Renowned director and producer Michael Day presents his latest project, Clawfoot, which premiered on streaming platforms on July 19, 2024. The dark comedy thriller stars Francesca Eastwood, Olivia Culpo, Nestor Carbonell, and Milo Gibson and revolves around a wealthy suburban trophy wife who faces off against a malevolent contractor renovating her bathroom. The film explores the disparity between outward appearances and hidden financial struggles, offering a unique perspective on survival and social status in contemporary times.
Michael Day, known for his work on major productions like Top Gun: Maverick and Iron Man 3, brings a distinctive approach to Clawfoot, inspired by Hitchcock classics such as Rope, Dial M for Murder, and Rear Window. The visual style of the protagonist Janet, played by Eastwood, evokes icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn, while Gibson’s character Leo brings a depth reminiscent of Marlon Brando. This work reflects Day’s growth and versatility as a director.
In addition to Clawfoot, Michael Day has other projects in development, including the erotic thriller Pretty Thing and the action comedy Stranglehold. His next feature film, Fog Of War, starring John Cusack and Brianna Hildebrand, is slated for release later this year. Day’s career continues to expand, solidifying his position in the film industry with a diverse range of projects at various stages of production.
“Clawfoot” is his latest project as director. What were the biggest challenges you faced during the production and direction of this film?
The biggest challenge was managing the tight schedule and limited budget. Each day felt like a marathon, with little time to catch our breath. Despite the pressure, the cast and crew were fantastic. From day one, everyone understood the demanding pace and worked seamlessly together. We all stayed focused, kept up the momentum, and delivered a great result despite the constraints.
The film explores the disparity between outward appearances and hidden financial challenges. What inspired you to tackle these themes in a dark comedy thriller?
I’ve always enjoyed dark comedy thrillers because they can address serious issues with a unique twist. With Clawfoot, I wanted to highlight the gap between how people present their lives and the financial struggles they face behind the scenes. In today’s world, everyone is trying to project an ideal image, even when their reality is quite different. By using dark comedy, I aimed to make this topic engaging and thought-provoking, rather than just adding to the stress people already feel. It was crucial to show that even characters who seem to have it all, like Janet, can be grappling with their own challenges, just like many of us.
You drew inspiration from Hitchcock classics like “Rope,” “Dial M for Murder,” and “Rear Window.” How did these influences shape the narrative and visual style of “Clawfoot”?
Hitchcock’s films were a big influence on Clawfoot. From Rope, I took the idea of building tension in a single setting, which helped create a claustrophobic feel in the film. Dial M for Murder inspired the cat-and-mouse dynamic between Janet and Leo, focusing on suspenseful interactions and unexpected twists. Rear Window influenced the visual style, particularly how we use Janet’s home as a key element in the story, revealing hidden secrets and adding to the tension. These classic techniques helped us create a gripping and suspenseful film.
Janet’s look, played by Francesca Eastwood, is reminiscent of icons like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. How did you work with the costume and makeup departments to achieve this aesthetic?
Heather, our hair and makeup stylist, and Brooke, our costume designer, were instrumental in achieving the classic, iconic look for Janet. They both immediately grasped the vintage aesthetic we aimed for, drawing inspiration from legends like Marilyn Monroe and Audrey Hepburn. Heather’s attention to detail in creating timeless hairstyles and makeup was spot-on, while Brooke’s costumes perfectly captured the elegance and sophistication we wanted.
Working with Francesca Eastwood was a delight as well. Her natural, classic beauty made it easy to envision her in iconic looks, and she even contributed some of her own wardrobe pieces, adding authenticity to the character. The collaboration between Francesca, Heather, Brooke, and myself was seamless. We all shared a clear vision for Janet’s look and worked together closely to bring it to life, ensuring that every detail reflected the timeless elegance we sought.
In addition to directing, you also produced “Clawfoot.” How did the experience of producing and directing simultaneously influence the film’s final outcome?
Balancing the roles of both director and producer significantly impacted the film’s final outcome. As a director, my focus was on telling the story in the most compelling way possible. However, as a producer, I had to manage budget constraints and a tight shooting schedule, which limited the time and coverage we could afford for each scene. This challenge pushed us to get creative with our camera work and storytelling techniques. Despite the limitations, we worked hard to ensure the film remained engaging and visually interesting, leveraging every opportunity to make the most of our resources.
With a career that includes work on major productions like “Top Gun: Maverick” and “Iron Man 3,” how did these previous experiences influence your directing style in “Clawfoot”?
Working on major productions like Top Gun: Maverick and Iron Man 3 deeply influenced my directing style. Observing the top-tier directors and crew members on these projects taught me the importance of patience and adaptability in the face of challenges. Regardless of budget size, every production faces its own set of issues, and these experiences showed me how to tackle them creatively and collaboratively. The focus on storytelling and problem-solving, despite the scale of the project, helped shape my approach on Clawfoot, ensuring that the story remained central and the solutions inventive.
You mentioned that the “Rogue Warfare” action trilogy you produced reached the #1 spot on Netflix. How was the transition from producing action films to directing a dark comedy thriller?
Transitioning from action films to a dark comedy thriller was a refreshing change. Action films often require meticulous attention to detail, extensive safety measures, and a focus on precise choreography, which can be quite demanding. In contrast, directing a dark comedy allowed me more freedom to explore and experiment with characters and scenes in a more relaxed environment. It was invigorating to shift from the rigorous structure of action sequences to the creative playfulness of dark comedy, where I could focus more on character dynamics and storytelling.