“The Power of a ‘Like’ When Someone Needs It Is More Powerful Than We Realize”: Tracie Laymon On Her Heartwarming Bob Trevino Likes It

To this cranky viewer always engaged in a battle to restrict his social media time, the idea of Tracie Laymon’s debut characteristic, Bob Trevino Likes It, virtually appears like time-travel science fiction, a visit again to a world the place social media offers positivity and good vibes, not poisonous rancor, nefarious scammers and wellness grift. Within the comedy drama, now in launch from Roadside Points of interest, an adrift younger lady, Lily Trevino (Barbie Ferreira), who’s ceaselessly let down by the gross insensitivities of her organic father (performed within the movie by French Stewart), finds each a pal and wanted self affirmation by randomly befriending a person on Fb with the identical title as her dad. The following relationship between Lily and Bob Trevino (John Leguizamo) is, initially, much less a purely epistolary one than one constructed round likes, emojis and pithy inspirational cheers. However when Lily suggests an IRL meet-up, the connection grows, fulfilling a necessity for her however him too. Beneath no matter reply-guy tendencies he might need, Bob — a contractor in a contented marriage — nurses his personal suppressed sadnesses and insecurities, which Lily’s friendship assuages.

Because the movie progresses, Bob and Lily kind a beautiful, platonic, surrogate father/daugher bond, one which, as these motion pictures go, faces its personal third-act adversities. However whereas there have actually been different impartial movies dramatizing chosen-family themes, with the very successful Bob Trevino Likes It Laymon brings a palpable depth of private feeling to what in less-invested palms could be pure system. In actual fact, Trevino, which gained each the Grand Jury and Viewers Awards on the 2024 SXSW Movie Pageant, is an old school, full-throated crowdpleaser, one which on its pageant tour has left not a dry eye in its numerous homes. (And, sure, I’m together with cranky me, who noticed the movie eventually 12 months’s FilmFestKnox.) There’s no ironic detachment right here, nor a hesitancy — uncommon in first-time filmmakers — to tug again on emotion.

Each lead actors are unimaginable. Ferreira performs Lily as messy, impulsive, altogether “an excessive amount of,” however with a lovely sincerity and sense of longing. Her efficiency is massive — generally surprisingly so — and has an unfiltered high quality that provides the movie an edge and feeling of unpredictability. And Leguizamo offers considered one of his absolute best performances right here, going the opposite means, imbuing what might have been a inventory character peddling generic uplift into a fancy and in the end very touching depiction of a middle-aged man who, till now, hasn’t been capable of categorical in his each day work and private life emotions he’s been pushing from his consciousness.

Born in Russia, Laymon moved together with her household to Houston when she was 14, and her personal private story offered the inspiration for Bob Trevino Likes It. I spoke to Laymon about that on-line encounter, being shut down by the SAG strike after her first day of taking pictures, and the way abandoning one other mission led to this primary characteristic going into manufacturing.

Filmmaker: How are you doing?

Laymon: I’m doing okay. We had our press verify yesterday, and we did our content material shoots. I believe I did 60 solo four-to-eight minute [interviews]. Barbie and John have been on KTLA Dwell this morning, they usually’re going to be on The View. And John was on [Live with] Kelly and Mark, Drew Barrymore, and Kelly Clarkson. It’s thrilling.

Filmmaker: That’s a high-level of mainstream penetration for an impartial movie. Clearly, you’ve gotten two title actors as your leads, however what extra do you attribute this too?

Laymon: I believe it’s a mix of issues. Persons are genuinely actually liking the movie. The publicists – John’s and Barbie’s, mine, and the movie’s — have mentioned they’ve by no means seen so many individuals genuinely lit up. And that’s not as a result of it’s an ideal movie, and that I didn’t make errors, however I believe the authenticity and coronary heart of it are actually translating. There’s a necessity for it within the zeitgeist proper now. Persons are hungry for one thing that provides them a bit little bit of hope, and I believe the truth that the forged and crew confirmed up with that coronary heart, and that we actually gave it our all, is translating.

Filmmaker: Earlier than we discuss concerning the movie, might you inform me the way you grew to become a filmmaker and the way this grew to become your first movie?

Laymon: As a child, I used to be all the time writing. I might go into my closet and name it my workplace and simply write in there. And I cherished motion pictures. My organic dad bought me actually excited by motion pictures, and so I believe I simply began writing screenplays as a option to join with my household. I used to be like, properly, in the event that they like motion pictures, and if I write motion pictures about what issues to me, then possibly that’ll work, you already know? After which over time, I noticed that possibly not everyone can hear what you’re saying. I assumed, properly, I higher do it for myself and for the individuals who can hear and see what I’m doing. So, I did shorts, music movies, a few pilots, and a pair episodes of a Hulu present. There was one other movie earlier than this that I attempted to do for over a decade, and it simply couldn’t get off the bottom.

Filmmaker: Why was that?

Laymon: In hindsight, I used to be all the time holding one thing again. It’s like that line in Gattaca: “I didn’t save something for the swim again.” This was the primary movie the place I didn’t save something for the swim again. It was essentially the most “me” — essentially the most susceptible and trustworthy that I might presumably be. Whereas the [other projects I tried], it was like 70% or one thing, you already know?

Filmmaker: What was it concerning the different mission that didn’t engender that very same stage of dedication in you?

Laymon: I’m undecided, however I do know I wasn’t able to really feel like I might danger all the things for that movie. The “why” of it wasn’t as clear to me because the “why” on this movie. And when your dedication and conviction is as robust as mine was for this movie, it turns into contagious. Folks get a bit little bit of FOMO, you already know? It’s a shifting practice, are you going to get on it or not?

Filmmaker: Was it a extra commercially minded movie?

Laymon: It was really actually related, however it simply wasn’t fairly as trustworthy, as truthful to my experiences. It was extra me imagining different folks and different experiences. That script gained main awards, however I believe there’s additionally one thing to do with timing. After I was penning this one, placing it collectively and taking pictures, it felt like folks wanted this movie now. The opposite one was a bit darker.

Filmmaker: How did Bob Trevino Likes It grow to be the movie you pivoted to?

Laymon: In 2021 I made a decision I wanted to inform Bob Laymon what he had meant to me, and I began writing [a short film script] simply as a option to say thanks. It was a brief, cheesey model the place all of them grow to be household. I used to be simply going to offer the story to him [in person] – I wasn’t even going to make it. I had met him on Fb in 2012, and I didn’t know easy methods to say thanks for his small acts of kindness. He actually modified my life. He lived in Wichitaw, Kansas, and I assumed, properly, I’ll submit my quick movie to the Tallgrass Movie Pageant in Wichita, Kansas. I’ll get in, go there, invite him and his spouse to the screening, after which I’ll take them to dinner. And I’ll say, “By the best way, these small acts of kindness modified my complete life. I’ve gone to remedy, I’ve completed all this stuff, however it was the kindness of a stranger that actually helped me heal. You don’t have any thought the impression you had.” So, I submitted my quick, and I don’t get in. I used to be entering into all these different festivals and successful awards – why didn’t I get in! Later, in 2021, I assumed, I’ll simply write a thank-you-script, a happy-go-lucky quick, and say, “Right here you go,” as a result of I didn’t know easy methods to categorical myself in any other case. I wrote a brief tacky model [of Bob Trevino Likes It] the place all of them grow to be a household, however I wasn’t capable of give it to him. They are saying grief is love with no place to go, and I had all this love I had by no means expressed, so I referred to as his spouse, Terry, and mentioned, “I by no means instructed him, so now I’ve to inform everyone.” And he or she mentioned, “Okay,” and he or she’s been a part of all this too. And I started working. It was compulsive. I used to be like a vessel, and that wasn’t the case with the opposite script. And the humorous factor is, we go make the film, after which I get a name from the Tallgrass Movie Pageant: “We love the movie, we would like it to be our closing night time film.” I mentioned, “That’s superb. however do you perceive the importance of your pageant? As a result of in the event you had accepted my quick, there could be no characteristic.” It’s only a reminder to maintain going as a result of each door that shuts means you’re one step nearer to the door that’s going to open.

Filmmaker:Okay, you mentioned loads in that half sentence, “After which we go make the film.” Inform me about touchdown on the impartial manufacturing mannequin you ultimately landed on.

Laymon:First I assumed the cash was going to come back from one place, and I assumed I used to be going to have a distinct staff, and it simply appeared that they wished to do it a bit in a different way than me.

Filmmaker: In what means?

Laymon: A much bigger price range that may make us make selections that weren’t proper for the movie. Fantastic folks, however I didn’t need this to finish up on slate [and not get made]. I attempted to clarify: “You don’t perceive, I’ve to make this film. It may possibly’t one on a slate of 20 for you that, if it occurs, it occurs. And I’ve to do it nitty gritty, do it myself, that’s what I’m going to do.” So, we parted methods. I already had Barbie, which was great – she caught with me the entire time. However I didn’t know easy methods to begin an LLC, elevate cash and all of that. Fortunately, my pal Sean Mullen, who’s a PGA producer on the mission with me and Edgar Rosa, had completed this earlier than many instances. He helped me construction it and begin going out for cash. I used to show filmmaking at Ghetto Movie Faculty, and I taught animation at movie camps on the Stanford and Berkeley campuses. So, I began asking a few of my chosen household. Like, I had taught [one family’s] daughter, they usually mentioned sure. I bought quite a lot of nos, let’s be clear, however the yesses stored me going.

We bought a fiscal sponsorship from the Movie Collaborative, and I began taking donations. And I reached out to 9 movie commissions. I used to be like, “I wrote it to play happen in Texas, however it doesn’t should happen there.” Among the movie commissions didn’t even write me again, however Kentucky bought again to me instantly. There have been 9 folks or so on the Zoom, they usually have been passionate and excited. They nonetheless have a really aggressive [incentive] program, they usually actually bought the center of the movie. So, I scouted in Kentucky. I went alone, and I used to be like, “We don’t have some huge cash, and I’ve to seek out all of the areas. I’m going to scout and see the way it feels and meet potential crew.” I keep in mind, I had the most affordable rental automotive, they usually upgraded me to a Tesla, however there have been no chargers anyplace the place I used to be scouting. So, I used to be alone, driving throughout Louisville with a automotive that was about to die on a regular basis. It was actually irritating, however I fell in love with Louisville, and I discovered quite a lot of our areas [on that trip].

Filmmaker: Inform me about working with Barbie on a personality that’s so private to you. Had been you ever tried to direct her to play the character nearer to your personal private expertise?

Laymon: The rationale I forged Barbie is due to who she is and what she brings, so her enjoying herself was means higher than her attempting to play me. [Before casting her] I carefully watched her work. I watched her vulnerability. her humor, her skill, her wit, and her skill to be enthusiastic about small issues. Barbie is a powerhouse of a human being, an artist who made this area for herself on this trade like Lily needed to make her area on the earth. I firmly imagine that there was just one actor who might have completed every of those roles. I don’t suppose that there’s an inventory of individuals, despite the fact that I do know that’s the way it works. And, so, when she responded to the script, I knew she would [be Lily]. After which, once I went and met together with her, she was each bit as great as I knew she could be, and extra. It felt assembly an previous pal. We discovered we’ve got quite a lot of related experiences, the place my life and her life overlapped, and the place it overlapped was the humanity and the common fact of Lily.

Filmmaker: I’m presuming it was seeing her on Euphoria that introduced her to your consideration?

Laymon: Sure, and particularly one scene. I keep in mind watching this scene the place she’s at a college dance, and he or she’s apologizing to Austin Abrams for being imply to him. The world simply slowed down once I was watching the scene: I used to be like, “That’s Lily.” You would really feel this maze — it was like she needed to [cut] by a maze with the intention to say [her dialogue]. They stored chopping to him, and I’m like, “Keep on her!” It was a grasp class in appearing.

Filmmaker: One of many lovely issues within the movie is the depiction of Bob Trevino’s inside life. There’s a scarcity, however on the similar time, his marriage shouldn’t be sad. In quite a lot of motion pictures with characters like his, the wedding is sad, or the spouse is a profession lady who doesn’t take note of him, or she has handed away. May you inform me about working with John to create this character, and about how a lot your information of the true Bob got here into play when discussing with John that inside life?

Laymon: Bob Trevino grew to become an amalgamation of mentors and individuals who have been variety to me. I grew up in Texas, which is 44% Latino. Plenty of my professors, mentors and lecturers have been Latino. However I wasn’t attempting to forged this manner — I used to be simply casting hearts. I used to be like, “These are the best hearts to play these characters.” One in every of my mentors and lecturers in Texas was named Bob Trevino, so I knew I wanted to vary the title. However I wanted the true coronary heart and authenticity once I was engaged on [the script] to know that I didn’t simply completely make one thing up. So, I referred to as my pal Bob Trevino — he’s a particular results individual, who got here out, did the results on the primary film I labored on, and was all the time variety to me — and I mentioned, “Hey, Bob, I’ve a extremely bizarre query. I believe if I write together with your title, I can have that coronary heart on this movie. Would you thoughts if I used it?” And he mentioned, “No drawback.” He’s very excited, and everyone likes it now when he likes their stuff [on Facebook]! He additionally flew out to do our particular results on this movie, so, when folks see [in the credits], “Particular Results, Bob Trevino,” they’re like, “Is {that a} metaphor?”

About [John], I keep in mind seeing a clip of him being interviewed, and he was speaking about household and his son and why he did Latin Historical past for Dummies. He bought choked up, and I bought choked up watching it, and I used to be like, it is a actual dad with coronary heart and humanity. And identical to that second on Euphoria with Barbie, once I noticed this interview, I mentioned, that’s it. There’s nobody else that would ever play this position. And we knew that Bob Trevino couldn’t be a saint. This isn’t meant to be a toxically constructive film. There’s darkness in it. Persons are flawed, however they’re attempting — damaged folks attempting to do the best factor. They’re variety, good folks, they usually don’t all the time do the best factor. Bob shouldn’t be excellent, however he’s attempting, and that’s what was meant to be a job mannequin for everybody. We will all try this.

Filmmaker: What have been the manufacturing challenges? What number of days did you shoot?

Laymon: We have been meant to shoot 20, however SAG struck on our first day of manufacturing. So, it was powerful. We had scheduled to fly the actors after we knew if SAG was going to strike. However then SAG pushed two weeks, after which we had already booked all the things — areas, flights. We have been shifting, and we couldn’t change it. We needed to hope for the very best. We have been submitting all of our [waiver] paperwork and have been very clear. We shot the primary day, after which SAG struck, and we have been down the second day. Fortunately, we did get the waiver, and that third day we have been again up, and all of us labored collectively to make up for that day. We additionally misplaced a day to freak thunderstorms that by no means occur in Kentucky, so 18 days.

Filmmaker: In your movie, Fb is a web site for positivity, however I believe many individuals, together with myself, see it extra as a poisonous stew. Do you suppose your movie represents a sort of earlier period of social media, or does it symbolize one thing that’s nonetheless current?

Laymon: I believe it’s current sufficient that this film occurred due to it, and it wasn’t that way back. However we’ve got moved away from that [feeling], and this film is sort of a name again to that. It’s nostalgic, in a means. I keep in mind once I first bought social media — I used to be so excited to be related to folks like me, to not really feel so alone after which even have my world speak in confidence to [other people]. I believe my objective with the movie is to say, “Have a look at what a stranger did for my life.” His random constructive feedback, likes and help over these years modified my whole life. Now we’re on this time when it’s so divisive, and persons are so fast to be offended and use [social media] as an outlet for anger and bullying. You overlook there’s a human being [on the other side of the screen]. You don’t have any thought what’s occurring with them. However the energy of a constructive remark, or a like, when somebody wants it’s so a lot better than we understand. We expect we don’t have any energy, that issues are horrible, and that we’re on their own and might’t do something about it. But when we simply might all understand that’s not the case and work collectively, I believe we might create a greater area.