A fun-filled exclusive interview with co-writers and co-directors JAMES A. WOODS and NICOLAS WRIGHT going in-depth into the making of the delightfully charming FRENCH GIRL.
A film that makes you smile from beginning to end, it’s no wonder that JAMES A. WOODS and NICOLAS WRIGHT are the creative forces driving this frothy and fun film. No strangers to moviegoers, on-screen Nicolas is probably best known for his hilarious portrayal as “Donnie the Tour Guide” in White House Down or as Floyd Rosenberg in Independence Day: Resurgence, while James, among other acting roles, also appears in a small role as Lt. Ritter in Independence Day: Resurgence. Both gentlemen, however, are two of the screenwriters of Independence Day: Resurgence. And now the two join forces for FRENCH GIRL, their first feature directorial. They have a gift for lightness and joy in their storytelling and it shows.
SYNOPSIS: Zach Braff, Vanessa Hudgens, and Evelyne Brochu star in this heartwarming romantic comedy. Gordon, a hopeless romantic, finds his proposal plans are thrown into chaos when his girlfriend is swept away to Quebec by a job offer at the Fairmont Le Château Frontenac from her ex, a sophisticated celebrity chef. Determined to keep their love alive, Gordon leaves Brooklyn for her hometown, only to find himself hilariously out of his depth in attempting to charm her hard-to-impress, French-speaking family.
Co-written and co-directed by JAMES A. WOODS and NICOLAS WRIGHT, FRENCH GIRL stars Zach Braff, Evelyne Brochu, Luc Picard, Antoine Olivier Pilon, Isabelle Vincent, Charlotte Aubin, Muriel Dutil, with standout performances by William Fichtner and Vanessa Hudgens.
Chatting with James and Nicolas, laughter ensued from the start, providing great insight into their approach to filmmaking – have fun. And fun is exactly what we get with FRENCH GIRL. Diving into the “making of” FRENCH GIRL, we cover everything from casting animals to food styling, including:
- balancing performance and comedy
- genesis of the story
- the challenges of finding comedic beats
- casting humans…and animals
- character and actor chemistry
- food styling and its importance to the story
- cinematography; keeping it light and bright; shooting food and tablescapes
- location scouting
- finding the perfect location in Quebec, Canada; 400 years old and the perfect backdrop to a “fairytale love story”
- the comedy that comes from the food and animal wrangling
- working with animals in their feature directorial
- specific concerns in filmmaking when it comes to comedy
- editing; prioritizing pacing to create a natural and engaging viewing experience; keeping the train moving and avoiding languishing
- the learning curve of directing their first feature; comparing the experience to working on films with bigger budgets and established directors
- overall challenges of filmmaking and steering the ship; troubleshooting during bad weather
- finding their filmmaking voice
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN…
by debbie elias, exclusive interview 03/06/2024
