Latest news with #VanessaBurghardt
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dakota Johnson Wants to Direct Her First Feature, Avoid 'Toxic Sets' and Play a Psychopath
Dakota Johnson is likely to direct her first feature based on a script by an autistic actress she has acted with in a film, wants to continue telling female-centric stories through her TeaTime Pictures, avoid 'toxic sets,' measure the success of movies in terms of viewer impact rather than box office and would love to play a psychopath and an action role, the actress said Sunday. Asked by reporters during a press roundtable at the 59th edition of the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival (KVIFF) in the Czech Republic about whether she will move beyond acting and producing into directing, Johnson replied: 'I think I will direct a feature, a very small one, hopefully soon. And it's really close to my heart and very close to TeaTime. We're making it with Vanessa Burghardt, who played my daughter in Cha Cha Real Smooth. She's an incredible autistic actress.' More from The Hollywood Reporter Jodie Whittaker, Jason Watkins Added to BBC Cast for Dear England Vicky Krieps on Jim Jarmusch, Choosing "to Not Prepare" for Roles, Ditching Her Phone for a Year First Czech-Viet Feature 'Summer School, 2001' and Anime Series: Duzan Duong Is Everywhere at KVIFF The star shared: 'I've always felt that I'm not ready to direct a feature. I don't have the confidence. But with her, I feel very protective, and I know her very well, and … I just won't let anybody else do it.' As a director, Johnson has already made the Coldplay music video 'Cry Cry Cry' and the short film Loser Baby. What attracts her interest when picking TeaTime projects? 'Usually, it's something that is either visually or emotionally provocative. And I don't mean that in a sexual way. I mean it in [the sense] that it provokes something that is different than what you see on TV right now or on streaming platforms. A lot of them are also female characters. So it's female-centric films where the woman is different from what you see, and complex and nuanced, and maybe an anti-hero that you love.' Projects could even feature a woman 'who maybe does things that you would deem atrocious, but you are really on her side because she's angry' and real, Johnson explained. Producing has the benefit that she can surround herself with people who create a positive work experience. 'I can't waste time on toxic sets anymore,' Johnson said. 'With producing, that's one of the perks.' She told reporters that she was 'pretty vocal' when issues arose on set or beyond from a very young age. 'Now … being a producer and developing my own films, I can choose all the people.' The star also called for new ways to measure the success of movies. 'I think that the barometer for that is shifting right now. It's hard to measure success based on box office numbers now, because it's so all over the place,' she offered. Mentioning that Jurassic World Rebirth has 'slayed,' she said that 'the way I measure success is [in terms of] people who felt something or it meant something to them' — or people coming up to her in the street and telling her that they loved a film. Johnson made time for meeting the press before receiving the KVIFF President's Award on Saturday evening before a screening of her new film Materialists, which was directed by Celine Song and also stars Pedro Pascal and Chris Evans. The second film that Johnson presented at KVIFF is the Michael Angelo Covino-directed romantic comedy Splitsville, which she also produced under her TeaTime Pictures banner, launched in 2019 with her producing partner Ro Donnelly. Are there any types of characters she'd love to take on in the future? 'There are roles that I dream of playing,' Johnson shared. 'I would love to play a psychopath, would love to do an action film.' Johnson also shared that 'I love coming to film festivals, just because everyone loves movies so much, and it feels like a magical little bubble in a world full of chaos and pain.' She added: 'I think art can really reach people, and so … festivals in places like this make me feel inspired and hopeful.' Concluded Johnson: 'It's really hard to make movies right now and to get people to believe in what you want to say. I don't think movies will save the world, by no means, but I do think it's nice to have them around.' Johnson made her film debut at age 10 in Antonio Banderas' 1999 movie Crazy in Alabama. In 2010, she appeared in David Fincher's The Social Network. Her recent credits have included the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal's The Lost Daughter (2021) and Carrie Cracknell's Persuasion (2022). She next stars in Amazon's Michael Showalter-directed romance thriller Verity, opposite Anne Hathaway and Josh Hartnett. 'Dakota Johnson continues her family's multigenerational acting tradition, as represented by her grandmother Tippy Hedren and both of her parents, award-winning Hollywood stars Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson,' festival organizers had highlighted when they unveiled that she would visit the picturesque Czech spa town to receive the honor. Best of The Hollywood Reporter The 40 Best Films About the Immigrant Experience Wes Anderson's Movies Ranked From Worst to Best 13 of Tom Cruise's Most Jaw-Dropping Stunts
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dakota Johnson Teases Directorial Debut: ‘I Just Won't Let Anybody Else Do It'
Fresh off the success of the A24 romantic dramedy 'Materialists,' star Dakota Johnson has revealed that she is close to finalizing the deal for her feature directorial debut — a project she told reporters would star Vanessa Burghardt, with whom she worked in 2022's 'Cha Cha Real Smooth.' While appearing at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival (where she will receive the President's Award), Johnson teased that project was 'very close to her heart,' and she thought Burghardt, 'an incredible autistic actress.' 'I've always felt that I'm not ready to direct a feature,' she said. 'I don't have the confidence, but, with her, I feel very protective and I know her very well. I can see this world, so I just won't let anybody else do it. That's the real answer.' More from IndieWire Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen Want to Help You Get Your Movie Made Dick Cavett Says John Cassavetes 'Chewed Out' His 'Husbands' Co-Stars After Infamous Talk Show Appearance: They Were 'Total A***s' Johnson has directed one short film 'Loser Baby,' which premiered at TIFF TV in 2024. She has also stepped into the producer's seat on several occasions, including with 'Cha Cha Real Smooth,' as well as 'Am I OK?,' 'Daddio,' 'Splitsville,' the series 'Slip,' and the upcoming film 'Verity,' which stars Anne Hathaway. Johnson has often expressed her opinions on the state of Hollywood filmmaking. During an appearance last month on 'Hot Ones,' Johnson decried the proliferation of remakes and reboots. 'When something does well, studios want to keep that going so they remake the same things, but humans don't want that,' she said. 'They want fresh, they want to feel new things, experience new things, see new things, so I don't know, I guess it's all just a bit of a mess right now, isn't it?' At Karlovy Vary (via Variety), Johnson discussed how she expects a set to be run when she works on a film — previewing how her own future production might operate. 'I don't want to face people who are not willing to collaborate,' she said. 'And then there are obvious things. We all know what a toxic set is by now. We're artists, so there's room for expansive personalities, and we're working with emotions. I love a healthy argument on a set, and I also believe that the most excellent idea wins. It's not a fight. It's not a race. It's a collaboration.' Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dakota Johnson: ‘I Dream of Playing' a Psychopath
Dakota Johnson is widening her web of roles. The 'Materialists' and 'Madame Web' star voiced her goals of appearing in an action film and playing a 'psychopath.' 'There are roles that I dream of playing,' Johnson said during the Karlovy Vary Film Festival, via THR. 'I would love to play a psychopath, would love to do an action film.' More from IndieWire Scarlett Johansson Was Welcomed to the 'Jurassic World' Family by Bryce Dallas Howard with a 'Long Email' Ari Aster and Lars Knudsen Want to Help You Get Your Movie Made The actress/producer also said she is planning a feature directorial debut, reuniting with 'Cha Cha Real Smooth' star Vanessa Burghardt for the potential film. Burghardt wrote the script. 'I think I will direct a feature, a very small one, hopefully soon. And it's really close to my heart and very close to [my production banner] TeaTime,' Johnson said. 'We're making it with Vanessa Burghardt, who played my daughter in 'Cha Cha Real Smooth.' She's an incredible autistic actress.' Johnson continued, 'I've always felt that I'm not ready to direct a feature. I don't have the confidence, but, with her, I feel very protective and I know her very well. I can see this world, so I just won't let anybody else do it. That's the real answer.' Johnson previously directed the TIFF-selected short film 'Loser Baby.' She said while at Karlovy Vary that as a producer, she looks for projects that elicit a visceral response. 'Usually, it's something that is either visually or emotionally provocative. And I don't mean that in a sexual way. I mean it in [the sense] that it provokes something that is different than what you see on TV right now or on streaming platforms,' she said of projects that TeaTime greenlights. 'A lot of them are also female characters. So it's female-centric films where the woman is different from what you see, and complex and nuanced, and maybe an anti-hero that you love.' She added that projects could even feature a woman character 'who maybe does things that you would deem atrocious, but you are really on her side because she's angry.' Best of IndieWire Guillermo del Toro's Favorite Movies: 56 Films the Director Wants You to See 'Song of the South': 14 Things to Know About Disney's Most Controversial Movie Nicolas Winding Refn's Favorite Films: 37 Movies the Director Wants You to See
Yahoo
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Dakota Johnson Sets Her Sights on Directing and Action Films: 'I Want to Play a Psychopath'
Dakota Johnson Sets Her Sights on Directing and Action Films: 'I Want to Play a Psychopath' originally appeared on Parade. Dakota Johnson made headlines at the Karlovy Vary Film Festival when she revealed that she's ready to direct her first feature film under her production company, TeaTime. The Madame Web star, 35, revealed during a media roundtable on July 6 that she's close to finalizing the project, describing it as 'very close to her heart.' Johnson — the granddaughter of Hollywood legend Tippi Hedren and daughter of actors Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson — will collaborate with Cha Cha Real Smooth co-star Vanessa Burghardt, whom she described as 'an incredible autistic actress' and someone she 'feels very protective' of. 'I've always felt that I'm not ready to direct a feature. I don't have the confidence. But with her, I feel very protective, and I know her very well,' Johnson said. 'I just won't let anybody else do it.' The announcement comes as Johnson sees a renewed wave of public interest for her upcoming role in the Colleen Hoover adaptation Verity as well as her outspoken views on healthy creative work environments and how a film's success should be measured. "I think that the barometer for that is shifting right now," she said at the roundtable. "It's hard to measure success based on box office numbers now because it's so all over the place." She added: "[Jurassic World Rebirth] slayed, and of course, they knew that it was going to do really well, but it did so well. I feel so excited that people are going to the movie theater. Even Materialists did so well for a tiny little movie, and that's really, really exciting." When it comes to future roles, Johnson made her aspirations clear. 'There are roles that I dream of playing,' she shared. 'I would love to play a psychopath, [I] would love to do an action film.' Whatever comes next, one thing is certain: Dakota Johnson is carving her own path on her own terms. Dakota Johnson Sets Her Sights on Directing and Action Films: 'I Want to Play a Psychopath' first appeared on Parade on Jul 7, 2025 This story was originally reported by Parade on Jul 7, 2025, where it first appeared.
India Today
07-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Dakota Johnson on directing her first feature film: It's really close to my heart
Actor Dakota Johnson, renowned for her roles in films like the 'Fifty Shades' series, recently shared her plans to direct her first feature film. The announcement was made at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, where she expressed her interest in directing a project close to her 35-year-old said, "I think I will direct a feature, a very small one, hopefully soon. And it's really close to my heart and very close to 'TeaTime'. We're making it with Vanessa Burghardt, who played my daughter in 'Cha Cha Real Smooth'. She's an incredible autistic actor," Johnson shared. As per a Hollywood Reporter report, the script of the film is by admitted that she always felt unprepared to direct a feature. However, her connection with Burghardt inspired her to take on this new challenge. "I've always felt that I'm not ready to direct a feature. I don't have the confidence. But with her, I feel very protective, and I know her very well, and I just won't let anybody else do it," she 'Materialists' actor also discussed her approach to projects under her production banner. She emphasised a preference for works that are "either visually or emotionally provocative"."Usually, it's something that is either visually or emotionally provocative. And I don't mean that in a sexual way. I mean it in the sense that it provokes something that is different from what you see on TV right now or on streaming platforms. A lot of them are also female characters. So it's female-centric films where the woman is different from what you see, and complex and nuanced, and maybe an anti-hero that you love," she previously dabbled in directing, with credits including Coldplay's music video 'Cry Cry Cry' and the short film 'Loser Baby'.On the film front, she was recently seen in 'Materialists', which released on June 13. She featured alongside Chris Evans and Pedro Pascal in the story. Her performance in the film received positive feedback, further solidifying her standing in the industry.- EndsMust Watch
