Chelsea Peretti is a comedic actor who often lights up any project she’s in. Just ask those devotees of “Brooklyn Nine-Nine.” So, you have to be excited by the prospect of “First Time Female Director,” a feature she wrote, directed, and stars in.
As seen in the trailer, “First Time Female Director” follows the story of a woman who takes on the role of director at a local theater. She then has to wrangle her rag-tag group of performers to help get a stage production off the ground. The film features an incredible ensemble of comedic actors including Peretti (obviously), as well as Benito Skinner, Kate Berlant, Megan Stalter, Megan Mullally, Jak Knight, Blake Anderson, Amy Poehler, Max Greenfield, Brad Hall, Tim Heidecker, Natasha Leggero, and Andy Richter. As mentioned, Peretti wrote and directed the film.
We saw the film at last year’s Tribeca, and we weren’t huge fans. Our review said, “‘First Time Female Director’ is a tremendous disappointment because Peretti is such a gifted performer; it’s understandable to go in pulling for her, but those layers of goodwill just peel away as scene after scene simply does not work. Too much of what she’s assembled is just half-hearted cringe comedy—much of it without the comedy half of the equation.”
“First Time Female Director” arrives on The Roku Channel on March 8. You can watch the trailer below.
Here’s the synopsis:
Aspiring writer Sam (Chelsea Peretti) is thrust into the role of director when the Regis Theatre’s director is fired. Hand-picked by the theatre’s artistic director, Sheldon (Andy Richter), Sam is asked to direct the Regis’ upcoming Southern-inspired play, ‘Rain’s Comin’ In.’ Sam dives into the opportunity, and hilarity ensues as she struggles to wrangle the eclectic cast—including classic theater kid Rudy (Benito Skinner); over-trained amateur Clara (Kate Berlant); vain, tech-addict Davina (Meg Stalter); theater vet Marjory (Megan Mullally); acting savant Simon (Jak Knight); and Corden (Blake Anderson), whose minor acting credits give him high status in the company. Barely making it through each rehearsal, Sam vents to her eccentric therapist, Meg (Amy Poehler) and even turns to the Regis’ arrogant-but-dorky usher, Robbie (Max Greenfield), for drunken comfort. As Sam struggles to understand why she can’t seem to nail her production, she tries different tactics to make her play a success. Will she finally hit it big? Or will being a first-time female director lead her to try a totally different career?