‘Brittany Runs a Marathon’ Director Paul Downs Colaizzo on

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” director Paul Downs Colaizzo searched close to and much for the proper actress to take the lead position in his film that’s loosely primarily based on his greatest pal, Brittany. When Jillian Bell got here alongside, he first thought she may not have the dramatic chops to take action — however he was rapidly confirmed improper.

“I was meeting with actresses and I met up with Jillian Bell in Brooklyn and she was instantly protective over the character,” Colaizzo advised TheWrap. “I knew Jillian as a comedic actress and I was a huge fan of ’22 Jump Street.’ When we met, it was a big question mark if she could pull it off just based on the work I’ve known from her. In sitting with her and discussing how I saw the character being played and how the tone needed to be involved, she was on the same page. We both knew we were putting our faith into the other’s hand. I saw this woman in front of me who was known for being comedic by a role and by herself and was looking to change how the world looks at her and how far she could push herself and that’s the story. I hoped in putting those things together along with her dedication and ambition, that we’d be able to capture her real vulnerability and real emotionality.”

“Brittany Runs a Marathon” follows a younger girl residing in New York. After visiting a health care provider and being advised she’s unhealthier than she might ever think about, she turns into motivated to drop some weight and get her life again below management. She begins to run only a block — then provides one other, and one other — till she indicators up for the New York City Marathon, making (and shedding) buddies alongside the best way.

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Initially, Colaizzo was solely meant to jot down the screenplay for the motivational comedy, however he quickly realized he wanted to direct the movie — not solely as a result of the story was loosely primarily based on his pal. When Tobey Maguire and his producing companion Matthew Plouffe, by means of their manufacturing banner Material Pictures, obtained concerned, he requested them whether or not he might direct as nicely. Their response: “no.”

“It was a very understandable reaction because I had never directed anything, but I didn’t want the nuance and the dimensionality to get lost,” Colaizzo defined. “I worried that the safety and the trope exploration wouldn’t be explored if someone else took it. And also because of the messaging of the relationship with herbed, and my friend, I wanted it to be handled with total respect and honoring the style and the concept of what I wanted to explore. What I needed to do was direct the movie.”

In current years, there’s been a common opinion that males shouldn’t and might’t write feminine roles. “It’s so interesting — we’re in this age where there is this question about who is capable and qualified to write which stories. I’m an artist and I’m attracted to what I’m attracted to and I love what I love and make what I make and I am often drawn to stories with women in the center because there is a tension for a woman to exist in this world, just their existence provides tension, especially in our country, especially in 2019.” The key for Bell’s character was placing all of the values and experiences and views on the physique — something coping with her physique picture got here from the character’s perspective, not from her personal perspective,” Colaizzo mentioned.

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“What we’re doing is we’re exploring my perception on reality,” he mentioned. “The world will deal with ladies in another way if they appear a sure means. Men will maintain open doorways for some and never for others. I need to inform artwork that’s trustworthy with out placing this world’s present worth judgment on issues that aren’t price being valued. The thought…