In our latest episode of The Filmmakers Podcast, host Dom Lenoir chatted with some of the team behind His Three Daughters, including director Azazel Jacobs and stars Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon.
They shared how the film was developed, their personal connections to the script and each other, and how they brought the story to life.
The Roots of the Story
Azazel had a very personal connection to the story, with the film deeply rooted in his experience of aging parents and the difficult realisation that “situations that seemed very far away were suddenly very close.”
The fear of losing his parents motivated him to confront his anxieties through filmmaking. “I’ve been around enough people passing to have close experience with it,” he shared. Storytelling allowed him to process what he couldn’t control in real life, saying, “I needed a space to put some of the fears of what was going on with my parents.”
Azazel explained that the initial writing process was not planned, but emerged organically from a series of notes he’d made while walking in New York. Afterwards, he realised that the three unrelated characters that he’d created belonged to the same situation and story. “Each of these things felt very disparate,” he said, “but suddenly could be very much in conflict if they were packed into a room with each other.”
The conflict between the sisters is established in the opening scene, fuelling most of the emotional tension in the film. This tension, according to Azazel, was present from the first draft, and was carried throughout the writing and filming process.
Working with Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon
Elizabeth Olsen mentioned that her attraction to the project was due to how personal it felt. “I’ve never read a script that opens like that,” she said, “what he was trying to do with the language and the rhythm and the musicality of this script was so specific and clear.”
The fact that Azazel wrote these parts with Carrie, Elizabeth and Natasha in mind was a big part of why she signed on.
Carrie Coon reflected on the authenticity of the story. “It was like making a home movie for Azazel to process the possibility of the loss of his parents,” she explained. “It was a project we were doing, and it didn’t matter who was going to see it.” The intimacy of the project, combined with the trust Azazel had in his actors, created a unique environment where they felt free to be vulnerable in their roles.
From Script to Screen
Azazel initially wrote random notes without knowing whether they’d form a cohesive story. But once he started piecing it together, the writing flowed.
“This one was written in order,” he said, “and then I wound up making the cards and started seeing how this could work out.” His attention to detail allowed him to deal with grief but also meant that he could explore how time shifts during emotional turmoil. As he put it, “A lot of films deal with grief in amazing ways, but how time stretches and collapses, I hadn’t seen explored. I wanted to chase that when I started writing.”
Making the Movie
Azazel recalled sending hard copies of the script to the actors, along with a letter explaining his vision. He emphasised the importance of keeping the project personal, which included shooting on film and maintaining final cut authority. “I want this film to exist in a very different way,” he said, reflecting his desire to protect the project’s integrity. Everyone was paid low fees, with the promise of ownership in the project, creating a collective investment in the film’s success.
Reflecting on the purpose of making the movie, Azazel shared that he kept “hearing people finding joy in the film, and that’s what I really wanted,” he said. “Going through this experience is so painful.” For him, finding joy in the midst of grief was cathartic and essential to the film’s emotional core.
The team all shared a deep sense of purpose in creating His Three Daughters, allowing them to explore difficult emotions and a story that “connects with people.” Azazel said, “it comes from personal experience. If you can be very precise about what makes it yours, that’s the best chance it’s going to be shared by others.” The success of His Three Daughters lies in its honesty and shared humanity.
You can find out more about this masterclass in personal storytelling and collaboration, by listening to the full episode with Azazel Jacobs, Elizabeth Olsen and Carrie Coon here.