INTERVIEW: ‘Weightless’ is story of unexpected father-son relationship
Photo: Julianne Nicholson stars in Weightless, a new film from first-time director Jaron Albertin. Photo courtesy of Paladin / Provided by EG-PR with permission.
In Weightless, the new drama from first-time director Jaron Albertin, a man finds himself suddenly taking over parenting duties for his 10-year-old son. He’s unprepared and unwilling at first, but the boy begins to grow on him and change the father’s loner ways.
Weightless, which is now playing in New York City and Los Angeles, features a script co-written by Albertin and the celebrated playwright Enda Walsh. The cast includes Alessandro Nivola, Eli Haley, Julianne Nicholson and Johnny Knoxville.
Albertin is well known in the commercial and advertising worlds, having won top acclaim for his video projects, but Weightless serves as his cinematic debut. Recently, the director exchanged emails with Hollywood Soapbox about the new film. Questions and answers have been slightly edited for style.
What was it like working with Enda Walsh?
I had written the original draft of the screenplay, and I got Enda to read it for some feedback. He had just been working on Once the play with my reps. A month later and we were in the interior of [British Columbia] for a week, traveling through old small mining towns talking about the script. He had decided to help me draft it. After this week, he went away and produced the second draft. He is an amazing playwright, and I really learned a lot from him through this process. I feel blessed.
Was making the transition from the video and commercial world into the film world a difficult one?
I wouldn’t say it’s a difficult one. You could say it’s the same discipline but with different objectives, but with making a film there are so many parameters, especially with a small film like this. How to get it financed being the biggest challenge coming from commercials. While on production with time not on your side, another challenge is the only necessity is that of the story. Working with talented actors, and allowing them to bring their own to the project is something you don’t get to work on in commercials. That part is great.
What do you feel the film says about parenthood?
This is a tough question. That the struggle for connection can sometimes be a family’s biggest hurdle. That a lot of people need help, and with a lack of others around for long periods of time can make it very difficult on some people, especially in smaller communities. Life goes on wether you like it or not, and sometimes as a human condition we get stuck — stuck in cycles, where we don’t have the knowledge or knowhow to get out.
What inspired this particular story?
The original idea came from a short story called Whisper to Scar by a writer of the name of Brian Carr. This short about an obese boy and his father stood out for me as it resonated with themes I’ve been exploring, and Brian’s work is worth reading.
I had an abstract idea that I wanted to tell a story where a father was living inside the belly of his child. Like a fetus, this father lived inside his obese kid, and their lives repeat and become cyclical. It was a metaphor for hereditary trauma, which is where trauma or extreme trauma can be inherited. In psychology it’s a phenomenon where traumatic experiences can be passed down from one generation from the next.
Do you plan to continue making films? Did you enjoy the experience?
Of course. I’d feel so blessed to be able to continue to make films. I believe they are still an important medium.
By John Soltes / Publisher / John@HollywoodSoapbox.com
Weightless, directed by Jaron Albertin, is now playing in New York City and Los Angeles.
