The whole COVID-19 pandemic lockdown situation is affecting just about everyone in the US, right now. No matter if you’re a health worker, a grocery store clerk, a financial executive, or a filmmaker, this new situation is hitting us all in different ways. And in the case of director Lynn Shelton and comedian Marc Maron, who are not only professional collaborators but also real-life partners, the lockdown has given them time to dust off a partially-written script for a new film and see if they can get it finished.
Speaking to IndieWire, Shelton and Maron discussed their quarantine lives, as well as a new, untitled film project they’re working on. While Shelton describes the film as a “domestic dramedy,” her co-writer went a bit further in the explanation of what the untitled film might look like.
“It’s about a married couple and the brother of the man comes back into the picture, and a lot of stuff is revealed that shifts the reality of the situation,” said Maron.
Most recently, Maron and Shelton collaborated on the film, “Sword of Trust,” which is one of the more underrated comedies of the last couple of years. That film was largely improvised, with Maron and the cast developing the script as they filmed. But this new film will definitely be scripted. Much to the chagrin of Maron.
“I don’t like to write at all. I don’t even like writing my own show,” Maron explained. “For years, we’ve been working on this thing and she decided we’ve got to finish it, which I believe we do.”
He continued, “She decided to go through what we had, because we’ve been chipping away at it for years, and she outlined the entire script. We really right now just have to write the second part of the last act… in script form, and then be working with a first draft. We’re close, but I can’t explain to you the resentment and contempt I have for this thing hanging over my head.”
Clearly, this is a project that is still in the early stages, but we’ll definitely keep an eye on it, as Shelton is one of the best indie filmmakers working today.