Read ‘Lady Bird’ Director Greta Gerwig’s Letters To Justin Timberlake And More
Greta Gerwigis on fire right now (not literally, thank heavens). The writer-actress-director’s new filmLady Birdhas garnered some of the best reviews of the year, and might be a serious contender come awards season. Gerwig’s coming-of-age drama is set in the early ’00s, and as such, she wanted to fill the film with those sweet jams that you heard incessantly on the radio back in the day. To land the music license rights to certain songs, Gerwig emailed several artists, and the letters are just delightful. Read the Greta GerwigLady Birdletters below.
I have yet to seeLady Bird, because I’m a terrible person. But I’ve heard nothing but great things about it, and I hope to see it some day. As a long-time fan of Greta Gerwig’s work, I’m thrilled to see her receiving such acclaim for her latest film behind the camera (note: a lot of people keep callingLady BirdGerwig’s directorial debut; that’s incorrect – this is her second time directing. She co-directed the 2008 filmNights and Weekendswith Joe Swanberg).
While making the promotional rounds forLady Bird, Gerwig revealed that to score the rights to several sweet 1990s tunes forLady Bird’s soundtrack, she took it upon herself to send letters to various artists, includingJustin Timberlake,Alanis MorissetteandDave Matthews. Gerwig talked about sending the letters onLate Night with Seth Meyers. You can watch the clip below.
If you wanted to read the letters yourself, you’re in luck. They’re now online (viaVulture), and they’re delightful. First up, here’s the letter to Timberlake, in which Gerwig calls Timberlake’s song “Cry Me a River” “sultry and sullen and infectious”, and tells Timberlake she’d like to include the song in a “full on make out” scene where starSaoirse Ronangets and the object of her affection get “hot and heavy by the tanning bed.”
Now let’s examine Gerwig’s letter to Alanis Morissette, in which she regales Alanis with a story about bringing theJagged Little Pillcassette to a sleepover party. She also mentions thatLady Birdstar Saoirse Ronan once filmed a parody of Morissette’s “Ironic,” which you canwatch here.
Finally, we have Gerwig’s letter to Dave Matthews, whose song “Crash Into Me” plays a big part in the film. Here, Gerwig tells Matthews that she thinks “Crash Into Me” “was and isthe most romantic song ever,” and that she uses it twice inLady Bird. Also, I’m highly amused that while the previous two letters were addressed to Dear Mr. Timberlake and Dear Ms. Morissette, Dave Matthews gets the full-name treatment with Dear Mr. Dave Matthews.
There you have it: Greta Gerwig, as charming as she is talented.
