Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Yeah, thank you. You know what? I mean, I get that. I’ve often, growing up, was jealous of a painter or some kind of artistry like that where you can go away to a cabin alone and be by yourself and paint and not really have anything to do with it beyond that.
When other people are involved, you’re sending it out. But I think because theater was that first love for me, it’s such a community base. It’s so intrinsically built on that community vibe, that connection, making eye contact, saying how you feel, expressing yourself. I think that we had that so built in that it feels hard to separate that for me from not only just art, but just being a human being like that kind of raw connection. I feel like small talk can be hard for me sometimes because I’m like, “Let’s just get to it. Tell me your trauma.”
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Tell me the divorce. Yeah, yeah. For sure, I’m the same.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
I think that that is that kind of theater rehearsal room vibe, and I think that it definitely has served us though, I think, in terms of building a really secure, trusted group of people around us that we love, that we love to work with beyond just being friends with and to respect their art. It doesn’t even go say it lightly that Zoe and I working together. We’ve been friends for so long, and it could be a really big challenge to collaborate, but it’s been so easy for us, and it’s been…
I’m so grateful for it because I love doing this. I love doing my art, love expressing myself. I love being with Zoe and hanging out with her, and we get to do it together, and it’s also just so supportive. If I’m having an energetically low day, she can pick up the slack and vice versa, and it’s really nice to have someone on that road together because it can feel isolating at times, especially when it’s all new.
It can feel scary and overwhelming. There’s a lot of energy, and it’s amazing to have someone who you actually love and trust on that journey. Let’s just hop on the crazy train and see where it takes us.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
See where it goes. Well, and I think even when we would talk about, we’ve talked about this a lot, but I think creating something like this, and then the festival world is a whole new thing. Once you’re done with post-production, you’re like, “Wait, okay, this is a whole different section of the world I wasn’t even familiar with.”
I think had either of us known how much time, energy, emotion, sacrifice, all of this would’ve taken to, not to necessarily make anything, but to make this and to make it in the way that I think we’re both so proud of, I think while, of course, we both have projects that we’d be spearheading, one is the writer or one is the director or whatever else, getting to do this together for the first time made it feel so much more …
Doable is not a sexy word, but it made it feel so much more conquerable, I think, to have someone on your team where exactly what Louie is saying, where if one of us would say, “Okay, I’m passing you the baton. I need a break,” or whatever it would be because it becomes kind of a day in, day out, let’s call it healthy obsession, I think a project like this and moving forward.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
[inaudible 00:32:59] … Yeah, you have to be a little obsessed, I think a little crazy to see an independent film through because you got to get that obsession, and you got to be just a tad bit unstable, I think.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Okay, so here’s another awkward questions. It’s an awkward question because I’m awkward in expressing this, but …
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
You’ve been great, but I can’t wait to hear what it is.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Sorry. How do I phrase this? I’ve been practicing this. I thought I would have it like that.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Take your time until you’re ready with the delivery. We will wait.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
That might take hours.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Oh, God.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Well, we’ll talk amongst ourselves.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
You’re doing… I’m going to say this as best I could do. People are interviewing you about your film, and they’re talking to you, and if they’re good, they’re listening to you. Has occasions come up when they didn’t ask you questions that you wished they would’ve asked because you thought they were important. Does that make sense?
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Has anybody not asked or have we not been asked about something we really want to talk about with this? Is that what you’re saying?
GreggMorris-theWORD:
No. No, it’s… I have this criticism, as in the businesses, that journalists, interviewers, they’re rarely listening to the people that they’re interviewing as much as I think they should, and so they overlook stuff. And what you do in the business as a reporter, you’re taking notes and stuff. You call them back, and I called them back, and asked, “Oh, I forgot to ask this or something,” or “I should have asked this.”
So I’m wondering if there were times when they didn’t ask you what you wished they had asked you, what you might’ve wished they asked you, and I’m going to shut up with that one. But yeah, that’s pretty much it.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
I mean, I would say everyone that we’ve spoken to has been wonderful, so I wouldn’t say anyone’s missed anything, but also say, Louie and I are huge chatterboxes, so I think we could talk about anything forever in that way. I mean, I think one thing we haven’t really or we’ve talked about it, but I think something I always want to really express is just like… I thought about this a lot because I was on vacation last week, and we were still kind of working while I was out there, and I was just thinking, we’ve really worked so hard on this. We really want to see this win.
I think it’s been such an unbelievable experience to see filming go the way we want, to see, “Oh my God, festivals are interested,” especially after a huge bout of noes in the beginning where we were suddenly thinking, “Oh, God, are we going to get any visibility? How is this going to work?” I think that’s the thing that I always want to share the most is just like, this is so tender and special to us, and to get to share this in a wider and wider audience, I mean, it’s the dream. I want, with everything, to see this go as far as it can go.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Yeah, and I guess to what you were kind of saying or what I was interpreting from what you were saying, Gregg, I think, is
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Oh, God. Did I get it wrong?
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
No, I’m not saying you. I was just going to say, again, we’ve just started on some of this, the kind of press for Daddies Boi, and like Zoe said, everyone’s been so wonderful.
I do think it’s been interesting to see with some journalists who ask more specific pointed questions and then what is kind of a more roundabout general question, so it feels really personal, and it feels like a real conversation or to ask a really new one or what you just asked, haven’t been asked that before. And so, that’s a first. But again, what Zoe just said, I totally agree. Of course, we’ve been put in so much work and I think we’re just seeing it through.
There’s so many doors opening right now, which is really exciting. And through these interviews, to have people even take the time out of their day to have watched it or ask questions about how we made it, it’s a big moment to take a step back as well, just to be like, ‘Wow, we really have put so much work in.’ There’s this product we can put out there in the world that people are not only seeing but responding to,” and so it’s an exciting time.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Yeah. I have to say this again, it’s a galvanizing movie. I felt moved. No doubt audiences will.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Thank you.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
That’s magic. Have to say, this is magic to be able to create something like that that affects millions.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
That’s the goal.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
From your lips to God’s ears, yes.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
That’s right.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Yes, and.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Okay. Oh, we’re going long. No, I’m not trying to try to get rid of you. I just said it was going to be 30 minutes or something, and so I can’t think of any more questions.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Well, if you have one come up, I know you said …
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Yeah, feel free to reach back out.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
… if you ever want to email us or anything, we’re very, very reachable, for sure.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Okay, that sounds good. Let’s see. What else? I think that’s it.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Awesome.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Okay, great. Well, I mean, thank you so much for taking the time out, Gregg. It was a great moment to talk with you, and I think another, you’re a really great listener and asking some really specific questions.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Yeah. For real, thank you for holding space with us and kind of letting this just feel less like question answer and more just like a dialogue and really getting to connect, so this has been a real pleasure.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Yes. When I say yes, I can’t think of a better way to spend time than dealing with you. I mean, it just makes me feel good. I mean, I’m upbeat. I mean, this is the end of the day. Nope, I’m still early.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
But we’re doing good here at this halfway through the day mark.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Okay.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Well, I hope you enjoy Jersey City.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Jersey City is very diverse. I mean, I like that. I mean, it’s a nice … yeah, I like the diversity. I like the urban in some areas and pastoral in other areas. I like the Middle East people down the road. I’ve discovered all these African people that live in the area and live in Jersey City. It’s like a mini New York, a mini Big Apple, and without … it’s got its challenges, but …
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
You can get some good food, for sure, too.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Oh, yeah. Yes, yes, yes.
Louie Rinaldi (they/them) – ExecutiveProducer,CoCreator:
Well, thank you again. And again, like Zoe said, feel free to reach out if you have any other questions that come to you.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
Okay.
Zoe Tyson (she/her)– ExecutiveProducer, CoCreator:
Absolutely.
GreggMorris-theWORD:
You guys be safe out there.
Filmmakers Zoe Tyson and Louie Rinaldi