Interview: Zach Braff Returns to Talk About ‘A Good Person’ and Themes Running Throughout His Filmmaking

When Zach Braff steps behind a camera, good things always happen. As I wrote when I spoke to him last time around (here), he’s more than just an actor. I said: “Zach Braff is not just a talented actor, memorably turning in many seasons of strong work on Scrubs (he’s also incredible in the independent film The High Cost of Living as well as great in the romantic drama The Last Kiss), but a terrific filmmaker as well. Garden State and Wish I Were Here are massively underrated indies (showcasing his acting, directing, and writing all at once), and his remake of Going in Style is a lot of fun.”

Braff returns to writing and directing with A Good Person, showcasing his unique voice in a whole new way. So, once I saw the film, I knew that I wanted to speak with him again. It was a pleasure last time, for one, but also, this is work well worth discussing. Luckily, the feeling was mutual and we made it happen. Today, you can once again listen to Braff and I in conversation, which I hope you enjoy.

In my rave review of A Good Person, this here is some of what I had to say about his writing and directing:

Writer/director Zach Braff is working in a new register with A Good Person. It suits him, too, showing how he can continually evolve as a compelling filmmaker. The flick is visually striking, with cinematographer Mauro Fiore complimenting Braff’s voice, while composer Bryce Dessner matches the mood with music perfectly. Of course, since this is Braff, the soundtrack is very much on point, too. Still, it’s his writing and directing that shines, as well as the lead performances. He has a sense of when to be funny, when to be be dramatic, and when to be overtly tragic. He’s walking a tightrope but doing it expertly. While Garden State and Wish I Was Here are very much top-tier (and even underrated) works of his, this is Zach Braff at the height of his combined creative powers.

Below, you can hear my chat with Braff. While last time focused on his unmade projects and on helming an episode of Ted Lasso (which nabbed him an Emmy nomination), this time around it’s all about the work he’s put out. Chiefly it’s A Good Person, but also a bit on a specific event that occurs in all of his films. We also touch on working with Morgan Freeman (again) and writing for Florence Pugh. It’s a short but sweet discussion, made all the better by the movie being one of the year’s best. So be sure to check both out ASAP!

Here now is my interview with A Good Person filmmaker Zach Braff. Enjoy:

A Good Person is now in theaters!