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BREAKING: After making her mark on features from Juno to Inception, Ellen Page will make her directing debut on Miss
Stevens, and she’s got Anna Faris attached to play the title role. The film was written by Julia Hart (The Keeping Room) and will be produced by Gilbert Films (The Kids Are All Right) and Anonymous Content (Winter’s Bone). Gary Gilbert and Jordan Horowitz of Gilbert Films will produce with Doug Wald of Anonymous Content, and Nicole Romano and Trevor Adley of Anonymous Content will serve as Executive Producers.
Faris will play a teacher whose life is in disarray when she chaperones a group of high schoolers on a weekend trip to a state drama competition. There, through the admiration and humanity of her students, she rediscovers her own self-worth.
Page next stars in The East for Fox Searchlight, a film that premiered at Sundance. She begins production on X-Men: Days Of Future Past this spring and then films Freeheld, a Ron Nyswaner-scripted adaptation of the Oscar-winning documentary short. She’s also part of the ensemble of Lynn Shelton’s Touchy Feely, which also premiered at Sundance.
Faris will be starring in mega-producer Chuck Lorre’s new television pilot Mom for CBS and reprises in the sequel to Sony’s hit Cloudy With A Chance Of Meatballs, opposite Bill Hader. Her film I Give It A Year, in which she stars with Rose Byrne, will have its US Premiere at the 2013 South By Southwest Film Festival.
Hart is currently adapting Beautiful Disaster for Donald Deline and Warner Brothers. Her 2012 Black List script The Keeping Room, to be directed by Daniel Barber (Harry Brown), will begin production in the spring.
Ellen Page is represented by WME and Vie Entertainment. Anna Faris and Julia Hart are represented by WME and Anonymous Content.
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awesome day for female actor-directors. melissa mccarthy and ellen page. salute!
Why every actor now wants to be director? Is it trend now? We don’t see directors rushing to become Lead Actors. But somehow now every actor thinks he can be new Eastwood or Clooney. And now after Afflecks success they will rush even more.
It’s fine when actor has 20-30 years long experience in movie business and wants to try to direct. But Ellen Page? Girl – you can still play teenagers who go to school.
You know what’s worse than an actor who thinks they can direct? A director who thinks they can write.
Directing a flashy Axe body spray commercial doesn’t mean you’ve somehow mastered long-form narrative screenwriting by osmosis.
Because most directors are rubbish, they have no idea what they want, how to talk to the crew and to actors. No wonder actors get frustrated and direct their own film.
I agree. I don’t know why every actor thinks they can direct. I like it more if they start by directing an episode or multiple while still starring on a TV Show like Colin Ferguson on Eureka.
Well, there are plenty of reasons for actors wanting to direct–including the obvious desires for power and control.
But when it comes to actresses, there’s a far more practical reason: Even when you’re as successful as Ellen Page, you’re going to be all washed up in Hollywood by the time you’re 40 because that’s what happens to actresses. They’re replaced by the next beautiful, young, talented actress whose fees are lower.
So having a fallback job is just smart career planning. It worked for Sarah Polley.
Totally awesome….Congrats to Ellen! She’s gonna do just fine behind the camera.
(OK I am biased, if anyone can figure that out with my Deadline name)
Wanna bet Ellen plays one of the teenagers? Haha!
She’s a great actress and has worked with great directors. Maybe she’ll bring something totally new to directing. Congrats to her.
Congrats Ellen page! Been a fan since Hard Candy!
Great stuff…ohhh yeah. Ellen gets to direct. Farris stars. Why don’t these insiders just keep interbreeding with each other. Forget about the rest of us. We don’t have the money or agents. Just film school and its debt; just crewing on indies and writing and studying films on our downtime.
I hear you brother, in the exact same boat!
I regret pursuing my dream and passion by going to film school, crewing tirelessly on sets, earning nothing or next to nothing mostly, and never getting a shot because I’m not rich or connected.
Film school is a big sham – the people that made it would’ve made it anyway with or without the film school.
Don’t make the same mistake I did, if you’re in college – try and study math or science. Otherwise, get ready for poverty and a short life.
Wow, I didn’t expect even that
There goes one Sundance slot for next year – no matter how good the movie is.
Aww how NICE that a 25 year old with zero directing experience gets to make a feature. Not so nice for the 38 year old indie veteran who has slogged his/her guts out for twenty odd years, and can’t even score themselves a preliminary meeting with a studio exec. And who said Hollywood was crawling with nepotism and favoritism?!
It is very true and it’s not even a secret anymore – it is flaunted out in the open.
I want to warn anybody trying to break into the film industry: unless you are connected or wealthy, don’t ever expect to do big or great things in the entertainment world. Sure, you can find some work that will either be free labor or slave wage conditions with little to no way to support yourself.
This will only be believable if she has sex with the students on the weekend trip otherwise nobody will think this is realistic.
I read this script last fall. It is horrendous! As soon as I read that this was happening, I emailed a bunch of friends who read it (or at least part of it until they threw it in the trash), and they are all surprised that it’s being made. It makes sense though: Jordan, the producer on this at Gilbert Films, is the writer’s husband. Ellen, good luck with your directorial debut! Haha!
One of the worst scripts to ever circulate. Now it makes sense.
This is awesome news! It’s about time 25 year old actresses got their due. We need more 25 years old actresses directing movies. And maybe even some 25 year old actors too! That is going to be one fun crew to be on. I mean, I for one love taking orders from kids. And don’t forget, 25 year old’s have so much life experience to share with us all so this should be an amazing piece of work. I love this biz!
The great secret of Hollywood is no longer a secret. Anyone — and I mean anyone — can direct. When I directed my first television episode, I approached the producer and said I wasn’t happy with the cast. He said the cast had already been greenlit by the network. I said I wanted to make a few changes to the script. He said the script was locked. I said I had some ideas about how to shoot in a visually interesting style. He said I had to shoot it in the house style and that the DP would give me direction if I needed it. When I asked what there was for me to do, he said, “Show up.” “And make sure the actors say their lines?” I said hopefully. “No, that’s the job of the continuity girl.”
Features with money behind them are no different. Once you have a good script and a good cast, the job of the director is ….show up. A good cinematographer will make sure all the necessary shots are in the can. The actors, if they’re any good, really don’t need you telling them what to do. The wardrobe people will do their job, the set designer will do his job….and on it goes down the list. It’s not hard to direct. It’s pathetically easy. You just have to…show up. A few years ago a nine-year-old Dominic Scott Kay directed a short starring Kevin Bacon called “Saving Angelo”. A nine-year old directed Kevin Bacon! And you thought you needed to go to film school for three years to learn how to direct Kevin Bacon? I’m not saying there aren’t great directors out there who have a distinct visual style. There are, but precious few. The truth is the industry is awash with directors who have no more talent than a salt shaker. Ever heard of Brett Ratner? You can fake directing if you have enough money behind you and if you possess a big enough ego. You can fake being an actor too, as evidenced by the many bad actors out there who make a good living. What you can’t fake is a good story. Good writing is hard work. Directing features? You just need to find a way to con others into letting you have fun.
Well look on the bright side…at least the Producer told you to “show up” as opposed to “shut up” like so many of LA’s wonderful film/tv crews like to tell us unimportant “walking props.”
The day is coming…
Dear FilmComment,
Terrific comment. Dead on. As someone who is on the inside everything you have said is true. For example, Brett Ratner is a great, I mean great, Producer. He is what they call a Producer in Director’s clothing. There are actually more writer’s who direct now who call themselves directors. We in the biz laugh at them although we hire them. Why? Because they are very connected. They know so many people that as an exec., where stability and job security do not exist, these connected folks may someday help us. So it’s much easier to get behind someone like that. These writers are also Producers in writer/director clothing ie; the still shot with the headphones around their neck.
If you look at the track record of some of these folks, many of these folks, you ask: How do they keep failing upwards. It’s simple. You gave the answer, FilmComment. But what’s worse is these guys are never told the truth and even really talent people befriend them because nobody feels truly secure in this business. I can name five writers who have made a career on failure. I mean critically smashed material and box office. Now I’m all for the guys who try and do good work. I’m no fan of Spiderman. But if you write something from the heart and you have an A list actor even if there is no box office you sure as hell better have made a fine piece of cinema.
Then there are examples like Craig Mazin. More power to him. He wrote a gigantic flop called Rocketman. Well this lead to another horrible piece of writer called Senseless. Guess what. He’s still writing and continued to rise. Why? Well those are great questions to ask that never truly get answered.
I’d love one day for a director or writer to say the truth. It would be so inspiring. Maybe they’d have a real fan base. People really rooting for them. But again, you are right FilmComment. Anyone can direct. The real talents jump out like David O. Russell. Here’s a writer who masterfully does good work and inspiring work. True talent. The others, you know, the guys who do the big garbage rewriters, are not talent. They are lucky to exist in a time where TMZ is important and key currency is who you know more than anything else.
Anything that keeps Page from being in front of the camera. Only Kristen Stewart is more boring to watch on screen.
This comment thread should be titled Sour Grapes. So what if Ellen Page has no directing experience? She is an established acting talent in Hollywood and she has worked with great directors like Chris Nolan and Jason Reitman. If she’s half as good as those guys then she’s well worth the risk. Just because you went to film school doesn’t mean you deserve to direct feature films all of a sudden. All of life, not just the entertainment industry, is largely about who you know. And if she sucks at it, which I doubt she will, then she probably won’t get another shot. Everything eventually evens out.
It’s funny you mention Jason Reitman – another film insider who got his shot because he is connected (the son of film director Ivan Reitman).
So Ellen can direct because she was directed by the son of a director?
Going to school should count for something, as it does for other professions, but you are right – it does not unfortunately in the media/arts world.
But I give you kudos – at least you acknowledge that the industry is all about who you know just like any other business – Wall Street, etc
I have been an extra on several films including “The East”. This entire industry is full of itself. This is work, but it’s not a job.I am amazed at how serious this industry takes itself. I have never seen such deluded arrogance in all of my life.This is play acting with money thrown at it , but no sense of integrity or responsibility.
It’s true. I’ve dreamed all my life of working in the film industry. I studied hard at school, worked on my own projects on the side and got into a great film school. Everything seemed possible in film school, even though I had an inkling some bad things were on the horizon.
Now, I’m graduated, filled with debt, can’t find a job, living at home with my parents. All the industry jobs (not just production) want you to work for free or near free with ridiculous work hours/conditions.
You are absolutely right! This is not a job!
Truth –
Are you a screenwriter?
-Anonymous1
I’m a struggling film industry professional. Like all aspiring film people, I’ve got some things in my repertoire, but can’t make due with it because of my lack of money, connections,and/or most importantly what film people say is required – so-called “talent.”
Of course, only “talented” people work in high level entertainment positions, as cited by such wonderful Hollywood film productions as Battleship, Jack and Jill, That’s My Boy, The Last Stand and such original TV shows always featuring law enforcement (NCIS, Law & Order, Hawaii Five 0) or doctors (Mindy Project, House, Grey’s Anatomy).
Yup, you need to be talented and have great original creativity to work in entertainment. Butt-kissing, connections, family/friends, and money play no role in this or any other industry.
Really “Truth” is an entertainment industry whistleblower.
I am surprised at all the surlyness directed towards Ellen. Especially since she is not your typical Hollywooder type….she seems to be her own person.
Some people here are obviously posers….if you really are in the business…..well judging by the posts I see why you are failing
Ellen already has 15 yrs in movies and TV….so she already has quite a bit of experience in the business at her young age. I look forward to her directorial debut
I have no problem with people like this getting their shot. But if they prove not good then you don’t get three more shots to finally do well. Because that takes the spot of someone like John Gatin who is now a formidable writer. Yes, Ellen deserves a shot. Why not? Everyone starts somewhere. And she did have to make it in acting. But you have writers out there who get shot after shot and are just middle of the road guys playing big shot. STOP IT! And actors are the most scared people in the world. They fall right into it.
Everything i’ve ever seen Ellen Page in she does a great job! If she wants to try her hand at directing, so be it!!! She has the right to do whatever she want’s to. If i was lucky enough to have a life such as Ellen’s i would want to try as many different thing’s as i could. She’s an Amazing actor, she’s got her own video game coming out soon, she’s done voice work and if she wants to direct, so be it! I think she will do a great job at it and even being a guy, i look forward to seeing it.