The Company of Yourself: Cooper Raiff on Cha Cha Real Smooth | Interviews

Was that actually in New Jersey or Atlanta?

It was in Pittsburgh. 

Ah, like “Adventureland.”

There you go. It’s all connected. 

Your first film “Shithouse” you made before COVID, but it didn’t get to play festivals, although it won the Grand Jury Prize. 

Yeah, SXSW was the very first festival that got canceled.

Then with this film it was able to play Sundance, but virtually only, before playing a myriad of other festivals. How you feel about releasing both your films through festivals in the time of COVID?

I don’t know. My first movie festival experience was like all in my PJs. Then with Sundance it was also in my PJs. I was with my girlfriend and my best friend, and I was constantly on my phone. They’re like, dude, enjoy it. I was like, this [gestures at phone] is my Sundance. Let me be at my Sundance. But then we showed it in person at SXSW and that was the best night of my life. It felt so like why you make movies. I think I missed that with “Shithouse.” I made “Shithouse,” and then I didn’t have any experience of showing it to people. So I was just like, well on to the next one. Then with “Cha Cha,” after Sundance [in person] got canceled it was like the same thing. On to the next one. But, no, this is the reason why you make a movie. To enjoy the fruits of your labor.

And you got to see it with an audience at SXSW?

Yes.

I saw several films at SXSW this year and it was definitely the most invigorated I’d seen audiences in a long time. 

The premiere for that Nicolas Cage movie [“The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent” was like a rock concert. 

“Cha Cha Real Smooth” has a pretty distinct tone to it. Are there any films that inspire you in terms of the tone in general as a filmmaker?

I don’t know how to talk about tone. I always struggle when I meet with a DP or a producer and they ask what’s the tone of this? You’ll find out. But there are certain movies and themes of movies that I like. “Lost In Translation” I love. I guess that tone is similar, but I think it’s the funniest movie ever, but it’s probably called a drama.