BREAKING UPWARDS

“an effortlessly hip and funny new indie flick that easily ranks among the best films about relationships.”

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MOVIE MAKER MAGAZINE

THE BEAUTIFUL ZOE LISTER-JONES IN 'INTERVIEW' MAGAZINE

The Private Lives of Zoe Lister-Jones

By ARIELLA GOGOL 03/25/2010 02:30 PM

Unlike budding starlets who desperately try to keep their love lives under wraps, Zoe Lister-Jones invites your voyeurism. After initiating an open relationship with her boyfriend, director Daryl Wein, the duo went on to write, produce, and star inBreaking Upwards, a film re-enacting their experiment with polyamory. Issues of intimacy and autonomy abound–no surprise from 27-year-old Lister-Jones, who garnered critical acclaim for her 2004 one-woman show, “Codependence is a Four Letter Word,” and went on to score roles in Law and Order, State of Play, and the upcoming Salt (starring Angelina Jolie). Here, the Brooklyn native takes a seat to talk break-ups, the writing process, and why mom’s friends may just be onto something.


ARIELLA GOGOL: The film is about you breaking up with your real life and on-camera boyfriend. Was the action in real-time?

ZOE LISTER-JONES: Well, it’s funny–being open was a roundabout path to ultimate break up. But we actually got back together, and then made a movie about it. Which you’d think could also break us up, but nope–we’re together.

GOGOL: You said that the idea to make your experience a movie was actually Daryl’s. Were you immediately on board?

LISTER-JONES: At first, I thought I couldn’t do it. There was no distance! One night we’d be having a fight, the next day he’d be at the computer writing about it. But after a year of Daryl working on the script with our co-writer, Peter Duchan, I joined in–I needed to, for narcissistic reasons!

GOGOL: Did re-living it all on film stir up any anger or jealousy?

LISTER-JONES: I got more upset during the writing process. We would be writing scenes about that “somebody else”–and be wondering how much of it was true, and what we even wanted to know…

GOGOL: You wanted to open the relationship to combat your dependence on each other. Now that you’re in a once-again closed relationship, do you still feel co-dependent?

LISTER-JONES: I think every relationship has ebbs and flows of that kind of thing. It’s so hard, and I think that’s what’s cool about the movie. Because whether or not you’ve been in an open relationship, everyone has struggled with these kinds of questions–how to create space for oneself in a serious relationship. And we still keep the option open to see other people.

GOGOL: What made you want to open the relationship up and date other people, instead of just breaking up?

LISTER-JONES: My mom’s best friends are polyamorous, and they were an inspiration for the experiment. I think that lifestyle is so interesting… and terrifying. People are human, and they have human desires and needs–and how do you deal with that? I mean, most people deal with it by cheating. So I think it’s pretty brave to say to someone: “You know, I want to sleep with someone else right now.”

Click here to view the original article on interviewmagazine.com

BREAKING UPWARDS

BREAKING UPWARDS

A NEW DIRECTORS/NEW FILMS 2010 SELECTION

Can an indie film produced on a shoestring budget by relative newcomers upstage some of the bigger, more expensive films and gain a following? The answer appears to be YES! A total surprise and a delightful experience, from the beginning, Breaking Upwards, a film written, produced and acted in by a couple of New York University Tisch School graduates, is rapidly gaining ground and supporters. The real life couple, Zoe Lister Jones and Daryl Wein, decided to tell the story of their own four-year relationship, their co-dependency and mutual boredom, their establishment of arbitrary rules for their relationship and their resulting breakup. The film is an exploration of a single year in their lives where they explore alternatives to monogamy and what follows as a result. It's interesting in that they work at staying together in a world where breaking up is commonplace and somewhat simpler. Without much money but with great expectations, the two "stars"did multiple jobs on the film in addition to acting and drew heavily on friends and family to appear. Some of the parts are played by well-known New York actors while others are played by family members like Wein's 96-year old grandfather. Compared to Woody Allen's Annie Hall, the Breaking Upwards film was an Official Selection of the SXSW Film Festival and has won several film festival awards. Breaking Upwards is currently available from IFC On Demand and opens in selected cities in April. For more information check the www.breakingupwards.com and local listings.

Article by D.E.Levine

View the original article on cinefilms.org

'WOMENS WEAR DAILY' MAGAZINE

"Breaking Upwards" Filmmaking Couple Takes Life as Inspiration

by Priya Rao Styled by Alex Badia and Antonia Sardone Posted WEDNESDAY MARCH 24, 2010

.

Photo By Robert Mitra

Photo By: Robert Mitra

Photo By: Robert Mitra

Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister-Jones are sitting in a location van, en route to Central Park for a shoot, the easy rapport between them obvious. Asked how they met, Wein deadpans that they “were both strippers. We met doing erotic dance.” Lister-Jones then picks up on the joke. “We funded our movie fully in cash. We paid for it in…” “Singles,” Wein finishes her thought.

The film under discussion, “Breaking Upwards,” opens in New York on April 2 through the IFC Center. It is the first independent project together for the filmmakers-actors, whose personal history preceded their professional one. They met as students at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, and quickly became a couple. “Breaking Upwards” is based in part on their real-life relationship — the part in which they got a little bored with each other, and so decided to switch from an exclusive relationship to an “open” one. The project blurs the lines between fiction and reality. Wein, 26, and Lister-Jones, 27, portray themselves by name, while stressing that the story line is fictionalized, in a Woody Allen-esque plot alongside Julie White, Olivia Thirlby and Andrea Martin. The film made its debut at the South by Southwest festival in Austin, Texas, last year and has received rave reviews and awards on the indie circuit.

“I think that [filmmakers] are growing tired of formula [in films] and are trying to go against the norms,” says Wein, noting such films as “500 Days of Summer” and “Paper Heart.” “Instead of having the fairy tale where the couple leaps into each others’ arms and gets back together, we are just trying to portray a reality that is more relatable,” he adds.

The idea for “Breaking Upwards” began in 2006 when, after two years together, Lister-Jones proposed the two try a “days on/days off” plan. The idea was that while “on,” she and Wein would act like a conventional couple, but during days “off” they would be free to date and sleep with other people. When he agreed, the two embarked on a year of “don’t ask, don’t tell.”

“We were in very different places,” says Lister-Jones, whose credits include “State of Play” and this summer’s “Salt.” “I started working pretty quickly once I graduated [in 2004]. I think it’s confusing as a young actress to be in these exciting situations with all these new people. I didn’t want to feel tied down. Daryl, at the time, was in panic mode because he was trying to figure out his place in the world and his career path.”

Not surprisingly, the pair was met with the incredulity of family and friends, and fielded frequent comments like “You’re crazy” and “This is never going to work.” “It was definitely taboo, I think, but instinctually the human species is not meant to be with only one person sexually,” says Wein. That said, he does acknowledge the nerve-wracking nature of their agreement: “There was definitely a tinge of anxiety. You weren’t sure if you were going to run into the other person with someone else, and it’s emotionally overwhelming to deal with more than one person.”

And to keep behind the wall of “don’t ask,” Wein began documenting the conversations and fights that resulted from their new relationship status, and these “journaling” exercises led to the first draft of the script. “At some point, I was like, ‘This would be a hysterical movie,’” says Wein, who previously directed the independent films “Sex Positive” and “Unlocked.”

Lister-Jones was less than thrilled, and removed herself from the project while continuing in the “on” and “off.” Wein continued to work on the screenplay with friend and co-writer Peter Duchan. A year later, Lister-Jones had apparently had her fill of freedom. She suggested reverting back to their monogamous state, and rejoined the film project. On a budget of $15,000, the couple cowrote (with Duchan) and coproduced the movie; Wein directed it and Lister-Jones catered meals on various shooting days. “It’s a real mom-and-pop shop,” she says.

Staying true to their own characterizations, the stars wore their everyday clothes, a mix of thrift-store pieces and stylish Opening Ceremony finds. Says Wein, “Wearing our own clothes added to the authenticity that we were going for.”

But despite the fact that the actors play themselves in the film, Wein contends that “Breaking Upwards” is a dramatized version of their relationship: “The details and descriptions are very fictional compared to what really happened. [Our story] just set up the broad strokes.”

Still, the art-imitating-life plotline is certainly cause for intrigue. Viewers on the festival circuit have bombarded Wein and Lister-Jones with personal questions ranging from whether their co-stars were their actual lovers to what their sex life is like now. “Even though we’ve made a film about our relationship and talk about it incessantly, there are still painful elements that we don’t feel like rehashing all the time,” says Lister-Jones.

Wein is more accepting of the curiosity. “Sometimes it is a little too personal,” he says. “But we brought it onto ourselves, so we can’t really get mad.”

Click here to view the original article on WWD.com

MORE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM 'WOMAN'S WEAR DAILY' MAGAZINE

'BREAKING UPWARDS' ARTICLE IN CINEMATICAL

Every year there are those small little festival indies that I somehow become personally involved with because I saw the film at a fest, fell kinda in love with it and then took it upon myself to champion the thing into theaters so that folks like you will discover it and find some new entertainment that you may not have otherwise known existed. That's my favorite part of this job by far, and it is with great pleasure that we premiere this exclusive clip from Breaking Upwards, a film that carved a little hole in my heart back when it premiered at the 2009 SXSW Film Festival, and I've followed it ever since. (I even conducted a Q&A for the movie during the Big Apple Film Festival, and presented co-star Zoe Lister-Jones with the fest's NY Emerging Talent Award, which she whole-heartedly deserved.)

Set in New York City, Breaking Upwards stars Daryl Wein (who also co-wrote and directed) and Zoe Lister-Jones as a couple (named Daryl and Zoe) who, unfulfilled with their current relationship, decide to intricately strategize their break-up. Oh, and maybe I should tell you that they're also a couple in real life ... so, yes, there's a whole crazy meta thing happening here too. One of the best things about the film (other than its sharp-witted script) is that Wein colors the background with an excellent cast, including Olivia Thirlby, Pablo Schreiber, Andrea Martin and Julie White -- the latter of which is featured alongside Wein in the hilarious clip featured after the jump.

So listen: Breaking Upwards is hitting a limited amount of theaters (NY on 4/2, LA on 4/9, San Fran on 4/16, then Boston and Minneapolis) in early April, and you can catch it On Demand (via IFC) on April 2nd. Definitely check it out; might sound odd considering the plot, but it's a fantastic date movie

Article by Erik Davis

Click here to view the original article on cinematical.com

KDKA 2 INTERVIEWS ZOE AND DARYL

Click here to watch as

Zoe and Daryl discuss 'Breaking

Upwards'

with KDKA 2.

BUZZSUGAR TALKS ABOUT BREAKING UPWARDS

The only thing I love more than seeing a good story played out on screen is a movie with an equally good story behind it. In the upcoming indie film Breaking Upwards, Daryl and Zoe are a twentysomething couple who decide to take some time apart to figure out if they're meant to be together. Here's the twist: they also allow themselves a few days a week to be a full-on couple. Adult coming-of-age tales are nothing new, but I'm intrigued because Breaking Upwards is actually based on Daryl and Zoe's real-life relationship and breakup experiment (the actors play themselves and Daryl Weir directed).

The film looks sweetly relatable, thanks to references like shared Netflix queues and gchat conversations (you know, the important factors in relationships these days). The realness of the characters and their chemistry also shines through in the preview, though I was happy to see a couple of other familiar faces in the trailer — most notably Olivia Thirlby.

Article by Buzzsugar

SPIN MAGAZINE GIVES 'BREAKING UPWARDS' 4 STARS!

INSIDE BEAT INTERVIEWS DIRECTOR DARYL WEIN

An Interview with Breaking Upwards Director

By Emily Schachtman

Film Editor

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

A clip from the scene Breaking Upwards

Independent filmmaker Daryl Wein’s second feature-length film, Breaking Upwards, is sort of like a dissection of the modern breakup. Along with directing and starring, he also penned the screenplay with co-star Zoe Lister-Jones (both use their real names in the film), and the result is a clever meta-narrative about what it means to remove yourself from the life of someone you love, but with whom you may not be in love with. Breaking Upwards is screening at the New Jersey Film Festival this weekend, so Wein answered a few of Inside Beat’s questions about his latest effort.

IB: The script for Breaking Upwards is great! Was any of it improvised?
DW: Yes, there was some stuff that was improvised. The actors were free to add lines if they felt inspired to make something up. But I’d say 95 percent of it was scripted. Peter, Zoe and I worked really hard on the screenplay for about a year or so.

IB: I read one review on IMDb that compared the film to Woody Allen’s New York films. Do you see that?
DW: Yes, I would say Woody Allen was the biggest influence. I miss those early films like Annie Hall and Manhattan. They are funny, sad and serious, and I love that combination. I was trying to create something similar to them in a way but in a fresh, new light.

IB: I noticed you used a lot of outdoor shots. What was your experience with filming in NYC?
DW: Totally renegade. We just went out on the streets and shot. Everyone in the background is real. Nobody ever bothered us except for in Madison Square Park. They guard that park well.

IB: Is it difficult directing yourself? What I mean is, how did you deal with both directing and starring in your film?
DW: Yes, I never want to do it again … I couldn’t focus on both my performance and the other actors at the same time. You have to be invested in one or the other for it to be the best it can be. Sometimes I could watch playback and then give notes and some stuff I wasn’t in, so that was fine, but the rest was hard. I just had to let go and trust sometimes.

IB: What do you see as the one message in this film you’d like audiences to come away with?
DW: There is not one message. I hope people walk away laughing, maybe crying, feeling nostalgic, excited, moved, in love with New York, and asking lots of questions about the nature of relationships.

Click here to read the original article.

BLOG CRITICS REVIEWS 'BREAKING UPWARDS'

Competing in the Narrative Competition at the SXSW Film Festival,Breaking Upwards is a film about planning a relationship breakup so that hopefully no one gets hurt. The film is directed by Daryl Wein and written by Wein, Zoe Lister Jones, and Peter Duchan. Wein and Jones also play the leads in the film with the same names.

Breaking Upwards begins with Daryl and Zoe deciding that after four years of dating, their relationship isn’t going anywhere so they'd better break up. The catch is that they’ve become so comfortable with each other breaking up is not going to be an easy task. So, they figure that they’ll slowly wean themselves off of being around one another. Apparently the two haven’t heard of the Band-Aid trick. One quick motion always gets the job done.

Daryl and Zoe set up “days on” and “days off.” A few days a week they’ll be together, like a couple, and on the off days they do their own thing. As the story moves along jealousy and anger being to enter the picture. Is he flirting with that girl? Is she dating that guy? They begin to find out that making a breakup last longer is actually a more painful process.

Daryl and Zoe begin the movie thinking they’ve figured it all out. They seem to think “why hasn’t anyone thought of this great idea before?” It’s so simple, so genius. Instead of a fast breakup we’ll do a slow one. But they soon find out that the opposite is true.

Breaking Upwards is a lesson in dealing with relationships. Relationships are bigger than a plan. They cannot be planned. They are something that either works or doesn’t work. If it’s not working it’s time to move on. Keeping yourself in relationship limbo isn’t healthy or good.

The ending to Breaking Upwards is inevitable, but that doesn’t make it any less emotional. Sometimes people just aren’t meant to be together. We may want Zoe and Daryl to realize they should get married and grow old together, but it’s not going to happen. It’s hard to accept because we want and need our happy endings, but Breaking Upwardsoffers a real ending, not a contrived Hollywood ending.

These characters are doomed by their choices. They may think they’re outsmarting the world, but really they are setting themselves up for more disappointment and anguish. Breaking Upwards is an emotional ride and should make us all think about our own relationships.

Click here to view the original publication.

QUITE EARTH REVIEWS 'BREAKING UPWARDS'

Review of Daryl Wein and Zoe Lister Jones' BREAKING UPWARDS

Posted on Sunday, March 15th, 2009 8:23:31 GMT by: agentorange
Posted under: movie review

Year: 2009
Directors: Daryl Wein
Writers: Zoe Lister Jones / Daryl Wein / Peter Duchan
Review by: agentorange
Rating: 8.5 out of 10

Breaking Upwards is an effortlessly hip and funny new indie flick that easily ranks among the best films about relationships I've ever seen. For anyone who's ever thought that mainstream romantic comedies are a tad cliched or that the majority of their indie counterparts are quickly becoming limp and ironic flip sides of the same relationship fantasy coin, Breaking Upwards is exactly what you've been waiting for. It captures the modern relationship as it is; complex and not always easy, without painting people or their problems with a black and white brush. I would even go so far as to say it accomplishes for relationships in the new millennium what Annie Hall did in the 70s. Plus, it has great music in it.



Daryl and Zoe are the most mature couple on the planet. They've decided that, instead of just breaking up now that Zoe is feeling "bored" in their relationship, they will try taking "days off" to ween themselves off of each other. They'll be together for four days a week but on the other three they're not allowed to see each other, call each other or even think about each other. Total independence. Oh yeah, and that also means no more sharing Daryl's Netflix queue! That's a very important part of the agreement and I was glad to see this film had the courage to go there.



Of course you don't have to be an expert to see the writing on the wall. Regardless of whether it's culturally learned or instinctual, we puny humans are hardwired to be monogamous and emotions like jealousy or the fear of being alone in the big bad world are pretty hard to choke down; even for the maturest of us. But Zoe is determined to make it work. She's convinced there's something or someone out there to make her life complete and Daryl's just determined to make her happy. Does Zoe find what she's looking for? That mister perfect from all those romantic comedies? Does Daryl continue to put up with her indecision? Well you'll just have to see the film.



The film features a pitch perfect ensemble cast lead by extrememely talented newcomers Zoe Lister Jones (as Zoe) and Daryl Wein (as Daryl). Yes they seem to play themselves which makes me wonder if the film so closely resemble life because it's base on their own relationship.

Two actors which really deserved to be singled out are Julie White and Andrea Martin who turn in fantastic performances as the mothers of the couple. Comedicly neurotic has never played so well and these vets are in top form.

My only real complaint about the film is that it criminally underuses young actress Olivia Thirlby who's turned in some great performances recently in Snow Angels, Juno, and The Wackness. When she showed up I was delighted to find out what her character might bring to the mix but then she sort of just vanished into thin air, relegated to basically a walk-on part. Ah well, no biggie.



Breaking Upwards isn't simply about two people who don't get along and break up. It's about getting too seriously involved too young and having life sort of subtly drift you apart. It's not about big decisions but rather the little ones and how they all add up to be pretty big in the end. I like this movie a lot, in fact I watched it twice in one day.

Click here to read the original publication.

BREAKING UPWARDS WILL SOON BE AVAILABLE ON NETFLIX

"This film's portrayal of a modern 20-something relationship is spot on and incredibly relatable. I've been these characters. My friends have been these characters. The story itself is funny, heartbreaking and realistic. Apparently it was based on the lives of the two main characters so I suppose that's not a surprise, but it's all about how you tell the story and this was done wonderfully." -Member Review

Visit Netflix.com for more information.

WE'RE ON FACEBOOK

Become a fan of 'Breaking Upwards' on Facebook.

IFF BOSTON INTERVIEWS DIRECTOR DARYL WEIN

Check out Daryl Wein's interview with bostonist.com

"I was inspired by my own relationship because I felt like we were doing something a little unconventional for people our age. I didn't know anyone at the time who was in any open relationship. Nor did I know much about what it was like. Going it through it was a crazy thing."

- Daryl Wein

'GEEKS OF DOOM' RAVE ABOUT 'BREAKING UPWARDS'

Movie Review: ‘Breaking Upwards’

Posted by The Movie God | March 12th, 2010 at 4:40 am | Trackback

Breaking Upwards
Directed by: Daryl Wein
Written by: Zoe Lister-Jones, Daryl Wein, Peter Duchan
Starring: Zoe Lister-Jones, Daryl Wein, Andrea Martin, Peter Friedman, Julie White, Olivia Thirlby
IFC Films
Release Date: April 2, 2010 (Limited)

It’s all just part of life as we know it: people enter into relationships, and every single day, many of those relationships hit a wall causing said people to go their separate ways. But what do you do when you realize that the bond you share with another is wearing thin and that it might be time to break up, but neither of you can bare the thought of being apart completely?

Breaking Upwards tells the story of a real-life couple named Daryl (Daryl Wein) and Zoe (Zoe Lister-Jones) who are living in New York. When they enter into the 4-year range of their relationship, they begin to realize certain cracks that simply just can’t be repaired. Another realization that they come to, is that they also can’t be apart from each other long enough to quit their relationship cold turkey, so they need to come up with a plan to make their breakup happen.

The plan? Slowly-but-surely wean themselves away from each other by taking “days off,” doing things much more independently, and even opening up themselves to romantic and sexual situations with others.

Head on over for more and to check out the trailer.

As Daryl and Zoe commit to this new strategy, things start off fairly smooth; but as time goes by, it gets harder and harder. They eventually have to tell their families, who have grown to love their children’s significant other as if they were their own, about their decision to move on. Then of course there’s the moment when they have to look each other in the eyes after exploring their decision to be open sexually with others. Things that made sense at one time suddenly make no sense at all, and many complications and difficulties are created within their endeavor.

The best part about Breaking Upwards is the natural feeling that the movie gives off; nothing feels forced or manufactured. The film’s stars based it on their own experience as a couple and their own attempt at breaking up slowly, and instead of casting actors to portray them, they decided that it would be best to handle the duties themselves. This was a majorly important choice, and the chemistry you see is not something that you can replicate with ease. The dialogue between the two is witty and funny, and they do a flawless job of selling their situation; but it’s the little things that really won me over. The way they looked into each other’s eyes, their tendencies when they’re alone together, and little things like lightly bumping helmets when they meet up for a bike ride together. These things made this movie more than just a movie and elevated it to an observation of the human spirit and the difficulties that exist not only in two souls existing as one, but how painfully impossible it can be to let that part of you go when things don’t work out.

The movie does a good job of showing the side of people when they’re out and about and everyone is trying to be at their very best, but also the not-so-perfect moments that we have as human beings. All of the times when we lose our temper and flip out without thinking; the times we’re so overwhelmed that we’re not sure what direction to even take our next step in; the hardest of times that will only fortify us with an even stronger, more protective outer shell for life’s future battles.

Both Wein and Lister-Jones do a fantastic job all-around; it can’t be an easy task to make a movie this small, with hardly any budget…let alone one that shines a spotlight on your own most personal moments as a couple. Both actors deliver wonderful performances without question, but it was Lister-Jones who I really fell for while watching this movie. She really throws it all out there for all to see; from some great moments of humor, to random snaps of anger, and some incredibly heartbreaking moments of anguish, she really holds nothing back and it all translates perfectly to this tiny independent film.

I have to take the time to commend the surrounding actors as well. Instead of casting anyone, they cast a lot of friends and some distinguished talents while staying withing their small budget, and you can’t deny the positive effect their choices play in the final product. Especially when it comes to Daryl and Zoe’s parents, who were all played by said distinguished talents, and all did a marvelous job highlighting the negative ripples that a breakup can cause throughout a family. Zoe’s mother Helaine, played by the excellentAndrea Martin, was also particularly memorable as a laid back and wise women who gives it to you straight doesn’t have time for life’s B.S.

If the fact that this real-life couple wrote, directed and starred in a very well-made, well-executed film about their own very personal love lives wasn’t admirable and impressive enough for you, Lister-Jones even handled a lot of the great original music for the film along with composer Kyle Forester, which included singing some of the songs. Talk about a multi-tasking duo. Have you ever seen Scorsese star in his own films AND sing songs on the soundtrack as well? I’m just saying!

Breaking Upwards is a simple movie. There’s no major plot twists or complications going on here, just the story of two people who mean the world to each other but fear that they’ve reached the limits of their romantic relationship. When you begin the film, you have to assume that these two know what’s best, and that their decision is likely the most logical thing to do. The appeal comes from the above-mentioned chemistry that you see shining brightly on the screen, and as the movie plays, it’s hard not to want to scream out at them and cross your fingers that they find a way to work things out somehow.

I’ve had the good fortune of being able to see some of these much smaller independent films more often lately, and I might never have even heard of otherwise. It’s movies like this one that make that as exciting as it is. For one: I get to see smart, moving pictures like Breaking Upwards; and also, because I get to share the wealth with you guys and help point your eyes in the right direction.

The film will hit theaters in limited release on April 2, 2010, and will be expanded to more cities after that. If you can’t catch in theaters, it will also be released on VOD if you’d rather check it out that way. The soundtrack is available on iTunes.

Be warned, this trailer has one naughty word. So…I suppose that one split-second would not be safe for your working environment.

This article was published at geeksofdoom.com on March 12th, 201o