Interview by Paul Salfen
n the whimsical yet wildly chaotic Sketch, a young girl’s sketchbook tumbles into a mysterious pond, bringing her drawings to life as unpredictable, dangerous creatures that upend her quiet town. As she and her brother race to recapture the monsters before irreversible damage is done, their father braves the ensuing pandemonium to reunite his family and avert total disaster. Directed by Seth Worley, this inventive blend of adventure, humor, and heartfelt family drama stars Tony Hale and D’Arcy Carden as the beleaguered parents. Recently, I caught up with the duo for AMFM Magazine amid their premiere excitement—Hale joking about sneaking into theaters to watch audiences react. Their conversation revealed the film’s joyful production, its deeper layers, and timeless advice for aspiring creatives.
From the start, Hale and Carden were drawn to Sketch‘s unique world. “It was fully realized in the script… It felt like a world that I wanted to dive into,” Hale shares. Carden echoes this, praising Worley’s vision: “He brought us into the world so clearly… It so exceeded the translation.” The film’s family-friendly appeal shines through, with Hale noting parents and kids alike will enjoy it. “It’s fun to watch other people see it,” he adds, envisioning theater stakeouts for reactions.
Production memories highlight the set’s collaborative spirit, despite challenges like shooting in Nashville’s heat. “Only good memories… It was hard, but when you have the same comic language, it’s just fun,” Hale says. Carden agrees: “Everybody was on the same team.” The creatures, brought to life with stunning effects, are a standout. Hale’s favorite is Dave, the “gigantic toddler” with snake feet: “He’s so full of joy… but that kind of encapsulates—love and joy is mixed with the dangerous sometimes.” Carden laughs at the tease: “The way they kind of like tease it out… I love it.”
Reflecting on their own childhood artistry, the pair reminisces about sketches that could have sparked similar mayhem. Carden drew “beautiful women” in 90s supermodel style: “If all of my creatures came to life, it would just be like… all really beautiful women. Maybe they’d be 50ft tall.” Hale recalls a stick figure with a fuzzy head, large nose, cigaret, and huge shoes: “He had sunglasses… He could be on the secret [service].”
For kids eyeing the entertainment biz, their advice is grounded and inspiring. Hale wishes he’d known “your value is going to stay the exact same before and after a success… The more you can remember that, then you’re not giving weight to so many other things.” Carden addresses rejection: “This is a career full of rejection… You just have to absolutely love it. If you don’t love it, there are other things to do that will bring you more happiness.” Hale adds: “Surround yourself with people who do see you as you are.”
Mindset matters, too. Carden shares her dad’s mantra: “You are the best. You are the king of the world. There is nobody better than you.” Hale chuckles at a pre-Emmys memory with his own father: “Do you think anything’s going to come from this?… Dad, I think I have peaked. It’s all downhill.” It’s a reminder of parental support’s quirks in this unpredictable field.
Ultimately, Sketch is more than monster mayhem—it’s layered with heart. “It’s so fun to talk about the monsters and the adventure… but it’s really got a lot of heart and a lot of depth,” Carden says. Hale agrees: “It’s a beautiful story about a family going through a hard time… and how they navigate that.” They see new nuances each viewing: “We had our premiere… I see new stuff each time.”
Sketch promises conversations long after the credits roll—impossible not to discuss, as Hale notes. With its blend of spectacle and emotion, it’s a must-see for families. Catch it in theaters, and who knows? You might spot Hale pacing in the front row, cigaret-stick-figure in tow. Thanks to Tony and D’Arcy for the insightful chat—looking forward to more chaos ahead.
