(from L-R) Megan Holley, Jason Spevack, Christine Jeffs
Sunshine Cleaning comes out on DVD today. I think that this is Amy Adams strongest and most interesting role of the year. She is way more interesting in this films than she is in Julie & Julia. Here’s my review. Before the film came out I interview the screenwriter Megan Holley, but idiot that I am I lost the interview. She very nicely agreed to do a second take for the DVD release.
Women & Hollywood: How did you come up with the story?
Megan Holley: It was a classic NPR driveway moment. I heard an interview with two women who started a bio hazard clean up business and was completely drawn in by what they were saying. They had such a refreshing attitude about their work. One of them actually called it a feel good job because they were helping people at their most vulnerable. This was in 2001 when CSI was first making a huge splash and everyone seemed fascinated with the gory details of death. It makes sense. Death is really freaking scary so of course we’re both drawn to it and repulsed by it. But there’s something about these shows that felt exploitive to me. I expected the interviews to head in this direction too, but it never did. These women were just so respectful of the lives that were lost and the families who were in pain. They seemed genuinely honored to be able to help. That was the thing that stuck with me and I tried to build a story around that central idea.
W&H: How did it get produced?
MH: When I finished the script I entered it into a local Virginia based screenwriting competition. Sunshine Cleaning was selected as one of the winners that year. That in itself was thrilling. But more importantly, Glenn Williamson (a University of Virginia alum) was on the panel of judges. After many years as an executive Glenn was looking to produce. He loved the script and set about to get it made. He joined forces with the New York based company Big Beach and together they got the director and cast on board. Basically, I’m one of the luckiest people on earth.
W&H: I love the fact that at the beginning of the film it seems that Rose peaked in high school like we see time and again with high school jocks. Why was it important to make her the “popular girl”?
MH: Rose is constantly looking for validation outside of herself. It trips her up constantly and I think her stint as the ‘popular girl’ has only made the situation worse. She’s constantly jonesing to get that approval fix again. It’s not until Rose develops a sense of pride in her work and an understanding of its value that she’s able to let go of that self defeating neediness.
W&H: What’s your day job? Ar you still working with crack addicted rats?
MH: I no longer work with crack addicted rats. After years and years of assorted day jobs, I’m happy to report that I am now a full time screenwriter. I still get a kick out of saying that. I love it when I’m filling out a form and it asks for my profession and I get to put ‘Screenwriter’. How awesome is that?
W&H: Your producers call you the real deal. What does that mean to you?
MH: I have no idea what that means. I like it. I think it must be something good.
W&H: How did Christine Jeffs get involved in the film and were you happy to have a female director?
MH: Glenn had worked with Christine on Sylvia at Focus Features and thought she would be a good fit for the material. It was great having a female director. Christine has a sister and understood that complicated relationship is a very personal way. The care she took presenting the sister’s relationship is one of the most engaging aspects of the movie.
W&H: What are you working on now?
MH: I’m currently writing a pilot for Showtime based on Sunshine Cleaning. It’s been a blast taking these characters and spinning them in different directions.
W&H: The film had a very successful run in the theatres this spring. Why do you think it resonated with the audiences in the way it did?
MH: I think it’s a really positive portrayal of a family. Sure, they’re each kind of screwed up, they’re wounded and they make mistakes. But there’s no question that these people love each other. And the performances were fantastic! Amy Adams and Emily Blunt are amazing. They brought so many layers and nuances to those characters.
W&H: Any advice for female writers?
MH: My advice to female writers would be the same as advice to male writers. Write what moves you. Try not to get defensive with notes. That’s a tough one but so, so important. I’m still working on it myself. Keep learning. Surround yourself with the smartest people you can find. Don’t pass up a good idea just because it hit you in the face. Don’t get caught up with all the industry bullshit. It’s a big waste of energy and it makes it harder to hear your own voice. Don’t forget to exercise. Okay, that last one makes me a total hypocrite because I always forget to exercise. Still, I think it’s good advice.
It’s too bad the Meryl Streep’s movies don’t come with action figures or a McDonald’s tie-in…because the woman has the midas touch way beyond the box office.
If you’ve ever been to a Weight Watchers meeting one of the first things you are told is to never, ever go to the supermarket when you are hungry. The same should be said for seeing the film Julie & Julia which opens today in almost 3000 theatres (more than were estimated last week.) Julie & Julia is hands down the women’s movie of the summer and it could cause many a weight watchers member to fall off the wagon. While I enjoyed the film a lot, the parts that star Meryl Streep as Julia Child soar whereas the parts that star Amy Adams as Julie Powell the woman who became a blogger before most any of us knew what blogging was feel flat. It almost feels like Adams is in the black and white scenes of The Wizard of Oz and Streep is in the color scenes.
I don’t blame Adams. Her character Julie Powell is going through a crisis, not knowing what the hell to do with her life right after 9-11, and to top it off she worked answering questions about 9-11 issues yet had virtually no power to help anyone who called her. Everyone here in NY was depressed in 2001 and 2002. So she took up butter and Julia Child and also this new medium of communication, blogging to try and get some of her mo back. And she does.
While The Proposal with Sandra Bullock has exceeded expectations, we all know the one movie that women have been waiting for all summer is now only one week away — Julie and Julia. I have a sense that women are going to come out and see this in droves and in groups with many leaving the hubby or partner at home. The competition at the national level is pretty slim on opening weekend (GI Joe) so it will pretty much get every woman and hopefully men interested in an alternative.
This summer as usual is full of big action packed blockbusters AND for the second year in a row (and the last 3 out of 4 years) a Meryl Streep flick. I still wish we would get over the whole counterprogramming and fluke discussion. The thing I love most about this is that Meryl Streep was a movie star who became a box office success. Until a couple of years ago no one thought it possible but this woman who gets nominated for basically everything she is in, can now print dollar bills. In case you care the world wide gross of Mamma Mia! is up to $600 million.
USA Today and EW both help build the anticipation with recent pieces. USA Today calls Streep “the streep-inator” and this is from EW’s summer preview issue:
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