My Old Ass premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where it received universal acclaim from critics and audiences alike. My Old Ass stars Maisy Stella as Elliott Labrant and Aubrey Plaza as older Elliott. Sari Cohen sits down with writer/director Megan Park and star Maisy Stella to talk about My Old Ass and what it was like to cast the film, and whether they would rather get advice from their older or younger selves.
Sari Cohen: I adored this movie so much. It evokes so many thoughts, and it is incredible to think you could converse with your older self to make life decisions.
Megan Park: Scary.
Maisy Stella: Terrifying.
Sari Cohen: I want to get the perspective from the two of you. What do you think audiences will identify or connect with most with 18-year-old and 39-year-old Elliot?
Megan Park: I think what’s been interesting is that it’s kind of not about that, the takeaway. It seems like it’s been very universal. And we keep joking, but this is true. Everyone seems to be sort of, I think, the old dude’s reaction to this movie cut to the heart because it is just a human story at its core.
Maisy Stella: And taking something different. Everyone genuinely does grab onto something different. Not everyone takes the same message from it, which I think is special.
Megan Park: I think just the idea that time moves quickly and the older you get and sort of the concept of regret, but also being 18 and that energy to get out of the house and move away. There are a lot of universal themes I think people of all ages can relate to.
Sari Cohen: Yeah, there are. In writing this, how did you know when you found both your Elliot’s?
Megan Park: It may sound silly, but you know when you know, or at least that is how it works for me. Within 10 seconds of watching a tape, I can tell if someone’s suitable for a role. But Maisy is somebody that I knew because she read for The Fallout, and she was so incredible, and I was so bummed there wasn’t a part for her in the film because she’s so talented. I thought, “I can’t let this person not be in this film. I have to work with them to some degree.” So, when this movie came around, it was such a perfect fit, and it was so obvious, again, within 10 seconds of her reading, that she was the ideal choice for Elliot.
And then, with Older Elliot, we got to cast the entire movie, not just that character around Maisy, which was such a gift. You don’t always get to do that. I think that’s part of why there’s so much great chemistry; she had a chemistry read with everybody. But when Aubrey came into the picture, everything clicked. The character was originally older, and we were hung up on who looked the most like Maisy. And when we took a step back, we were like, “Wait a second, who do we want to see on that log next to Maisy?” Who’s going to have that chemistry? Who’s going to have that fantastic banter? And her name came up. It was like, “Oh yes, of course.” That makes perfect sense. And it all worked out perfectly.
Sari Cohen: What was it like for you, Maisy? Ultimately, you’re playing a character that the audience sees two different versions of. So, how did you develop the character and nurture that connection with Aubrey?
Maisy Stella: I had already been filming for two weeks before Aubrey was officially attached. So my younger Elliot was already established, and when she came in, we were trying to meet in the middle. But in any normal situation, it would’ve been me ultimately meeting her where she’s standing. And she came more to me, which was so wild.
But I think we honestly embraced our differences and let our banter and natural energy just be what they were. We did physical things and acknowledged that we were playing the same character. But yeah, I think we did let it breathe and just let it be natural. Thankfully, we did have natural chemistry. I am such a true fan, and I think she’s brilliant. So, I was humbled and stoked to be working with her.
Megan Park: I think the best actors are those who know how to build chemistry with people quickly. That’s such an important skill, and both of you guys are so great at that. It’s not easy to do. And I think that of both of them. We had one weekend before filming, and we spent a lot of time together. You guys were just very open and vulnerable with each other, and we just hung out. But we also talked about the script, and you guys built chemistry together very quickly, which is an incredible skill.
Sari Cohen: So, last question, would you want to get advice from your older or younger self?
Megan Park: I’d want to take advice from my younger self.
Maisy Stella: I would like to get advice from my younger self. I feel like my childhood self; I was so carefree and unaware and wasn’t bothered about anything. I need that advice. I need to be reminded just to be free.
Megan Park: I remember asking Maisy, what were you thinking when you were on stage performing when you were seven? And she was like, absolutely nothing.
Maisy Stella: Not a damn thing.
Megan Park: Not a thought in my head.
Maisy Stella: I don’t think I woke up and realized I was a living human until I was 16. So, I would love to have some advice from myself as a child.
Megan Park: Yeah, that’s a great answer.
Maisy Stella: And go back to my roots.
Megan Park: Same. Yeah.
Sari Cohen: You two are fantastic. Congratulations on the film. I loved it.
Maisy Stella: Thank you so much.
The post ‘My Old Ass’ Interview: Megan Park and Maisy Stella talk casting and advice from their younger selves. appeared first on We Live Entertainment.
Sari Cohen: I adored this movie so much. It evokes so many thoughts, and it is incredible to think you could converse with your older self to make life decisions.
Megan Park: Scary.
Maisy Stella: Terrifying.
Sari Cohen: I want to get the perspective from the two of you. What do you think audiences will identify or connect with most with 18-year-old and 39-year-old Elliot?
Megan Park: I think what’s been interesting is that it’s kind of not about that, the takeaway. It seems like it’s been very universal. And we keep joking, but this is true. Everyone seems to be sort of, I think, the old dude’s reaction to this movie cut to the heart because it is just a human story at its core.
Maisy Stella: And taking something different. Everyone genuinely does grab onto something different. Not everyone takes the same message from it, which I think is special.
Megan Park: I think just the idea that time moves quickly and the older you get and sort of the concept of regret, but also being 18 and that energy to get out of the house and move away. There are a lot of universal themes I think people of all ages can relate to.
Sari Cohen: Yeah, there are. In writing this, how did you know when you found both your Elliot’s?
Megan Park: It may sound silly, but you know when you know, or at least that is how it works for me. Within 10 seconds of watching a tape, I can tell if someone’s suitable for a role. But Maisy is somebody that I knew because she read for The Fallout, and she was so incredible, and I was so bummed there wasn’t a part for her in the film because she’s so talented. I thought, “I can’t let this person not be in this film. I have to work with them to some degree.” So, when this movie came around, it was such a perfect fit, and it was so obvious, again, within 10 seconds of her reading, that she was the ideal choice for Elliot.
And then, with Older Elliot, we got to cast the entire movie, not just that character around Maisy, which was such a gift. You don’t always get to do that. I think that’s part of why there’s so much great chemistry; she had a chemistry read with everybody. But when Aubrey came into the picture, everything clicked. The character was originally older, and we were hung up on who looked the most like Maisy. And when we took a step back, we were like, “Wait a second, who do we want to see on that log next to Maisy?” Who’s going to have that chemistry? Who’s going to have that fantastic banter? And her name came up. It was like, “Oh yes, of course.” That makes perfect sense. And it all worked out perfectly.
Sari Cohen: What was it like for you, Maisy? Ultimately, you’re playing a character that the audience sees two different versions of. So, how did you develop the character and nurture that connection with Aubrey?
Maisy Stella: I had already been filming for two weeks before Aubrey was officially attached. So my younger Elliot was already established, and when she came in, we were trying to meet in the middle. But in any normal situation, it would’ve been me ultimately meeting her where she’s standing. And she came more to me, which was so wild.
But I think we honestly embraced our differences and let our banter and natural energy just be what they were. We did physical things and acknowledged that we were playing the same character. But yeah, I think we did let it breathe and just let it be natural. Thankfully, we did have natural chemistry. I am such a true fan, and I think she’s brilliant. So, I was humbled and stoked to be working with her.
Megan Park: I think the best actors are those who know how to build chemistry with people quickly. That’s such an important skill, and both of you guys are so great at that. It’s not easy to do. And I think that of both of them. We had one weekend before filming, and we spent a lot of time together. You guys were just very open and vulnerable with each other, and we just hung out. But we also talked about the script, and you guys built chemistry together very quickly, which is an incredible skill.
Sari Cohen: So, last question, would you want to get advice from your older or younger self?
Megan Park: I’d want to take advice from my younger self.
Maisy Stella: I would like to get advice from my younger self. I feel like my childhood self; I was so carefree and unaware and wasn’t bothered about anything. I need that advice. I need to be reminded just to be free.
Megan Park: I remember asking Maisy, what were you thinking when you were on stage performing when you were seven? And she was like, absolutely nothing.
Maisy Stella: Not a damn thing.
Megan Park: Not a thought in my head.
Maisy Stella: I don’t think I woke up and realized I was a living human until I was 16. So, I would love to have some advice from myself as a child.
Megan Park: Yeah, that’s a great answer.
Maisy Stella: And go back to my roots.
Megan Park: Same. Yeah.
Sari Cohen: You two are fantastic. Congratulations on the film. I loved it.
Maisy Stella: Thank you so much.
My Old Ass is now playing in select theaters. The film will expand into more theaters on September 27, 2024.
The post ‘My Old Ass’ Interview: Megan Park and Maisy Stella talk casting and advice from their younger selves. appeared first on We Live Entertainment.