Interview with Amy Landecker

Was this your first time directing?

A: It was my first feature. I directed shorts for Funny or Die, but I had never done a full length feature.

Who are your directoral inspirations?

A: Danny Glass, for sure. I did a movie with James Morosini and another guy named Cooper Raiff. Both are young men who wrote, directed, and starred in their own movies and I played both of their mothers. They inspired me to try to do it myself. My career didn’t take off until I was in my forties, and I always tell people, just be patient and stay in it and keep making stuff. Go to a lot of stuff, watch a lot of stuff, thats exactly how you do it.

Would that be your advice to anyone wanting to do that themselves?

A: Yes. I would say, find your friends. Write something that is fun for you. Make it fun. Even if its dark. Have it be something that you want to make, that you’re excited about. This is the only project I ever stuck with this long. I’ve written other things, but I knew I would enjoy doing it and other people would enjoy watching it. It doesn’t have to be comedy. You can have inspiration from anything, but try to make it fun. Make it as if it were a hobby, instead of your job. Everyone thinks they need to make money, but that’s almost impossible.