Amy Schumer on Making ‘Trainwreck': ‘Craft Services Was the Hardest; I Made PBJs for Everyone’

Amy Schumer was the toast of the evening at the world premiere of her movie star-making role in Universal Pictures’ romantic comedy “Trainwreck” at Lincoln Center’s Alice Tully Hall in New York on Tuesday night. The comedian reveled in the moment where she received rave reviews for her performance.

“This is the best night of my life,” Schumer told Variety on the red carpet prior to the screening. “To be here tonight and to share the movie with people is something I will never forget. I’m so proud of this movie. It took a lot of blood, sweat and tears to get this movie made, and it all paid off. It turned out to be everything that I hoped it would be thanks to Judd Apatow, the cast and everybody who worked on the film. I’m so f—–g happy!”

“Trainwreck” marks Schumer’s first starring role in a feature film. She also wrote the picture’s edgy, semi-autobiographical script. “I’m not a big trainwreck like my character, but close,” she said. “I don’t get laid as much as she does and don’t drink as much. Other than that, everything else in the movie is real.”

With Schumer starring and scripting the movie for the first time, she revealed she had no problems juggling the two stressful responsibilities. She also took on other tasks on set. “I did craft services, and that was the hardest,” she joked. “I made peanut butter and jelly sandwiches for everyone and that was a real challenge.”

Schumer began writing the movie’s screenplay after receiving a phone call from Apatow, the director of “The 40-Year-Old Virgin” and “Knocked Up.” He discovered her before she gained popularity on her Comedy Central sketch series “Inside Amy Schumer” when he heard her on Howard Stern’s radio show talking about her life, her father and her romantic relationships.

“I thought she’s an amazing storyteller and a good writer,” Apatow told Variety. “I wanted to see a movie about the things she is talking about. So, I called her and asked if she wanted to try to develop something together. Years later, here we are today at the premiere.”

Bill Hader, who makes his leading man debut as Schumer’s love interest, was immediately drawn to the script’s originality. “I auditioned twice for the role and fought hard to be in it,” said the “Saturday Night Live” alum. “Amy wrote a really beautiful screenplay and, as soon as I read it, I had to be involved.”

As for playing the movie’s romantic lead character, Hader admitted he never imagined he would ever play that type of role. “Not even until I read for the movie did I realize that I could be the guy that the girl falls for. I’m just the funny guy. Not the sexy one!”

Also at the premiere were “Trainwreck” co-stars Tilda Swinton, Colin Quinn, Vanessa Bayer, Brie Larson and several non-actors in the film including NBA veteran Amar’e Stoudemire, rapper Method Man, professional wrestler John Cena and NBA superstar LeBron James, who plays Hader’s friend and portrays a penny-pinching, “Downton Abbey”-loving version of himself.

“He’s hilarious and a natural at being funny,” said Hader. “I went to school to learn how to do all that stuff and he just comes in and makes it look too easy.”

Following the screening, the entire cast gathered at Central Park’s famed restaurant Tavern on the Green for a latenight celebration. Schumer stuck close to her mother and her brother and sister Kim Caramele; Marisa Tomei, just cast as Spider-Man’s Aunt May and with a cameo in “Trainwreck,” socialized with friends; and “Girls” cast members Zosia Mamet and Andrew Rannells came out to support Apatow, who brought his wife Leslie Mann and their two daughters, Maude and Iris Apatow, to the party.

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