Miss Responsibility

One of the reasons I love attending film festivals (aside from having the opportunity to see my films with an audience) is that I get to meet and network with other filmmakers. You never know when those conversations may lead to future collaborations.

In 2019, I met actor, writer, and director Lauren Cox at The Memphis Film Prize. She and I both had directed films that were selected to the Top 10. As we spoke, I learned more about her goals as an actor and we started talking about projects she and I could work on together.

During our subsequent conversations, she pitched me an idea: A wealthy socialite, who has been coddled far too long, is forced to prove that she can make it on her own. She and I developed the story together and I wrote a script based on those ideas.

From the outset, Miss Responsibility was always going to be a comedy, so I had to take great care in how I wrote the main character of Claire. The risk in writing for a rich, out-of-touch, party girl like Claire is that people may find her completely unlikeable and, therefore, not connect with the film. With that in mind, I made sure to lean into the more absurd parts of Claire's personality. Audiences need to laugh with Claire and have fun while watching her antics.

When it came to the production, I wanted to recapture the spontaneity and improvisational nature I experienced so many times as a student filmmaker. There's a certain sense of excitement that comes from running a set that's more flexible and agile. You aren't tied down to a rigid schedule and a firm shot list. You are more free to create as you go and you can quickly pivot to capture those wonderful ideas as they present themselves. The result is a relaxed, energetic atmosphere where everyone feels a sense of ownership, because each crew member has been invited into the process.

Now, I invite audiences into that process as well. I want them to experience the fun and the laughter that we all shared in bringing Miss Responsibility to the screen.