The press day for "Human Nature" was not held in a scientific lab.

It's a big day at the Manhattan Regency: actors Rosie Perez, Patricia Arquette, Tim Robbins, and Rhys Ifans, plus screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and director Michel Gondry are ready to discuss their contribution to the satirical, offbeat comedy "Human Nature." There are animal crackers on the tables, packaged in cute "Human Nature" bags.

At my last press junket for the "Anniversary Party," Jennifer Jason Leigh smiled at me and that seemed worth a lot, even though I was too shy to ask the one super clever question I had come up with at the crowded roundtable. "Whose idea was it to use Murakami's Wind Up Bird Chronicle in the charades?" I really would have liked to have known the answer.

I had no clever questions prepared for the group--which I assumed was fine, given my prior experience with crowded junkets. Instead, I'm seated at an almost empty round table with a college undergrad writing for his school paper and a freelance gossip columnist. That's it. None of us are adequately prepared, but the stars have a film to promote.

Here are my impressions.

More of this Feature • Part 2: Patricia Arquette • Part 3: Tim Robbins and Rhys Ifans • Part 4: Charlie Kaufman and Michel Gondry

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Related Resources • "Human Nature" Review • Independent Film • Directors

Elsewhere on the Web • "Human Nature" Official Site

Rosie Perez
She's wearing a sleeveless shirt that shows cleavage. Her hair is straight, her lipstick is red, she is attractive, she will answer any reasonable questions we have to throw at her. If there is a lull in the questions, she will talk to the Fine Line Assistant sitting in an armchair in the corner of the room. At one point, during an awkward silence, I tried to asked Rosie about her political work at Vieques because I read about her involvement in the press kit and I was curious to know more. Rosie said: "Yes, I'm involved with that. It's a shame that is still going on." Silence.

Here are some successful questions:

Why Human Nature?
I thought it was really funny. Besides Charlie Kaufman, I really love Michel Gondry, his music videos, actually even his commercials. They are just awesome, the stop motion, the bullet going through the system. He did it before the Matrix, so I said oh my god, this guy is amazing.

You didn't have any doubts working with a first time director?
I've worked with a lot of first time directors, so I'm not afraid of that, but knowing his previous work, I was very confident.

What's it like working with Michel Gondry?
Working with Michel? He's good. He's very, very French. He has a very sarcastic wit, that French sarcasm, but he also knows exactly what he wants. Technically he's a genius, it was really cool, when I was filming my scene just watching him. It was just effortless.

How is as a producer. Is it great producing your own material?
It's really great and it's really really hard, but it's difficult. I'm not that driven in the entertainment world. I'm not. I'm driven to have a lifestyle, a life, if I work once a year I'm good, I'm like wow, I got to work, I make a gang of money, I got my mortgage paid, and I'm good.

The awkward pause comes back and doesn't go away. "Are you done?" asks Rosie. We are. She thanks us and leaves five minutes early. The college student, the columnist, and I have a chance to strategize for our next celebrity.

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