Original-Cin Q&A: Director Kris Rey takes Community's Gillian Jacobs back to school in I Used To Go Here
I Used to Go Here is a new comedy from writer/director Kris Rey which is set for a release on August 4th in some theaters and on VOD platforms.
The film stars Gillian Jacobs (who played Britta on Community) as Kate Conklin, a 35-year-old writer who heads back to her alma mater to give a lecture about writing following the lackluster debut of her first novel. Kate thinks that, by returning to her old college as a published author, she might get the morale boost she sorely needs.
Read our review of I Used to Go Here
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Gillian Jacobs and Kris Rey about the film and getting that boost of self-confidence that we all sometimes really need.
Gillian Jacobs introduces herself to Jemaine Clement, and reintroduces herself to college life.
Original-Cin: Kris, let's start with you. I wanted to know where the idea for the film came from. How autobiographical is it?
KRIS REY: Would you believe me if I said it wasn't?
OC: No, I wouldn't.
REY: (Laughs) “Well, you’d be right! It was based a bit on my own experience traveling back to my alma mater which is Southern Illinois University where the film takes place and also among other universities.
“I went on a little bit of a tour with my previous film Unexpected, and that experience inspired the movie though. I promise you nothing that crazy happened to me. But the feeling of these younger kids kind of being in awe of you, and not really feeling like you've made it yourself, is something that I wanted to talk about, something I thought was kind of unique.”
OC: Gillian, watching this film, I felt that your character Kate was written for you. It seemed so effortless and natural for you. How much fun did you have playing her?
GILLIAN JACOBS: “I had a great time doing this movie and I keep saying it because it's true. But i think Kris did such an amazing job casting the film. So, I really did kind of feel like after being charmed and falling for all of these people it felt very comfortable. It was just a pleasure to get to know them on screen and off and I just would have fun being with them. So it was not hard, it was just a joy.”
OC: Is going back to college something that we're going to see consecutively from you?
JACOBS: “My God, you're right! Community is set at a college too, I guess so, that's my thing. I’ll have to make sure I make at least one college related movie or show a year. (Laughs).”
Gillian Jacobs and director Kris Rey on set.
OC: Kris, Gillian is so right about the casting, but getting Jemaine Clement (Flight of the Conchords)… were you pinching yourself? He is fantastic as the slimy inappropriate Professor. I couldn’t see anybody else in this role.
REY: “I agree. I feel very lucky. I truly do pinch myself all the time. Our producers on the film are The Lonely Island guys and (member) Jorma Taccone, who is also in the film, connected us with Jemaine. He's so good in the movie and we had so much fun working with him. He made us laugh every day on set.”
OC: Gillian, was it easy establishing a connection with the cast and did you all have instant chemistry?
JACOBS: “I have a bad habit of asking relentless questions. So, in between takes, I would just ask people a lot of questions. So I feel that my relentless inquisitive nature put everyone at ease!
“We also had endless van rides to and from set. And Kris smartly had everyone go up to where we shot the lake scenes early, and have us get to know each other.
“The location was actually a camp. And so we all stayed in cabins and the whole cast and crew got to hang out. So yeah, it happened pretty naturally and thankfully I really enjoyed working with everyone. So, it felt natural.”
OC: It’s a very tight script, but you have a lot of comedic actors on hand. Was there ad-libbing?
REY: “I think I was pretty flexible, but we didn't do that much to be honest. There are a few great moments that Jemaine threw in, because he is Jemaine Clement. (Laughs).
“It’s funny, I just spoke to a journalist from the Chicago Tribune. And she ended up writing a lot about the specific moment Gillian’s character first returns to the school, and says to Jemaine, ’Thank you for having me.’ He replies, ‘Thank you for being had.’
“He definitely ad-libbed that line and it ended up being so poignant that she really focused on that for her article.”
OC: At the heart of it, the film is really about finding your confidence. How many of us have been in that position where we do something and our self-confidence is squashed and we feel defeated. What is it that gives you confidence?
JACOBS: “I haven’t found that thing yet.”
OC: Oh, come on!
JACOBS: “I know, but it’s true. That's an honest answer. I don't know, I’ve really got to work on that. I don't have a lot of self-confidence, so the truth is, you’ve stumped me.”
REY: “I hate to admit it, but I really thrive on external validation. I wrote this movie not because I had some grand message about life that I understood, but because this is really something that I grapple with.
“Trying to find confidence within yourself and security about what you're doing, I think a lot of people struggle with that. Especially a lot of women struggle with that, and I know I struggle with it big time. It's a journey that I am on currently, and I'm trying to move through it.
“I also think part of what helps build my confidence, and I think most people can relate to this, is by taking a risk and by doing something, by being bold and doing it and then coming away and being proud of what you did. It gives you confidence to do the next thing.”