EDGE Interview: Home Isn’t Where You’re From - It’s Who Shows Up - Tommy Dorfman and Corey Fogelmanis on ‘I Wish You All The Best’

In this refreshingly modern coming-of-age story based on the best-selling book by Mason Deaver, a high school junior (Corey Fogelmanis) comes out as nonbinary and is thrown out of their family’s home. With nowhere else to turn, they move in with their estranged older sister (Alexandra Daddario) and her husband (Cole Sprouse). After enrolling in a new school, they find support from an eccentric art teacher (Lena Dunham) and form an unexpected bond with a kindhearted student (Miles Gutierrez-Riley). With the help of their new relationships, they navigate the awkward hurdles of young adulthood in this sweetly funny journey of self-discovery that celebrates the power of being true to yourself. To explore the heart behind the film and the creative choices that brought it to life, we sat down with writer/director Tommy Dorfman and lead actor Corey Fogelmanis for a candid conversation about identity, storytelling, and the power of representation.

EDGE: Tommy, what drew you to this story?

TD: I read Mason's book. I was living as a non-binary person at the time. I'd never read a book with a non-binary lead that had so much love, heart, and real gusto. I also felt a strong attachment to Ben while reading it. I grew up in the south and had a lot of challenges with my own gender identity and existing in a more conservative landscape. It was really clear to me that I wanted to be the person who brought this to the big screen.

EDGE: Corey, how did you approach portraying the non-binary experience authentically on screen?

CF: I was aiming for a sense of comfort in my body, which I think is what Ben's journey is about. We played around a lot with clothes, and when Ben was hiding themselves versus leaning into a sense of confidence. Much of the movie revolves around letting love in and allowing people to show up for you, so I focused a lot on the different relationships and what each person brought out in Ben, as well as what they felt comfortable sharing and what they chose not to share. It was a wonderful experience. 

EDGE: This question is for both of you. Tommy, as the director, and Corey, as the actor, were there any challenging scenes for you?

TD: We shot this movie in 18 days. It was very intense. We had a lot of time where it was just the two of us, plus the crew, filming in Ben’s bedroom. I think those were some of the, maybe not the most challenging per se, but I think the most interesting, because we found we had to find different tools to work with.

CF: We shot a lot of stuff in Ben's bedroom that felt like an exploration of space. We would move around the room, and I would interact with different things, whether it was doing my makeup, being depressed in bed, eating, rolling around, or just doing things. It was very exploratory and spontaneous. 

TD: I like to let people find their way. I know what I want at the end of the day, but I also know that it takes time to get people there. It also helps to give them the freedom to get there even if it doesn't end up in the final cut. It is useful for the character, the story, and the motivation, as well as for understanding where you were before and where you're going after. 

EDGE: How does this film contribute to the broader conversation around non-binary and queer representation in the media?

TD: In my lifetime, this is by far the most public violence towards trans youth that we have seen. I've seen it in the media, politics, and in the queer communities, and it is so painful to experience as a trans person. It is horrible to witness our brothers and sisters fleeing their states and needing to leave their homes and schools. I can't think of a better time for a movie like this to come out. Truly. The world needs this movie, and in many ways, this film feels like a warm hug, and it is very necessary. I also think it offers numerous examples of ways in which you can show up for a queer kid, whether or not you fully understand them. For me, it feels like an act of resistance and protest to see a movie like this against the current administration's completely unwarranted and horrifying actions.

I Wish You All the Best is now playing in theatres