Director Marielle Heller discusses A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood

December 1, 2019

DGA Q&As in New York & Los Angeles

A children’s television show host teaches his philosophy of kindness to a jaded journalist in Director Marielle Heller’s new biographical drama, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Heller’s film retells the story of the real-life friendship that developed between television icon Fred Rogers and journalist Tom Junod. The story fictionalizes Junod as an equally skeptical writer named Lloyd Vogel (Matthew Rhys), who is assigned to do a story on Rogers (Tom Hanks). Vogel is ultimately swayed as Rogers’ kindness triumphs over his cynicism and he learns about empathy and decency from America's most beloved neighbor.

Following the DGA membership screening in New York on November 15, Heller sat down with Director Tamara Jenkins (Private Life) to discuss the making of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood. She also discussed the film in a conversation moderated by Director Jorma Taccone (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping) following the Los Angeles screening on November 30.

In addition to A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, Heller’s directorial credits include the feature films Can You Ever Forgive Me? and The Diary of a Teenage Girl; and episodes of the series Casual. Heller has been a DGA member since 2015.

You can listen to Heller's Q&A by clicking the podcast episode embedded below. You can find more DGA podcast episodes here.

Pictures

Event photos by Marcie Revens (New York) & Elisa Haber (Los Angeles) - Print courtesy of Tristar Pictures.

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Director Marielle Heller speaks about the making of her new biographical drama, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in Director Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Director Marielle Heller speaks about the making of her new biographical drama, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood, following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Director Marielle Heller (right) speaks about the making of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood with Director Jorma Taccone (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers and Matthew Rhys as Lloyd Vogel in Director Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Director Marielle Heller (right) speaks about the making of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood with Director Tamara Jenkins (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in New York.

Director Tamara Jenkins (moderator) asks Marielle Heller a question about the making of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in Director Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Director Marielle Heller (right) speaks about the making of A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood with Director Jorma Taccone (moderator) following the DGA membership screening in Los Angeles.

Directors Jorma Taccone (moderator) and Marielle Heller pose for a photo following the Los Angeles Q&A about Heller’s biographical drama, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Matthew Rhys as Lloyd Vogel and Tom Hanks as Fred Rogers in Director Marielle Heller’s A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

Directors Tamara Jenkins (moderator) and Marielle Heller pose for a photo following the New York Q&A about Heller’s biographical drama, A Beautiful Day In The Neighborhood.

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