Filmmaker Megan Park once again graced Sundance Film Festival with her presence, bringing her sophomore My Old Ass along with her. Part coming-of-age and part romcom, the quirky movie follows Elliot (played by Maisy Stella) after she comes face to face with her older self (affectionately named “My Old Ass” and portrayed by Aubrey Plaza) during a mushroom trip. The premise may sound farcical, but it gives way to a truly touching story of self-discovery and lifelong bonds.
My Old Ass has received glowing reviews thanks to stellar performances from its lead, as well as to Park’s whip-smart script. While Elliot dips her toe in the waters of first love throughout the movie, her relationships with family members and friends are equally as significant to her journey. Stella’s real-life friends Kerrice Brooks and Maddie Ziegler join her onscreen, and the trio are a delight to watch in every scene. But the secret sauce of the movie is, of course, the strange chemistry between Stella and Plaza and younger and older Elliot.
![Aubrey Plaza & My Old Ass Team On Time Traveling Coming-Of-Age Comedy [Sundance]](https://static1.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/social-feat.jpg)
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Screen Rant interviewed the cast and director of My Old Ass while at Sundance Film Festival. The younger performers shared stories about their friendship on and offscreen, Plaza explained how she shaped her performance to match Stella’s, and Park commented on her directing style for the project.
Cast & Director Talk My Old Ass At Sundance Film Festival
Aubrey Plaza
Screen Rant: Who had to mold themselves more to become like the other, between you and Maisy?
Aubrey Plaza: That’s a very good question. I don’t know. I felt like it was my job to mold to her because she’s the star of the movie, and she’s the one that’s really driving the story. Even though I didn’t have much time before we started shooting, I was paying attention to her every moment. I was just watching her creepily; kind of stalking her. Just watching her every movement.
I’m sure she did too, but I felt like it was more my responsibility to be like, “Alright, I gotta like capture this girl right now.”
Maisy Stella, Maddie Ziegler, and Kerrice Brooks
Screen Rant: What is the best and worst thing about working with your friends?
Maisy Stella: The worst thing, I think, would be trying to be super serious. We got lucky with that because none of our scenes were super weighted or super serious. The best thing is literally working with your friends . It’s a genuinely safe and comfy and fun thing to do.
Kerrice Brooks: It’s so fun. And there’s so much support because you know there’s no judgment there.
What’s the first thing you would ask if you met your old ass?
Kerrice Brooks: What’s that bank account looking like? Are you okay, girl?
Maisy Stella: I feel like I wouldn’t want to meet my old ass. I feel like I don’t want to know. I’ll get there when I get there. I would ask no questions, honestly.
Maddie Ziegler: I’m thinking of something meaningful, but I’m also like, “Do we still have acne? Because I don’t want that anymore. I would ask all those things.
Megan Park
Screen Rant: What really kicked My Old Ass into high gear for you?
Megan Park: I just wanted to go make something that was really heartfelt and feel-good and more fun. Because my last movie had a much heavier subject matter, which of course it had to have, and it was a story I was desperate to tell. But for this one, I was home in Canada, it was summer, and I was feeling nostalgic. I just really wanted to do something that left people feeling warm and fuzzy, hopefully.
What qualities do you think Maisy and Aubrey share that make them uniquely suited to play each other?
Megan Park: Good question. I think the number one thing is their sense of humor, and just the way that they carry themselves. We spent so much time after we cast Maisie obsessing over who’s the best physical match. That was a big conversation, and we took a step back for a second and just said, “Who embodies the older energy of what she could become?” And Aubrey was just the first person that I brought up.
I love that you have an extensive background as an actress as well. How do you think that informs your directing?
Megan Park: I think it informs that a lot. That’s sort of my main thing on set, how to deal with and work with actors. I love actors, and I think I come from a place of really understanding what it’s like to be on the other side of it, and what works and what doesn’t work.
Also, being a young actor is really hard, and it’s really vulnerable. I was acting at their age, so I take it really seriously. How do you create a safe environment that empowers them and leaves them feeling good every day? That’s more important to me than getting the shot; them walking away feeling good about themselves.
About My Old Ass
The summer before college, bright-yet-irreverent Elliott comes face-to-face with her older self during a mushroom trip. The encounter spurs a funny and heartfelt journey of self-discovery and first love as Elliott prepares to leave her childhood home.
My Old Ass
My Old Ass is a 2024 comedy film written and directed by Megan Park. When Elliot Labrant has a strange encounter with her future self, warning her to avoid falling in love. Despite her best efforts, however, love remains on the table when the boy her future self warns her about enters the picture in the present day.
- Release Date
- January 20, 2024
- Director
- Megan Park
- Cast
- Maisy Stella , Percy Hynes White , Maddie Ziegler , Seth Isaac Johnson , Kerrice Brooks , Aubrey Plaza
- Runtime
- 88 Minutes
- Writers
- Megan Park
- Studio(s)
- Indian Paintbrush , LuckyChap Entertainment , Scythia Films
