5Q's w/: Jackson Tropp "What to Expect When You're NOT Expecting" Director, Writer

QUESTION#1: What excited you the most when making this film?: What to Expect When You're NOT Expecting was my first experience with filmmaking and I think what excited me most was getting this first one done and learning all that I could. Seeing an idea through from pre-development through post-production involved so many different elements and so much collaboration with other creatives. As an actor, I would not have had the opportunity to work so closely with a production designer or cinematographer, for example, and understanding those different roles and responsibilities on set is incredibly valuable. Being able to tell a true story from my experience, and play a role that is entirely inspired by me, gave me the freedom to really express myself within the filmmaking world.

QUESTION#2: What was the most significant film you've seen AT THE THEATER in 2024, and how did it influence your filmmaking?:I have had the privilege to screen many incredible films while What to Expect When You're NOT Expecting has had it's festival run. I think I was most inspired and influenced by a feature I saw called Mother Father Sister Brother Frank. It was a hilarious story with an incredible cast and the entire film was shot within one home. I think it inspired me and influenced me to think more simply in terms of storytelling and how to move a narrative forward without incurring a lot of production expenses.

QUESTION#3: What's an obvious and not-so-obvious question someone might ask about your film?: One question I get a lot from viewers is; "Is surrogacy really that expensive." And the numbers quoted in the film are the same numbers that have been quoted to my husband and I several times, so to my knowlege, YEP, surrogacy is roughly a quarter million all in.

QUESTION#4: You have an unlimited budget for another movie! However, you're only allowed to choose between "above line" or "below line" resouces. Which do you choose and why?: Tricky. I think I would choose the below line resources. I like to think that my ability to write, direct, and act is pretty strong, and the more technical elements are where I fall short. Though, I'd probably like to take a screenwriting class if I had to do that part again without a professional. I shot all of What to Expect When You're NOT Expecting in one location, and had to use wallpapers, rugs and furniture to give each space a different feel and aesthetic. Having the budget for a good camera, crew, and equipment would make a huge difference in what I'm able to accomplish creatively.

QUESTION#5: What is it about your current movie that will influence your next film?: Because of my first film, I learned all of the things that I want to do better in my next film. Writing a montage scene in a short film seemed like an effective narrative technique, but trying to cover too much time in a short might have left some audience members confused, and I'd likely write differently in the future. Some of the best moments in my current film came from the ideas of other people. The funniest jokes in the opening scene, for example, came from a collaborative conversation with the other actors in the scene. And some of the creative shots, like the split screen and panning closer to the framed photos would not have been possible without the director of photography and his ideas for filming the scenes. So I think I am also inspired to wear less hats, and be more collaborative by bringing on more talented creatives throughout the entire process.

Social media tags to share with our readers: @jacksontropp @what2expect_film