Olivia Wilde Chooses Indie Path for Sundance Comedy ‘The Invite’
Olivia Wilde takes on a new creative direction with her latest film, *The Invite*. The movie premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, marking Wilde’s first directorial project since *Don’t Worry Darling*. This time, she adopts an unconventional approach to filmmaking.
Innovative Filmmaking Process
Wilde’s vision involved workshopping the script with her actors and co-writers Rashida Jones and Will McCormack. They spent several weeks collaboratively tweaking the story before shooting began. The shoot lasted 23 days, and Wilde opted to film sequentially.
She believes this method breaks conventional rules that dictate filmmakers must shoot out of order and skip rehearsals. Wilde stated, “The best films come out of that workshopping spirit.”
A Star-Studded Cast
- Olivia Wilde as the lead
- Seth Rogen
- Edward Norton
- Penélope Cruz
The film, a remake of the Spanish-language film *Sentimental*, focuses on a couple, played by Wilde and Rogen, whose relationship hangs by a thread during an ill-fated dinner party with their charismatic neighbors.
Collaboration with Experts
Cruz noted Wilde’s unique style of inquiry, stating that the director wanted honest input from her cast. This approach encouraged actors to shape their characters, fostering organic creation.
Wilde consulted with Esther Perel, a renowned psychotherapist, during the scripting phase. Perel’s insights into relationships have influenced Wilde’s perspective on love, diverging from traditional narratives shaped by Disney films.
Challenges and Adaptations
Filming *The Invite* took place in Los Angeles under unique parameters designed by Wilde. The actors engaged in daily discussions about character arcs and plot direction, shooting for 12 hours each day.
Wilde wanted the film’s conclusion to feel authentic, noting that the cast debated multiple endings throughout production. Rogen emphasized the iterative nature of this process, referring to it as “stitching the parachute on the way down.”
A Film for Adults
*The Invite* addresses themes of sex, love, marriage, and monogamy—a rarity in contemporary Hollywood. Wilde remarked, “We didn’t want to underestimate the intelligence of the audience.”
As the film aims to resonate with adult viewers, it represents Wilde’s dream of creating a collaborative space that embraces creative freedom. The responses to its first screening at Sundance will gauge how audiences connect with Wilde’s innovative storytelling.
