Two train line employees are all that stands between a safe trip and ultimate catastrophe in Director Adam Shankman’s disaster film spoof, Stop! That! Train!

Shankman’s film finds best friend stewardesses Tess and DeeDee out of a job after their train line is discontinued. They sneak aboard the the luxurious Glamazonian Express where they are constantly upstaged by the snooty first-class crew Amber, Alli and Ayshleiygh. But when a massive storm arises, they must all work together with President Gagwell to prevent disaster in LA.

On June 21, after the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles, Shankman discussed the making of Stop! That! Train! during a Q&A moderated by Director Nzingha Stewart (Tall Girl).

During the conversation, Shankman spoke about pursuing directing comedies.

“It’s an insane pursuit doing comedy. Just the stress level alone I wasn’t really aware of when I started my career. I was just like, ‘It’s fun. It’s funny. I’m so excited to do this.’ But year after year after year of testing and chasing laughs in a test situation, it’s exhausting. I only made one drama, and it was so relaxing to test it. I was just like, ‘This is so much easier. Are the characters working? is the story working? Is it impactful? Is the score moving you this way or that way?’ Things like that. In comedy it’s like, ‘Does the joke land? Is it a chuckle? Is it a belly laugh? Do I even care because if I lose it will the plot seem weird? Does the plot matter?’ And then you go, ‘Oh wait, what plot?’”

Shankman’s other directorial credits include the feature films Disenchanted, What Men Want, Rock of Ages, Bedtime Stories, Hairspray, Cheaper by the Dozen 2, The Pacifier, Bringing Down the House, A Walk to Remember and The Wedding Planner; the movies for television Happy Valley and Splitsville; and episodes of Only Murders in the Building, Being Mary Jane, Step Up: High Water and Glee.

Shankman has been a DGA member since 1999.