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FESTIVAL PREVIEW: Interview with Director Blayne Weaver of WEATHER GIRL
Jun 1, 2009
The comedy Weather Girl begins with a woman (Tricia O’Kelley) breaking up with her cad boyfriend (Mark Harmon) live on a morning news show. The moment fulfills many a heart broken fantasy but leaves the titular weather girl without a job, home or relationship, setting the stage for a refreshing romantic comedy which feels as if it’s about real people living in the real world. FIND spoke with director Blayne Weaver.

By Carolyn Cohagan

1. Is the premise of the film (a woman going off on her boyfriend on live TV) based on an actual experience or was it a fantasy of yours?

The weather girl freaking out on-air was just something that made me laugh. As I was writing, I spent a lot of time watching morning news shows and the hosts are just so insincere and practiced while pretending to be casual and off the cuff. I liked the idea of one of them having a dramatic human moment and how the others would react.

Actually, the part of the story based on my actual experience was the relationship between the thirty-five-year old Sylvia and the twenty-nine-year old Byron. I had been in a similar relationship and it amazed me the pressures that are placed on a woman in her mid-thirties. There is this idea that she needs to look a certain way, be at a certain place in her career and be well on her way to having a family with a stable, grown-up guy who has serious “marriage potential.” That was what really inspired me to write the script.

2. How long did you shoot and what was the budget of the film?

We shot for 22 days with a budget of under $500,000. All of the cast and crew took tremendous cuts in their salaries because they liked the script. We literally had our main talent working for under $300 a day. To me, that is what independent film is all about: Talented people sacrificing their own salaries and working together to make the best product possible.

3. How did you get Mark Harmon involved?

Our casting director and co-producer Lauren Bass made a wish list of actors for the role of Dale. Tricia O’Kelley (producer/star) and I looked at this array of headshots and we started talking about Harmon. I was a huge fan of this arc he did on The West Wing a few years ago and we loved the idea that he had never done a character like this. Harmon is known for playing the stoic, tough guy (which he is in real life, by the way) and we both just really liked the idea of him playing this character which is so far away from that. We sent him the script, met for coffee and he wanted to do it.

4. Have all of your films been comedies?

My first produced script was a dark drama about teens in a mental institution called Manic (written with Michael Bacall). The first thing I directed was a short film called Losing Lois Lane about Superman getting dumped and his ensuing depression… I played Superman… It was definitely a comedy. My first feature Outside Sales was a broad comedy and I was going to do something darker for my next film, but O’Kelley loved Weather Girl and wanted to produce it. So, that’s what we did.

5. Do you picture yourself directing a drama?

Absolutely. I often work as a writer for hire and in doing so I’ve written or worked on dramas, thrillers, westerns, family films, you name it. I love movies and I look forward to making as many different types as I can.

6. Tell me about your writing process. Can you sit at home and make it happen? Do you write in long sessions or short bursts?

Writing is a job. I sit down every day and pound the keys. Sometimes it’s inspired, sometimes it’s not… but you have to keep writing. When I’m writing for myself I work a minimum of an hour a day. Often, I get caught up and go longer but I only HAVE to work for that hour. When I’m writing for hire, I lock down in my apartment. I order food, drink a pot of coffee or pop a bottle of wine and work until I just can’t anymore.

7. What is your favorite moment in the film?

That’s a funny question because I just did our DVD commentary and I couldn’t decide. My favorite moments are the serious ones where you really see how great the actors are. I love the scene where Sylvia (Tricia O’Kelley) and her brother Walt (Ryan Devlin) have a fight and hurt each others’ feelings in a way that only siblings can. Then there is another moment where Byron (Patrick J. Adams) puts it all on the line… Don’t want to ruin it… but it’s a really good scene.

8. What piece of advice do you have for our members who are about to direct a first feature?

Surround yourself with talented people that you trust: actors, producers, cinematographers, editors, gaffers… People who are great at what they do… and then listen to them. You don’t have to take their advice but make sure to hear what they’re saying before dismissing it. Remember that they, too, want to make a great film and the talent you surround yourself with can be your greatest asset.

Weather Girl can be seen as part of the 2009 LA Film Festival at the Majestic Crest Theater, Friday, Jun 19th, 7:30pm or the Landmark 4, Wednesday, Jun 24th, 9:30pm

For ticketing information please phone 1-866-345-6337 or email boxoffice@filmindependent.org