After my viewing of Cherry, I was lucky enough to interview the writer/director Jeffrey Fine. When asked about the inspiration for the movie, he told me that it was based on his undergrad experience. Here’s a few things he shared with me about the making of this film.

On his freshman year:
• “There was this woman I met as a resumed education student. She was fun and she was super energetic. Super in your face in a good way.”
• She was “a woman that told it how it was in a ‘Yes, sir. Yes ma’am’ culture.”
• “I became friends with her and I became friends with her daughter and it struck me over the years.

On his college vs. the college in the film:
• “I went to Brown undergrad then I went to USC film school.”
• “We ended up shooting in Michigan. Sam Kitt. He’s a business guy and an artist. He was a big force to get the movie made.”
• “Kalamazoo College. It was important for me that you really see a distinction between the college and the world he’s entered.”

On Laura Allen who plays Linda, the single mother vs. the woman he met in college:
• “If you are so beholden to recreating what you have in your mind, the you’re probably not going to get what u have in mind.”
• “She is not a comedian. Laura brought something a little more sweet and a little more sexy to it and that was great.”
• “In the end, I was thrilled with what she did.”

On Kyle Gallner, who plays Aaron, the college freshman:
• “He could be the next big thing.”
• “I couldn’t stop watching it. I just loved what he was doing.”
• “Whatever he’s doing, even in silence, there jut a lot going on. He got these expressive eyes.”

On Britt Robertson, who plays Beth, Linda’s daughter with a serious crush on Aaron:
• “She’s got this fire and this energy.”
• “She incredibly disciplined, a total pro about her work.”
• “I completely feel like she’s going to be huge. She has all the dramatic talent you’ll ever want. There’s no stopping her.”

On the overall process:
• “This was a story that had been rattling around in my brain for a while.”
• “This was something I wanted to get back into doing. More narrative work.”
• “It’s the most satisfying work I’ve ever done.”
• “How many times in your life do you have this story and you want to tell it?”

I’d like to thank Mr. Fine for taking the time to talk to me and wish him the best of luck with Cherry, which, again, I really enjoyed.