Press Interview with “Tully” actors and director

 

TULLY press panel, April 17, 2018. (L-R) Mark Duplass, Ron Livingston, Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Jason Reitman. Photo by Ruby Hunt (WestsideMommy.com)

A couple weeks ago, I attended a press interview for the movie “Tully”, with director Jason Reitman, and stars Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Ron Livingston, and Mark Duplas. The day prior, we watched a special screening of the movie, which you can read about here (no spoilers).

Below are highlights from the “Mommy Blogger” group interview:

How the tone is set for TULLY, successfully walking the tightrope of humor and devastation

JASON REITMAN: It starts with Diablo.  That’s where the DNA of this film is — and that’s how Diablo’s always written. She’s found things that could easily be considered tragic or dramatic. I mean, I even remember when I was making Juno and I would tell people, I’m making a movie about teen pregnancy and they would go — ohhh. I’d say, no-no-no.  It’s a comedy. It’s going to be, it’s going to be funny. And they’d be confused. And now — you know, with each subsequent film I think people start to understand, oh, this is going to be a funny film, despite what we’re talking about. So I think that’s the thrill of reading her material, is that it’s right there on the page. The drama and the humor are intertwined.

Charlize Theron’s thoughts on motherhood

CHARLIZE THERON: The one thing that I think we all share is just that we’re trying to get through every day — whatever — whatever we choose to do to hopefully be the best things for yours kids — and it might be different in how we go about it in different countries, but I think, as mothers, I think we’re always in some weird way always — every decision gets made based from our kids.  Like — or at least I have found that.

Charlize Theron at TULLY press conference. April 17, 2018. Photo by Ruby Hunt (WestsideMommy.com)

It Takes A Village

CHARLIZE THERON: There’s a thing in South Africa, we have this saying, “It takes a village to raise a kid,” and I was raised that way.  I grew up with a lot of people around me and my mom — really sharing me with a lot of people and it was just great to grow up that way and I, for me, it was always going to be how I was going to raise my kids and from the moment they came home, that first night, my village was there and they got to meet their village and that village is in their life now and I think will be in their life, in their life forever. 

And I rely on those people.  They are kind of like my chosen family.  And I value what they bring to my kids’ lives and I know that I’m not solely responsible for how great my kids are.  There’s a lot of great people who are bringing so much to their lives. 

This movie will start a conversation

CHARLIZE THERON: And I think this movie will maybe start that conversation a little bit more, because when we talk about help it’s always — it feels so cold.  But you know, help can be something that’s really warm and — it doesn’t have to feel like this isolated thing that you’re bringing in from the outside to help you.  I think the more you think about it, it’s like just becoming part of raising a child — instead of just help.  I think it makes it — you realize the value in that and I’m so grateful for the people that I have, not only in my life, but in my kids’ lives. 

What Charlize wants people to take away after seeing Tully

CHARLIZE THERON: I would have to say it’s what Jason just talked about — just to not feel alone.  I know that making this film made me not feel alone.  There’s — I think the honesty of the conversation that this movie starts is one that you just can’t deny, because it’s, it’s not truthful.  And I think when you live and breathe in that place, then you realize you’re not alone.  And I know for myself as a parent, there have been days where I really needed that.  I just, I really needed to know that.  You know?  And I think every parent will tell you that.

Jason Reitman on the timing of Tully

JASON REITMAN: While Juno was about — growing up too quickly and Young Adult was about — almost never growing up — or growing up too slow.  This is a movie that is about that moment when you become a parent and you feel like you need to close a chapter — on a portion of your life so that you can open up a space that your child can occupy it.  And — and that was the first thing Diablo ever said to me was when she said, I have this idea for a script.

 

Tully

Directed by: Jason Reitman (“Juno,” “Up in the Air,” “Young Adult”)

Written by: Diablo Cody (“Juno,” “Young Adult”)

Starring: Charlize Theron, Mackenzie Davis, Mark Duplass, and Ron Livingston

A new comedy from Academy Award®-nominated director Jason Reitman (“Up in the Air”) and Academy Award®-winning screenwriter Diablo Cody (“Juno”). Marlo (Academy Award® winner Charlize Theron), a mother of three including a newborn, is gifted a night nanny by her brother (Mark Duplass). Hesitant to the extravagance at first, Marlo comes to form a unique bond with the thoughtful, surprising, and sometimes challenging young nanny named Tully (Mackenzie Davis).

Tully opens nationwide on May 4th!

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Thank you to Focus Features for inviting me to this press conference. No monetary compensation was exchanged for this post. All opinions are honest and 100% my own. 

 

westsidemommy

I am a new mom to a baby girl. I live in West Los Angeles. This blog is about my experiences as a new mom and navigating my way through kid-friendly L.A.

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