‘Will and Harper’ director and star on Emmy’s success and Oscar’s bias


Even after a successful premiere that led to their documentary not only becoming one of the best reviewed films from Sundance 2024, but one of the biggest acquisitions from the festival, “Will & Harper” director Josh Greenbaum and subject Harper Steele was not aware of how long the journey to becoming a Outstanding documentary or nonfiction special Emmy -Nominated would take them.

“I had no idea that we were even eligible for an Emmy, quite frankly,” Steele told IndieWire over Zoom. “Depending on the atmosphere I am in, it was either a cherry on top or a sad surprise,” she joked and thought back to the prospects for a second year with award campaign.

“Will & Harper,” About Steele who goes on a drive with the famous friend Will Ferrell to restore their relationship now that she has come out as a transgender, is the latest example of the long award campaign that a famous documentary can take, if it would not receive an Academy Award nomination.

After months of screening the film for Oscar voters, “Will & Harper” eventually made the card list for the category Best Documentary Function (as well as the best original song “Harper and will go west”, performed by other “Saturday Night Live” alumni Kristen Wiig,) but finally stubborn when the Academy was. It is a track similar to the 2023-Sundance-Premiere-Tände-January-20124-Emmy winner “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie.”

The assumed reasoning behind why the movie was ignored is multi -layers. One possibility: Comedy superstar Ferrell is one of the topics in the film, although “Will & Harper” does not live on his Celebrity in a way similar to rising documentaries focusing on famous people. The film is much more about Steele’s transition during a counterfeit time for transgender people.

“We were a little locked up in the documentary world, and the DOC people vote with each other, in principle, in the Oscar campaign or some of these prices. It is open to many European doctors,” said many people that I do not think understood the exact complexity of the American situation right now with transgender people, which is fair. They don’t have to, “said Steele.” I think there is a built -in envy that we had Will Ferrell, so we probably had money, which Josh can refute. “(Greenbaum replied:” We had a lot of beef, just not a lot of money. “)

'Will and Harper'
Will and HarperWith the state of Netflix

“There is some backlash against celebrities doing things like this. Bud Light did something similar with a celebrity once, and they lost millions of dollars,” Steele said. “We’re not talking about virtue signaling here. We’re talking about an act of political kindness, and I feel that is what we get out of Will Ferrell.”

It may not even be that the documentary branch still has an opinion that charming celebrity -focused films, regardless of their content, can lead to a market being dominated even more of these projects. Keep in mind that the specific group of academy members responsible for determining the best nominated documentary functions has avoided nomination some Netflix movies since the populist chooses “My Octopus Teacher” won the Oscar 2021 (Note: “Killing a Tiger” had not been acquired by the streaming service until it received a nomination in January 2023.)

Even with the two possible battles against the film from the documentary branch’s embrace, Greenbaum explains that the benefits of being on Netflix much more adapted to the motives behind making “Will & Harper.” “They have been wonderful partners who completely believe in the project and have got it out there and have lots of shows and just really make sure people are aware of the film and are driven against it to watch it,” the director said. “It is the combination of obviously Netflix’s availability, but also comes Ferrell’s availability. You can look for a Will Ferrell movie one night on Netflix and snub (on). I’m sure there are many people who are like,” oh, what is this, will and harper? Looks like Will in a new comedy. Let me check out. “

Especially after the 2024 presidential election, at a time when the transgender people have been increasingly demonized at national level, Greenbaum points out that “Will & Harper” is on Netflix allows the audience to see the movie at home with them. “I love the idea that people who might not be involved in watching this movie or this story have a way to do it. I hate to say it, but I also think there are many people who would never see this movie in public. I know people in some states that would be so, so they can be curious,” said the current award for a documentary. “They do not know a trans person, so they are curious and there is a kind of safe space to look at it at home, and I am grateful for it. It reaches people that it would not normally reach, thanks to it.”

Seth Meyers, Harper Steele, Will Ferrell and Josh Greenbaum speak on stage under a
Seth Meyers, Harper Steele, Will Ferrell and Josh Greenbaum speak on stage under a “Will & Harper” special show in New York City.Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Netflix

Steele, who is a former “SNL” headwriter, has not felt the need to trivialize his showbiz experience as much -a real positive of Emmys Campaign, in her eyes. “Transgender people in this country are considered by most of the country as unhappy or a pathology. It is absolutely not true. This is what the reality is. I am not a pathology. I am a very successful comedy writer. It must be out there,” said the previously outstanding writing for a variety, music or comedy program Emmy winners. “There are so many of us who are so successful in Congress all over the country, and these pictures must be out more.”

Steele added, “Talking about our wonderful and fun, exciting careers is just another way to show trans joy. Will and I make it this day when we are on a panel or something. People will ask us a” SNL “issue, you can see us brighten. I think people share their successes are more important than people share their trauma in some ways.”

It is the kind of feedback on the movie that now stands out to her. “I’ve been in places all over this country since the thing has come out and people will recognize me and say:” The movie meant something to me, “so it’s wonderful. I’m not talking about Leonardo DiCaprio levels. I’m talking about random people, but it’s a victory. It is, it is, that is the power in Netflix.”

“It has been surprising after surprise when it comes to the reception. It continues to be in the conversation. For better or worse, it continues to be in the conversation, because politicians keep it in the conversation,” said Greenbaum about how “Will & Harper” has been received globally since its premiere in January 2024. ” “” But we are not there yet, and there is a story here, and it is obviously one that we are grateful is out in the world. ”

Harper Steele at the 36th annual Glaad Media Awards held at Beverly Hilton on March 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.
Harper Steele at the 36th annual Glaad Media Awards held at Beverly Hilton on March 27, 2025 in Los Angeles, California.Gilbert Flores/Variety

As busy as her two years marketing “Will & Harper” has been, Steele is pleased to continue talking about the award winner for how long people are willing to listen to her. “It keeps the project alive. The project was not something that was supposed to be consumed and taken home, and then you had a fantastic night on the film. This is a project to do work,” she said. “It tries to change the hearts and senses. As long as it stays there and continues to move and continues to get some kind of publicity, I am all for it. Let’s get a price year next year. I’m ready.”

“Will & Harper” is now flowing on Netflix.



Source link

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *