‘ GIRLBOSS’ BOSS
Former local improv star now showrunner for new Neflix series
Laughter is pretty much a constant in the way Kay Cannon speaks. A conversation with the improv performer turned screenwriter — and now TV showrunner and film director — invariably has her chuckling or outright guffawing in nearly every sentence.
It’s clear that humor is an integral part of Cannon’s life. The native of Custer Park, Illinois, made her mark appearing at Second City and the iO Theatre here before becoming a full- time writer and producer — responsible for such successful projects as the “Pitch Perfect” films and TV’s “30 Rock” and “New Girl.”
That all said, Cannon was quick to credit her improv comedy background — “which, of course, I learned in Chicago, as being the only reason I’ve been able to go on and do everything else I’ve done since.”
“If I didn’t have the skills I learned from improv- ing, I never could have become a successful showrunner or screenwriter. Improv teaches you to be a good listener and teaches you how to get ideas from others.
“It also teaches you — and this I think is a Chicago thing — is that if you make another person look better, you look better and you become better.”
Cannon is the creator and showrunner of “Girlboss,” a 13- episode series launching Friday on Netflix. It’s based on “# Girlboss,” the bestselling book by Sophia Amoruso, the founder of the fashion brand Nasty Gal. “Girlboss” stars Britt Robertson as Amoruso, who made a huge splash online by selling vintage clothing on eBay — building a multimillion- dollar fashion empire by the time she was 28, but later running into serious financial woes.
Along with Charlize Theron, Amoruso is an executive producer of the “Girlboss” series.
“Sophia is a great resource for the show. She’s very open and vulnerable and allowed me to both talk about her successes and her failures. She takes total ownership of her flaws. Think about it. It’s a rarity to be telling the story of a woman who is only 33 years old now. We relive the last 10 years of her life. She’s so young to have experienced so much success — and failure — in that brief amount of time.”
Now Cannon is in the process of directing her first feature film. “The Pact” is about three high school senior girls who vow to lose their virginity on prom night.
Leslie Mann, Jon Cena and Chicago native Ike Barinholtz play parents of the girls who discover the plan and then go about trying to stop their daughters.
The past year was a landmark for Cannon. “You know, being the showrunner of a TV show is about the hardest thing you can do in television. Directing a movie is the hardest thing you can do in film.
“I’ve done both in the same year,” said Cannon, again letting loose with a big laugh.
“Plus I’m a mom to boot! I’ve got my own little ‘ Girlboss’ at home — even though she’s only 3.”
‘ Batman’ Bale loves our parks and dark nights
Christian Bale thinks fondly of the time he spent in Chicago in recent years, filming two “Batman” flicks as well as “Public Enemies.”
“I loved the park time,” Bale said. “We would enjoy taking my daughter to the park in the morning. … There are so many beautiful parks in Chicago. We would have a lot of fun with her on the swings there. … We also loved that beautifully reflective, shiny ‘ Bean’ there in Millennium Park — my daughter and I would always love walking over there.
“Chicago is also a great city for walking around in the evenings in the summertime. You never know what you might find — like once we saw like 200 people doing salsa dancing — and we had the fun of joining in with that! When I think of Chicago, there’s lots of good memories. … I know my way around, even around Lower Wacker [ Drive]!” quipped Bale, smiling as he remembered where some of the key Batmobile chase scenes were filmed.
In his new film “The Promise” ( opening Friday), Bale plays an American photojournalist whose relationship with an Armenian-French teacher ( Charlotte Le Bon) is threatened as World War I erupts in the Ottoman Empire.
“Not many people know about the Armenian genocide [ a key focus of the film] — including me. In doing the research, I realized how few people were aware of this story. Those are the kinds of stories I think cinema can illuminate and bring to so many people around the world.”
Seen on the scene
Oscar nominee Anna Kendrick was spied brunching at Beatrix Streeterville, happily dining on an egg- white omelet with raspberry ricotta toast. Yum! … Cubs manager Joe Maddon was spotted by fans dining with his family at Joe’s Stone Crab, where ( separately) former Bears coach and current University of Illinois head coach Lovie Smith was also spotted with his family.
What a Riot!
Nine Inch Nails, Queens of the Stone Age and a reunited Jawbreaker are among the Riot Fest headliners announced Wednesday. For other acts coming to the Sept. 15- 17 fest at Douglas Park, see suntimes. com.