On Wednesday evening, Florence Pugh and Zach Braff reunited in London for the premiere of their film “A Good Person.” Braff wrote, directed, and produced the film, while Pugh starred in it and produced it.
Pugh plays a young woman opposite Morgan Freeman who becomes addicted to opioids after her car is involved in a serious accident. Braff told the audience during a Q&A session following the screening that he wrote the screenplay for Pugh during the COVID-19 lockdown, when he was still grieving the deaths of his sister and father in 2018 and close friend Nick Cordero in 2020 from COVID complications.
Because I was experiencing these feelings, I wanted to tell the story. Braff stated, “I lost a lot of people in my life who were very important to me.” It was time to write because we were under lockdown. I mean, there was nothing else to do but start writing a screenplay because that’s what I wanted to do and what I enjoy doing, and I wanted to write something for Florence, so this is sort of what came out of me.
Pugh, who was living with Braff at the time (the couple has since split up), recalled that Braff would work on the screenplay in their home office. She stated, “I was not permitted to read anything of it.” I was not permitted to read any of the scenes as he was writing them. He would come out of the office after locking himself up for a few hours and then just start telling me all the pieces he had found, and I was not allowed to read anything. Because we talked about it over dinner, I got to know the character as well as the script.
Pugh went on to say that Braff had incorporated a number of her quirks into Allison’s character, who frequently finds humor in the midst of her despair.He knows how I talk and take the piss out of people.” However, it is a wonderful present to read something written especially for you by someone who is so familiar with you.
When Push was questioned about having a close friend write a character that was so destructive for her, she responded, ” That might not necessarily be a bad thing, in my opinion. I believe that if anything, it indicates that he may believe that I could accomplish it.
Finding the ugly side of people excites me. Being vulnerable is something I adore. I enjoy being given a script that tests me, and I have never taken on a role unless I was afraid of it. Additionally, this is a person who knew me, recognized my potential, and desired to collaborate with me. I think it would have been odd if he had written something like Nancy Meyers for me to say, “So… you won’t cry in this movie.” I’d think, “Oh God!”
Pugh concurred with Braff’s praise of Pugh’s acting ability. He said, “Her talent is amazing to me.” It’s analogous to when you write a piece for the world’s greatest violinist, you won’t write something straightforward. Because you are aware that they are able to accomplish it, you are going to write something that will require them all.
The production of the film, which was shot in just 26 days in Braff’s hometown of New Jersey, was also discussed by the two of them. Braff recalled, “When we moved to the town, Florence felt like she was in a Nancy Meyers movie.” Braff described the shoot as “very taxing, it was very exhausting” due to the heavy subject matter, despite being surrounded by their friends (many of whom worked on the film) and even their dog, which they brought with them. Florence endured a tremendous emotional strain as a result.
He revealed that Pugh, who is currently working on “Dune 2” and will also appear in “Oppenheimer” by Christopher Nolan, would cook to unwind after a long day of filming. It’s really unimaginable as Florence finds cooking unwinding and thoughtful,” Braff wondered. ” She would cook a huge meal for me or my friends and family at the end of these extremely stressful days, and I’d ask, “Are you sure?” She would respond, “No, I need to do this, I want to do this.”
Pugh made a comment: Since I would have cried the entire day, the next thought is, “Let’s see if onions get more water out.”
Braff explained that despite the fact that the film was finished by the end of 2022, they decided to delay its release until this spring because “Florence had to two.
Even though “A Good Person” is a serious film, Braff said he was excited to finally show it to the world.
