Can men and women just be friends? ‘Sweethearts’ director Jordan Weiss knows the answer

As a storyteller and filmmaker, I find myself utterly captivated by the journey of Jordan Weiss, a young talent whose passion for her craft shines brighter than the twinkle lights wrapped around a sailboat mast. Weiss’s determination to create a movie that resonates with audiences while maintaining an atmosphere of camaraderie on set is truly inspiring.

Jordan Weiss was waiting for someone to direct her screenplay.

She, along with her close companion Dan Brier, successfully marketed their collaborative project, the humorous coming-of-age film “Sweethearts,” to Picturestart producers, who are affiliated with Warner Bros. Discovery. For almost a year, they actively searched for directors to lead the production, but when it seemed unlikely they’d secure a well-known figure, Weiss and her team, including Dan Brier, urged her to consider directing as an option.

Weiss, aged 31, was told by producers that they suggested either letting someone else have their first directing role, or taking a chance and applying for it herself.

Previously, at the age of around thirty, Weiss hadn’t pondered over directing a film. She had already achieved some recognition in Hollywood, having developed and managed the Hulu comedy series “Dollface” only a few years following her graduation from USC’s School of Cinematic Arts in 2015.

But her? Running a movie set? Who did she think she was?

She explains, “Once the discussion moved to that particular project and I sketched out my thoughts about how I’d like the film to unfold, I became utterly captivated by the notion of, ‘I simply must bring this to life.’ However, it dawned on me that I was grappling with self-doubt, thinking, ‘I’ve finally achieved being a writer. If I also claim to be a director, wouldn’t that be pushing my luck too far?’

Starting on Thanksgiving Day, the romantic-comedy “Sweethearts” will be available to stream on Max. This is a promising start for Weiss, as the movie offers a charming yet risqué blend that harks back to both “When Harry Met Sally” and “Superbad,” with echoes of John Hughes’ work. The plot includes an unexpected twist, though I won’t give away any spoilers. This film is the creation of a talented director whose skill and confidence have led to her achievements.

About five years ago, Weiss and Brier conceived the concept for “Sweethearts” following a nationwide road trip. The movie features Kiernan Shipka and Nico Hiraga as Jamie and Ben, two childhood friends who attend college together but maintain ties to their high school sweethearts. Instead of enjoying their freshman year and making new connections, these college students have isolated themselves, keeping long-distance relationships that constrain them. Jamie finds her relationship with Simon, a not-so-bright but endearing Ivy League football player (Charlie Hall), unsatisfying, while Ben’s girlfriend Claire (Ava DeMary), a clingy drama queen, smothers him with endless text messages. One day, Jamie and Ben decide to break up with their partners during Thanksgiving break – more precisely, on the eve before the holiday. Typically, this Wednesday is known for students coming back from college to party, reconnect with old friends, and catch up on everyone’s news.

For Jamie and Ben, it’s a time to take action. And as they find the nerve to create emotions, the atmosphere becomes charged: They’re adorable, they’re entertaining, there’s no denying their affection for each other. Could they be something more than just friends? This question was the foundation for director Rob Reiner and writer Nora Ephron when they worked together on “When Harry Met Sally” in the late 1980s.

In a short-lived 22-year-old writers’ collective that ultimately disintegrated when two members began dating and created an awkward atmosphere, Weiss encountered her counterpart, Brier. Despite being part of the same circle of TV comedy assistants and mutual acquaintances, they maintained contact and developed a genuine bond. “He’s like a brother to me,” she shares. “We’re just incredibly compatible spirits.” When they embarked on their road trip, many of their friends and both mothers assumed it was a romantic retreat, but the truth was that they were simply two best friends seeking an enjoyable summer adventure.

During their trip together, the companions shared moments of laughter, reminiscing about their initial heartaches and the unique sensations of losing love. Fresh off wrapping up the first season of “Dollface,” which debuted in 2019 with Kat Dennings as a woman seeking to rebuild her friendships post-breakup, Weiss aimed to unwind from the demanding experience of balancing both writing and executive production roles.

When the pandemic caused production delays, she and Brier found themselves with extra time to develop the screenplay for “Sweethearts.” Obtaining approval from their studio, New Line Cinema, took a while, but by spring 2022 they were ready: They had a talented new director (her), an engaging plot and dialogue, and two captivating leads (Shipka and Horaga). Additionally, there was a video showcasing their on-screen chemistry, which Weiss describes as the most adorable video you’ll ever witness.

In no time, she ended up on set in New Jersey during summertime, working on a festive movie production alongside Brier as co-producer (in this case, Brier), Andrew Wehde (known for “The Bear”) as cinematographer, and over forty actors on the cast list, excluding the additional partygoers featured in the house bash and bar scenes.

Reflecting on those exhilarating few months in my life, I can’t help but marvel at the whirlwind of events that unfolded. In the span of just two weeks, I learned that ‘Dollface’ was not renewed for another season, I got engaged to Jake Densen, and a movie project I was involved with received the greenlight. It was an extraordinary time of transition and emotional upheaval, marked by both joy and sorrow. With my mother being a skilled wedding planner, I decided to focus all my energy on the movie, allowing her to take charge of our wedding preparations. I consider myself incredibly fortunate under such circumstances.

Raised in Tampa, Florida, Weiss was deeply involved with theatrical pursuits, often referred to as a “theater enthusiast.” For a decade, she immersed herself in performing arts camps during summers, and for a while, harbored dreams of acting professionally when she reached adulthood.

She admits, “I’ve always been quite acutely conscious of myself.” Looking around during her high school years, specifically at about 15 or 16, she realized, “It seems I wasn’t even landing the lead roles in a school of over 100 students. Perhaps this suggests that it might be wiser for me not to pursue acting professionally.

In simpler terms, Weiss sought guidance from her elder sibling about her future path, and he recommended that she identify where her passions meet her skills. For Weiss, who was a newspaper editor at the time, this turned out to be writing. She initially believed that writing for a formal newspaper would be her career because the prospect of having a career in Hollywood, given her background as a Floridian with no connections to California or the entertainment industry, never crossed her mind. However, when the idea did arise, she realized, “Ah, this is where my interests and abilities overlap.

I swiftly forged connections with Shipka, whose intellect that shines as Sally Draper in “Mad Men” gives off a cool, cerebral vibe; Horaga, a laid-back skateboarder who graced the screens in movies like “Booksmart” and “Moxie”; and Caleb Hearon, the comedian whose portrayal of Palmer, a man navigating his journey to come out as gay, is nothing short of remarkable.

During our initial encounter at the audition for the film Palmer, I almost wouldn’t have minded if Jordan seemed a bit reserved,” Hearon shares. “After all, she was a budding director embarking on her first feature film with stars who are highly admired in the industry.

Indeed, he expresses that she is remarkably grounded, devoid of ego, and deeply passionate about the work itself. Upon meeting her, one instantly feels compelled to collaborate on a film project with her, to the extent of willingness to fulfill any task requested for as long as possible.

During a crucial scene at the lake house, where it seemed as if there were a myriad of elements in motion, Hearon observed Weiss’ ability to manage situations effectively. This scene notably featured a character’s escalating scheme to ignite a fire that eventually became uncontrollable.

Shipka describes spending multiple evenings filming scenes by the lake, where Weiss skillfully captured various challenging comedy instances. Then, as the day broke, the focus switched to shooting intense, emotional conversations between Jamie and Ben, often within just one or two takes.

According to Shipka, her directorial skills are also exceptionally emotionally intuitive. She can seamlessly transition from creating grand, entertaining, and lively scenes to tender, crucial moments without making the audience uncomfortable.

Weiss, for her part, was humbled by the enormity of the labor involved in making a movie.

She mentions, “With likely a hundred individuals nearby – think about this massive footprint – everyone’s here for this shared endeavor. Initially, it was just an idea conceived during a road trip, a file on our computer. I aimed to make each person contributing to the movie feel like it was their own creation. If you were the sound engineer, I wanted you to think, ‘This is my movie ‘Sweethearts’, where I’m the sound engineer.’ Regardless of how big or small your role was on set, I desired everyone to share the same sense of ownership for this project as I do.

During a lengthy nighttime shoot, she took extra effort to raise everyone’s spirits. On occasion, while adjusting scenes, she observed through the camera screen that the background actors appeared overtired.

“Can I go and talk to the extras?” she asked her assistant director Alejandro Ramia.

“Go ahead,” he said.

Later on, Weiss climbed onto a table and initiated a lively rendition of Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA”. Not long after, the fatigued team found renewed energy, and when action was called for the next take, it seemed as if there was indeed a party happening, with everyone looking alert and laughing. As she reflects, this livened up the scene and gave the movie a more vibrant feel.

Following the completion of her previous project, Weiss moved on to her next high-profile assignment: penning the script for “Freakier Friday 2”, the highly anticipated sequel featuring Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, with Nisha Ganatra directing and slated for release in August. Additionally, she and Brier have been commissioned to transform Curtis Sittenfeld’s popular novel “Romantic Comedy” into a film for New Line and Hello Sunshine. In this adaptation, a cynical comedy writer develops an unlikely romantic connection with an attractive musician they encounter at a sketch show reminiscent of “Saturday Night Live”.

The productive relationship between Weiss and Brier serves as an illustration of a duo whose work echoes the question posed in the classic film “When Harry Met Sally.” Nora Ephron, who passed away in 2012, is renowned for co-writing and directing movies like “Sleepless in Seattle” and “You’ve Got Mail.” Her success in Hollywood was largely sustained by her long-lasting friendships with men such as Reiner, Tom Hanks (who starred in both films), and the prop guy who agreed to decorate a sailboat mast with extra twinkle lights at her request.

Weiss expresses a different viewpoint from Nora’s statement, ‘Men and women can’t be friends.’ Instead, he suggests that they can indeed be friends, as demonstrated by Harry and Sally in the movie. Over a span of 12 years, we witness their friendship, and eventually, they end up together. In essence, Weiss is agreeing with Nora’s perspective.

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2024-11-21 14:34