One of my favorite films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival was director Alfonso Gomez-Rejon’s Me and Earl and the Dying Girl. Based on the Jesse Andrews novel of the same name, the film revolves around a movie-obsessed high school senior (Thomas Mann) who is talked into spending time with an acquaintance classmate (Olivia Cooke) who has recently been diagnosed with cancer. The film was this year’s big winner at the Sundance Film Festival, following in the footsteps of Whiplash and Fruitvale Station by taking home both the Grand Jury Prize and the Audience Award. The film also stars RJ Cyler, Nick Offerman, Jon Bernthal, Connie Britton and Molly Shannon. For more here's the trailer and Adam's review.

A few days ago I sat down with Alfonso Gomez-Rejon for an exclusive interview. He talked about our interview at Sundance right after the film sold, how things have changed since January, his admiration for Steven Spielberg and Martin Scorsese, what he wants to do next, and even plays “Save or Kill.”

Here’s the interview followed by the time index. Me and Earl and the Dying Girl is in theaters this weekend. If you'd like to see his interview from Sundance, click here.

 

 

Alfonso Gomez-Rejon:

  • :05 - Talks about how strange it was doing press at Sundance.
  • 1:48 - Talks about how his life has changed since selling the film.
  • 3:19 - Does he know what he wants to do next? Does he want to do an indie or studio film?
  • 4:22 - How much does budget play a role in his decision making?
  • 6:03 - Save or Kill.
  • 8:20 - Talks about his admiration for Spielberg and Scorcese.
  • 9:03 - Talks about working with Spielberg on The Red Band Society.
  • 10:25 - Has the Me and Earl changed since Sundance? Says the put a lot of effort into the sound mixing in one moment, but that's it.

me-and-earl-and-the-dying-girl-poster