Director Jessica Yu discusses collaborating with Sandra Oh and Awkwafina on upcoming comedy movie Quiz Lady

Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu is set to direct a comedy film called "Quiz Lady" starring Sandra Oh and Awkwafina.

Oscar and Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Jessica Yu was thrilled when actor, comedian, and producer Will Ferrell approached her about directing a comedy film. Ferrell, who would also play the role of Terry McTeer, the host of the movie's television game show "Can't Stop the Quiz," believed it was important to have a female director like Yu to bring a unique perspective to the project. Yu was immediately drawn to the film when she learned that Sandra Oh and Awkwafina would be playing sisters. She saw it as an opportunity to create a comedy about sisters, especially Asian American sisters, which is not often seen in the film industry.

The comedy film, titled "Quiz Lady," follows Anne (Awkwafina), a brilliant young woman obsessed with game shows, and her estranged sister Jenny (Sandra Oh). The two must work together to cover their mother's gambling debts. When Anne's dog is kidnapped, they embark on a cross-country journey to earn cash by entering Anne into a game show. The film, written by Jen D'Angelo, also stars Jason Schwartzman, Holland Taylor, and Tony Hale. It was produced by Ferrell, Jessica Elbaum, Maggie Haskins, Itay Reiss, D'Angelo, Awkwafina, and Oh.

Yu, who won an Oscar in 1996 for her documentary "Breathing Lessons: The Life and Work of Mark O'Brien," was attracted to the script's combination of humor and heartfelt moments. She was excited to work with Oh and Awkwafina, who both respected each other's work and had a genuine connection. The three of them had a great time on set, often improvising and creating memorable moments. Yu recalls a particularly funny scene where Oh's character gets a leg cramp and starts waving her leg around, leading to hilarious interactions with Awkwafina's character.

Although Yu does not appear as a character in the film, she brought her own fun to the set by wearing a different bowtie in her hair every day, inspired by Ferrell's character in the movie. She wanted to mirror the character's love for bowties, so she made it a personal fashion choice. Yu's decision added a unique and playful element to the set, which was already filled with brilliant and hilarious moments. Awkwafina and Oh praised Yu's warm and accepting environment on set, which encouraged improvisation and made it one of the best experiences of their careers.

"Quiz Lady" will premiere on Hulu in the U.S., Star+ in Latin America, and Disney+ in all other territories on Friday.

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