Interview:
Ethan Hawke,
Andrew Scott,
Richard Linklater,
director,
Robert Kaplow,
writer,
"Blue Moon"
Directed by Austin-based filmmaker Richard Linklater, the biopic Blue Moon examines the creative relationship between former songwriting partners Lorenz Hart (Ethan Hawke) and Richard Rodgers (Andrew Scott) months before the former’s death and on the eve of the latter’s biggest Broadway smashes. Screenwriter Robert Kaplow sets Blue Moon almost in real-life time during the opening night celebrations at Sardi’s restaurant for Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II’s 1943 musical Oklahoma! The occasion prompts Hart not just to ruminate on his past triumphs with Rodgers but what the future may hold for him with or without Rodgers, with whom he wrote “Blue Moon,” “Falling in Love with Love,” The Lady is a Tramp,” and “My Funny Valentine.” Hart attends the party to pitch Rodgers on his new passion project. But Rodgers appears to be leaning toward building upon his new partnership with Hammerstein than rather fully recommitted himself to the former creative partner whose drinking has severely impacted his life and work. Blue Moon stars Ethan Hawke as lyricist Lorenz Hart and Andrew Scott as composer Richard Rodgers. The cast also includes Margaret Qualley as Hart’s object of affection Elizabeth Weiland and Bobby Cannavale as Sardi’s bartender Eddie. Robert Kaplow was inspired to write Blue Moon after reading letters exchanged between Lorenz Hart and Elizabeth Weiland. Blue Moon will screen at 4:30 p.m. Dec. 4, 5:15 p.m. Dec. 5, and 1:30 p.m. Dec. 6 at the AFS Cinema. Blue Moon is available for digital/on-demand viewing. Austin-based filmmaker Richard Linklater previously directed the 2008 adaptation of Robert Kaplow’s 2003 novel Me and Orson Welles. Kaplow marks his screenwriting debut with Blue Moon. The Lorenz Hart biopic represents the collaboration between Richard Linklater and Ethan Hawke following the Before trilogy, The Newton Boys, Waking Life, Tape, Fast Food Nation, and Boyhood. Andrew Scott is currently starring in Wake Up Dead Man: A Knives Out Mystery and previously appeared in All of Us Strangers and the TV series Fleabag and Ripley.
Note: Ethan Hawke, Andrew Scott, director Richard Linklater, and writer Robert Kaplow participated in a global virtual press conference in November for Blue Moon, answering questions from members of the Critics Choice Association, including Lights Camera Austin host/producer Robert Sims. This segment offers an edited version of the press conference, with questions summarized for clarity. Aired: Dec. 3, 2025. Web sites: https://www.sonyclassics.com/film/bluemoon/ https://www.austinfilm.org/screening/blue-moon/ |
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