November 9th Release: Lez Bomb
A still closeted young woman brings her girlfriend home for Thanksgiving, only to have her coming out efforts thwarted by the unexpected arrival of her male roommate.
Interview with Writer/Director Jenna Laurenzo
Watch Lez Bomb on Prime Video, Vudu, iTunes and Kanopy
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made Lez Bomb because I really wanted to see a dysfunctional family comedy with a modern twist, with two women in love, who end up together. I'm a sucker for comedies, and I'm a sucker for happy endings. I want to see more of both in films that have LGBTQ storylines.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch Lez Bomb to catch Cloris Leachman and Bruce Dern being the most inappropriate characters on screen and within this family. It's not often we get to catch a film that's multi-generational, and there's something so fun about the grandparents being the only characters who are in tune with what's actually going on. Audiences should watch this film for a moment of laughter. Times are heavy right now. Audiences should come together and find an opportunity to laugh together. While their are some important themes within Lez Bomb, I'm hoping audiences can digest them with some levity, and enjoy the ride of this family's dysfunction and love.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Lez Bomb hits close to home on many levels. The idea of self acceptance was the universal theme I wanted to tap into and explore, sexuality aside. All the characters within this ensemble are bringing their own set of troubles and preoccupations to this dinner table. While we come to realize the protagonist is fighting for her own self acceptance in coming to terms with her sexuality, each of the characters is yearning for self acceptance. Coming home to the family and meeting up against your past and present selves’ expectations of where life will lead you and where you are in reality is a tension most can relate with. I wanted to explore this tension with the backdrop of an All American family holiday - Thanksgiving, where everyone is literally bringing their own "sh*t" to the dinner table.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I wrote the first draft of this script 8 years ago. I have grown as a person and hopefully storyteller over the course of those years. The first draft of the script was definitely more dramatic - but the distance between the emotions that drove me to write the script - allowed me to look back upon that journey through a comedic lens. Having the space between myself and the emotions allowed the ability to play without being too precious. Additionally, when Bobby Farrelly came on as executive producer, he really pushed me as a storyteller with both the script and then in the execution of the film.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been wonderful, particularly when we've screening in front of large audiences. When we premiered at Geena Davis' Bentonville Film Festival, the Q&A was both enthusiastic and impactful and it kicked us off into an exciting festival run. We've had people come out after the screening of the film, which was incredible. We've had people talk to us about what the film has meant to them, and how its left them thinking or talking about some of the themes and moments. I tried to keep the audience in mind from start to finish on Lez Bomb.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
I wanted the key message of the film to be the hardest part about coming out, dealing with the internal struggle of accepting reality not quite matching with the expectations the protagonist had grown up. The acceptance she is fighting for, we come to realize, is her own. In terms of feedback, I try and listen to whether or not someone got what I was trying to do - whether or not they liked it, I can't control. But I want to make sure I executed what I intended on doing, and I try and stay grounded in that space. Often people expect that the family is going to have an issue with her coming out. But the hardest person to come out to is herself. With the feedback in general, I've been listening to whether or not that came across or not, and learning from the dialogue with audience members.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I hope Lez Bomb expands to a broader audience, and I hope themes within the film help create some compassion and empathy to those who still judge. For audiences who might not necessarily gravitate towards such a film, I hope it creates a bit more understanding. I really hope its a film families can watch together, and laugh together, after over-indulging at their Thanksgiving dinner.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
To amplify this film’s message, it would be wonderful to have more journalists come on board. The film releases in theaters and on demand November 9th.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I try not to hold too firmly to what I expect to come from the film. I hope people laugh, I hope people feel, and I hope audiences are able to enjoy the ride of the narrative and take away something that broadens their empathy and understanding.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film
A key question is what exactly is the "Lez Bomb" within the film. People expect it to be an external thing, but often those moments of realization come from an internal struggle, the internal high stakes of self acceptance. Often it’s our own created barriers that need to be shattered open to allow us to move forward with freedom.
Would you like to add anything else?
You can find additional information and screening times and cities at www.LezBombMovie.com. You can follow us at @LezBombMovie on both facebook and instagram, and I'm easily found at @JennaLaurenzo.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
The cast is working non stop! You can catch Kevin Pollak on the Marvelous Mrs Maisel. Brandon Micheal Hall is the star of God Friended Me. Bruce and Cloris are working non stop as well. Caitlin Mehner will be on FOX's new show "Proven Innocent," where Elaine Hendrix can also be seen and adored! I have a role in Peter Farrelly's upcoming Green Book. As a writer/director I'm developing a new movie and tv series.
Interview: November 2018
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
Lez Bomb
A still closeted young woman brings her girlfriend home for Thanksgiving, only to have her coming out efforts thwarted by the unexpected arrival of her male roommate.
Length: 90 min
Writer/Director Jenna Laurenzo
Director: Jenna Laurenzo
Producer: Bobby Farrelly
Writer: Jenna Laurenzo
About the writer, director and producer: Producer: Bobby Farrelly (Dumb & Dumber, Something About Mary)
Jenna Laurenzo: www.JennaLaurenzo.com
Key cast: Cloris Leachman, Bruce Dern, Kevin Pollak, Steve Guttenberg, Deirdre O'Connell, Elaine Hendrix, Brandon Michael Hall, Caitlin Mehner
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): Journalists
Social media handles: @JennaLaurenzo @LezBombMovie (on facebook, instagram, twitter)
Facebook: @LezBombMovie
Twitter: @JennaLaurenzo
Instagram: @JennaLaurenzo @LezBombMovie
Other:
Hashtags you use: #LezBomb #LezBombMovie
Where was this filmed? New Jersey
Funders: Sprokefeller Pictures
Made in association with: Fari Lila Films & Aspire Talent Management
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? The film releases in Theaters and On Demand November 9th. For theater and city info: http://lezbombmovie.com/screenings-events/