thenationofartists.com

Interview by Elliot V. Kotek
Videography by F.J.Productions
(from the 2010 Sundance Film Festival)

Movie: Cyrus
Directed/Written by: Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass
Starring: Jonah Hill, Marisa Tomei, John C. Reilly, Catherine Keener

Filmmaking duo Mark and Jay Duplass discuss the excitement and challenges of their latest film, “Cyrus,” and the new partnerships that formed from it. Mark describes the surreality of having a large screening at Sundance after their last visit to the festival with their film “The Puffy Chair.” Jay elaborates on how the festival experience is different when you already have distribution versus being on the lookout for any potential distributors. The two consider whether or not they’d have made the film without John C. Reilly as the lead and what they felt he could contribute to the character. The pair also talk about casting Jonah Hill and recount how they met years back at a small festival. The film is produced by Ridley and Tony Scott, and Mark and Jay share how they felt having two such experienced filmmakers on hand. Mark and Jay talk about how excited they are to be working on an upcoming film with director Jason Reitman.