Writer-Director Kelly Fremon Craig Is Searching For Something True ('The Edge of Seventeen' - 'Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret' - 'Ordinary Angels')

Today I'm joined by KELLY FREMON CRAIG – screenwriter and director of coming-of-age films 'The Edge of Seventeen ' (2016) and the Judy Blume adaptation 'Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret' (2023). Her direction is never showy, and yet always specifically her; her dialogue and character work is always authentic and crackling and very often unexpectedly moving; and her screenplays are a legitimate joy to read. Enjoy this conversation about her filmmaking craft, how she writes with her body not just her head, and her quest to write something true.A BONUS EPISODE with Kelly is also available via Apple Podcasts or ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠at ⁠Substack⁠: In it, Kelly discusses a seminal piece of art from her life — 'BROADCAST NEWS' (1987), which was written and directed by her mentor James L. Brooks. I’m thrilled with her pick, as it’s a comedy-drama the likes of which I wish Hollywood would make more of (kind of like Kelly’s work).Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/bonus-kelly-fremon-craig-talks-broadcast-news/id1807437928?i=1000723997400Substack: https://colehaddon.substack.com/p/bonus-episode-kelly-fremon-craigSubscribe to the ⁠⁠5AM StoryTalk newsletter⁠⁠: ⁠https://colehaddon.substack.com/⁠Get access to this podcast episode, the bonus episode, and hundreds of other arts and culture articles, essays, and educational resources.Tip JarNot up for a paid subscription but appreciate the work that’s gone into making this podcast happen? You can “buy me a coffee” ⁠here⁠: https://buymeacoffee.com/colehaddonLinks:Learn more about Kelly Fremon Craig here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kelly_Fremon_CraigWatch the trailer for The Edge of Seventeen here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aw9hlZ2uiIIWatch the trailer for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LzRzojHC3iERead Kelly’s screenplay for The Edge of Seventeen here: https://assets.scriptslug.com/live/pdf/scripts/the-edge-of-seventeen-2016.pdf?v=1729115014Read Kelly’s screenplay for Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. here: https://deadline.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Are-You-There-God-Its-Me-Margaret-Read-The-Screenplay.pdfWatch the trailer for Broadcast News here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXYq-X3E7AgListen to “Cool City” by Cary Brothers here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ct9vw9FYoaQSocial Media:Follow Cole at…⁠⁠⁠Bluesky⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://bsky.app/profile/colehaddon.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/5amstorytalkpodcast/⁠⁠⁠Threads⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.threads.com/@colehaddonwashere⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook⁠⁠⁠: ⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/colehaddonwashere⁠⁠Email:[email protected] StoryTalk would like to acknowledge the Traditional Owners of the land on which this podcast is recorded, the Djarra people of the Kulin Nation and pay respects to Elders past and present.This podcast's music is by ⁠⁠⁠Cary Brothers⁠⁠⁠.