Director Shira Piven wants film fans to think about the state of the media

On Kristen Wiig's Welcome To Me

"LET ME TALK about Donald Trump for a minute." So began our freewheeling interview with Shira Piven, director of Kristen Wiig's latest movie Welcome To Me playing across the UAE now. This unexpected start was, however, quickly put into context.
Welcome To Me focuses on Alice (Wiig), a single unemployed woman with mental health issues, whose obsession with TV and the company it provides is touching. After winning the California state lottery of $86 million, Alice decides to pay for and host her own TV talk show Welcome To Me. When it becomes a surprise local hit with segments including 'bake your own meatloaf cake' and historical enactments of Alice's life, Wiig's character realises fame may not be all its cracked up to be. Piven's comment was a response as to whether one of the movie's themes was a commentary on the media taking on any cause in exchange for cash.
"Alice's world isn't exactly what you see on TV but it's a metaphor for what goes on. It hit a nerve that is present in our culture and that is present with Donald Trump. I have a sneaking suspicion that our media has helped him win the nominations. You could make a case that they almost created the situation because of the corporate aspect of the whole thing. They're driven by ratings in order to bring the corporations more money. I think it's dangerous."
Aside from the ratings-chasing, money hungry corporate media, the film also shines a light on the new Instagram culture which has befallen millions across the world.
 Said Piven: "I knew this world. It made sense to me. On the surface it's about a woman with mental illness. But there are scenes of our strange American culture that make me angry and I want to explore. Those scenes, which portray fame for a day and reality television, they highlight the idea that somehow our lives are not meaningful until we're living in front of other people."
Despite these weighty social standpoints, Piven (as do we) wished to stress this is above all a dark comedy, which necessitated Wiig's involvement.
"She's such a unique actress, brought unique. We waited for three months for her to read the script, which is a huge amount of time. We were patient because we really had the feeling she would connect with the script. I felt it needed an actress that was inherently funny but was also able to do the more emotional side."
The film's message for the UAE
I think America is flawed but I think underneath it all there is an effort to promote meaningful values. The superficiality and corruption that exists is a modern issue. Our country was founded on values and we always try and return to those which promote human kindness and dignity and freedom and equality. This movie will help to expose the strangeness and danger of our cultural narcissism. I think the UAE can identify with that.
Fun facts
. Shira Piven is married to Will Ferrell's long-term collaborator and The Big Short Director Adam McKay
. Her daughter Pearl plays Pearl in the Ferrell comedy short The Landlord on Funnyordie.com
. Her brother is Entourage actor Jeremy Piven
david@khaleejtimes.com