26 August 2024 |
The filmmakers are back with their second feature film, A New York Story.
Following the success of their award-winning debut, The Country Club, filmmakers and sisters Fiona and Sophia Robert, continue to capture audiences with their fresh storytelling. A New York Story, with a limited theatrical and VOD release on September 6th through Vertical Entertainment, explores the tension between Manhattan’s elite social scene and the free-spirited art world. The film’s cast includes Logan Miller and Annabella Sciorra, with a special cameo from Whit Stillman the director of the iconic Metropolitan which served as inspiration for the film. With their commitment to creating strong female-led stories, the Robert Sisters are solidifying themselves as key players in modern independent cinema. Set against the backdrop of New York City’s clash of cultures, A New York Story promises to be an elegant and poignant take on love, loss, and self-discovery. We caught up with the Roberts to discuss their brand new project, their exciting future plans, and what props were stolen from set.
1. How have you found collaborating with your sister and how does this process differ from working with someone who might not know you as well?
“We love collaborating with each other as we tend to have the same goals — we want each other to succeed. It’s hard to find someone to work with that also wants [to uplift you] the industry can be a very personally focused place.”
2. Was there any specific event or stimulus that inspired you to make ‘A New York Story’?
“We took inspiration from people we knew in New York, and the friend groups that we came across. Not a lot of love stories consider the wider friend group, alongside the couple themselves.”
3. Do you have any favorite looks or outfits from the film?
“Our favorite looks were definitely the Gala looks. Everyone looked so beautiful and elegant! A lot of the actors also told us that they loved being in a film where they could look good. Not many dramas allow for actors be glamorous because it doesn’t serve the story.”
4. If you had no limits, complete creative freedom, what would be your dream project be to create?
“If we could make any project, no constraints, we would make an epic period drama, as we are big fans of them. Think Amadeus or The Age of Innocence. We would love to do a film that follows the entirety of someone’s whole life. For example, we recently read a book called Emma about a model in the 1800s who was in lots of famous paintings and reproductions in everyone’s shop windows. She ended up being the mistress of the British Vice-Admiral Nelson, who helped defeat Napoleon. We thought it was neat to read about a famous person from a different time period. You tend to think of fame as a mainly modern day thing, so it would be interesting to explore what that was like in the past.”
5. If you could steal one item or prop from the film, what would it be?
“We did actually steal one of the props, the Ballingers earrings that one of the characters gifts to their friend group! We got them custom designed for the film, had a plastic cast made, then our props master took them to the jewelry district in LA to have them made. We kept them alongside the black Ballingers boxes the props master designed.”
6. Can you tell us about any upcoming projects or ideas that you have?
“Currently in the works is a new project in the UK. We are hoping to film next spring — it will be a murder mystery filmed in the countryside!”
7. What were some of the challenges you came across during the filmmaking process?
“We were determined to do 35 different locations within a 24 day shoot, so we ended up shooting in two to three locations some days. There were crazy time constraints! For example, The Comedy Cellar only let us film outside between 9:30pm and 10pm. We also managed to film at St. Ignatius Loyola on the Upper East Side where a lot of prominent New York funerals are held. We had to shoot here in an hour between two real funerals.”
8. If you could remake any film, what would it be and what would you change?
“Maybe 12 Angry Men? It depends on what the writer’s estate would allow but it could be a great way to explore modern class and race dynamics in the US.”
9. Who are your dream creatives to collaborate with?
“We would love to work with Olivia Coleman, Joaquin Phoenix, and Nicole Kidman. We would also like to learn from bigger producers and see how they work such as Megan Ellison.”
10. How would you describe A New York Story in three words?
“Love, friendship, and triangles!”
