Five Questions With... Jesse Peretz, Director of JULIET, NAKED
/Annie (Rose Byrne) is in a rut. Her long-term boyfriend, Duncan (Chris O’Dowd), is more devoted to the music of faded singer-songwriter Tucker Crowe (Ethan Hawke) than he is to their relationship. When an unreleased demo of Tucker’s acclaimed 25-year-old album surfaces—prompting the reclusive artist's own reemergence—Annie and Duncan’s routine existence is upended in unpredictable ways. Based on the best-selling novel by Nick Hornby, JULIET, NAKED is an insightful and charming romantic comedy.
We spoke with JULIET, NAKED director Jesse Peretz about the film. Read more with him below, and see the film on Thurs, June 21 at 1pm and/or Fri, June 22 at 3:34pm!
JESSE PERETZ
NFF: Can you talk about your inspiration for the film (visual or story-wise)?
Jesse: It is hard to be entering into the world of film adaptations of Nick Hornby novels without siting ABOUT A BOY and HIGH FIDELITY as key references. Both are movies I adore. But I would also say that a key part of my life that I kept coming back to while we were developing this project was my days in the late ‘80s and beginning of the ‘90s when I was the bassist of the band The Lemonheads, and lived a life pretty ensconced in the pre-Nirvana punk/indie music scene. This was the world that our character Tucker Crowe lived in back in his mythologized past, and so exploring those memories were key to defining who he was.
NFF: Which music artists or musical forms are you personally obsessed with?
Jesse: My musical obsessions over the years have bounced around between ‘60s soul (I remember being given a Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrellalbum in 1977 that was spinning non-stop on my turntable for a year), Be Bop Jazz and Punk Rock. In particular I would say that Elvis Costelloand Big Star are probably the artists I have clocked the most hours in my life consuming and re-consuming. This is music that never gets old to me.
NFF: How did you decide or collaborate on the way the music in the film should sound
Jesse: Obviously for this film the music was of extra importance in the shaping of the film and the story, as who Tucker Crowe is/was as a musical figure is central to the story. My friend (and musical collaborator on almost of my projects) Nathan Larson and I have a deep history of shared loved music (and being in bands that toured together), so we (along with our brilliant music supervisor, Maggie Philips) listened to a lot of music from the period and styles we thought Tucker Crowe would have lived and worked in, and narrowed in on what we found most compelling directions to follow. But then we included a number of song writers in the process by putting out an appeal for original songs with these influences in mind, and saw what kind of songs came back. We used the ones that we felt best served the vibe we were looking for - and of course the ones we liked the most. Then Nathan and Ethan Hawke went and spent a bunch of days in the studio recording them, and putting their own spin and inspiration into the session. It was a very exciting process, but also filled with dead ends that were often filled with frustration.
NFF: Did you face any challenges or surprises while filming?
Jesse: We shot the entire film in England (even though a bit of it takes place in New York State), and it was a shock for me to learn how strict the English were about sticking to a 10 hour day - something almost unheard of in the US. I couldn’t imagine how we could responsibly go into each day knowing we would get what we need in those hours, but to my surprise it was not only completely doable (with a few exceptions) but also created a working environment that was mentally so much more focused, civil and calm. People came to work having had a good night’s sleep and a life since we wrapped the afternoon before.
NFF: Why are you excited to screen in Nantucket, and/or what do you hope Nantucket audiences might relate to or takeaway from the film?
Jesse: I am very excited to bring the film to the audience in Nantucket. I hope that people connect with what I believe are universal themes of second chances and the struggles to conquer our fears we have failed the ones who need us most. Mostly I hope that people find it both entertaining and emotionally honest.
