Original-Cin Q&A: Director Fisher Stevens on snagging a world-touring Justin Timberlake for the drama Palmer
A consummate face-you-know, Fisher Stevens has had a long and varied character-actor career in front of the camera, and behind it as well. Recently he’s focused on documentaries. But the script for the new feature Palmer drew him into the drama lane.
The film, which he directs, is about a former high-school football phenom named Eddie (Justin Timberlake) who returns home to put his life together after 12 years in prison, and forms a bond with a precocious seven-year-old named Sam (Ryder Allen) who’s in the questionable care of a drug-addicted mother (Juno Temple).
Palmer debuts this Friday on Apple TV+
Our Bonnie Laufer spoke with Fisher Stevens about why it was so important for him to make this film and why Justin Timberlake was the perfect choice to anchor it.
Click HERE to watch Bonnie’s video interview with child star Ryder Allen.
Fisher Stevens and Justin Timberlake on the set of Palmer.
ORIGINAL-CIN: You new film, Palmer, packs such an emotional punch. I can't even imagine what it was like for you experiencing this and making it.
FISHER STEVENS: “Neither can I to be honest. I look back at shooting this movie and I go, ‘Wow. how did we do this?’ It was difficult on so many levels but it was a joy.
“We shot the whole movie in 25 days, we had a seven-year-old, a 90-year-old (June Squibb), who plays Eddie’s grandmother), and a pop star on set. We shot in the middle of Louisiana during hurricane season, and we got lucky with the weather.
“Truthfully, I just got lucky with this amazing cast and my producers and it just worked out. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't but when I watch the movie now I remember how tired I was but so worth it.”
PROUDLY SUPPORTS ORIGINAL-CIN
O.C: Justin Timberlake has proven himself as quite a good actor, but why was he the right guy for Palmer? I don't know if I would have thought about him immediately for this role.
STEVENS: “I didn't initially think about him for the role either. In 2018, we were close to having a greenlit movie, we were in negotiations with a couple of different people, and Justin wasn't on my list.
“Then the whole movie fell apart, the financing fell apart for whatever reason and I was despondent and depressed. So I was back to focusing on documentaries and I was making a film with Leonardo DiCaprio (the eco-documentary Before the Flood) and I needed some advice. So I sent the Palmer script to his manager who also happened to represent Justin. He immediately got back to me and said, ‘This guy is Justin!’ I didn't even think of it until he suggested it.
Timberlake, Ryder Allen and June Squibb praise the Lord in Palmer
“There are not a lot of movie stars between the ages of 30 and 38 to choose from. It's a small window. Plus, we needed a name to get the movie financed, even though it was a lower budget movie.
“The other issue with Justin at the time was that he was in the middle of a year-and-a-half tour World Tour so I didn’t think he would even consider it. But, I sent him the script and he responded to it immediately.
“He had a lot of questions and didn’t say, ‘I'll do your movie for sure.’ But we discussed it, and worked on the script with the writer, and it was incredible in the way that he jumped in. Once he said yes, he was all in. Watching his performance in the film shows you what a true talent he is.”
O.C: Talk about talent, your seven year old actor Ryder Allen who plays Sam is outstanding. The chemistry between him and Justin is wonderful.
STEVENS: “I know, he's a miracle. When Justin signed on he did say, ‘I'll do the movie but we're not going to start shooting until we find the right kid.’ He wanted to read with at least six kids who were between the ages of 8-10. And to be honest Ryder wasn't even on my list.
“At the last minute I thought, ‘I'll throw in this seven-year-old to read with Justin. I initially didn’t consider him because I didn't think a seven-year-old was capable of doing a movie, especially with what his character goes through in this movie. “So we threw Ryder in to see if he could handle the material and the minute he began to read with Justin we knew straight away that they were going to be magic on screen together.”
O.C: This movie is all about second chances on so many levels. How important are second chances for you in your own life?
STEVENS: “Oh my God, it was another reason I just had to make this film. Second chances are crucial, giving someone another chance is such an important theme for me.
“Why are we dismissed? We make a mistake. We are 20 years old and we pay a price. We should be given another opportunity. You know, what's interesting is that I love people. I love the human condition and It's the reason I make documentaries.
“I have to say that working on Palmer really opened my eyes to that particular thing, because we spoke to a lot of people who are incarcerated or were coming out of jail.
“We listened to their stories and they were really either uplifting or heartbreaking, depending on which way things went for them. So I think that was one of the attractions to making the film for me and for Justin.”