EXCLUSIVE: Ora Duplass (Oh, Christmas Tree) and Chosen Jacobs (It) will lead Their Town, a YA romantic two-hander from director Katie Aselton (Mack & Rita) and Duplass Brothers Productions.
The project is a family affair, as Aselton is Duplass’ mother and is working from a script by husband Mark Duplass. Shot in Bangor, Maine, the film centers on teenagers Abby (Duplass) and Matt (Jacobs). When Abby’s boyfriend unexpectedly drops out of the high school play, she is forced to help outlier Matt step into the role opposite her. Over the course of a long night wandering their small town, the two examine their futures and unearth surprises from their past.
Supporting cast includes Daveed Diggs (Hamilton), Jeffrey Self (Search Party), Kim Shaw (YOU!), Leonardo Nam (Westworld), and William Atticus Parker (Atrabilious). Producers included Mark Duplass, Jay Duplass, Mel Eslyn, and Shuli Harel for Duplass Brothers Productions, as well as Aselton and Mary Budd. Casting was by Amey René, who recently worked with Duplass Brothers Productions on their indie TV series Penelope, for which lead Megan Stott was just nominated for an Independent Spirit Award.
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For actor-filmmaker Aselton, the project marks the directorial follow-up to Magic Hour, a drama in which she stars opposite Diggs, which is currently in post. Prior to that directing the 2022 comedy Mack & Rita, starring Diane Keaton, she’s also responsible for the films Black Rock and The Freebie. Emerging out of the indie scene of the early 2000s, her recent credits as an actor include Bombshell, She Dies Tomorrow, The Morning Show, and Old Dads.
Their Town marks the first feature performance of newcomer Ora Duplass, who gained positive critical notices for her first onscreen role in the Tribeca short Oh, Christmas Tree, also directed by Aselton.
Best known for roles in New Line’s It films and TV series Hawaii Five-0, Jacobs has a leading role in Disney’s Emmy-winning Sneakerella and can also be seen in Netflix’s Purple Hearts.
It’s been a busy fall for indie stalwarts the Duplass Brothers, with Mark’s brother Jay recently getting back behind the camera on See You When I See You, a comedic family drama based on Adam Cayton-Holland’s acclaimed memoir Tragedy Plus Time: A Tragi-Comic Memoir, which stars Cooper Raiff, David Duchovny, Hope Davis, and more. In September, Duplass Brothers Productions unveiled its coming-of-age series Penelope on Netflix, following its premiere at Sundance at top of year. Recently bringing its acclaimed HBO dramedy Somebody Somewhere to an end after three seasons, the company’s other recent credits include The Creep Tapes, starring Mark Duplass, for Shudder; American Conspiracy: The Octopus Murders for Netflix; and Out There: Crimes of the Paranormal for Hulu. Among its upcoming projects is the Lily Gladstone drama Jazzy, which premiered at this year’s Tribeca Festival.
Aselton is repped by Untitled Entertainment and CAA; Ora Duplass by Gersh and Untitled Entertainment; Jacobs by Vault Entertainment; Diggs by CAA, Brookside Artist Management, and Johnson Shapiro Slewett & Kole; Self by Anonymous Content and Schreck Rose Dapello; Shaw by Gartner Group Entertainment; Nam by Paradigm, More/Medavoy Management, and Goodman, Genow, Schenkman; Parker by CAA and Untitled Entertainment; and Mark Duplass by CAA.
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