A New Kid on the Block: A Teen’s Fight with Anxiety

Will Ropp, who has acted in shows like “The Way Back” and “Love, Victor, ” decided to step behind the camera. He wanted a script that felt real. Ropp tried to sign up for The Black List, but the site said he had no film credits. He then used a friend’s login and looked through about one hundred scripts. The script that caught his eye was “Brian. ” It is a coming‑of‑age story similar to old John Hughes movies. The plot follows a high school boy who worries a lot and falls for one of his teachers. Michael Scollins, known for writing “Late Night With Seth Meyers, ” wrote the script. Ropp had to convince Scollins, a stranger and a professional, that he could direct the film. After some hard talks, Scollins agreed. The project also brought in Seth Meyers as a producer. Meyers praised Ropp’s understanding of teenage life, saying it was not easy to film teens because they can be hesitant.

The cast includes Ben Wang as Brian, Natalie Morales as his teacher, Randall Park and Edi Patterson as the parents, William H. Macy as a therapist, Joshua Colley as a friend, and Sam Song Li as the brother. Before “Brian, ” Ropp had made a short comedy with Act 4 Artists called “Kodar: The Primordial God of Light and Ether. ” Now he is ready to show the full film. It will premiere at SXSW in Austin on March 14. Although “Brian” is funny, it also deals with mental health. Ropp says he felt the script spoke to his own anxiety and panic attacks. He wanted to share a story that many people can relate to, showing how teens try to find themselves.

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