23-507: Brett Haley (born c. 1983 ) is an American filmmaker and actor best known for his work on The Hero and Hearts Beat Loud . Haley was born in Illinois and raised in Key West, Florida and Pensacola, Florida . Haley developed an interest in filmmaking from childhood, making films with a VHS camera from age 9, recalling, "From a young age, I was a storyteller. I just knew it
46-457: A weighted average , the film has a score of 61 out of 100, based on 28 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". Brett Haley Brett Haley (born c. 1983 ) is an American filmmaker and actor best known for his work on The Hero and Hearts Beat Loud . Haley was born in Illinois and raised in Key West, Florida and Pensacola, Florida . Haley developed an interest in filmmaking from childhood, making films with
69-417: A VHS camera from age 9, recalling, "From a young age, I was a storyteller. I just knew it was what I wanted to do". Haley credits his older brother, Joshua Ferris , for introducing him to movies like True Romance and Angel Heart . He was also influenced by 80s and 90s action movies, such as Alien , Terminator and Die Hard through his childhood. Haley began his formal filmmaking education at
92-501: A concentration in directing. He worked toward making a feature every summer, working with fellow UNCSA students to make up his crew. Of his time as a student, he says, "I learned a lot about what it means to be a collaborator at UNCSA. You learn quickly that film is very collaborative." Upon graduating in 2005, he moved to Los Angeles to work as a production assistant, but quickly relocated to Brooklyn when he realized that approach wasn't for him. Haley's first feature film, The New Year ,
115-546: A gem about 70-year-olds at 29, or whatever he was when he wrote it." Haley and his co-writer, Marc Basch, wrote The Hero specifically for Sam Elliott , who starred alongside Blythe Danner in I'll See You in My Dreams . Haley describes The Hero as his love letter to Elliott, saying that "Sam is the best. He is a true collaborator and an incredible actor and human being. He is so passionate about his work and, in my mind, he
138-402: A production assistant, but quickly relocated to Brooklyn when he realized that approach wasn't for him. Haley's first feature film, The New Year , was co-written with his sister-in-law, novelist Elizabeth Kennedy, and made for $ 5,000. Although he considers himself a director first and foremost, Haley says, "I learned very young that if I wanted to make independent films and get those films off
161-580: A writing partner. I write better with a partner and highly recommend that to those who are struggling". The New Year premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2010 and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film. In 2015, he co-wrote, edited, and directed I'll See You in My Dreams . Marc Basch was his co-writer. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival , and went on to win awards for Best Actress and Best Director at
184-492: Is an icon." The Hero also stars Laura Prepon , Nick Offerman , Katharine Ross and Krysten Ritter , and premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival . It was released in the U.S. by The Orchard in June 2017. He co-wrote and directed the 2018 film Hearts Beat Loud . It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival , and also played at the 2018 South By Southwest Film Festival . It
207-420: Is the best. He is a true collaborator and an incredible actor and human being. He is so passionate about his work and, in my mind, he is an icon." The Hero also stars Laura Prepon , Nick Offerman , Katharine Ross and Krysten Ritter , and premiered in the U.S. Dramatic Competition category at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival . It was released in the U.S. by The Orchard in June 2017. He co-wrote and directed
230-471: Is too young for him as she is not much older than Lucy. Notwithstanding, they soon strike up an exciting, contentious relationship. They discover his speech went viral. Charlotte invites him to her stand-up comic routine that evening. In the meantime, Peter calls to say that Lee is now flooded with offers. He faxes him a script for an audition on Tuesday and Jeremy runs lines with him. At the audition, Lee breaks down in what seems to be an emotional response to
253-718: The Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017 and was released on June 9, 2017 by The Orchard . Lee Hayden is an aging Western actor in his 70s with a golden voice, whose best performances are decades behind him. He mostly gets voice work for ads. Peter, Lee's agent, calls to tell him a group wants to give him a lifetime achievement award for his acting work in Westerns, but no job offers. Directly afterwards Lee's doctor confirms he has pancreatic cancer . Lee spends his days reliving old glories and smoking marijuana with his former-co-star-turned-dealer, Jeremy, but
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#1732791667982276-556: The University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking in 2001, with a concentration in directing. He worked toward making a feature every summer, working with fellow UNCSA students to make up his crew. Of his time as a student, he says, "I learned a lot about what it means to be a collaborator at UNCSA. You learn quickly that film is very collaborative." Upon graduating in 2005, he moved to Los Angeles to work as
299-743: The 2018 film Hearts Beat Loud . It premiered at the 2018 Sundance Film Festival , and also played at the 2018 South By Southwest Film Festival . It was released in the US on June 8, 2018. On July 20, 2020 it was announced that Haley would direct the Grease prequel Summer Lovin' . The Hero (2017 film) The Hero is a 2017 American comedy-drama film directed and edited by Brett Haley and written by Haley and Marc Basch. It stars Sam Elliott , Laura Prepon , Krysten Ritter , Nick Offerman and Katharine Ross and follows an aging movie star who deals with his terminal illness. The film premiered at
322-834: The Louisiana Film Festival. Additionally, Blythe Danner was nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Gotham Awards for her role. In an interview, Sam Elliott says he "jumped at the chance to play a romantic lead"; "it's always been what's on the page for me," says Elliott. "I don't know how this kid came up with such a gem about 70-year-olds at 29, or whatever he was when he wrote it." Haley and his co-writer, Marc Basch, wrote The Hero specifically for Sam Elliott , who starred alongside Blythe Danner in I'll See You in My Dreams . Haley describes The Hero as his love letter to Elliott, saying that "Sam
345-509: The awards ceremony. On the way there in the taxi, they both take a bit of ecstasy . It helps both of them get through the event smiling. They do official photos, meet and greet with guests and he even signs autographs. Then, after watching a clip, Lee goes on stage to accept the award. A video of it goes viral, as he regifts the award to an audience member, saying everyone there is deserving of it. The next morning, Lee wakes up in bed with Charlotte next to him. Over coffee, he reiterates that she
368-427: The film. It was released on June 9, 2017. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes , the film has an approval rating of 77% based on 115 reviews, with an average rating of 6.7/10. The site's critical consensus reads, " The Hero rests on Sam Elliott's understated performance, which proves more than capable of carrying the film through the less inspired moments of its somewhat clichéd story." On Metacritic , which uses
391-506: The ground, then I needed to be a writer. For me, it was important to start writing and discover: what am I going to write about? How am I going to write it?...That’s when I learned that I needed a writing partner. I write better with a partner and highly recommend that to those who are struggling". The New Year premiered at the Sarasota Film Festival in 2010 and won the Audience Award for Best Narrative Film. In 2015, he co-wrote, edited, and directed I'll See You in My Dreams . Marc Basch
414-508: The scene. Upset and angry, Lee lashes out at a fan, then goes home. There he consumes copious amounts of alcohol and other substances. He slept through his lunch date and when he comes to he sees her messages, but she is unreachable. Charlotte arrives, apologizing for her set. Lee finally tells her he is dying and she makes him promise to tell his family and to undergo the procedure his oncologist proposes. He first tells Val who gets in touch with Lucy and he can make amends. On April 20, 2016, it
437-562: The surprise cancer diagnosis brings his priorities into sharp focus. Besides trying to tell Jeremy, he also contacts his ex-wife Val and attempts to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Lucy. Instead of telling them about the cancer he says he is going to do another film, his euphemism for the cancer. Also inviting Lucy to the award ceremony on Sunday, which she cannot attend, instead Lee arranges to take her to lunch on Tuesday. He runs into Charlotte, who he had met in passing at Jeremy's. She asks for his number and he invites her to be his date at
460-445: Was co-written with his sister-in-law, novelist Elizabeth Kennedy, and made for $ 5,000. Although he considers himself a director first and foremost, Haley says, "I learned very young that if I wanted to make independent films and get those films off the ground, then I needed to be a writer. For me, it was important to start writing and discover: what am I going to write about? How am I going to write it?...That’s when I learned that I needed
483-463: Was his co-writer. It premiered at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival , and went on to win awards for Best Actress and Best Director at the Louisiana Film Festival. Additionally, Blythe Danner was nominated for the Best Actress Award at the Gotham Awards for her role. In an interview, Sam Elliott says he "jumped at the chance to play a romantic lead"; "it's always been what's on the page for me," says Elliott. "I don't know how this kid came up with such
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#1732791667982506-488: Was reported that Sam Elliott would star in The Hero , directed and co-written by Brett Haley . Other cast members included Laura Prepon , Krysten Ritter , Nick Offerman , and Elliott's wife Katharine Ross . Filming took place throughout Los Angeles and lasted 18 days. The film had its world premiere at the Sundance Film Festival on January 21, 2017. Shortly after, The Orchard acquired distribution rights to
529-413: Was what I wanted to do". Haley credits his older brother, Joshua Ferris , for introducing him to movies like True Romance and Angel Heart . He was also influenced by 80s and 90s action movies, such as Alien , Terminator and Die Hard through his childhood. Haley began his formal filmmaking education at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts School of Filmmaking in 2001, with
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