Director William H. Macy onstage at 'Krystal' Q&A during 20th Anniversary SCAD Savannah Film Festival on November 3, 2017 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for SCAD)
Actor William H. Macy's feature film directorial debut 'Krystal' (2017), about a sickly young man who is forced to live a sequestered existence who forms an infatuation with a stripper, recently screened at the 20th Annual SCAD Savannah Film Festival. As an actor, Macy has won multiple awards throughout his colorful career and has appeared in films like 'The Client' (1994), 'Fargo' (1996), 'Jurassic Park' (2001) and the TV series 'Shameless'. Macy made an appearance at the SCAD Film Festival with his producer Rachel Winter to support their film 'Krystal'. Winter is known for producing films 'Dallas Buyers Club' (2013) and 'Stealing Cars' (2015). Great Point Media is handling worldwide sales.
I interviewed William and Rachel about their film. Here is what they had to say:
Can you tell us a bit about 'Krystal'?
MACY: I'll tell you one thing. It took us 14 years to get made because when you try to break it down to a pitch, as they say, it sounds wacked... “two Nazis walk into a gay bar.” Just kidding. The pitch is this: “A young man has a heart condition which precludes him from experiencing sports or anything exciting, so he's a shut-in.” It's an hour and forty minutes long.
WINTER: It's the shittiest logline you've ever heard.
What did it feel like to see it finally up on the big screen?
MACY: I got goosebumps. Rachel, did you get goosebumps today when we saw the end of the screening?
WINTER: Absolutely. I think it ended up being a very poignant movie. It's sweet, funny, smart. The writer Will Aldis is just a singular voice. I think it's really a great time to have a film that's entertaining but speaks of issues that we have in this country about fear based behavior, like when you're not at your best and your acting out of fear. And it also certainly deals with addiction issues.
When was it that you two found each other and started working on this together?
WINTER: We started talking about this movie around 2004 or something. It was a haul.
MACY: It was before electricity was invented. I'll tell you, it was a long time ago.
WINTER: I went to Will with this as an actor. He had directed before but it was an HBO thing a long time ago. I went to his agent and asked to have him read the script. I got the most amazing callback: “he's interested in throwing his hat in the ring for directing.” I was doing a jig, because we finally had our director.
You also produced 'Dallas Buyers Club' with producer Cassian Elwes. What was that like?
WINTER: Yes. Cassian is a force and we couldn't have done that film without him.
Will you direct again, William?
MACY: It's hard to get these gigs. It's really hard to put them together. Rachel is about the best there is and as unstoppable as she is, it's hard. It's hard for everyone, especially for women. Although, this is a good time for women. I mean, you've got eyes looking for you actively in Hollywood and that's good. You can take that to the bank. But I'd love to direct again. I'd like to spend a little more money next time, maybe get out of the indie world and go a little bigger.
Do you think there will still be a market for indie art films in the future? I mean, it seems to get ever more difficult to make them.
WINTER: Yes, there will be. But we have to stick with the films we want to make, regardless of how long they take. Again, you have to be blessed enough to be able to stick with them, and add art and commerce to that.
MACY: People get very very nervous before they write a check for a million dollars. I discovered this.
When can audiences see the film?
WINTER: It'll come out this spring.
Producer Rachel Winter and director William H. Macy attend Maverick Award presentation during 20th Anniversary SCAD Savannah Film Festival on November 3, 2017 in Savannah, Georgia. (Photo by Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images for SCAD)
Interview by Vanessa McMahon