Being Yourself Never Gets Old With Mack + Rita Director, Katie Aselton
Katie Aselton is an acclaimed actor and filmmaker. Her most recent film, MACK & RITA, starring Diane Keaton, Taylour Paige, Elizabeth Lail, Dustin Milligan and Simon Rex hits theaters August 12.
To learn more about Katie and her work follow her on IG @katieaselton .
Mack & Rita is a movie about learning to love yourself. The ‘being yourself never gets old’ message resonated deeply with us as the mindset we embrace and amplify at Female Collective.
Director Katie Aselton took the time to sit down with us and share her perspective on the film and message.
FC: What drew you to this film? Were there any personal parallels or lessons that resonated with you?
KA: First and foremost, Diane Keaton. 100% Diane Keaton. Always and forever, Diane Keaton. After that, it was the script. I loved the theme of this movie, its message. And I loved that it was a feel-good comedy. In the middle of the pandemic, all I wanted to do was feel good and laugh. This film felt like a gift.
FC: Did you tap into the diverse experiences and ages of the cast to develop the story?
KA: Diane was very much a part of developing the script, with her big note always being “NOBODY WANTS TO BE OLD!”. Making sure we were careful in parsing out the difference between Mack ‘thinking’ she wanted to be old vs. wanting the self-knowledge that comes with age, was really important to her.
FC: As a female director, why do you think this film is important, especially as it relates to the climate of social media and feeling seen in the world?
KA: I think the idea of being authentic is becoming increasingly rare. Across all platforms of media—be it social, or tv, fim, whatever—we are seeing a homogenization of looks, personality, taste, sensibilities. I feel like women in particular fall prey to this. We want the hair, the lips, the butt, the voice, the quirks that are not our own, but what we are fed in a barrage of images of what’s desirable. We want to fit in, be accepted, not offended, don’t be too much, but don’t be too little. We find ourselves denying who we really are and what we want to fit a mold that was never meant for us. In Mack & Rita, Mack finds herself stuck in this cycle and longs for self-assured confidence that she saw in older women like her grandmother to break out of it. But in the course of her journey, she learns it's not age that is the thing, it’s embracing who you truly are and learning to love what makes you unique. That's the magic.
FC: We love to see an almost all female cast! What was the energy like on set?
KA: Truly, amazing! So much laughing, dancing, goofing around. It was a real delight.
FC: In the film, Elizabeth gains perspective by living in an older version of her body and surrounding herself with a community of women who have lived. At FC, we talk a lot about being our own hype person and self-care to shift our inner narrative but there is so much value in being seen by those who surround us. Can you speak to how the team arrived at the journey Mack would take to achieve self love and acceptance?
KA: We really loved that Mack would be guided on her journey by this group of women, who all in their own way, had ‘done the work’. They could turn to her and say, “we didn’t just wake up one day like this, we got here by living and learning and loving and losing...all those experiences lead to this. You don’t want to skip it, that’s the good stuff.” I love that message. And I love shining the light on the importance of friendships. Having friends who will give it to you straight at any age is imperative.
FC: We loved seeing a mature woman in an influencer role and it’s strange we don’t see more of that on social media, especially since they truly are the keepers of all the wisdom. Do you think this film might inspire a ‘new’ generation of influencers?
KA: So here's the thing: they’re already out there and they are slaying with millions of followers!
@iconaccidental, @baddiewinkle, @trainwithjoan, @travelingblackwidow they are all 🔥.
FC: Did you learn anything about your truest self while directing this film?
KA: For sure! I learned I really, really loved directing. :) And I love directing comedy! This was a first for me. My first two films were dramas, and they were great. I loved them, but making Mack & Rita felt really natural and right for me.
FC: Were there any takeaways or tools from the film that you'd recommend to release the constraints of other people’s expectations and live as your truest self?
KA: Find what makes you unique and celebrate it. Find the friends that want to celebrate those things too. Don’t dim yourself for others. Take some time to really think about what you like and what you don’t like. Set boundaries. Love yourself. You are more than enough. You are awesome.
Learn more about Mack & Rita . IG, FB, TikTok . #MackandRitaMovie
Meet KATIE AESLETON: Katie is known for her starring role as ‘Jenny’ in the FX comedy show, THE LEAGUE. She can next be seen in Bill Burr's comedy OLD DADS for Miramax. She can most recently be seen in the Sony feature, THE UNHOLY, opposite Jeffrey Dean Morgan and in Tiller Russell’s SILK ROAD opposite Jason Clarke. Katie can also recently be seen in the second season of the hit Apple series, THE MORNING SHOW.
She made her directorial debut with THE FREEBIE in which she also stars. The film premiered to much critical acclaim at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and was released theatrically by Phase 4. Katie also directed and starred in the survivor thriller, BLACK ROCK opposite Kate Bosworth and Lake Bell. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival and was released by LD Entertainment.
Shared with permission by Gravitas Premiere. Copyright © 2022 Mack & Rita, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
