Before the world got hit by the devastating and ongoing pandemic, this year was going to see several actors make the jump to the director’s chair. From Halle Berry‘s directorial debut “Bruised,” to Regina King making her own debut with “One Night in Miami,” and David Oyelowo‘s “The Water Man” all premiering at film festivals this year.
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Joining the list is the directorial debut of actor Zach Woods, whose short film “David” was included in the lineup for both Cannes and Telluride, before finally announcing a premiere date at this year’s TIFF, and we just got a trailer for the short.
The actor-turned-filmmaker Zach Woods made his name as a castmember in the later years of “The Office,” as well as a regular role on “Silicon Valley” (where his role was the funniest amongst an already hilarious cast), so it’s no surprise that the trailer for “David” already hints at a darkly comedic story. Woods directs Will Ferrell, his recent co-star in “Downhill,” who seems to play a therapist treating William Jackson Harper.
Per the official synopsis, the 11-minute short “tells the story of a severely depressed man reaching out for an emergency therapy session. But he’s not the only one who needs help.” Per IndieWire, Woods “wanted to make a movie about people who are funny and sad and trying their best. Which, in my limited experience, is most people.”
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The 20-seconds trailer features a barely-holding-it-together Ferrell on the verge of cracking up, with Jackson Harper giving us the type of concealed mental breakdown that made his role in “The Good Place” a joy to watch. The short also stars Fred Hechinger. As IndieWire notes, “David” is the only short film from the U.S. to have been included in this year’s Cannes lineup.
You can watch the trailer below: