Director Kris Pearn shares why the animated film is the perfect quarantine watch.
Based on the Lois Lowry book of the same name,The Willoughysintroduces a not-so-typical family.
Explain how this perfect casting happened?
Netflix
KRIS PEARN:Ricky was definitely the inspiration for the cat.
He was already on board as an executive producer before I joined.
I think Rickys wife loved the book, so he was already working with my producer, Luke Carroll.
I was so excited to work with him, he’s a comedy icon.
But I did struggle with casting him.
On the surface this story is heartbreaking!
Why is its message so important, especially today?
I think tough times help us appreciate what matters.
I’m 3,000 miles away from my family right now.
My girls are now adults and they have their own lives.
I miss them terribly, but they’re with people who love them, and that gives me comfort.
When we made the movie we weren’t thinking of a pandemic.
I wanted to talk about family from the optics of love versus obligation.
I think now, more than ever, love matters.
I believe all of us deserve love no matter what.
I love my mailman.
I wave at him from my window because he makes me feel like the world is still turning.
I love you, Roy, thank you for the bills.
I’m sure a few families are ready to escape each other.
I’m ready for a happy ending.
To hop in my rainbow dirigible and fly it as far away as I can from my apartment.
I’m really ready to leave and go anywhere.
When it’s safe, of course.
The film is based on a book byLois Lowry.
Did she collaborate on this?
Has she already seen it?
She did watch it!
I was very nervous to show her because there were choices we made, lots of them.
She really liked it, especially how we called out the parents.
I wont give away what I know but its really weird.
Does this mean you’d consider making a sequel if Netflix comes knocking?
If they knock while Im sheltering in place, Ill say yes to anything.
As the cat says, the best stories are the hard ones, so well see!
