What's Next For 'What Goes Up' Stars?

While the producers of 'What Goes Up' are still exploring options, the movie has been keeping pace as the DVD release continues to earn new reviews. The most recent review by Kelsey Zukowski at The Celebrity Cafe, which followed Britt Hayes' review at the Examiner, that says director Jonathan Glatzer could "easily have a career among other indie darlings."

As Glatzer is already working on another project with writer Robert Lawson, we thought it might be a good idea to catch up with some of the stars from What Goes Up.

Steve Coogan has been cast in three films, including Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Eddie the Eagle; and Murder in Samarkand. However, the film that his fans are talking about is Alan Partridge: The Movie since Coogan mentioned it last May.

Hilary Duff has several movies in the making, but the role that seems to be capturing some attention is a multi-episode role on Gossip Girl as Olivia Burke, a movie star who is attending NYU to attempt to get a typical college experience. The first episode featuring Duff is scheduled for Oct. 5, according to the Examiner.

Josh Peck has been cast in a remake of the 1984 movie Red Dawn. He will reportedly play the role of younger brother Matt Eckert, which was originally played by Charlie Sheen. The film is slated to start shooting in September.

Olivia Thirlby will appear in the recently completed films New York, I Love You; and Margaret. She is also slated for The Manners of Madness and Parts Per Billion, both in development. In the interim, Thirlby has taken to the stage with Chris Pine and Chris North in Beau Willimon's "Farragut North." It runs through July 26.

Molly Shannon is still making headlines with Kath & Kim, which is the U.S. version of the hit Australian comedy about a dysfunctional mother and daughter relationship. While NBC announced there will not be a second season in May, Season 1 seems to be finding a new fan base since it became available on DVD this week.

What Goes Up Ends Initial Theatrical Run

What Goes Up, a film about a morally challenged New York reporter (Steve Coogan) who learns life lessons from a group of dysfunctional students (Hilary Duff, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby), has completed its initial theatrical run in theaters, which was capped off at the Breckenridge Festival of Film last Friday. The film played to a very receptive full house.

"We're not ready to close out the possibilities of a second theatrical run or pursuing more film festivals in the United States even with the DVD being released on June 16," said James Hoke, executive producer. "We're also weighing our options to show the film outside of the United States, where fans have been extremely supportive. Some of these decisions will depend on the initial DVD sales, but we really want to expand the release and we still have another contest promise to fulfill."

Fans of many primary cast members have played an important role since the movie was first shown at 3rd Annual Buffalo Niagara Film Festival. At the theatrical premiere on May 28, fan art from two film promotions greeted guests at the event.

The VIP Premiere Loop from the Pacific Design Center

In addition to fan support, Olivia Thirlby has taken some media interviews to help the film. The most recent was published at Alloy.com. In the interview, which includes photos, Thirlby also speaks very highly of Hilary Duff.

"Working with Hilary was wonderful. I can't speak highly enough of her," Thirlby told Alloy.com "She's a very cool, very kind and incredibly genuine person in every respect."

On June 16, What Goes Up will be available on DVDs everywhere. Check back for updates and links on Tuesday.

Ain't It Cool News Interviews Olivia Thirlby

Mr. Beaks from Ain't It Cool News, a film website run by Harry Knowles, caught up with Olivia Thirlby, age 22, for a brief phone interview about 'What Goes Up' and other projects. In the article, Beaks reminds readers that although at least one magazine has already called Thirlby a "next generation star" that she is far too talented and way too young for this to be her make-or-break moment. We agree.

In 'What Goes Up,' a movie Beaks calls crammed with incident, Thirlby still manages to set herself apart as the character Tess. According to Beaks, what makes Tess so interesting is that she attempts to be disaffected, yet represses just as much pain as anyone else in the film. The article is the first primary cast interview to be published. Here is an excerpt as it relates to what Beaks calls a "lovely performance" by Thirlby.

On The Phone With Olivia Thirlby

Beaks: Your character, Tess, is an outsider within a group of outcasts.
Thirlby: She is. She definitely is the least liked, I think. I don't think she has any real bond with any of her classmates. She probably manifests that in herself; I think she's a bit surly and unpleasant to be around, sort of a buzzkill. I think also she's keeping such dark secrets inside her, and that probably forms a sort of schism between her and other people. People can't even ask where she is or where she's coming from, so to save herself the pain, she probably just puts a divide between herself and everyone around her. She's an incredibly upset person. (laughs)

Beaks: Probably the least happiest person you've ever played.
Thirlby: She is definitely the singularly most unhappy, miserable, depressed and dark character that I've ever played.

Beaks: Those are fun to play once in a while.
Thirlby: Yeah, I wouldn't say "fun". Maybe "necessary". You learn something, I think. I learned plenty about my own recovery process because Tess weighed me down a little bit; it actually took me a few months before I felt normal again. That was my first experience with anything like that.

Beaks: When it came to relating to your fellow cast members, did you get kind of method with it and try to keep your distance from them on set? How into it did you get?
Thirlby: (laughs) I wish I could say I was that method, but I was working with a group of people who were too wonderful to ignore. I can't say that when I was on location I ignored the people I was working with. As far as for when I was on set, I didn't do much socializing. I would usually hole up in my trailer and draw these really awful, dark sketches about abortions and dead teachers and stuff like that. Because Tess is an artist, I had a sketchpad and I tried to draw stuff a lot. So I would spend hours in my trailer making these really dark, horrific drawings and writing poetry that was really bleak. (laughs)

Beaks: (Laughing) That sounds pretty method to me!
Thirlby: Yeah, but at the end of the day when I took off eyeliner... I mean, it's really fun to be working in a really large crew of young people who are all so wonderful. Josh Peck, of course, is my old buddy. We actually found out that THE WACKNESS got into Sundance while we were working on [WHAT GOES UP]. And Max Hoffman... there are a whole slew of amazing Canadian actors, and we all spent quite a lot of time together.

For the rest of the interview, please visit Ain't It Cool News. The interview includes Thirlby's thoughts on the independent films, a chance run in with Judah Friedlander, and her next appearance in a film with Jeff Daniels and Lauren Graham, which is due out later this month.

Behind The Film 'What Goes Up'

For Jonathan Glatzer, winning the best film award for 'Prix Fixe,' a 28-minute short released in 1997, must seem a lifetime ago on the day before his full length feature film What Goes Up is shown at the Pacific Design Center before opening in six major cities.

Back then, he had directed Oscar nominee Douglas McGrath and Tim Blake Nelson. This time around, he directed a cast of brilliant performers including: Steve Coogan, Hilary Duff, Olivia Thirlby, Josh Peck, Molly Shannon, and a dozen other young and talented actors.

"Being around this young cast, I felt younger and much older at the same time," recalls Glatzer. "Younger because they brought an energy and commitment that has not been dampened by cynicism; older because sometimes I had to act like the mature one on the set. But only when I absolutely had to."

According to Glatzer, the script, which he originally worked on with Robert Lawson as a stage play, had a long history of what some might call moments of maturity. While it attracted champions, the number of characters and locations called for a bigger budget than many producers and studios would have considered from a first-time director.

And then, even after the financing was locked, it became even more challenging than Glatzer expected. The result, two weeks before principal photography, was a tight budget and fewer shooting days. It took some additional tenancy for the first-time executive producers at Three Kings Productions. And, of course, the cast.

"It all came down to having a truly great cast, talented and deeply cool, to make it possible for us to accomplish this film," says Glatzer. "When your budget has you by the edge of a knife, your cast makes the difference. Their performances were all wonderful."

The cast originally came together in a few short months, with Coogan being among the first to meet with Glatzer after reading the script. Duff, who was recommended by John Cusack, came on after noting a personal connection between herself and Lucy. And Shannon joined after hearing how she had enamored Glatzer during a screening of Mike White’s “Year of the Dog.” He still insists she should have been nominated for an Oscar.

"When I saw Olivia Thirlby’s audition tape, I was completely blown away; I still am," he said. "And Josh Peck, who was originally cast as the character Fenster, is one of the best, if not the best, actors of his generation."

Nearly everyone agrees. Many reviewers, even those who have been hard on the film, have given props to the performers. Even more so than reviewers, the film's first outing at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival won the "Audience Award."

"I think they walked away with what I wanted them to ... love for the characters, but the kind of love you might give begrudgingly because they are not without flaws," he said. "Just like this film, there is no ‘wrapped with a ribbon’ resolution or perfect plans or moments of unadulterated triumph."

Glatzer says that if there is any message, then it must be exactly that. There is pain, he says, not only in loss, but in every interaction between us all. He believes that is one of the reasons we look for heroes; each of us is trying to find ideas that are larger than ourselves, even if that sometimes means disposing of inconvenient truths.

It happens in everyday life, he says, and on the grand scale. It happens with groups of young people, in their teens, just like those brought to life in the film. Sometimes, kids have one adult in their lives who shines. But if they die, it leaves a crater in their lives that needs to be filled with whatever seems within easy reach and most convenient.

Glatzer began his career in theater as a director, staging productions at such venues as the Oxford Playhouse in England, Shakespeare Theatre in Washington D.C., and The Ensemble Studio Theatre in New York. He then moved on to work as a writer for Touchstone Television, Fox Television, Warner Brothers, Good Machine, and Industry Entertainment.

In addition to film, there is another interesting footnote on Glatzer's resume. He was an alternate for the U.S. men's fencing team for the 2000 Summer Olympics that was held in Sydney, Australia.

Glatzer will also be featured this Friday in an extended First Look video.

First Look: Steve Coogan in What Goes Up

When most people think of Steve Coogan, they think of one of the best known characters in the United Kingdom, Alan Partridge. However, Coogan is surprisingly diverse, recently playing Damien Cockburn in Ben Stiller’s Tropic Thunder and Octavius in the upcoming Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, which opens the week before What Goes Up.

In What Goes Up, Coogan takes the lead as Campbell Babbitt, the morally challenged New York reporter who learns life lessons from a group of dysfunctional students (Hilary Duff, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby) after being sent to cover the story about a local hometown hero.

In this clip, complete with one scene with Molly Shannon and another with Thirlby, Coogan talks about what attracted him to the film, the depth of the characters, and how it relates to people searching for meaning in their lives. (Content warning: adult language).

First Look: Steve Coogan in What Goes Up.



Coogan, one of nine children, was born and raised in Middleton, Greater Manchester. He has won numerous awards for his work in television, including several British Comedy Awards, BAFTAs, and The South Bank Show award for comedy. In 2003, he was listed in The Observer as one of the 50 funniest acts in British comedy. He is also an accomplished writer, producer, director composer, and co-owner of Baby Cow Productions with Henry Normal.

Since March 2008, Coogan has been on tour doing stand-up comedy. He has also been cast in movies that include Eddie the Eagle (2009) and Murder in Samarkand (2011), both of which are currently in pre-production.

Fans Drive Interest In What Goes Up

In less than 24 hours, even before the What Goes Up Movie Soundtrack by Amherst Records appears on the homepage of iTunes (May 5), the soundtrack has already gained traction. And, "Any Other Day" by Hilary Duff has moved up 41 places on her iTunes top song list (four places in the last hour).

The song isn't the only amazing feature to focus on. The growing fan support that is providing a foundation for the film and the soundtrack is nothing short of amazing too.

"Hilary's new music is awesome! I'm so happy her film is being released, even though it's only a limited release. I love the song too!" — Emily Cluttrell, fan, iTunes review.

All across the Internet, dozens of fan sites and music reviewers representing various countries are talking about What Goes Up. Many of them are even creating their own renditions of promotional art. One of the very first seen last week was from Hilary Duff Online.


Hilary Duff Online is not alone. In addition to hundreds of blogs supporting various stars and promotional efforts, fans are connecting on Facebook and Twitter. Most feedback confirms what 1,200 views per day of the First Look: Olivia Thirlby video and 2,200 views per day of the "Any Other Day" by Hilary Duff teaser might suggest. There is growing interest in the film and the first showing at the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival will likely sell out.

Of course, numbers alone don't tell the whole the story. Every day, the producers are pleasantly surprised by fans. For example, Zach M, who is a frequent visitor to the Hilary Fan Forum, recently sent in his vision for the cover of an "Any Other Day" single (pictured right).

These efforts are also being supported several hardworking teams. Cast schedules are being reviewed, screening invitations are going out, media interest is growing, databases are being updated, promotions are being finalized, and the soundtrack label is considering various options while tracking the success of the new single. And right here, tomorrow, we'll post a "First Look: Steve Coogan in What Goes Up" video.

"This is all a countdown, to a higher place, countdown into some outer space." — Hilary Duff, from "Any Other Day" on the What Goes Up Soundtrack. Full lyrics, as presented by a fan, here and we'll be publishing the song as originally written next week.

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First Look: Olivia Thirlby in What Goes Up

Olivia Thirlby is best known for her role as Leah, who was best friends with Juno MacGuff (Ellen Page) in Juno. The film won an Oscar for best original screenplay written directly for the screen. Recently, she played the part of Stephanie in the independent film The Wackness opposite Josh Peck. That film won the 2008 Sundance Film Festival Audience Award.

In What Goes Up, Thirlby plays Tess, a teenager struggling with the concept of how individual experiences shape our view of the world. In this clip, complete with scenes from the movie, Thirlby shares personal insights about the film and what it is like working with Steve Coogan, who plays Campbell Babbitt. (Content warning: adult language).

First Look: Olivia Thirlby in What Goes Up.


Thirlby, the daughter of a construction worker, was born in New York City, and trained at the American Globe Theatre as well as (briefly) the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London. She also completed a stage combat course with the British Academy of Stage and Screen Combat (BASSC). Her first role was in the movie United 93.

Vanity Fair magazine called Thirlby part of "Hollywood's New Wave," along with The Jonas Brothers, Emma Roberts, Amanda Seyfried, Kristen Stewart, Josh Peck, and Christopher Mintz-Plasse. Recently, fans were thrilled to find Thirlby with Kat Dennings on the cover of Nylon Magazine.

Welcome To 'What Goes Up' Insider

What Goes Up is a film about a morally challenged New York reporter (Steve Coogan) who learns life lessons from a group of dysfunctional students (Hilary Duff, Josh Peck, Olivia Thirlby) while covering the hometown hoopla surrounding the first teacher in space. Set in the 1980s, this poignant fishbowl glimpse at life takes a look at how heroes are made in a world devoid of heroes.

The What Goes Up Insider (whatgoesupmovie.blogspot.com) is the official production blog. Here, you'll find weekly updates, insights, interviews, reviews, and opinions written by the producers, along with guest appearances by the cast and crew. You will also find some insider information about the trials and successes associated with this independent film, originally called 'Safety Glass.'