An 18-Year-Old Meets Her 39-Year-Old Self in a Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Film

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – “An 18-Year-Old Meets Her 39-Year-Old Self in a Heartfelt Coming-of-Age Film”

Host: Alison Stewart (WNYC)
Guests: Megan Park (Writer/Director), Maisie Stella (Lead Actress)
Date: September 11, 2024

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Overview

This episode centers on the coming-of-age film My Old Ass, which follows 18-year-old Elliott as she meets her 39-year-old future self after a psychedelic mushroom trip. The film blends humor and introspection, prompting reflections on adolescence, leaving home, the mother-daughter bond, and the value of guidance from older, wiser versions of ourselves. Host Alison Stewart speaks with writer/director Megan Park and actress Maisie Stella (Elliot) about the film’s inspiration, the writing process, character development, and standout scenes. The conversation is candid, warm, and filled with behind-the-scenes anecdotes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Inspiration & Premise of the Film

• [03:27] Megan Park describes being home in Canada, newly a mother and sleeping in her childhood bed, which made her reflective and nostalgic.

  • She wanted to explore the kind of “last time” moments in youth, wondering if we would appreciate them more if we knew they were endings.
  • The choice of mushrooms came later, seeking a fun yet grounded entry into a magical premise.
  • Quote: “My brain is very weird. No... There was a time when you went out and played with your friends for the last time and you didn’t know it was the last time. If you did know, would it ruin the moment for you?” — Megan Park [03:38]

• [02:04] Alison likens the film to “Freaky Friday” meets “Hot Tub Time Machine” — with a thoughtful, emotional core.

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2. Maisie Stella’s First Impressions & Casting

• [04:21] Maisie Stella was a fan of Megan’s writing from The Fallout and immediately felt a “worst nightmare” anxiety over not getting the role because she resonated so much with the script and its authentic voice for her generation.

  • She admired Elliot’s confidence and “bright,” untroubled nature; qualities not often seen in young female leads.
  • Quote: “She writes for this generation in a way I haven’t really seen before… Dialogue that feels natural and real.” — Maisie Stella [04:21]

• [06:25] Maisie shares that after Nashville, she wanted roles that felt grounded and real, and this script was her “ideal project.”

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3. Autobiographical Elements & Character Development

• [05:03] Megan Park notes that each character holds a piece of her. She relates to “old ass” Elliot (played by Aubrey Plaza) and the mother character, especially now as a parent.

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4. The Writing & Editing Process

• [07:27] Megan reflects on how My Old Ass compares to her first film, The Fallout:
  • She was more intentional but also allowed for fun, coming from a heavier project.
  • She learned most about her writing during the editing stage, especially in trusting audiences and making tough editorial cuts—sometimes losing beloved scenes because less is more.
  • Quote: “You don’t have to give away as much as you think you do… You have to trust people.” — Megan Park [08:36]

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5. On-Screen Chemistry & Aubrey Plaza’s Role

• [10:40] Maisie gushes about idolizing Aubrey Plaza and describes instant, genuine chemistry.
  • Aubrey, often “the secret softy,” only filmed in person for about a week. Most of her interactions were done through pre-recorded lines and ADR.
  • Aubrey watched dailies to match Maisie’s mannerisms—as the younger Elliot was filmed first.
  • Quote: “She was being sent dailies when I was filming… She was like, watching me and studying mannerisms and physicality.” — Maisie Stella [11:32]

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6. Portraying the Same Character At Two Ages

• [12:30] Megan originally wrote older Elliot as late 40s/early 50s and struggled with casting based on appearance before realizing energy match was more important.
  • Aubrey Plaza was a lightning bolt choice, bringing the right “energy” and comedic chemistry.

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7. Filming Technique: Phone Conversations

• [14:09] Logistically, they manipulated phone call scenes in post, crafting many lines via ADR. Sometimes Megan herself would read Aubrey’s lines off-camera on set.
  • The final result was much improved by the freedom ADR provided.
  • Quote: “From what was written phone call wise to what is now is so different and so much, like, funnier…” — Maisie Stella [14:49]

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8. Introducing Elliot & the Mushroom Trip

• [15:55] The film quickly rockets to the pivotal mushroom trip, showing Elliot in her authentic element with friends.
  • The boat scene was especially thrilling and original:
    • Maisie, already a boat user in Nashville, trained to drive a different kind of boat and even got a boating license for the film.
    • Other actors’ fear on the boat was real!
  • Quote: “A young woman ripping around a lake on a boat is cool. I just hadn’t seen that before.” — Megan Park [16:05]

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9. Themes: Family, Growth, and Realization

• [17:13] Elliot’s journey is universal: eager to leave home, with priorities shifting subtly across the story.
  • The emotional “wake up” mid-film mirrors Maisie’s real experience at 18.
  • The guilt and realization of parental humanity:
    • Quote: “You randomly look at your mom and you’re just like, oh god, you’re just a girl, and you’re just trying to figure this out… that’s Elliot’s discovery with her family.” — Maisie Stella [18:13]
  • The film explores how we accidentally hurt our parents in pursuit of independence and the gratitude that emerges with maturity.
    • Quote: “She doesn’t become somebody who’s like, I can’t, you know, I can’t leave home... There’s just an appreciation, I think.” — Megan Park [19:20]

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10. The Justin Bieber Mushroom Scene

• [19:37] A wild, fun scene where Elliot, on mushrooms, channels Justin Bieber:
  • Maisie calls it one of the best days of her life and found it hard to shake off the “Bieber” energy even after filming ended.

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11. Tone, Style, and Suspension of Disbelief

• [20:32] Megan embraced a “buy-in” mentality—rooted in the tradition of delightful, high-concept comedies like 13 Going on 30 or Mrs. Doubtfire.
  • She resisted unnecessary “sliding doors” explanations, focusing on character and heart rather than sci-fi logic.
  • Quote: “I didn’t want to get caught up in this sliding doors, sci fi... that’s not the heart of it.” — Megan Park [20:32]

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12. Title Controversy: “My Old Ass”

• [21:11] Studios initially objected to the title, assuming it would have to change.
  • The creative team persisted as it fit the movie’s spirit—eventually, they found supportive partners.
  • Quote: “Just seeing, like, really professional business emails… the title is like, ‘business call about My Old Ass’...” — Megan Park [21:57]

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13. Audience Takeaways & Hopes

• [22:19] Maisie hopes young viewers reflect on their family ties, just as she did while filming.
  • The ultimate compliment, they agree, is if viewers are moved to call a parent after seeing the film.
  • Quote: “They get in the car and they call their mom or they call their dad and say I love you.” — Megan Park [23:06]

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Notable Quotes

• “There was a time when you went out and played with your friends for the last time and you didn’t know it was the last time. If you did know, would it ruin the moment for you?”
  — Megan Park [03:38]

• “I always say, like, this movie’s like a visual representation of, like, the moment that you randomly look at your mom and you’re just like… you’re just a girl, and you’re just trying to figure this out.”
  — Maisie Stella [18:13]

• “I didn’t want to get caught up in this sliding doors, sci fi… that’s not the heart of it.”
  — Megan Park [20:32]

• “Just seeing, like, really professional business emails… the title is like, ‘business call about My Old Ass’...”
  — Megan Park [21:57]

• “They get in the car and they call their mom or they call their dad and say I love you.”
  — Megan Park [23:06]

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Memorable Moments & Timestamps

• [10:00] Humorous audio clip: Elliot asks her older self for “something good about the future,” only to learn she’s still in school in her 30s, prompting laughter in the studio.
• [16:13] Discussion of Maisie’s boating lessons and the genuine fear on set during boat scenes.
• [19:37-20:13] Animated description of Maisie channeling Justin Bieber during a mushroom trip scene.
• [21:50] Running gag about executives discussing “My Old Ass” in professional settings.

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Conclusion

This engaging conversation offers rich insight into the making of My Old Ass, from its heartfelt themes to its quirky humor and relatable coming-of-age moments. Megan Park and Maisie Stella’s openness, combined with Alison Stewart’s thoughtful questions, make this episode a meaningful exploration of nostalgia, growing up, family ties, and the delicate art of not giving everything away—on screen or in life.

Recommended listening for fans of honest, emotional indie cinema, family stories, and anyone contemplating how our younger and older selves might talk to each other.

Transcript

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[Megan Park]

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[Maisie Stella]

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[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

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[Maisie Stella]

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[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

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[Maisie Stella]

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[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

This is all of It on WNYC. I'm Alison Stewart. In every young person's life, there comes a point in when you start wondering what the future might look like. But what if you were just able to ask your older self for advice? That's the premise of a fresh coming of age film titled My Old Ass. The story blends humor and introspection. Think Freaky Friday meets Hot Tub Time Machine. In the film we follow Elliot a do what she wants 18 year old who chooses to celebrate her birthday by camping with her friends and taking mushrooms. Her trip led her to an encounter with her 39 year old self. But instead of simply a trippy comic, Elliot's older self starts offing her some life advice like spend more time with mom or avoid a guy named Chad or to contemplate her future away from her small Canadian hometown. A review in the Hollywood Reporter said, not since Toy Story 3 wielded its power to reduce grown ass adults to puddles of tears has a movie Been so in touch with the tender feelings associated with leaving home and saying a definitive goodbye to childhood, wistfully contemplating what we take with us and what we leave behind. My Old Ass opens in theaters on Friday. Actor, writer and director Megan park joins us today. Nice to meet you, Megan.

[Megan Park]

Nice to meet you, too.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

And also joining us is the film's lead, Maisie Stella. Nice to talk to you, Maisie.

[Maisie Stella]

Hello. So nice talk to you.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

So My Old Ass has a really unique take. How did you finally settle on the premise that a young person communicates with her old self by taking shrooms?

[Megan Park]

My brain is very weird. No. You know, I was home in Canada, where I grew up, and I was feeling really nostalgic and I just had my first child, but was sleeping in my childhood bed and was just feeling really reflective. And I think there's, you know, there's a scene in the movie where Chad and Elliot are talking about, you know, there was a time when you went out and you played with your friends for the last time and you didn't know it was the last time. And if you did know, would you appreciate it more? Would it ruin the moment for you? So it was really that feeling that made me want to explore this idea of a younger and older version of the same person talking. And then the mushrooms came much later in the writing process, oddly, is like, what's a fun, grounded way into that. That idea?

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

What were your first impressions upon reading the script?

[Maisie Stella]

Oh, my gosh. Well, I had. I had read Megan's other script, the Fallout, and I just was very, like, so moved by her writing. She's like, literally my favorite writer. And then when I read the mailled ass script, I was like, my first reaction of it was, like, anxiety over not getting to do it. I was like, okay, this would be my worst nightmare if I don't get to touch this. This movie and, like, really get to do it. And, yeah, I just was very excited with it. I think, like, she writes for the. For this generation in, like, a way that I haven't really seen before. And, yeah, as a young actor, that's always like, really exciting to. To see dialogue that feels natural and real.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

What part of your life did you mine for your script?

[Megan Park]

You know, I think there's a little bit of me and each one of the characters. You know, a lot of people have asked me, is this your experience? You know, did you kind of grow up on a cranberry farm and have these moments? And. No. And I think when I was writing it, I certainly related more to the old ass. We like to, you know, Aubrey's character that's sort of like, that's my age.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Aubrey Plaza plays the old ass.

[Megan Park]

Yes, Aubrey Plaza plays the old ass. And, you know, I also really related to the mother character in this, especially as a new mom, so. And younger Elliot. There was a piece of me in all the characters.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

When you read Elliot, what were some qualities that you admired in Elliot? 18 years old, she's starting the world.

[Maisie Stella]

I feel like Elliot was beautifully confident, beautifully sure of herself in a way that I really enjoyed getting to do. I felt like I was like, oh, I really want to try to really make this, make this me. But, yeah, I don't know, I feel like that was probably my favorite element of Elliot that I hadn't really seen in a young girl lead of just like, not really being, like, troubled with, you know, a lot. And I don't know, she was just very, like, bright.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Well, it's funny because people are thinking, Maisie Stella. I know the name. I know the name from Nashville. You were a little kid.

[Megan Park]

Yeah.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

You think about it in terms of when you decided, like, I'm gonna make a grown up movie, like, what did you want to look for in a script? Any script.

[Maisie Stella]

I mean, I'd been auditioning, like since Nashville ended and I had like. I don't think I ever thought about it like that of like looking for a grown up role. And I think I just. When you're growing, you. You naturally kind of, things start to change of what you're considered for. All I've ever wanted to do, though, was like something that felt grounded and real and natural. And I, the years that I wasn't working was like such a consumer of all art and of film that I, like, really figured out what I liked and what I didn't like. And my old ass was like, for real, like my ideal project, like my dream project. And doing that as my first movie is like, I'll literally never get over the luck. But, yeah, I think I just. I always just wanted to do something natural and. And that felt special and real.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

This is the second film that you've written. You mentioned the fallout for people who didn't remember the film. It was on hbo. It was really a heartfelt film about kids who survive a school shooting. First of all, what did you learn from writing the Fallout?

[Megan Park]

Well, the Fallout was the first thing I'd ever really written, so I didn't know what I was doing at all. I just was totally emotion led and not thinking. Kind of the miracle that it worked out. So I think it's sort of like the sophomore album thing where I was thinking a little bit more from the get go on this one and definitely putting more pressure on myself. But it was also really fun headspace to be in and that was a little bit purposeful. I mean, making the Fallout was a heavy headspace to be in for two years, understandably, but it was a story I was really important and I really wanted to tell. But I wanted to be in a bit of a lighter headspace while still exploring. You know, there are some heavy things in this film, but I think I almost learned the most about myself as a writer in the edit of the Fallout. And I would say that I would will probably say the same thing about making my next movie. I learned the most about myself as a writer and a director in the edit of this movie. Again, because I think you're really faced with not only the ideas that you had, but what you actually got and how much you were willing to trust your audience as you were writing it while you're putting it all back together.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

What's an example? I'm really curious about the edit because that's sort of a fun place to be.

[Megan Park]

It is, yeah. It's really fun. I mean, it can be really vulnerable and hard. I would say it's the hardest part of making a movie, at least for me. But I think a good example for this film is there's a big, you know, reveal at the end and you really have to walk that line of how much to give away or not give away. And there was a whole other scene with older and younger Elliot that I think alluded a lot to what was going to potentially happen. And I was really nervous, you know, like I don't know if people are going to pick up on it or get it. And my editor really was like, I think you have to trust people and you don't have to give away as much as you think you do. And it was a very much Kill youl Darlings Too, because Aubrey and Maisie are so great together. Their chemistry is incredible. And I loved the scene, but it was definitely the right decision. And there was many moments along the way where our editor, Jen Vecchiarello, who is a genius and deserves all of the credit in the world for this film, but she really helped me. Yeah, trust the audience more.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

We are talking to writer, director, Megan park and actor Maisie still about the film My Old Ass. It's a coming of age film about an 18 year old who receives advice from her 39 year old self. Let's get a listen to what it sounds like when she's getting advice from herself from this clip. This is when Elliot meets her older self, old ass Aubrey Plaza, and she asks her to tell her something good about her life in the future.

[Maisie Stella]

Tell me something good.

[Megan Park]

Something good.

[Maisie Stella]

Why are you struggling to find something good from the future?

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

This is good. You're gonna be psyched.

[Maisie Stella]

Okay, tell me that you are a PhD student.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Maisie Stella]

No. What? You're joking.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

But I don't want to tell you in what.

[Megan Park]

Because I want you to have something.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

To look forward to.

[Maisie Stella]

Look forward to?

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Yeah.

[Maisie Stella]

Did you just tell me I'm in my 40s and I'm still in school.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

30S. 30s. All the old asses in here. I'm laughing, Juliana's laughing, Kate's laughing. Tell me a little bit about the chemistry between you and Aubrey Palazza.

[Maisie Stella]

Oh, I mean, I am such a true fan of hers. I think she's just the most brilliant, genius thing that's ever lived. And so to get to be in a movie with her was so surreal. Much less like literally being her baby self, but our chemistry, like, she only filmed with us in person for like a week. Most of our time, you know, talking is really like through adr because there was a lot of phone calls and stuff in the movie. But yeah, we kind of tried to dive right in. It was really lucky. We just had like an instant connection. I mean, she has sisters and it's just a very, like soft. She's a very soft center and was just really loving and.

[Megan Park]

Secret softy.

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah, secret softie. She was so, so, so good to me and yeah, I hope I was good to her. I really adore her.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Did you work with her at all so that you had the same mannerisms as older you and younger you?

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah, well, I had been filming for like two weeks when Aubrey was attached. So I, you know, in a normal situation, I would be matching her, but because I already. My character was already kind of established, she kind of met me where I was at a little bit more. So she was being sent like dailies when I was filming. So she kind of had. She was kind of like watching me and like studying mannerisms and physicality and stuff. And then when we met in person, she definitely like, her eyes, like, the way she was looking at me was like, this is crazy. Aubrey Foz is like recording me with her eyeballs. But she's just the coolest. And she, like. I think we kind of. We kind of tried to make it, like, accept our differences. You know, it's from 18 to 39, so they're not going to be identical, of course, but we definitely wanted there to be specific, like, mannerisms. And energetically, we kind of tried to meet in the middle and, like, kind of have a similar vibe, I guess, more than. More than anything else.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

What was the process like writing the same character at two different ages?

[Megan Park]

Well, funny enough, when I first wrote the script, I wrote older Elliot as in her late 40s, early 50s. And. And I was really hung up on that through the casting process too. And especially when we built it around Maisie, it was like, who's blonde? Who looks like her? And we're putting all these photos side by side without really thinking about the energy match as much. And Maisie has such a specific, unique, special, special energy. And so it proved to be really difficult. And then we were kind of coming down to the wire. We were making the movie already, and we did not have our older Elliot. And there was a list of people that somebody had made. And I looked down and I saw Aubrey's name on this piece of paper. And it was sort of like this lightning bolt moment where I thought, yes, I love her. I'm a fan of hers. I knew Maisie was. We were like, who do you want to see when that camera pans over on the log and she's meeting her older self? I know they don't look alike. I think I can write around that. And it became funnier to me, especially as somebody who's, you know, in their mid-30s hanging out with 18 year olds. I had personally never felt older. And it became like, oh, yeah, that's all the jokes and even the title of the movie. You know, it's like, my old ass. And Aubrey's not even 40. You know, it's very just. It just fit and it made sense. And there was an energy match that I knew after spending so much time with Maisie, I felt like it was just gonna flow really well. And their chemistry was just so instantaneous on a personal level, that obviously really helped as well.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

There's a part in the movie where old Aw Elliot puts her phone number in your phone, young Elliot, and so that they can talk. And I realized Aubrey's not in a lot of the movie actually.

[Megan Park]

She's actually on the phone a lot.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

So one I'm. Can you explain. Can you explain how you direct someone who's on the phone or who's just in audio?

[Megan Park]

Well, it's tricky. You know, there are. Sometimes you can actually have the actor on the phone lie. But, you know, Aubrey, again, was only in town for a week, and then she was in a different time zone. And so she had recorded pre recorded some of the more important ADR moments. But we also ended up changing a lot of those phone calls to sort of suit our needs in the edit, which was nice. So a lot of it was actually Maisie and I me reading the lines off camera on the day and then having Aubrey come in. And she was also really helpful in adding in some great improv stuff after the fact in adr. So it was sort of. That was the place we had the most flexibility making the movie and the edit were those phone calls. So they changed the most out of anything from the script.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

How was that for you?

[Maisie Stella]

I mean, I don't think I understood how much of it was on the phone until after, honestly, when we were doing adr. But I love it. I think it gave me. I think it gave you so much room to play. And literally, from what was written phone call wise to what is now is so different and so much, like, funnier. Like, I just feel like it kept getting funnier and funnier and. Yeah, so doing the ADR was like, we had. I really enjoyed getting to do that.

[Megan Park]

I think at one point I was directing Maisie in a scene laying on a floor next to a bed so you couldn't see me on camera. Also reading Aubrey's lines on camera. That was fun, but tricky.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

My guests are writer, director Megan park and actor Maisie Stella. We're talking about the film My Old Ass. It opens this Friday, September 13th. When you first in the film, we meet Maisie's character, Elliot, and she's about to head off to college. She's hanging out with her friends. She's preparing for the mushroom trip in the woods. Why did this seem like the way you wanted to introduce us to Elliot, the mushroom trip? Just that she's, like, hanging around with her people. She's doing her own thing.

[Megan Park]

Yeah, I mean, you know, it was a fun way. Just, you know, you want to get to that mushroom trip right away. So it was sort of getting to see her with her friends.

[Maisie Stella]

I love how urban it is. So unaffected.

[Megan Park]

Driving the boat. Rip, first of all, just, like, opening a movie with, like, a young woman ripping around a lake on a boat is cool. I just hadn't seen that before.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Did you know how to ride a boat? I was wondering this. I'm watching, like, does she do this?

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah, I have a little boat where I live in Nashville, but It's a different type of driving. Mine has a wheel, and this was, like, a little twisty wrist thing in the back. But I did. I got my boating license and took boating lessons and tractor driving lessons, and it was sick. So fun.

[Megan Park]

Yeah, it was just a really fun way to get there. And there was. We had so much fun filming those boating scenes. And I think it was actually Carice Books, who plays Rose. First time in a boat.

[Maisie Stella]

On a boat, like, ever.

[Megan Park]

All that screaming at Maisie's erratic driving was very authentic, which was helpful. I think they were all a little scared of Maisie's captain scale.

[Maisie Stella]

Should be.

[Megan Park]

But no, it was. And then, yeah. I mean, it just felt a lot of. I don't know. I think doing mushrooms when you go camping in Canada when you're young is probably. I mean, I don't know, but I don't want to speak for anyone else, but it felt like just a really authentic way into the world.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

What is. What are Elliot's priorities when you first meet her? What do you think is important to her?

[Maisie Stella]

Well, I feel like Elliot at the start of the movie is very different from Elliot at the end of the movie. Like, there's such a genuine, like, wake up that I think happens midway through. And I really related to that in a lot of ways in my, you know, real life when I was 18. I feel like everyone kind of has that moment. I feel like her, you know, at the start, she's very, like, outward and is just excited to go to school and, like, you know, leave home and, like, start her life living in the.

[Megan Park]

Future a little bit.

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah. And just, like. Which is so normal at that age to, like, just be so excite. She's just so, like, riled up by life and, like, just really wants to live to the fullest and just, I think, you know, like, the. The soft things like home and your family. Like, she's just kind of, like, all right, like, I want to, like, leave and get my life to start. Yeah, I think that's kind of her priorities at the start.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

She has a relationship with her family in the beginning. How would you describe how it plays out over the film without giving too much away?

[Maisie Stella]

Um, I think. I don't. I feel like. I always say, like, this movie's like, a visual representation of, like, the moment that you, like, randomly look at your mom and you're just like. You have this, like, a sad feeling, and you're just like, oh, God. You're just like, a girl, and you're just trying to figure this Out. And this is your first life, too. And you're just like, I feel like that is the tone of Elliot's discovery with her family is like, the accidental harm that can be done to your parents, which I really, really related to. And I have, like, perpetual guilt over just the accidental things that you, you know, making your mom not, like, feel like you don't want to hang out with her and you would rather go hang out with your friends. Because it's true, you would rather hang out with your friends when you're 17 than hang out with your mom. But it's still a sad thing that she had to feel that, you know, it's like, even if it is kind of true, like, of course, yes, I wanted to, like, go out with my friends instead of staying home watching a movie with my mom, but it's still, like, you still have that guilt. And I just feel like. Yeah, I feel like that's Elliott's. That's Elliott's experience is just the wake up and the feeling grateful for them and the loving them. Like when you just are like, oh, I actually love you as a human and not just as a parent. Yeah.

[Megan Park]

And she doesn't, like, become somebody who's like, I can't, you know, I can't leave home. I can't leave my parents. You know, I feel it's just sort of that gratitude because you have to go out and live your life when you're 18 and you can't, you know, you have to still go through all those things. But there's just an appreciation, I think.

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah. Like just a grounding. Just. Yeah.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

There's a scene, a mushroom scene, where you kind of turn into Justin Bieber.

[Maisie Stella]

I kind of do. Yeah.

[Megan Park]

Kind of.

[Maisie Stella]

Kind of. Yeah.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

That looks kind of fun.

[Maisie Stella]

The dancing looked good. It was so fun.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

It was fun.

[Maisie Stella]

Are you kidding?

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

I'm asking.

[Maisie Stella]

What do you mean? Yes, obviously, like, it's as fun as it looks like it was. It was one of the best days of my life being. I wish I was. I wish I was Bieber every day. Like, if that's what he gets to live life like.

[Megan Park]

It was just.

[Maisie Stella]

I. I felt so cool. Like, I was. Had such a. I was walking different, I was talking different. I didn't know. I didn't know how to act. I couldn't shake it off. Yeah.

[Megan Park]

I love that. That was Maisie before she played Justin Bieber. And then.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Well, it was kind of interesting, the film, that some stuff, it just isn't explained. Yeah, it just. Of course, my old ass is Going to be there. Did you have to put yourself in a certain brain where you're like, I'm just gonna write it. It is what it is.

[Megan Park]

Absolutely. It's a buy in. And I think there's so many movies I loved growing up, you know, 13 going on 30, Mrs. Doubtfire, that are sort of these insane situations, but they're a buy in because you love the characters and you love the story and you love the idea. And I didn't want to get caught up in sort of this sliding doors, sci fi, like, what's really going on, you know, butterfly effecty thing. Because it's not. That's not this story and that's not the heart of it. But yeah, of course it is a. It's a big buy in and you hope the audience is along for the ride with you. And that was a really important part of getting it right, was that they didn't leave the movie being like, but wait a second. Yeah. Because it's not. That's not this movie.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Did you have to fight for the title? My Old Ass?

[Megan Park]

That's a great question. When I first made it, I thought for sure somebody was gonna make me change the title. I was like, this is never gonna happen. And when we were talking to some studios at the beginning, that was the number one thing. They were like, we love the idea, we love this, but obviously the title has to change. We ended up finding partners who really believed in the film and were like, we love the title. Who cares? And that was a gift. And then it thought and we took it to Sundance. I'm like, well, if somebody buys a movie, they're definitely going to make us change it then, you know, again, then the people who understood the movie and saw it, they were like, wait, we kind of love this title. It makes perfect sense once you've seen it.

[Maisie Stella]

So Megan always said that the reason was so that she could have like older men, executives be like, here's your contract for my old ass, which is like my favorite thing ever.

[Megan Park]

And just seeing like really professional business emails to 30 people and the title is like, you know, business call about My Old Ass. And here we are and they've yet to make us change it. So something. It works.

[Maisie Stella]

Still going strong.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

We, we enjoyed seeing it. Well, that's happening Wednesday. Yeah, it's happening Wednesday. When you think about like an 18 year old going to see this film, what do you hope they. They go and talk about afterwards?

[Maisie Stella]

I mean, I feel like I was so lucky to get to experience like the concept of this movie. At 18. I was literally 18 when I filmed it. I filmed it two years ago. And it was so necessary for me and, like, so important that I was reminded of all of those things. And I feel like I. When I started filming, like, I really genuinely thought. I liked. I was so ahead of Elliot. I was like, oh, my God, Elliot. So naive, like, girl, like, we know that all these things. And I was. I was so much more like, with Elliot than I thought I was. And, like, needed to hear all these things. And I feel like, I just hope that people. I think the message of the movie is clear and you feel it in your belly when you leave. Like, you just, like, have this, like, nostalgic feeling. And I. Yeah, I don't know. I can't. You can't really ask people to take a specific thing, but I. I hope they take.

[Megan Park]

We keep saying the ultimate compliment is when people say they get in the car and they call their mom or they call their dad and be like, I love you. Yeah, just say, I love you. Yeah, that's kind of the nicest.

[Maisie Stella]

Yeah. I hope. I hope that's what people take.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

My Old Ass opens in theaters on Friday, September 13th. My guests have been writer and director Megan park and actor Stacy Mela. Maisie Stella. Maisie Stella. That's it.

[Maisie Stella]

Yes.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Thanks for coming in.

[Maisie Stella]

Thank you.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Oh, Gecko. I just love being able to file a claim in under two minutes with the GEICO app.

[Megan Park]

Could you sign a.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Sign what? The app. Yeah, sure.

[Megan Park]

Oh, it rubbed off the screen when I touched it.

[Interviewer Alison Stewart]

Could you sign it again? Anything to help, I suppose.

[Ira Flato]

Get more than just savings.

[Maisie Stella]

Get more with geico.

[Ira Flato]

This is Ira Flato, host of Science Friday. For over 30 years, the science Friday team has been reporting high quality science and technology news, making science fun for curious people by covering everything from the outer reaches of space to the rapidly changing world of AI to the tiniest microbes in our bodies. Audiences trust our show because they know we're driven by a mission to inform and serve listeners first and foremost with important news they won't get anywhere else. And our sponsors benefit from that halo effect. For more information on becoming a sponsor, visit sponsorship.wnyc.org.