shot in Chicago. Are you going to continue to try shooting your films there?

JG: Certainly, I would love to film in Chicago. But it is more important for me to shoot a film than shoot in Chicago.  I have no desire to shoot in Canada, so I can tell you all my movies will be shot in the US. I moved to Los Angeles to work in Los Angeles. Chicago's my home town so I'm happy to work there. I don't really want to leave. I don't want to shoot in North Carolina or Toronto. A lot of people shoot in these places and I understand it saves them money, but I'd rather make less money and sleep in my own bed at night.

RT: Do you know how many more seasons of Curb Your Enthusiasm there will be?

JG: There will be no more seasons, I think. I don't know for sure, that's my gut feeling. Every year I think it's the last year, more so every year. I thought for sure last year. But who the hell knows?

RT: Does the cast want to continue doing Curb?

JG: Sure, we're not stupid.  I love doing Curb. I'm not going to be the reason the show stops.

RT: Does the Curb schedule allow you to shoot many films?

JG: Most certainly. I have breakfast with my children in the morning, I might even take them to school on my way to work. I film all day and come home. Even if I come home when they're sleeping, I'm happy to see them and they're happy knowing that when they wake up in the middle of the night with a bad dream, dad will be there.

I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With currently has a 77 percent Tomatometer. Click here to see if it's playing in your area, or check it out On Demand through IFC's First Take.