We spoke to celebrated actress Julia Stiles leading up to the release of Chosen Family, her new romantic comedy from writer-director and co-star Heather Graham. It’s a funny and sweet look at modern-day struggles like finding love while juggling work alongside an overbearing family. Stiles told us how she was inspired by Graham’s direction (and sought advice from a surprising action director) for her own upcoming directorial debut, Wish You Were Here, a film adaptation of the novel by Renée Carlino. Stiles told MovieWeb:
“Somebody sent me the book, and I thought, ‘Oh, this will make a really good movie. It’s a love story. It has some rom-com elements, but ultimately, it’s a pretty tragic love story, and I think
it’s just about appreciating the present moment and the time that we have on Earth, because life is precious. It’ll be out in theaters, I think, early next year
. I don’t have an exact release date yet, but pretty soon.”
In preparing to shoot her first feature as director, Stiles reached out to filmmaker Doug Liman (of Road House and Edge of Tomorrow fame), who directed her for The Bourne Identity. “There’s a portion of Wish You Were Here on a sailboat, and that’s a really challenging location to film on,” said Stiles, whose first Bourne film features some memorable moments aboard a ship. “And [Doug] not only has filmed a lot of action movies, but he also has a sailboat, and so I called him to just pick his brain about how to accomplish that.”
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Julia Stiles Shares How Heather Graham Directed Her in Chosen Family & Looks Back on Bourne
The iconic Julia Stiles stars in director Heather Graham’s new movie Chosen Family, and also dishes on her own directorial effort, Wish You Were Here.
‘Side by Side’ With Heather Graham
Until Wish You Were Here is released, moviegoers can enjoy seeing Stiles play the hotheaded sister opposite Graham in the relatable new rom-com, Chosen Family. Stiles detailed how her experience working with Graham — another actor-turned-director — helped her with directing Wish You Were Here:
“We were very much side by side in trying to get our films set up and financed and in production, and very supportive of each other. And you know, she filmed
Chosen Family
in May, and then I was able to film
With You Were Here
after that, after the SAG strike. So it was a great opportunity for me to be on a film set with a female actress directing, and that was very inspirational to me.”
“I was really impressed with how collaborative she was,” continued Stiles about Heather Graham’s direction. “She was very open to seeing the other actors and what the other actors would bring to it. And that says a lot, given that she wrote it. So I’m sure that she had an idea of what she wanted out of our performances, but she was still really receptive to what we brought to the table, and she was just very respectful… She could assert her opinion very clearly, but in a very respectful kind way, which is definitely something that I wanted to emulate.”
From Brainstorm Media, Chosen Family was released in theaters and on digital platforms Oct. 11, 2024. You can rent or buy it on YouTube, Google Play, Fandango at Home, and on Apple TV through the link below: