The Toronto International Film Festival closed out with a bang this year as Cody Fern, best known for his breakout role in American Horror Story, unveiled his feature directorial debut, Closing Night. The film, which stars his frequent collaborator Sarah Paulson, had its world premiere at the festival, and the duo stopped by the Collider Media Studio to chat about the project's journey from page to screen.
In Closing Night, Paulson plays Sandra Vale, an international movie star who invites her estranged family to the opening night of her Broadway play. What should be a triumphant evening quickly unravels as old wounds resurface when her resentful sister (Naomi Watts) shows up with her nephew (Toby Wallace), who's eager to connect with his famous aunt. The ensemble also includes Oscar winner Dianne Wiest and rising star Odessa A'Zion.
For Paulson, the role was especially daunting because Fern wrote it specifically with her in mind. When asked if anything still scares her, she admitted, "Everything. This was terrifying to do. Mostly because I truly did not want to let Cody down. I knew what he had written, and I thought, well, there's nothing more beautiful, but also nothing worse than somebody saying, 'I wrote this for you,' because you have a real opportunity then to fail miserably when they have an idea of what you're capable of, that you may not even be aware of your own capacity."
She went on to explain the pressure of living up to someone else's belief in you. "I was worried that I wasn't going to be able to deliver what he thought or expected me to be able to deliver, so that was nerve-wracking. I get scared every time. I don't feel like I know what I'm doing ever."
Fern, meanwhile, shared how he drew from personal experience to craft the story, and why he never doubted the film would get made. He also praised Paulson's willingness to adapt on set, calling her a natural leader who was open to changes throughout the shoot.
Looking ahead, Fern teased his future plans, while Paulson offered an exciting update on her role in American Horror Story Season 13. For fans of the franchise, this is a must-watch conversation.
For more from the duo, including time-coded highlights, check out the full interview above. And if you're hungry for more TIFF coverage, be sure to check out our review of Tenzing, which reimagines the Everest saga, or dive into the best gothic horror novels of the past 25 years.
