Hello there. Hi. It’s me. Louis. Louie. I don’t know which either. Anyway. I made a movie. It’s called “I Love You Daddy”. And I’m writing to tell you that it is opening in theaters on November 17th in New York, Chicago and Los Angeles, and then it will be opening nationwide in the following weeks and then all over France on December 27th and then in other countries early next year.
ALSO, Working with the distribution company, The Orchard, I was able to set up advanced ticket sales for the movie in all markets through my website, louisck.net much like when I go on tour.
You can go to my website now to buy tickets for the opening week shows in Chicago, New York and Los Angeles (and a bunch of other cities where the movie comes later. )
Next week, we will make tickets available nationwide on louisck.net. I will email you the second that happens. Or you can keep checking my website.
Go to my website now for a full list of where the movie is going to play (cities may be added later) and to see what’s on sale now and what isn’t yet but is coming, and to buy tickets immediately.
Internationally, it will play in these countries: France, Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Portugal, UAE, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain and Israel.
About the movie:
I Love You Daddy is a feature film shot on Black and White film (actual film) starring:
Me
Chloe Grace Moretz
John Malkovich
Rose Byrne
Edie Falco
Charlie Day
Pamela Adlon
Helen Hunt
Ebonee Noel
I wrote the film, from a story I wrote with Vernon Chatman. I directed the film and edited and self funded it.
Here’s a trailer.
This is the first movie I have made since Pootie Tang (16 years ago). I promise that this movie is better than Pootie Tang. Although some of you who loved Pootie Tang will disagree with me and those people will be wrong. I know that art is subjective, but Pootie Tang is not. And I say that with deep love for Pootie Tang, the character, not the movie.
Enough about Pootie Tang. On to I Love You Daddy.
How this movie got made:
A lot of you might remember that about two years ago, I created a series called Horace and Pete (still available at louisck.net). I paid for that show myself. When I did it, I told myself that I was parting with the money forever. It wasn’t an investment. It was a 4.5 million dollar grant to the "Make whatever the fuck I want" Foundation.
By that approach, I was able to make and roll out the show exactly the way I saw it, the way I wanted the audience (you) to see it, without any concern for commerce or profit.
In the end, the show made all the money back and more (with zero advertising) through website sales, and through licensing it to HULU, I was able to actually make a sizable profit for me and the actors and some of the crew, who own a piece of the show. That was a pretty good result.
So this year, I decided, I got the money back, I can throw it away again. This time to the "Make a Black and White Movie about a Shitty Father foundation.”
All that to say, that I want to really thank all of you who bought Horace and Pete because you gave me the freedom to make this movie.
To make I Love You Daddy, I got together with a lot of my usual crew. Paul Koestner did a gorgeous job shooting the black and white film. Amy Silver designed the movie perfectly. I found a new and terrific costume designer in Emily Gunshore. John Skidmore brought it all together as a producer and Adam Escott, my first AD, kept things moving.
The cast in the movie was a joy to work with. I had worked with Edie Falco on Horace and Pete and of course with Pamela on everything else. Chloe, who plays the daughter of Glenn, the idiot that I play, brought commitment and natural humor to her role.
John Malkovich did a great job playing a guy I am very afraid of. Because I really am afraid of him in real life.
Rose Byrne was a real pro and so graceful and real.
Charlie Day is someone I wanted to work with for years because he is hilarious. He is very funny in this movie.
Ebonee Noel was brand new to me and I think she has a bright future.
The only people who have seen the movie, besides some press, have been the audiences at the Toronto Film Festival. We premiered there in September. The screenings were raucous and exciting.
Here’s what Cameron Bailey, the program director, wrote about the movie in the catalogue.
We got some great reviews. The New York Times said it was one of the best two movies in Toronto.
Here are some reviews that were written after Toronto:
I Love You, Daddy review – Louis CK's brazen comedy is a screwball success
Louis C.K.'s Secret Toronto Movie 'I Love You Daddy' is a Minefield
Here’s the trailer again.
I really hope that you will come to see this movie in a theater. I made it to be seen on the big screen. Most of the movies you see these days are shot on a digital platform, which is terrific. I think it’s great that these new cameras that make such beautiful images are available and affordable so that more people can tell their stories. It’s part of why television has gotten so much better in recent years. There isn’t a cruel divide between those that can afford the elaborate nature of film and those who shoot on cheaper, less refined video.
But.
I really wanted to shoot film again. Especially black and white. I have always loved the photography aspect of black and white film. And the best way to take it is, is projected on a big screen.
Also, the score. Zach Seman and Robert Miller created a stunning score and we went to Abbey Road studios in London to record it with an orchestra of about 80 elite players. Again, you will hear this best if you go to a theater.
I wanted to make you feel like you are “going to the movies”. I think you will really enjoy going to this movie, seeing all the effort on the screen, and sharing it with members of your community. Laughing together. Booing together. Farting together. I saw this movie with two audiences in Toronto. They laughed and sometimes gasped and sometimes listened in silence. When the credits rolled, they applauded. But my favorite part was at the very end, when the lights came up, everyone immediately turned to their neighbor and started talking. There was a sudden din of loud talking and discussing, like someone had popped the sound on during a scene that takes place at a crowded restaurant. To me, that sound, of people discussing and arguing about the film, was better than applause.
Here’s a little FAQ to cover the rest of the info:
Q: What is this movie about?
A: Go find out. You’ll get a sense of it from the Trailer and you can read about it. But I suggest you just go see it.
Q: Is it funny?
A: Well people in Toronto laughed their asses off. But like a lot of things I make, it’s not for everyone.
Q: Will you be selling this on your website?
A: Yes. I Love You Daddy will be available down the road on my website as well as other platforms. But first we want you to see it in a theater.
Alright. I think that’s enough questions.
Go to louisck.net and buy tickets for opening weekend now.
I will contact you again next week to let you know when the next wave of tickets go on sale. Until then, I hope you enjoy I Love You Daddy.
Your comedian,
Louis CK