Kelly O’Malley chatted with #Powerjournalist Markos Papadatos about co-writing and starring in the new film “Wake.”
The synopsis is: On the day of their father’s wake, four semi- stranged siblings reunite to navigate their loss, clashing relatives, awkward guests, botched funeral arrangements, and their wildly different ways of grieving. As a series of mishaps unfold, Rose, Cassie, Becca, and Cade struggle to make it through a day no one is prepared for. Amid the chaos, they confront the complicated reality of their father’s suicide and unexpectedly begin finding their way back to one another.
It was directed by Devon Michaels, who also co-wrote the script with O’Malley.
What inspired you to write this script?
I lost my dad to suicide several years ago, and the idea came to me because my experience was very different from what I was seeing portrayed in film and television.
I wanted to explore that perspective and draw on what I’ve learned over the last decade about grief, mental health, and the importance of meeting our own needs before we can meet the needs of others, and help each other.
I also wanted to explore the comedy and absurdity of it all. It’s so absurd. You wake up, your dad has died by suicide, and it’s tragic. You are in shock, and everyone is running around like chickens with their heads cut off.
I wanted to explore that experience in the hope that others who have gone through something similar could connect with it through their own experiences of grief and loss.
Was writing the script a cathartic experience?
Yes, it was. It was fun, too. The story is very loosely based on my experience, and no one character is meant to represent any one person. A couple of characters might be love letters to people in my life, but I essentially poured everything into a pot, distributed those experiences among the characters, and I created something new.
Getting to write the goodbye at the end that I wanted but didn’t get in real life was really cathartic. It was a form of wish fulfillment.
I wish we had been able to come together and support one another better that day. We did, in our own way, but I wish things had been different.
What was it like working with Penelope Ann Miller?
I love Penelope! She is such a star! She is so specific in how she approaches every role, and I’m such a fan. It was incredible working with her.
She was a wonderful scene partner and has been wonderful throughout this entire process. I feel so lucky and grateful to be working with her. When I watch her, I am constantly learning. She is incredibly talented and very giving.
What was it like working with Cole Sprouse?
Cole was great, too! I grew up watching him on TV, and then he got to play my brother, which was really cool.
He has incredibly honed instincts and he makes these amazing choices. Getting to play scenes with him felt easy and fun. I think when you work with people who have more experience than you, they really elevate you. They bring you up to their level, so it was a great experience.
What did writing the screenplay teach you about yourself?
I hope it helped me better understand how to put myself in different characters’ shoes and consider their individual wants and needs.
We wanted to approach every character as though their point of view was valid. Everyone is fighting over ownership of grief. We have our antagonists, but they’re not bad people. They are not necessarily even wrong; they are just fighting for their own perspectives and needs.
I thought it was a really cathartic experience to write the story that way, and it gave me a new perspective.
As an artist, it reinforced the importance of empathy. That’s what we need when approaching characters: empathy rather than judgment. I think that was especially meaningful because I was exploring so many different perspectives.
What’s the title of the current chapter of your life?
“I Need a Vacation.”
What does success mean to you?
I think success means feeling creatively fulfilled in what we do. Storytelling is such an important part of the human experience, and different stories resonate with different people in unique ways.
At the end of the day, success means knowing that I’ve told a story I’m proud of and that I genuinely enjoy. It’s about feeling creatively and emotionally fulfilled.
What would you like to say to the fans?
I hope they get something meaningful out of this story. I hope those who have experienced loss can watch it and feel seen, knowing they’re not alone in their experiences. We all experience grief differently, but we can still find common ground and relate to one another.
For those who have been fortunate enough not to have lost a parent, sibling, child, or another close family member, I hope the film helps them understand that no one should have to navigate grief alone.
I also hope it inspires empathy and encourages people to support those who have lost someone, especially those who have lost someone to suicide.
Suicide remains a highly stigmatized type of death, and people often don’t know how to interact with someone who has experienced that kind of loss. I hope this film can open up conversations that make those interactions easier for everyone.
What’s the one thing you want people to take away from the film?
Grief is human. It is part of our experience, and we don’t have to be afraid of it. We can be afraid of it, I suppose, but we don’t have to go through it alone.
We’re all going to experience grief at some point, and mental health and human connection are incredibly important to our quality of life.
To learn more about Kelly O’Malley, follow her on Instagram.
