‘Anora’ Director Sean Baker Knew Mikey Madison Was His Lead Star After Watching ‘Scream’: ‘We’re Calling Mikey’s Reps the Minute We Leave the Theater’

As a seasoned cinephile who has spent countless hours immersed in the world of cinema, I must say that Sean Baker’s latest directorial endeavor, “Anora,” piqued my interest from the very beginning. The casting of Mikey Madison, whom I first admired in Quentin Tarantino’s masterpiece, “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” was a stroke of genius.

As a fervent cinema enthusiast, I’ve always admired the captivating talent of Mikey Madison. However, it wasn’t until her stunning portrayal in the 2022 film “Scream” that I truly recognized her as my on-screen muse, my Anora, so to speak.

In a theater, alongside my wife and producer Samantha Quan, I declared to her, “As soon as we exit this theater, we’ll get in touch with Mikey’s representatives.” Upon seeing her performance in those roles, I believed she had all the abilities necessary for our project, ‘Anora’.

At the Toronto International Film Festival’s EbMaster Studio, which was supported by J.Crew and SharkNinja, Baker and Madison held a talk with actors Karren Karagulian, Vache Tovmasyan, and Yura Borisov from the movie “Anora”. They delved into the process of creating the Palme d’Or winning film.

As I delve into the gripping narrative of “Anora”, I found myself immersed in the life of a young New Yorker navigating the seedy underbelly of the city as a sex worker. A surprising turn of events leads me, unexpectedly, to become the wife of Ivan, the offspring of a powerful Russian oligarch (Mark Eidelshtein). Yet, the tranquility is short-lived when news of our union reaches his motherland, prompting Ivan’s parents to tirelessly pursue measures to sever our bond.

Working with Baker was “the most collaborative acting venture” Madison has encountered, with her noting that he encouraged her input at every stage of the scriptwriting phase.

As he worked on his writing, we maintained frequent communication and exchanged many thoughts,” Madison explained. “[He] clearly granted me a great deal of creative leeway when it came to developing the character, and I believe we were both on the same wavelength regarding our ideas for the character’s portrayal.

Fifteen years ago, the concept for “Anora” began to germinate within me, nurtured by my ongoing collaboration with Karagulian and his rich Russian roots. However, it wasn’t until I discovered a fascination for movies that revolve around the lives of sex workers that this story truly found its form.

Baker shared that he initially discussed creating a film centered around the Russian-American community in Brighton Beach, Brooklyn. However, his interest shifted towards producing films about sex workers, which coincided with his desire to delve into the intricacies of power dynamics within this profession. The idea emerged that a young sex worker marrying the son of a billionaire could provide an opportunity to explore such themes.

Watch the entire conversation above.

2024-09-09 00:16

‘Anora’ Director Sean Baker Knew Mikey Madison Was His Lead Star After Watching ‘Scream’: ‘We’re Calling Mikey’s Reps the Minute We Leave the Theater’

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