FAMILY AFFAIR: An interview with Lovely & Amazing director Nicole Holofcener. By Warren Curry 6/26/02 Part 2 of 2

Do you have your next project set up or a big stack up of scripts that you want to do?

No. I have a stack up of scripts that I've read -- happily I get offered things -- and I'm in a lucky position, but I haven't wanted to direct many of them. For me, I really have to love a script and I haven't gotten sent anything that I really love yet. I'm depending on myself mostly to direct things that I like. I'm happy to do a good TV show to make some money and keep practicing, but it's a short experience. I might be directing an episode of Six Feet Under and I'm going to be writing a pilot for NBC; I don't know what it's about yet. I'm just trying to make some money right now, and when I have some money then I'll be able to sit down and figure out what the next script will be. It's a little scary though because I don't have a lot of ideas. If someone said to me tomorrow, "Here's $10 million," I would be screwed, because I don't know what I would want to do next.

Since your writing style is unconventional, how does that translate to the television script format?

They probably just won't pick it up. (laughs) The producer that I'm working with so far has said, "I know your style, don't worry about it." I'm not plot-oriented, but I can write in a three-act (structure); I have written a pilot before and I can do that. Unfortunately, it's not the kind of show I'd want to watch the most. The one I'd want to watch might be a little less conventional, and I'm hoping that I can do that for a later time slot. I'm going to try to blend and do something that I like and that makes me want to get up in the morning and work on. And I'm going to try to do something that they'll like, so that I can keep the job. It's hard to do that -- I do rewrites for studios and I have to work from a different place. I have to be more disciplined than just sitting down and wondering what the characters are going to say to me.

Why liposuction as the procedure that goes wrong? Did that also come from a person you know?

No. I didn't put it in the movie as a scare tactic. It just actually was a convenient plot twist, so the mom doesn't come home. I know some people who've done it and I've done some research on it. It just interested me how popular it is and that this woman, even at this age, is still working at it. Brenda is beautiful and she should work at it -- it's not like she should just give up and go to pot -- but not necessarily have surgery. I'm not really sending a message out there. I'm not putting myself on a soapbox, but it probably looks that way.

Are you excited that this is "the summer of women" for movies? There's Lovely & Amazing and The Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood.

I didn't know it was the summer of women, but if it is, I'm glad to be a part of it. I have not yet seen Ya-Ya Sisterhood, but I'm very curious to see it. I'm very luck to be here and it's good timing.

Because of this, hopefully a lot more people will see the film.

You know, the only way we'll get to make more movies is if our movies make money. So, I really just hope it makes some money. For me, personally, it doesn't have to make a lot of money. I think I'll get to make another movie if the reviews are good and the response is good. Just like Walking and Talking didn't really turn much of profit. But, culturally, it would be great if it could make some dough, so then the next person could make a movie.

Are you fearful that this movie might be marketed exclusively to women and perhaps alienate men?

Even if it did, it could still be a success. Aren't there enough women out there? If not one man went to see this movie couldn't it still be a big hit? There are a lot of women out there.

But men should see this film.

Oh, I would love it if they did. I would be sad if men did not see it, and I think they will. So far, so many men have responded so well to it -- much more so than Walking and Talking. Despite the fact that the male characters are much smaller, the response has been very good. I obviously want as many people to see it as possible, but I don't feel bad if women feel like it's there movie. They can have one -- as long as it's mine. (laughs)

Click here to read Ryan's review of Lovely & Amazing.

Click here to read questions for star Catherine Keener

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