Will Henry (Jemaine Clement) is a graphic novelist and a professor in NYC. At his adorable twin girls’ fifth birthday party, Will’s life is turned upside down when he walks in on the mother of his children, and longtime girlfriend, Charlie, (Stephanie Allynne) with their friend Gary (Michael Chernus). One year later, Will is still alone and trying to put his life back together. He finds unexpected challenges when his talented student Kat (Jessica Williams) tries to set Will up with her accomplished mother Diane (Regina Hall). In this thoughtful comedy, Will is forced to navigate the unknown landscape of single fatherhood and dating in New York City, while remaining an inspiration for his students and coming to terms with himself both as a father as an artist.
Director's Statement
People Places Things represents everything I know, think and feel about being a parent, a writer and a person. It is the most personal story I have ever told. It is also probably the funniest.
I came of age with films like Elaine May's The Heartbreak Kid, Robert Altman's California Split and Hal Ashby's The Last Detail - films that challenged audiences to think and feel things as they were laughing. And that's the type of thing I tried to make here. Something sad, funny and true that lingers with you long after you leave the theater.
In addition to making movies, I also teach writing and directing in the film program at the School of Visual Arts in New York City. In class I often tell my students that the only real measure of success in this increasingly impossible business is to be able to say you made the film you wanted to make. Holding myself to that standard, this is the first real success of my career. I'm very proud of this movie and all the tremendous work on display, both in front and behind the camera.