Opening this weekend is writer-directorKelly Fremon Craig’s feature debut, the coming-of-age comedyThe Edge of Seventeen. Produced by Academy Award winnerJames L. Brooks– the director ofBroadcast News,Terms of EndearmentandAs Good as It Gets– the film is a candid and honest look at what it’s like to be in High School today when it’s filled with social media, text messages, and constant drama. The film is about two best friends Nadine (Hailee Steinfeld) and Krista (Haley Lu Richardson) whose relationship becomes strained when Krista starts dating Nadine’s all-star older brother (Blake Jenner). As Nadine learns to deal with High School without her best friend, an unexpected friendship of a new classmate (Hayden Szeto) gives her a glimmer of hope while she struggles to deal with her well-meaning but ineffective mother (Kyra Sedgwick). The film also starsWoody Harrelsonas Nadine’s History teacher, mentor, and reluctant sounding board. What’s great about the film is that all the characters feel real and the dialogue isn’t written by committee. Check it out for yourself bywatching the red-band trailer.
During my interview with Hayden Szeto he talked about making the character his own, his reaction after reading the script, the brutal process of auditioning for a role, what it was like working with Hailee Steinfeld, and a lot more.
Check out what he had to say in the video above and below is a list of what we talked about and some images from the film.
Hayden Szeto:
