“As I’m watching the movie, I’m kind of having mounting anxiety about it because it keeps building up what this thing is supposed to be… And now we got to go and do it.”
Sean Douglas IGNORED it all! And then it HAPPENED! Sean Douglas received his first-ever Emmy award nomination for ‘Will & Harper’, his song ‘Harper and Will Goes West’.
Latasha M. Ford with Awards Buzz and Emmy award nominee Sean Douglas had the pleasure of having an amped-up conversation with Sean Douglas following Emmy nomination day in Hollywood. Sean discussed his surprise and gratitude for the nomination, the unique story of how he was hired for the project, and the collaborative process with Kristen Wiig. He also reflected on his career journey, from playing in garage bands to becoming a successful pop songwriter for major artists. A significant portion of the conversation focused on the differences he experienced between writing pop songs and writing for narrative film projects, expressing a growing preference for the latter’s creative depth.
Check out the full interview on Creative Collaboration, Pressure and Expectation, and Career Evolution below:
“I did not expect it, and my wife had brought it up once in the runup… and I was like, that’s not happening. Let’s please not talk about it.”
About ‘Will & Harper’:
When Will Ferrell’s good friend of 30 years, Harper Steele, comes out as a trans woman, the pair embark on a road trip to process this new stage in their friendship and reintroduce Steele to the country she loves as her authentic self. Directed by Josh Greenbaum (Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar), the new documentary film premiered at the 2024 Sundance Film Festival and was acquired by Netflix.
Steele hopes her journey proves helpful for viewers — whether or not they’re transgender like her. “Ultimately, the main reason that got me to do it was, ‘Oh, maybe this could be useful for others,’ ” she said. “I like to think that about any kind of work that I’m putting out there. Anything that I’m making or a part of, it’s like, ‘I hope this is somehow useful to people, that it makes them laugh or they get something out of it.’”
The Ending Goes a Little Like This:
Will and Harper head to steakhouses, dive bars, basketball games, and even the Grand Canyon, before their long and winding road leads them somewhere surprising. The film ends on the West Coast, where Harper introduces Will to a secret home he didn’t know about: a house in a remote corner of California’s San Bernardino Valley that Harper purchased before coming out. She saw it as a safe haven, where she could live as a woman.
Instead, Harper realized isolation wasn’t the solution to her feelings. She had to live in the open. Inviting Will into her secret home is her final step toward that goal. As the film ends, Harper and Will go to Dunkin’ Donuts, and the pair sit down along the Pacific Ocean for one final conversation. Will gives Harper a gift that reflects on the conversation about beauty they’ve been having for the entire trip: a pair of diamond earrings. And then Harper prepares for the drive home — with Will inviting himself along for the ride.
Watch Full Trailer Below:
