• Intelligencer
  • The Cut
  • Vulture
  • The Strategist
  • Curbed
  • Grub Street
  • Subscribe to the Magazine Give a Gift Subscription Buy Back Issues Current Issue Contents
    Subscribe to New York Magazine
  • Subscribe
  • Profile
    Sign Out
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About Vulture
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
Subscribe Give A Gift
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • TV Recaps
  • Streamliner
  • Vulture Lists
  • Books
  • Theater
  • Art
  • The Gold Rush
  • Podcasts
  • Videos
  • About Vulture
  • How to Pitch
  • Newsletters
  • Games
  • Vulture Festival
  • NYMag.com
  • New York Magazine
  • Intelligencer
  • Vulture
  • The Cut
  • The Strategist
  • Grub Street
  • Curbed
  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
+Comments Leave a Comment
vulture on set
November 3, 2013

Photos: Michael Cera on the Set of David Cross’s Hits

Share

  • Share
  • Tweet
  • Pin It
Photo: Mark Peterson

When Michael Cera agreed to play a cameo role in his friend David Cross’s directorial film debut, Hits, it was an easy favor to do. By coincidence, just before he shot his scenes in late August, Cera moved into a new home a few blocks from the film’s set in Brooklyn Heights. “He said, ‘It’s so nice that I can just walk over here to do this movie,’ ” recalls New York photographer Mark Peterson, who spent the day shadowing the cast and crew. In Hits—which explores the nature of fame in the age of viral videos—Cera plays a pot dealer who disappoints his customers by arriving at their brownstone without their preferred type of cannabis and then tries to sell them on a substitute strain. “Before the scene,” says Peterson, “Michael and David were riffing together, trying to think up the goofiest names that they could for the types of pot in Michael’s inventory.” It was one of the final days of shooting, which meant that the atmosphere was relaxed—“Nobody was trying to find their character anymore, so they were loose,” says Peterson. “The actors were constantly joking with each other”—but more important, props were free for the taking. “Cera said something about not having any furniture,” says Peterson. “So somebody asked, ‘Do you want that chair?’ He left rolling an office chair down the street with a garbage can on it.”

*This article originally appeared in the November 11, 2013 issue of New York Magazine.

View
1 / 5 Photos
Photo: Mark Peterson
From left, Erinn Hayes, Cross, Cera, and James Adomian. From left, Erinn Hayes, Cross, Cera, and James Adomian.

From left, Erinn Hayes, Cross, Cera, and James Adomian.

Photo: Mark Peterson
Photo: Mark Peterson
Photo: Mark Peterson
Cera and Adomian. Cera and Adomian.

Cera and Adomian.

Photo: Mark Peterson
1 / 5

Tags:

  • michael cera
  • hits
  • david cross
  • new york magazine
  • slideshow
  • movies
  • vulture on set
  • More

More Galleries

vulture homepage lede Feb. 5, 2023
All of the Best 2023 Grammys Red-Carpet Looks  Lizzo, Doja Cat, and more make the whole place [*Taylor Swift voice*] shimmer! 
By Savannah Salazar
sundance 2023 Jan. 27, 2023
As Seen at Sundance  The talk of the ski town at this year’s film festival. 
By Rebecca Alter and JJ Geiger
photo essay Nov. 9, 2022
‘My Hometown Thought I Was a Freak’  Down and out in New York City’s 1980s hardcore scene. 
By Caryn Rose
live from the black carpet Aug. 28, 2022
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2022 MTV VMAs  Lil Nas X, Taylor Swift, Måneskin, Lizzo and more are hitting the black carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
first person Aug. 17, 2022
The Voice of New York Is Drill  It’s the most captivating sound the city has heard in decades — and also the most misunderstood. Here, 19 NY drill artists set the record straight. 
By Camille Squires
gallery July 19, 2022
Bradley Cooper As Bernstein  On the town and on the set with the biopic version of Lenny. 
By Justin Davidson
gallery June 23, 2022
The Faces of The Tribeca Film Festival 2022  Megan Fox, Robert De Niro, J. Lo, and more smize for the camera. 
By Vulture Editors
scenes May 18, 2022
PinkPantheress Fans Only  Everyone’s a main character at the anonymous singer’s live New York debut. 
By Rebecca Jennings
life in pictures Apr. 12, 2022
Sexy Cyrano  Behind the scenes at BAM with James McAvoy as he brings a smoldering version of de Bergerac Stateside. 
By Pari Dukovic
grammys 2022 Apr. 3, 2022
See Every Red Carpet Look From the 2022 Grammy Awards  Doja Cat, BTS, Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2022 Mar. 27, 2022
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2022 Oscars  As the cast of High School Musical 3 once said, “Tonight’s the night!” 
By Savannah Salazar
reasons to love new york Dec. 10, 2021
Snapshots of the City Where Movies Were Born  Because every street has a story to tell; all you need is a camera to tell it. 
By Vulture Editors
gallery Nov. 19, 2021
The Faces of Vulture Festival 2021  We welcomed Issa Rae, Henry Winkler, John Cho, and dozens of other stars (plus one good dog) to our photo studio. 
By Bobby Doherty
emmys 2021 Sept. 19, 2021
See Every Red Carpet Look from the 2021 Primetime Emmys  Michaela Coel, Elizabeth Olsen, Anya Taylor-Joy, and more grace the Emmys red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
met gala 2021 Sept. 14, 2021
See Every Celebrity Look From Met Gala 2021  Including Rihanna, Billie Eilish, and more. 
By Charu Sinha
vmas 2021 Sept. 12, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 MTV VMAs  Doja Cat, Kacey Musgraves, Lil Nas X, and more arrive on the red carpet. 
By Savannah Salazar
oscars 2021 Apr. 25, 2021
See Every Red-Carpet Look From the 2021 Oscars  Colman Domingo, Steven Yeun, Emerald Fennell, and more are gracing the red carpet of the 93rd Academy Awards. 
By Savannah Salazar
grammys 2021 Mar. 14, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Grammy Awards  Check out Billie Eilish, Megan Thee Stallion, DaBaby, and more in their red carpet looks. 
By Savannah Salazar
the gold rush Feb. 28, 2021
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2021 Golden Globes  Here’s to looking glam even at home. 
By Savannah Salazar
emmys 2020 Sept. 20, 2020
See Every ‘Red Carpet’ Look From the 2020 Emmys  At home and all dolled up. 
By Rebecca Alter
More Galleries
  • TV
  • Movies
  • Comedy
  • Music
  • What To Stream
  • About Vulture
  • About New York Magazine
  • Newsletters
  • Help
  • Contact
  • Press
  • Media Kit
  • We’re Hiring
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Ad Choices
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility
vulture is a Vox Media Network. © 2023 Vox Media, LLC. All rights reserved.