DirectorStella Meghiewants us all to learn how to move on.
Outside of the set-up, its about trying to move on from an old relationship.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: Your first indie filmJean of the Joneswas very personal and inspired by your own family.
Credit: Homegrown Pictures; Inset: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Im not a comedian, but my mom runs a bed-and-breakfast.
Some relationship stuff mixed in with fiction.
Its really what I gravitate toward writing often and figuring out how to get it made.
Its always just excited me to write about and read about and watch.
Its what I gravitate toward and where my skill set lies.
This was a return to directing from a script you wrote.
Im always exploring that a little bit.
And I love seeing mother-daughter relationships that are complex on camera.
I like adding those extra layers in and making sure that people feel whole.
Sasheer Zamata has a strong background in comedy.
Was that a primary reason you felt she was a good fit for the role?
How much did her casting shape the final version of Zadie?Casting is so much of directing.
I was always interested in working with Sasheer; I was always a fan of hers.
The description was kind of like a mean Minnie Mouse.
Sasheer is the nicest person in the world.
It wasnt necessarily for her stand-up at all.
I love working with comedians I mean there was Sasheer, Tone Bell, Kym Whitley.
It was a lot of comedians on set.
Did Sasheer write the sets that bookend the film or was it all your words?
But the general tone of what was there was what I had written.
What are your general thoughts on being friends with your exes?I never do it.
[Laughs] I guess Im an adult now, so I have exes that are friends.
That can be difficult depending on how things ended.
Zadie in this story needed to realize she deserved a lot more than waiting around for some guy.
Zadie is probably too acerbic for a studio film.
Or Ive had notes like Why would someone love this person?
That was really cutting and harsh.
But those are real women and even your most annoying friend is lovable.
People are afraid to make characters like Zadie.
Aubrey is so sweet, and then he says this one thing and its true.
I always write the nice guy.
I never let any of my characters fall in love with horrible people.
Its so unhealthy to tell women they can change the worst dude.When does that ever happen?
In my movies, you get rid of that guy and fall for the nice guy.
You have an ambiguous but happy ending.
Did you consider any other options?No, not really.
Zadie deserves the guy, why not?
Youre supposed to find yourself and you deserve love too.
