Exclusive Interview: In Conversation with Screenwriter Matt Harris for Netflix’s ‘The Starling’

For this interview, The Movie Buff’s Daniel Prinn was able to speak with Matt Harris, a screenwriter for a new Netflix film, “The Starling,” which recently premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film follows Lilly (Melissa McCarthy), who is grieving from the loss of her child.

She spends her days visiting her husband Jack (Chris O’Dowd), who is dealing with his own grief in different ways. As Lilly struggles on her own, a Starling visits her property and picks a fight with Lilly: A territorial bird swooping and attacking her. When Lilly retaliates, she looks for guidance from Dr. Larry Fine (Kevin Kline), currently a veterinarian, after spending years in the mental health field.

In The Movie Buff’s conversation with Matt Harris, Harris talks his script first premiering on the 2005 Black List (a list of the best unproduced screenplays), balancing the comedy and drama, the film’s director Theodore Melfi coming on board, casting Melissa McCarthy and Chris O’Dowd, and much more.

Find the conversation directly above on our YouTube channel, and “The Starling” is currently streaming on Netflix.

*Podcast music courtesy of bensound.com.