A grandmother and granddaughter team up for an unconventional day trip in Director Paul Weitz’s new feature Grandma.
Weitz’s poignant comedy-drama features Lily Tomlin as Elle Reid, a self-described misanthropic lesbian looking for solitude, who is forced back into the world when her 18-year-old granddaughter Sage (Julia Garner) shows up on her door seeking emergency financial assistance. Temporarily broke but still wanting to help, Elle and Sage spend the day trying to get their hands on the funds and embark on a journey that drags Elle into situations where she must finally deal with choices that paved the way for her present circumstances.
Following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles on August 29, Weitz spoke about the joys of working with the stellar cast that also included Marcia Gay Harden, Judy Greer and Sam Elliott; as well as the challenges of making Grandma on a 19-day schedule with a miniscule budget. The conversation was moderated by Director Miguel Arteta (Youth in Revolt).
In addition to Grandma, Weitz’s filmography includes the feature films American Pie, About a Boy, Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant, Little Fockers; and the pilots for the series Cracking Up and Mozart in the Jungle. Weitz has been a member of the DGA since 1998.