In terms of developing the ideas for the film, Gerwig says she is “constantly writing” and rather than deciding what to write prior, her unique approach is to “write and see where the story goes,” she said. “I write to figure out what the story is and let the characters tell me what they want and what’s important to them.” Gerwig said her initial draft of the film was nearly 350 pages long, “of just stuff,” she mused. “I had to figure out what was essential and what the core of the story was.” Once her script was ready, Greta Gerwig dove into directing after having worked in the business for nearly 10 years. “I did almost every job in the business: editor, costume, even makeup,” she explained. “I didn’t go to film school but felt like she had to just take the leap [into directing] and jump.”
In terms of future plans: “I just want to continue doing all three if I can: acting, writing and directing.” She insisted the film is not autobiographical, but rather draws on her knowledge of life and might include a “core of truth.” “I just wanted to analyze the concept of ‘home,’ what does it mean? What better way to make a love letter to your home than through someone who [thinks they hate it and] wants to get out, then realizes that they loved it. I framed it around following this family,” she paused, “you know, this film is just as much the mother’s movie as it is Lady Bird’s. It’s about the relationship between the two of them.” Gerwig continues, “One person’s coming of age is another person’s letting go and I wanted to capture both sides of that.”
Gerwig’s themes in ‘Lady Bird’ touch on much of what’s wrong with society. The director noted that, “in a culture of more and more and more and the focus on attaining the next level, how can you really appreciate what you have?” Lady Bird is always looking up to others thinking they have it all together, but ironically as Gerwig puts it, “those people are looking up to other people too. Maybe her own best friend is looking up at her thinking she has it all together.” The reality of these themes is palpable for any viewer and makes the story relatable on many levels.
In terms of the film’s setting in post 9/11 America, Gerwig said, “it felt like this huge thing happened, we ushered into a new era of global policy and everything was changing. The changes not only effected the world geopolitically but also the impact of the internet at the time. “I feel like this was the last generation you can make a film about youth without shooting cell phones or using [fake] imitation websites of popular sites like Facebook and Google. When I see that in films I say, ‘I know that’s not real’,” she laughed. “I hate that!”
For this remarkably assured debut, Greta Gerwig manages to manifest realness and sincerity into her film, anchored by some of the best talent in the industry, “[the cast] knows how much I love them! I am so lucky,” Gerwig said with her hand over her heart. After the excellent response out of NYFF, A24 has bumped up “Lady Bird”‘s release date. The dramedy now comes out November 3rd.
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