{"id":74467,"date":"2016-01-27T14:10:08","date_gmt":"2016-01-27T14:10:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/0de2709a84.nxcli.net\/0-kjasnb\/2016\/01\/27\/sundance-2016-exclusive-director-tahir-jetter-talks-how-to-tell-youre-a-douchebag\/"},"modified":"2018-12-18T03:33:41","modified_gmt":"2018-12-18T03:33:41","slug":"sundance-2016-exclusive-director-tahir-jetter-talks-how-to-tell-youre-a-douchebag","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.blackfilm.com\/read\/sundance-2016-exclusive-director-tahir-jetter-talks-how-to-tell-youre-a-douchebag\/","title":{"rendered":"Sundance 2016 Exclusive: Director Tahir Jetter Talks How To Tell You’re A Douchebag"},"content":{"rendered":"

Sundance 2016 Exclusive: Director Tahir Jetter Talks How To Tell You’re A Douchebag<\/strong>Posted by Wilson Morales<\/p>\n

January 27, 2016<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

Making its World Premiere at the 2016 Sundance Film Festival this week was writer-director Tahir Jetter’s<\/strong> feature debute, “How To Tell You’re A Douchebag<\/strong>.”<\/p>\n

The cast includes Charles Brice, DeWanda Wise, William Jackson Harper, Alexander Mulzac, Jenna Williams<\/strong>, and Tonye Patano<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

Ray Livingston (Charles Brice) is a relationship-blogging hack (\u201cfreelance writer, actually\u201d) responsible for Brooklyn\u2019s infamous blog, \u201cOccasionally Dating Black Women.\u201d The well-written, if not controversial, blog has generated some notoriety, but Ray is chafing from an overextended stay in New York, romantic ennui, and a stagnating writing career. After a particularly crappy week, he goes off on a tirade and harasses a gorgeous random passerby, only to discover that it\u2019s Rochelle Marseille (DeWanda Wise), one of New York\u2019s up-and-coming authors. Moving to make amends in an effort to preserve his media clout, Ray is stunned when Rochelle gives him more than he ever thought she would.<\/p>\n

\"Tahir<\/a><\/p>\n

For Jetter, having done short films (“Close” and “Frisk”) and a web series (“Hard Times”), his first feature was no easy hurdle.\u00a0Blackfilm.com recently spoke with the Washington D.C. native on his experience on the film.<\/p>\n

How did the story come about for you?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Tahir Jetter:<\/strong> There was a woman that I was very much into and things didn’t really go my way and I started thinking on all the stupid thoughts\u00a0I had on what didn’t come to pass and I thought I would make fun of myself so that’s where the genesis of this movie came from.<\/p>\n

Is the movie reflect how your life turned out?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> Yeah. It was a little different. It wasn’t as short-lived.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

Are you the guy the in the film?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> I do have a tendency to be a douchebag.<\/p>\n

How was putting together your first feature?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> It was pain. It was tough. I think your first feature is always difficult. It takes\u00a0a lot of sleepless nights and a lot of perseverance.<\/p>\n

How did it feel when you were notified that your film got into Sundance?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> I had a lot of work to do because we weren’t finished with post-production at the time. I was elated and worried because I had a lot of things left to do in terms of post-production.<\/p>\n

\"How<\/a><\/p>\n

Where did you find your cast?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> We partnered with a lot of very young talented New York people we found through a bunch of different resources. I did a lot intense casting for several months so that was a long process but a fruitful one.<\/p>\n

What made Charles Brice and DeWanda Wise the right choice for the roles?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> DeWanda really helped spearhead a lot of the casting. She’s one of the executive producers and really had a lot to say in terms how this cast would come together. Fortunately, with her guidance, we just rounded out a nice ensemble cast. I was really pleased.<\/p>\n

\"Director<\/a><\/p>\n

How was shooting this film in Brooklyn?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> We shot in Brooklyn for 22 days and it was great. It was summertime and it was hot, but this is standard when doing an indie film.<\/p>\n

Having done short films and now a feature, what did you learn as a filmmaker?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> I learned that the script is the utmost important things and that table reads are super important. You have to learn to be adapted.<\/p>\n

What do you want audience to get from seeing this film?<\/strong><\/p>\n

TJ:<\/strong> I want audience to get that in 2016, we should all listen more and be kinder to each other. I think around my age are in nebulous relationships in which compassion is put on the backburner. I think we can stand to be more attentive to what we want from other people and what we can provide emotionally.<\/p>\n