Actor Jeff Grace makes his directorial feature debut with Folk Hero & Funny Guy, a Tribeca Film Festival offering starring Girls‘ Alex Karpovsky, Wyatt Russell (Everybody Wants Some!!) and Men at Work actress Meredith Hagner.
Karpovsky plays Paul, a middling standup comedian recently dumped by his girlfriend. Childhood pal and successful folk rock musician Jason (Russell, real-life son of Kurt Russell and Goldie Hawn) scoops up Paul as a ridealong on the singer’s East Coast tour. The road trip acquires a third when newbie singer Bryn (Hagner) joins the tour, exposing the cracks in the boys’ seemingly affable friendship.
“This is a very personal film for me,” says Grace, who has acted on Mad Men, How I Met Your Mother and the indie comedy It’s a Disaster, among others. “It was inspired in large part by my friendship with musician Adam Ezra. So while I think the audience will be charmed by the strong comedic performance by Alex, Wyatt and the rest of the cast, I also hope they are equally moved by the film’s heartfelt moments as well.” (Ezra’s music is featured in the film.)
Producer Ryland Aldrich added, “It was a total pleasure to help bring to life this dynamic story about the intersection between success and struggle. The friendship between these two characters is so beautifully explored through their own relationships with their chosen artistic pursuits of music and comedy.”
The film is being sold by UTA, which recently signed on to rep actress Hagner. The film includes a supporting cast of Michael Ian Black, Hannah Simone, Heather Morris, Melanie Lynskey, and David Cross.
Folk Hero & Funny Guy has its debut at the Tribeca Fest next Saturday, April 16, but you can check out the above clip, exclusive to Deadline, featuring Karpovsky, Russell, and Morris before what looks to be the most awkward threesome ever.
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