Janicza Bravo and Brett Gelman really seem to have it made as rising stars in both TV and independent film. In six years, Bravo has made six shorts, some of which were featured at major festivals, including one that was awarded a Sundance Jury prize and another virtual reality film that was showcased at Tribeca Storyscapes. Plus, she directed the feature film LEMON and the celebrated Juneteenth episode of the Emmy-winning series Atlanta.
Gelman has acted in basically every cool show on television, including current stints on David Lynch's Twin Peaks reboot and Judd Apatow's Love on Netflix. He’s also been in several movies and headed up two of his own comedy specials on Adult Swim.
So it was a bit of a surprise to learn that they suffer from the same anxieties, insecurities, frustrations, and setbacks that the rest of us do.
In fact, it was these feelings that birthed the real-life married couple’s collaboration on the film LEMON, which premiered at Sundance earlier this year and then played opening night of Rotterdam the same week. It's currently being released theatrically by Magnolia Pictures. They co-wrote the film, which Janicza directed. In it, Brett plays Isaac, a bit of an unlikable sad sack in the middle of one of life’s downward spirals.
Bravo and Gelman on the set of 'LEMON'Credit: Magnolia Pictures
In this episode, I speak with the couple on the night before the film's New York premiere, and they share very candid details about the six-year struggle to get the film made, how they overcame each hurdle, and how the industry actually works.
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This episode was edited by Jon Fusco.
