Come and chat to Modern Family star Eric Stonestreet, Wednesday 8 June, 12.15 - 1pm

[RachelMumsnet]

Call out to all Modern Family fans! We’re thrilled to announce that MF star Eric Stonestreet (Cam Tucker) is joining us LIVE for a webchat on Wednesday lunchtime (8 June between 12.15 and 1pm). Eric is universally loved for playing the flamboyant dad and partner of Mitchell in Modern Family, which has now run into 7 seasons. Eric will soon be on screen in his first animation animation as Duke the mongrel in The Secret Life of Pets.

Join Eric for a chat and to put your questions to him at 12.15 on Wednesday and if you’re unable to log on at that time, do post your Qs in advance to Eric on this thread.

More about The Secret Life of Pets
Hitting cinemas on the 24th June and from the humans behind the much loved Despicable Me and Minions films, The Secret Life of Pets shows us what our pets might get up to when we leave them to their own devices. For one bustling Manhattan apartment building, the real day starts after the folks on two legs leave for work and school. That’s when the pets of every stripe, fur and feather begin their own nine-to-five routine: hanging out with each other, trading humiliating stories about their owners, or auditioning adorable looks to get better snacks. for a sneak preview.

@tattygirl

Modern Family is THE favourite show in our house. Love it. At work today so can't join the live chat but my question is:

When you accepted the role of Cam did you imagine then that Modern Family would grow to be as popular as it is today?

Hi,

No no possible way I could have predicted how massive and popular the show has become world-wide. I knew the show was special when I read the pilot and desperately wanted to be a part of it. But no way could Hollywood predict what will and won't be embraced by critics and audience.

@Icecreams1

Can't wait to watch The Secret Life of Pets!

If you could take home any pet from the film, aside from the one you play, which one would it be?

Hi,

Let's see.. I love the tattooed pig, I think he would be a god animal to rescue. But I'd love to take all the pets to my home and make them trust people again!

@EachandEveryone

Did you really used to be a clown?

Yes!

@DameSquashalot

We love Modern Family.

What has been your favourite MF moment?

From a personal perspective, when I found out that the show was getting picked up for a full season order. And then from the show's perspective, the introduction of Frizbo the clown because that's my favourite clown character from when I was a kid.

@PreciousVagine

I love Modern Family!

The film sounds good too. Like a pet version of toy story!

My question is what animal is your spirit animal?

It's got to be something vicious and cuddly - like some sort of sweet bear, a polar or panda bear! Some sort of bear.

@Hassled

I'm another massive fan - I couldn't begin to pick out a favourite character. It's just perfectly done.

Is the Aubrey, the actress of Lily, becoming more like Lily the more she plays the role? Or is Lily the way she is because that's what Aubrey's like? I do love her - she'll go far.

It's a good question. They really write to her kind of grumpy personality. She's really good with deadpan. She's really good with playing dry and the writers have found that writing to her dry kind of sense of humour really works well.

@Flanderspigeonmurderer

I think you are fantastic in modern family, it's such a well written show! How hard is it to keep a straight face in a scene? I imagine it must be very difficult!

There are times when we absolutely crack up at each other but you have to kick into professional gear because at some point the crew looks at you and thinks 'you're not as funny as you think you are and we wanna go home and see our kids'. But part of the show's success comes from the cast being genuinely able to crack each other up.

@MangoMoon

Have already declared my devotion to you up thread

I also loved you as Big Chuck in Identity Thief - is there any chance of you starring with Melissa McCarthy again?
You're very, very funny together - was there a lot of ad-libbing with you two?

Thank you, that's very sweet. Melissa is wildly talented and hilarious and I would love to get the chance to play with her again in something.

I think there was some ad-libbing - it's hard to do a sex scene and not throw some things in that weren't scripted!

@FernieB

Only discovered Modern Family a couple of months ago and have since been binge watching it! I've nearly caught up now. Absolutely love this show. All the characters are so wonderful, I can't really pick a favourite.

My question is, which is your favourite character (apart from Cam)? And who do you most like doing scenes with?

Hi,

My answer of who my favourite character is changing form season to season. The blueprint of what makes the show so great is that characters evolve and do different things. I always love doing things with Sofia and I love working with Ed. It's one of the nice things about the show is that we work with one person the majority of the time, so when I get a scene with Ed, it's like a vacation from Jesse! And then coming back to work with Jesse is like coming back from a trip away, it's our comfort zone.

@Morningbear

Hi Eric,

Really looking forward to seeing the film. The trailer looks fab. Would you rather have Max or Duke as a pet?

Hi,

I'd probably say Duke, because my last dog was a little Jack Russell terrier, a beagle mix so I think I am ready for a big dog.

@LucyInTheSkyWithDonuts

Another huge Modern Family fan here! I love the way it has brought gay relationships and adoption into prime time and made them so positive.

My question: did you enjoy voicing an animation? It strikes me as really tricky! Do you record the voices first and then the animators make the pictures match the acting or is it the other way round? How long does the process take?

You record the voice first and then the animators animate to your voice. I find it really fun. I loved doing it because it's so freeing and it's like screaming and dancing in your bedroom when no-one's watching! It's an opportunity to play for an actor when no-one is really watching or judging you.

It's been a little over 2 years since I got this job but it doesn't always take this long. This film was supposed to come out in February but the studio liked it so much for a summer movie, so they took their time with it.

@YounicorneNumbers

Hello! I love Modern Family so much - and all of the characters are so brilliantly portrayed.

I saw that you based Cam around your mum (which makes me roar every time I think of it) How does she feel about that?

Hi,

Well she's flattered because I wanted Cam to be a character but a caricature and my mum certainly is a fun-loving, passionate person. I never thought of Cam as gay per se, just a person.

@mellicauli

Question from DS (12) who is a massive fan (we have the box-set on a permanent loop I think): who is the funniest person on the set of Modern family?

My question is how did the gay community react to the characters of Cam and Mitch?

Hi,

Everyone's funny on the set both as their character and in real life. Everyone is a skilled comedian and I love talking to them. Sofia consistently makes me laugh with her misunderstandings of the English language and her fun-loving spirited personality. She truly makes all of us laugh.

I think the gay community accepted Mitch and Cam as well as expected. I think we could' makn't every person happy with who Mitch and Cam are, but we try to play them as honest living breathing characters. I have people tell me all the time that my character reminds them of their mum, dad, brother, uncle. My goal is to play Cam as honest as I could. I think we've succeeded, but there's no doubt that some people think that Cam's too broad. But I think that discounts people who came up to me and tell me that they are Cam or that they know a Cam. We just wanna make people laugh!

@tldr

I'm an adoptive mum. Deciding to adopt was one of the hardest, scariest decisions we've ever made. Weirdly Mitch, Cam and Lily helped us make it.

As it turned out it was the best thing ever, so a huge massive thank you from us.

That's very sweet, thank you and congratulations! My favourite compliments are when we hear that the show brings families together.

@TheOddity

Ooh I have a question! Where did you get that hilarious face where you blow out your nostrils and tilt your head when you're indignant?! It is very mumsnet!

Love the show, but you and Mitch should have a spin off (but make lots more series' first!)

I would say that probably comes from the world of my mum! I get people that have known me for years sending me messages that I do a face that reminds them of my mum or my dad or something that reminds them of what I used to do as a kid. Facial expressions and reactions really are just from years of observing other people and listening.

@freshmint

Love love love the show and especially you! I wondered if there was any improv in the show or if it was all very closely written. Either way, it is genius. Thank you!

Hi,

Not a lot of improv, definitely some! Scripts always come in pretty close to how you see them, not a lot of changes. If we improv the show is constantly a living breathing thing, writers make changes, producers find different solutions so all this goes on while we are shooting it.

@glasgowlass

I love MF & Cam & Mitch are just so lovely together. My question is this, as on the show your characters adopted the gorgeous Lily & you and us viewers have watched her grow up, do you feel paternal towards the actress?

Cannot wait to go to the cinema with the kids to see the new movie!

Yeah most definitely towards all the kids on the show. When we started they were all 12 and now they are all driving themselves to the set!

With Aubrey, watching her grow up and worrying about all things that young kids in Hollywood face. We got really lucky that all the kids have got great parents and guardians in there life. So I definitely don't have to worry about it too much.

@kimnews

My favourite episode is the one at Disneyland. I bet that was hard to film with all the crowds around! We were there last month and absolutely loved it. Did you get to enjoy the rides while you were there?

Hi,

I love Diseyland! I love going to Disneyland and I love that our show is on ABC because I get to go to Disneyland all the time. I love to feel 8 years old and now I wanna go on Peter Pan! Thanks for making me miss Disney Land.

Hi Eric, do you worry that the show will come to an end now the Dunphy kids are getting so grown up? I hope not cos I love it!

@Patterkiller

I'm also a huge fan and never get sick of watching re runs.

So after watching the trailer for The Secret Life of Pets I'm now worried that I'm stifling my Labradors inner Thrash God by working from home all day. Do you advise I give him at least an hour alone time regularly to avoid 'issues' later in life?

Hi,

Yes, please find something to go do during the day! Otherwise your labradors will only grow to resent you. :)

@aristocat

MF is one of the best TV shows ever! The chemistry is brilliant and my favourite characters are you (of course) Phil and Gloria. I love your 'drama queen' attitude - I hope a tiny part of you is like this too.

My question is what do you enjoy doing when you are not working?

I enjoy having the freedom to go and do whatever I want in an impromptu moment. I like travelling and spending time with my friends and hanging out at my house. I like taking pictures and cooking. Working on my house.

@JaneJeffer

Hi Eric, do you worry that the show will come to an end now the Dunphy kids are getting so grown up? I hope not cos I love it!

Hi,

No I think everybody knows the show will eventually end but I don't think it's dependent on anyone's age but there will always be stories to tell since it's a family show.

@clairedunphy

My user name might give away (one of) my favourite characters, but they are all brilliant.

We love the show in this house, even take it on holiday to watch on the laptop once kids are in bed.

The characters are all so utterly believable. How long does it take to learn and film an episode?

Hi

It takes 5 days to shoot every episode and I learn my lines, sort of muscle memory. You learn to learn lines faster! I worry about the scenes I'm about to shoot and I don't worry until I am about to start shooting it. I read the script before I got to bed and then take it scene-by-scene the next day.

@GoldenGumballs

Hey Eric I love Cameron you do him soooo well. His shirts are always amazing with the contrasting cuffs! Are you a shirt man in real life? Looking forward to secret life of pets. X

I do prefer to wear a shirt! I've always dreamed of having a body so I could walk around without wearing one.

Those shirts are made by Anto in Beverly Hills.

@RamsayBoltonsConscience

Cam is a fantastic character who has caused the most disruptions to filming, the adults or the children? (I have my suspicions)

Hi,

We certainly don't have a ton of disruption but I would say probably the adults just because we are more chatty than the kids. The kids show up and their lines are memorised. People don't realise how much these kids work, when I'm done I go home or to the movies but when the kids finish, they go to school. I have total respect and admiration for the kids!