"It's kind of a romantic comedy between two girls that are best friends and get split up and then reunite, which is really cool. It’s like a new way of looking at romantic comedy and it's very funny," explained Reid.
And Reid's also a part of the much-anticipated, much-delayed F Scott Fitzgerald biopic The Beautiful and the Damned. That one he's not allowed to say anything about at this time, other than that he's seen the script and it's "awesome". "I mean the story about Scott Fitzgerald and his affair is just incredible in itself," said Reid. "And so when it finally gets made, which is in the near future, I think it’s going to be a beautiful movie."
Catching up with Reid on the phone during one of his days off from filming Love, Wedding, Marriage, I got to find out more about working with first-time director Dermot Mulroney, about being on a set with one of the actors from the Twilight film series, and what we can expect from Love, Wedding, Marriage.
Richard Reid Interview
How is Dermot Mulroney handling his first directing job?Richard Reid: "He's doing an amazing job. He's great with the cast, he has got a great eye for things, and he and the director of photography are working together fantastically. I've been on quite a few different movie sets and this one is just flowing really well, and it usually just comes down to the director a lot of the time. And in this case, Dermot’s just doing a great job and everyone's happy. And the footage I've seen looks great, as well. It looks really, really nice."
You've actually already been able to see footage?
Richard Reid: "No, I've just peeked over peoples’ shoulders and looked. But yes, even that is looking great. And you can tell when a crew’s having a great time and when the cast is having a good time. You just get the energy - it comes across - and I think this is going to be a good one. I think Dermot’s doing a really, really good job."
And who are you playing?
Richard Reid: "I play a character called Ian who is [spoiler deleted]. It’s because I'm around that his, James Brolin’s, marriage breaks up."
Nice job.
Richard Reid: "I know, right? I'm kind of the spanner in the works with the whole movie. But yes, it’s great because it’s a smaller part but it has such a big role to play in the movie. It’s quite fun because I pop up throughout the movie and everyone’s going to be like, 'Who is this guy? Why do we keep seeing this guy? What's he doing?' And then eventually it’s a payoff at the end, which we shot the other day and it went down really well."
So what's it like working closely with James Brolin?
Richard Reid: "It’s great, yes. He's such, he and Jane Seymour are such professionals and they’ve been in the game for so long, it’s amazing to work with them and just see how they're such smooth operators, you know, both in front of the camera and behind it. So it's great to sort of learn from them and see them in action."
Dermot's built up a good reputation as an actor. Do you think some members of the cast gravitated toward the script because he was directing?
Richard Reid: "I mean as an actor when you find out about a project, you know, it’s pretty much the first question you ask is who’s directing. And so, yes. I'm sure it’s like an added bonus, you know, and it’s a great script. And then even though it’s a directing debut you just kind of, yes, because he's had such a great career and he's such a great guy, you know, I think it actually is an added bonus knowing he's the director."
Is it a little strange being on a set where you've got Mandy Moore who has a huge fan base, and then you've got Kellan Lutz who’s got all the Twilight people? Do you see any Twilight fans in New Orleans? Are there people roaming around the streets looking for where you're filming?
Richard Reid: "There's definitely... Yes. I mean they definitely stand out in a crowd if you're out, yes. I would say there is, that you're right, they’ve got huge fan bases. And I mean the last weekend we were there it was jazz fest in New Orleans so it was kind of crazy with people, but both Kellan and Mandy were away. I'm sure if they had been out and about at that time, they would have been mobbed by people. But, you know, there's so many movies going on down there in New Orleans, there's stars everywhere. It’s kind of like a huge hub of production at the moment, so there's a ton of stars. But you're right, they do have a huge fan base, but so far I haven’t seen any like screaming crowds following them or anything yet."
Can you explain what Love, Wedding, Marriage is about?
Richard Reid: "What's so great about it is it is two, the story of two marriages kind of falling apart and then the work to get those marriages back together - and it's two generations. It’s Mandy Moore and Kellan [Lutz], their marriage, and then Mandy Moore’s mother and father’s marriage falls apart as well. And Mandy plays the part of a marriage counselor, so she's trying to counsel her parents and keep them together, and the reason they've split up is because [spoiler deleted]. And because Mandy is focusing on sorting out their marriage so much, she neglects her own marriage with Kellan Lutz and it falls apart. "
"So, it’s quite nice. You've got the two generations, you've got the young newlyweds that are struggling and then you've got a long happily married couple suddenly breaking up as well. So it’s her kind of trying to piece everything back together and keep everyone happy."
What's it like to film in New Orleans?
Richard Reid: "It’s great. The city is absolutely beautiful and has got such an amazing energy to it, with all the music and the nightlife. It’s just such a shame with everything it’s been through and with the current oil spill. It’s just devastating. It just seems to be getting rocked by so many things. But the city’s great; everyone’s so friendly. The crews that are being used down there are so professional. They're amazing. It’s just a fun place. When you've got any time off, it’s a fun place to explore - and the nightlife’s fantastic as well."
Have you been doing a lot of exploring?
Richard Reid: "Yes, yes. Well, you know, we were staying in sort of the heart of it so we could walk around and check out lots of places. I’d never been down there before so I've been doing a lot of exploring. It’s great and I look forward to any next opportunity to shoot down there."
