I've got a new name for my "favorite people" list. It's Kirk Jones, the writer/director behind the new film Everybody's Fine. The film stars Robert DeNiro, Sam Rockwell, Drew Barrymore, and Kate Beckinsale. We had a chance to speak about the project and my prior-researched expectations of Mr. Jones proved correct. Its not just tremendous talent but simple candor and earnest ambition that set him apart from typical Hollywood up-and-comers.

EF is only Mr. Jones' third film in the last ten years. His first, in 1998, Waking Ned Devine, was fantastically successful and earned him a BAFTA nomination for Most Promising Newcomer. Seven years later his family film Nanny McPhee gained him even more respect.

Rather than take on any decent project thrown his way though, Mr. Jones has been careful to wait until a script arrived with a universal theme and the right personal connection for him. In this case, it was not a script but the DVD of an Italian movie made nearly twenty years ago, Stanno Tutti Bene. Within a few minutes he was hooked. The story is one of a father in search of relationship with his grown children. Mr. Jones saw his chance to rewrite a script in a completely new setting (continent) with a completely fresh perspective, yet in keeping with the heart of the original.

Be the Best

As a father first, and then as a filmmaker, he wanted to explore a familiar dilemma: the conflict between wanting the very best for one's children, and the temptation to push or persuade (or worse) in a certain direction. Dreaming for the child, and/or setting expectations may well be completely wrong, no matter how well intentioned.

From observation, Mr. Jones spoke of occasionally auditioning children whose parents appeared to be the real drivers behind their acting careers, wishing or pushing for fame, success, or some form of recognition that betrayed a parent's longing more than the child's.

In the movie, Frank Goode (Robert DeNiro) is asked by one of his grown children, "Dad, what did you want to be when you grew up? Did you have any dreams?" To this, Frank rather poignantly replies, "All I wanted to do was be a good father."

What began as the purest desire was filtered through the controlling attempts of a young dad to push his kids to "be the best." While he worked double shifts at a wire factory making "a million feet of wire in order to get them where they are today," his kids grew into adults who innocently conspired with their mother to protect him from the full truth of their identities.

Pre-production proved to further demonstrate this conflict. Interviews and auditions with everyone from extras to technicians revealed an overwhelming number of people who identified deeply with the script, some tearfully expressing their awareness that they somehow failed to meet their parents approval.

"In the end the real question Frank asks his children is, 'Are you happy?' And that is really what we all want for our children."

Expanding the theme further is the basic conflict of expectations in relationships and the coming to terms with realities. I can't imagine a human who hasn't wrestled with this tension.

Distraction

Of additional concern to Mr. Jones is the dilemma of distraction in modern life. Whereas his father came home from work as an electrician everyday at the same time, most modern parents are connected to outside demands by modern technology that never switches off. Not only parents, but children are simultaneously being lured into a life of disconnection. Though Mr. Jones does not pretend to offer answers, he hopes to raise the issue for further attention. It is ever necessary for us to protect our families from preoccupation and diversion that beguiles us.

Looking Ahead

I asked Mr. Jones what themes we could expect from his future projects. Though he gave no specifics, he reiterated the importance of stories that are relatable to many. He makes no attempt to be ultimately directive in his narratives; his interest lies more in portraying realistic emotional experiences and allowing the audience to reevaluate them under a different light. "As a writer I never know where my inspiration is going to come from, but I am always very grateful when it comes." I think it's fair to expect Mr. Jones' humble approach to continue bringing us worthy film experiences.