Badge Film Blog

Los Angeles film festival: It's a Disaster is a triumph

Todd Berger's comedy drama about four couples spending their last night on earth together deserves a wide audience
Cast of It's a Disaster
Cast of It's a Disaster … director Todd Berger (centre, kneeling), (left to right) Kevin Brennan, Laura Adkin, Jesse Draper, David Cross, Blaise Miller, Jeff Grace, and Erinn Hayes. Photograph: Jonathan Leibson/WireImage

At the after-party for the Los Angeles film festival's premiere of Todd Berger's comedy drama, It's a Disaster, at the Hotel Figeuroa, the blue drinks tickets are being handed over at the bar faster than you can say "not another apocalyptic couples brunch movie". Around the pool, actor David Cross, is being asked for possibly the 100th time if there's going to an Arrested Development film. "We were supposed to shoot in the next few days," he'd told the audience at the post-screening Q&A. "But I have yet to see a script or a contract." So that's that sorted. For now.

It's a Disaster is an absolute gem of a doomsday movie, about four couples who meet for brunch and find themselves in the middle of a chemical warfare attack, coping with their last few hours as best they can. Julia Stiles and America Ferrera star alongside Cross, but the project was born out of the mind of Berger, and brought to life with the help of producers Kevin Brennan, Jeff Grace and Blaise Miller, who also star. Collectively known as the comedy troup the Vacationeers ("Although we don't really do that any more," says Grace), their previous movie, The Scenesters, is on its way to cult status, and if there's any justice in the world, It's a Disaster will find an even bigger audience. "But we're still looking for a distributor," said Berger. "How much cash do you have on you?"

Berger says he was inspired by watching George A Romero's Night of the Living Dead but felt that while zombies "are kind of done" he could write a strong piece where a group of people are contained in one small space. "I liked the idea of a bunch of people being forced to stay inside the house, because you never know when there's going to be an earthquake or terrorist attack," he said, adding that the cast suffered their own emotional pain as the movie was shot during the hottest two weeks in recent Californian history. "We had to turn the air-con off because it made so much noise. It was insane."

Also making noise last night was the audience at the Celeste and Jesse Forever premiere, which saw music producer Quincy Jones cheering on his daughter Rashida Jones. She co-wrote the movie with Will McCormack, and also stars alongside Andy Samberg in this rom-com about a divorcing couple who stay friends. Samberg saw an early draft of the movie back in 2009 when Jones asked him to read it "as a friend", and then liked it so much he kept dropping subtle hints about being in it. Which just goes to prove you should always ask the question outright.

Unless, of course, it's about the Arrested Development movie. Because you already know the answer to that one.

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