She loves Susan Sarandon and I know my dad (would have loved) being married to Susan Sarandon, ... Susan said she learned more about how to play the part from talking to my mom than to me.

The whimsical side of my dad really comes through in this movie.

I always thought I'd write about my dad, at some point, ... I didn't think it would be like this, but it arrived like this. I'd been listening to a lot of Garrison Keillor at the time. I love that simple story that ends on a grace note and you go, 'Wow, I'm just happy to be alive right now.' That was the feeling I was chasing.

I always loved those early Elton John albums. I sort of keep going back there,

I loved her audition/work session. Her emotions were so close to the surface,

I always loved movies, but I never thought I would presume to be a screenwriter and definitely not a director.