Rogen and Streisand also bonded as filmmakers. As multi-hyphenates who work on both sides of the camera, they brought a broad understanding of the moviemaking process and resulting openness to their roles. For example, during one scene where Streisand's character tries to eat a four-pound steak to win a free meal, the actress in her didn't want to do it, but the director in her knew she had to.
''Because, as a filmmaker, I don't care what the actress has to go through,'' she said. ''Some actors are like that, Rogen said. ''Ones who've made movies are like that. You can see that even though they don't want to be doing that, they know that they have to because it's the best thing for the movie.''
That director's sense of story and filmmaking also informed their improv scenes. Streisand said ad-libbing comes naturally to her ''not that I've had to use it before in something like 'Prince of Tides.'''
Though their characters may seem Jewish (like the actors that play them), both said they tried to make them more generic. ''But then your natural instincts come out,'' Streisand said. ''And you go Jewish,'' Rogen added with a laugh. Streisand then reminded him, ''There are a lot of very famous Jewish entertainers,'' echoing every Jewish mother ever.
The mutual respect between the two was evident when they discussed their upcoming projects. Rogen just finished his co-directorial debut, ''The End of the World,'' which he also wrote and produced.
''How did you find dealing with your actors?'' Streisand asked. ''Because your actors were all your friends, right? So you could say anything to them.''
Rogen said it made it easier in some ways and more difficult in others. The actors all play themselves, he said, and he and Streisand shared a laugh about potential character discussions on set between actor and director. ''You hired me for me, and this is what I want to do!'' Streisand laughed.