Being an actress is hard work. But being the star of your husband’s feature directorial debut is a different kind of challenge altogether. Luckily for Olivia Wilde, who stars in hubby Tao Ruspoli’s Fix, the task was an enjoyable one from beginning to end.

Inspired by real events, Fix tells the story of two documentarians, Bella (Wilde) and Milo (Ruspoli), as they race around Los Angeles’ many enclaves to get Milo’s brother Leo (Shawn Andrews) from jail to rehab—or risk Leo going to prison for three years. Filling the roles of co-writer, director, actor and cinematographer, Ruspoli set the stage for a production where the actors were expected to do more than just deliver their lines. Taking a break from their Slamdance premiere, Wilde spoke with MM about the fast-paced nature of shooting Fix and why it was always destined to play in Park City

Jennifer Wood (MM): Fix really seems like the perfect Slamdance movie—a fast-moving, character-rich, independent film. Why did you guys decide to premiere the film in Park City?

Olivia Wilde (OW): Tao has dreamt of premiering at Slamdance since we started putting together the project. He always said this was a Slamdance film, and having seen it premiere there, I completely understand what he meant by that. Slamdance clings to the values of the blood, sweat and tears philosophy of independent filmmaking, embracing virgin films untainted by sold out commercialism or box office-motivated “creatives” who would rather their finished project to be PG-13 and castrated than rated R with major risky film balls! It’s an honor to be considered by them to have stayed true to their ideals, as they are, and always have been, ours as well.

MM: The film is one that required more of all its players than any single job title would suggest, with the actors shooting the film, too. How was the experience of making this film different from anything you’d done before?

OW: Often actors believe the work is done when we walk off set. “That’s a wrap on Olivia Wilde!” And then we go home and impatiently wait to win some awards. With Fix I learned that the real work begins when the shooting is complete. I was involved in this project from the beginning, and watched in awe as Tao wrote for two years before financing, casting, shooting, editing, re-editing, submitting and premiering. I’ve never seen someone work so hard with so much passion. I have a newfound respect for directors who carry their beloved film/baby for years and see it through without ever dropping it on its head.

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