by John Wildman,
AFI FEST Daily News

Matt Bissonnette, director, WHO LOVES THE SUN. (Photo by Allen Fraser)

WHO LOVES THE SUN is a Canadian production with a modest budget, written and directed by Matt Bissonnette. It stars his wife, indie darling Molly Parker, along with Adam Scott and Lukas Haas.

The film throws together a combustible triangle: two young men, childhood friends, and the woman who comes between them.

WHO LOVES THE SUN makes its North American premiere November 8, 9:45 PM, at AFI FEST 2006 presented by Audi. It screens again November 9, 1:30 PM.

AFI FEST Daily News: Matt, you stated you were inspired to write WHO LOVES THE SUN by the Tom Waits song, "Come On Up to the House." It's concerned with acceptance, surrender and life's lousy odds. Was there a personal reason the song spoke to you?

Matt Bissonnette: No, not really, I just liked that song a lot; though, I suppose my lack of success pursuing a professional hockey career may have colored my thinking.

AFI FEST Daily News: Adam, what were your initial thoughts about Matt's script?

Adam Scott: I thought it was lovely. it made me feel nostalgic for my 20s, the time in your life when you know you're going to have to start giving a shit really soon, but you have some time left to just have some beers, listen to records and lie around. That is what the characters are dealing with, the consequences of getting too caught up in that great little grace period we all take in life at some point.

AFI FEST Daily News: Molly, your part in the film was written with you in mind. How much feedback did you give Matt throughout the scriptwriting process?

Molly Parker: Lots and lots and lots. All positive. I leave the "crit" for people he doesn't live with.

AFI FEST Daily News: Do you feel he is more collaborative with you than anyone else?

Molly Parker: Matt directed me telepathically. It can't be helped when you know someone so well. He could just look at me after a take and I would know if he bought what I had done or not. Once we had to leave set to "talk" about some direction I got. I think the crew thought we were making out. Mostly, it was a very different experience to work with someone I'm so close to. You don't have the luxury of mystery, which the other actors do have. But you can trust that when the director believes you in a moment, it is working.

AFI FEST Daily News: Matt, how does your relationship with Molly give you insight into working with other actors?

Matt Bissonnette: It teaches me not to be afraid of them.

Molly Parker plays Maggie in WHO LOVES THE SUN (Photo by Rebecca Sandulak)

AFI FEST Daily News: Did you and Molly meet while making LOOKING FOR LEONARD?

Matt Bissonnette: No, we actually met at a film festival party.

AFI FEST Daily News: How did the relationship grow from that meeting?

Matt Bissonnette: Understandably, the relationship has grown a whole lot better since then.

AFI FEST Daily News: Adam, what was your experience working with Matt and being directed by him?

Adam Scott: Working with Matt was a lot of fun. We got along great from the beginning. It never really felt like work because he is such a laid back person, and not precious with his work. Very collaborative.

AFI FEST Daily News: Did the fact that Matt and Molly are married add to the familial feeling that is routinely developed on the film set?

Adam Scott: It was like working at a family barbeque all summer. During our lunch break we would go swimming in the lake, smoke cigarettes, lay in the sun, listen to music. It really was a great way to spend the summer.

AFI FEST Daily News: For you, what are the benefits or drawbacks of making a film in Canada versus Hollywood or the US?

Matt Bissonnette: I've only made films in Canada, so I can't really contrast it with the American model. My experience in Canada has been very good, Telefilm, who pays for the movies, and Christal, my distributor, have been very supportive and allowed me to make the films I want, so I have no complaints. In fact, it's really pretty awesome.

AFI FEST Daily News: Molly, you have been regarded as one of independent film's female standard bearers for quite awhile thanks to films like THE CENTER OF THE WORLD, WAKING THE DEAD and PURE. Have you noticed a change in your profile with the success of the television series DEADWOOD?

Molly Parker: I did two episodes of SIX FEET UNDER, after having made probably 30 indie films, and people are still coming up to me in supermarkets saying, "Aren't you the rabbi from SIX FEET UNDER?" Television, even HBO, is incredibly powerful in that so many people see it. So, yes, more people know who I am now. But I still love making movies, especially small indie movies, more than anything. I am looking forward to getting back to that again now that DEADWOOD is over.

AFI FEST Daily News: You've been going back and forth between film and television projects recently. For you personally, what are the pros and cons of each?

Molly Parker: I love how personal making a film is. Especially on this level. To work on something that everyone, including the guy who is driving the van (or the barge, in this case), has actually read and cares about feels really great. Then it becomes a true collaboration because you are counting on everyone involved. TV is fascinating in that it keeps unraveling in front of you and you have to keep living into the moment, which is always new and a surprise and if you have a good writer, like we did on DEADWOOD, it is a real pleasure. But it is not collaboration.

AFI FEST Daily News: You and Matt just recently had a baby. How do see that impacting your work schedules?

Molly Parker: Our son, Will, is only 2 weeks old, and so far the only scheduling challenge has been finding time to do this interview. Luckily, at the moment, neither of us has a job.

AFI FEST Daily News: Do you foresee him writing parts for the baby too? If so, would you get competitive about that?

Molly Parker: Matt has a script in which there is a part for our dog Sean, and I definitely felt jealous about that. But if Will wants to act, he's going to have to wait until he's grown up. I don't think babies should work. And acting, no matter what they tell you, is work.

AFI FEST Daily News: Seriously, Matt, do you still have to go through Molly's agents to get her to read your scripts?

Matt Bissonnette: Yes, and her manager as well. They are all very mean.