[SXSW Interview] Riley Stearns directs Jesse Eisenberg in dark comedy 'THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE'

Fresh Fiction and Denton Record-Chronicle reporter Preston Barta chatted with 'THE ART OF SELF-DEFENSE' writer-director Riley Stearns (FAULTS) at the South by Southwest Film Festival in Austin, TX.

The film - starring Jesse Eisenberg, Alessandro Nivola and Imogen Poots - follows a young man after he's been savagely beaten by a biker gang. As a result, he enlists in a local dojo to get his dignity back.

In the interview, we discuss how the worst day of your life can also be the best, the matter-of-fact dialogue and dark humor, and Jesse Eisenberg not being able to keep from cracking up during a hilarious monologue.

Special thanks to the SXSW team, Bleecker Street and Fons PR for setting up this interview. It took place at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin in Austin, TX, on March 9, 2019.

[stevegeorge]

It had to be a bit weird to be making this movie wrestling with the questions of what it is to be a man after his wife, who was originally cast in this movie and starred in his debut, decided to end their relationship of 15 years to be with another man.

[gerunkwon]

1:14 "Did some sort of *EVENT* happened that caused this"