Star TrekandWonder WomanstarChris Pinemakes his directorial debut withPoolmanat this year’s Toronto International Film Festival, which is due to debut on Monday night.Poolmanis a comedy that surrounds a devoted pool cleaner, Darren Barrenman (Pine), who uncovers a heist and gets mixed up with criminals. The cast comprises of Ariana DeBose, Annette Bening, Jennifer Jason Leigh, DeWanda Wise, and Danny DeVito.
Stacy Sher is on board as a producer for the film along with co-writer Ian Gotler andWonder Woman’s Patty Jenkins. Sher sat down in an interview withDeadlineto discuss the film and Pine’s commitment to directing. Due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Pine will not attend the premiere in solidarity with other SAG actors. Sher states that Pine understands the struggles of actors and supports the actions being taken by SAG-AFTRA and the WGA.
Chris comes from a family of actors who have struggled and he understands, especially given the time we are living in, Darren (the character Pine plays inPoolman)would of been out there on the picket lines making sure people were hydrated. We all felt the film belonged at TIFF and so honored to be here because it is an audience festival. It is a place where things that are optimistic can connect with people as well. It is a different premiere and Q&A then we had hoped for, but there was never a second where Chris was going to do anything but stand with SAG and the WGA.
While Sher says that the film is “wildly optimistic” about the challenges in life, she also says it is a warning to those in Los Angeles not to forget the city’s history.
It’s a love letter and a kind of cautionary call to L.A. because the frustrating part of L.A. is we are always erasing our history. His love of everything that was and his nostalgia is very Chris and not just Darren. His letters to the writers are written on his vintage typewriter that is also used in the film. It’s no coincidence that Darren’s two spirit animals are Erin Brockovich and Bruce Lee because they represent his philosophies.
Poolmanis inspired by such classics asChinatown,The Big Lebowski,Citizen Kane,The Long Goodbye, andBottle Rocket.
Related:Chris Pine’s Best Movies, Ranked by Rotten Tomatoes Score
Chris Pine’s Unique Vision as a Director Shines InPoolman
Producer Stacy Sher has been involved in notable projects likePulp Fiction,Matilda,Erin Brockovich,Along Came Polly,Django Unchained, andThe Hateful Eight. The acclaimed producer praises Pine for hisunique vision and creativity in directing.
He (Pine) had a very specific vision and its there on the page, the tone, the idiosyncrasy, the specificity that he was going after for the performance, was all there and then when we first met it was clear to me what he wanted.
Sher claims that due to his expertise as an actor, Pine has developed his own techniques and understanding of how to provoke the best performances from actors.
When you are a super-experienced actor and spent your whole life on set, you develop a rhythm and understanding of things, like knowing what an AD is going to say to you before they even come to you. Chris has an incredible eye for design and wardrobe, he has exquisite taste, and a great attention to detail, so it was pretty seamless. Because he is such an empathetic person, he started with character and went into plot from there and he was great with all these cast members.
Last year,Poolmansold to Paramount Pictures, StudioCanal, and Lionsgate Films for U.S. distribution rights. Signature Entertainment recently bought distribution rights for the UK and Ireland.
