Up-and-coming director Megan Park recently debuted her second film “My Old Ass.” For the first time in years, a film was finally able to adapt to society’s current ideals and mannerisms in a way that isn’t seen as cheesy or stereotypical.
“My Old Ass” follows 18-year-old Elliott, played by Maisy Stella, who decides to take mushrooms while camping with friends. She experiences a psychedelic trip during which she conjures the older version of herself, played by Aubrey Plaza. Once Elliott is faced with the older version of herself, she’s enlightened with advice for how to go about her current life in the best way to benefit her future self. As always, the past is never something one can change, and Park did a phenomenal job at exemplifying this age-old concept.
The film kicks off with the depiction of an average 18 year-old girl’s chaos. By doing so, viewers get to see themself in Elliott, even as a male, viewers can resonate with the disturbances leaving home can cause.
Viewers are quickly presented with Elliott and her friends’ mushroom trip, which was hysterical, considering the variation of trips each girl was enduring. Throughout “My Old Ass,” Elliott is seen trying to keep her future self’s advice in mind while navigating through her recent sexual confusion. Fortunately enough, Elliott disobeys the advice, leading her to a deeper realization that one can’t live their life if they are scared by all the potential negative outcomes or else, that’s not living at all.
“My Old Ass” arrived on Amazon Prime Video November 7, and was preceded by a virtual interview between Park, Stella, and a panel of collegiate journalists.
Q: The dialogue of the film is very realistic. Could you describe the process in writing the dialogue or if it changed at all while filming?
Park: I would always check in with [Stella] being like, is this something you would say or is authentic to you. This movie was really such a two-hander. I wasn’t really trying to make the dialogue seem younger but more authentic and grounded.”
Q: Can you talk about filming the “One Less Lonely Girl” scene?
Park: I give all credit to [Stella] for the Bieber suggestion.
Q: Would you like to give or receive advice from your younger or older self?
Park: We both collectively deny time travel being a real thing. In terms of thinking about my younger self I’d like it to be a two-way conversation as I believe she’d have a lot to say to me. I think I’m the type of person that if I know the ending I’m going to be bummed out so I don’t think I’d want to know anything.
Q: [Stella], what draws you to the roles you choose?
Stella: This was my first real choice, and I was like I really need to do this. I really love good writing and a great filmmaker. I read [Park's] script for “The Fallout” and literally dated from that day in my notes that I need to be in [Park’s] next movie. I was manifesting it full on and it thankfully worked.
Q: Since this is your second film, would you say you plan to go forward with directing and what are your directorial influences?
Park: I always joked that if things go well for me, you won’t see me in front of a camera again, I don’t miss that at all. I did come from the acting side and it all did happen for a reason but I see myself as a writer. It’s the most creatively fulfilling to me and I get to release my work into the world which is beautiful. The writing is something I’ll never live without but I obviously love directing and do plan on going forward with that.
Q: What do you want the audience to take away from this film?
Stella: It’s not easy to make what’s on a script come to life. I took such a strong message of how time moves so quickly and to be present and intentional. Filming this movie at 18 while my character was also supposed to be 18 was really formative as I genuinely lived the message [Park] was trying to convey.
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