Loading...
Elaine May’s Final Film Needs a “Shadow Director” – Could It Be You?
Get this: legendary filmmaker Elaine May, who brought us classics like “Ishtar,” is gearing up for her fifth and final film, “Crackpot.” Starring Sebastian Stan and Dakota Johnson, this “kooky comedy” is facing a unique hurdle. It turns out, the insurance company wants a “shadow director” to oversee the production, essentially acting as a backup for the 92-year-old May. This isn’t about the film’s potential box office success – it’s about May’s age. A similar situation occurred with Robert Altman’s “A Prairie Home Companion” back in 2006 when Paul Thomas Anderson stepped in as insurance director.
So, what does this mean for “Crackpot”? Well, it needs a filmmaker willing to work alongside May and potentially take the reins if needed. Sebastian Stan himself put out a call for candidates on “The Big Picture” podcast, saying, “If anybody out there is hearing this and you want to shadow Elaine May for her last film, let’s go do it!” And someone actually answered the call! Jane Schoenbrun, director of “I Saw The TV Glow,” expressed interest on Twitter/X, but jokingly questioned who would insure her in turn.
Could this be the opportunity of a lifetime for an aspiring director? Maybe! Only time will tell if “Crackpot” finds its shadow director and gets rolling. But one thing’s for sure – this is a unique and fascinating situation in the film industry, highlighting the challenges and considerations that come with age and experience in filmmaking.
I'm Annelise, a film lover and pop culture obsessive sharing my thoughts on movies, fashion, and lifestyle on Instagram. Follow along for film reviews, book recommendations, and a healthy dose of geeking out over all things pop culture.
