Rating: R (Sexual Content|Drug Use|Pervasive Language|Nudity|Some Violence)

Genre: Action, Adventure, Mystery & thriller

Original Language: English

Director: Jordan Gertner

Producer: Jordan Gertner, Scott Clayton, Tara L. Carig, Which Kaosayananda

Release Date (Theaters): Jun 23, 2023  Limited

Release Date (Streaming): Jun 23, 2023

Runtime: 1h 31m

Distributor: Paramount Global Content Distribution

Production Co: BondIt Media Capital, The Squid Farm, Buffalo 8 Productions

@Jordan Gertner

Exclusive Interview with Writer/Director/Producer Jordan Gertner on

Q: Jordan, you were a producer for “Spring Breakers,” “Buffalo 66” and “The Virgin Suicides,” all wonderful films. How did you decide to go from sitting behind the director’s chair to actually being in the director’s chair for the first time?

J.G: I always had the desire to direct movies and was very fortunate that I got to do that role by producing movies. I thoroughly enjoyed producing, but always knew that, at some point in my life, I’d like to come back and step behind the camera to direct a film.

Then, when COVID hit, the opportunity presented itself for me to have the time to focus on this and perhaps something of a story that I wanted to tell and the type of film I wanted to direct. It was all about timing for me. I felt that over the course of my producing career, I had learned a lot. I’ve worked with some incredibly talented directors. So I wanted to utilize all that knowledge and skill that I watched over the years and funnel it into making a film that I directed.

Q: You also wrote this film as well. What did you learn from that? There were great directors that you learned from them, but you’re trying to put your own spin on the script. How did you work on the script?

J.G: Writing the script was about creating and crafting a story that I thought would be entertaining and engaging. Movies have always been about this magical ride you go on as the lights come down. You leave behind everything else going on in the world around you. When the lights come back up, you’re back to reality. I wanted to create a story that would be interesting, engaging and also, somewhat original, a story that we hadn’t seen before. Growing up, I was always enthralled with those great ’80s and ‘90s action films, whether they were by Stallone, Schwarzenegger or Willis.

I wanted to create that same type of vibe in a film that I could shoot now. But instead of the man coming in and saving the day, I wanted to create an opportunity in a film where women could do the same thing — not just be saved but be the heroes of the film. That’s where the idea of “Sheroes” came from. I just started writing and writing and writing and crafting scenes, stories and characters. At times, I’d look at my computer screen, laugh and shake my head and say it’s great to write it, but we’ll never be able to shoot it like this. I’m very fortunate with the people that I worked with for that. I was given the opportunity to shoot every crazy idea that popped into my head.

Q: Obviously, this was shot in during the COVID shutdown. Were there any restrictions to shooting outside in certain locations or was it totally free at that point?

J.G: There were definitely COVID protocols in effect while we were shooting and we adhered to all of them. And we made it work. There’s always challenges put in front of you. Fortunately, the biggest challenge in front of me was COVID. Everything else ran incredibly smoothly. The actors were fantastic. My crew was unbelievable. So, yeah, that was an issue we had to deal with and we were, you know, safe and fortunate that nobody got it and we made it through, right?

Q: You have a really great ensemble cast of female actors for this film. Talk about how you assembled the cast. All these wonderful women, particularly Isabelle Furhman from “Orphan” who has developed her career as she grew up.

J.G: I went through an extensive casting process and was very fortunate that I met incredibly talented actors for every role. It was about making a connection with that particular actor and having a shared idea of who these characters are and how we could bring them to life. That’s how I felt when I met Sasha, Wallis, and Skai. The same thing is true when I met Isabelle; she had a great understanding as to who her character was.

In my conversations with her, I could see how she could take the blueprint that I put forward, bring it to life and heighten it. That’s exactly what she did while we were shooting. As I explained to all the actors, I’ve created the framework here on the page, but it’s up to all of us to bring it to life

Q: What kind of preparation did you do for the actors in shooting a gun and to make sure that they can do those action sequences?

J.G: Some of our actors, like Sasha [Luss], through her experience on the Luc Besson film, “Anna,” were pretty well versed in action and gun work. Wallis [Day] was also pretty well-versed in terms of weaponry and action, fight scenes that she’d worked on. She spent some significant time with fight coordinators working on her fight scenes. In terms of the other work, we had professionals that worked with the actors and gave them the necessary training to a point where they felt extremely comfortable with anything that was put in front of them in terms of the action, gun or chase scenes.

Q: Ever since that Harvey Weinstein incident happened in 2017, things have changed over the course of the last six years. How has the industry changed, particularly in hiring women and sending them out to do an action film like this.

J.G: This was just about making a great film. I wanted to make the best version of the movie that I thought I could make with strong female leads. I can’t speak to the culture and what’s going on. I can only speak to what I wanted to do and to make a great film. The story that I wanted to tell was a story about four strong women who had fierce loyalty and friendship for one another; they would do anything to protect each other’s backs and go on this crazy, adrenaline-fueled thrill ride in Thailand together.

That was a movie I wanted to make. It’s also a movie I’d like to see. This film was not a result, necessarily, of the culture of the times we live in. Otherwise, I felt it would be important for me to tell a story that I want to tell. I was interested in creating a film that showcased strong women that can kick ass and save the day. That’s where this film came from.

Q: With “Spring Breakers,” “Buffalo 66” and all those other films that you made, what triggered you to work on those types of indie films that have a distinct way about them?

J. G: A lot of the time, it’s director-driven, wanting to work with particular filmmakers — either they have a project or whoever I’m working with has a project that we share and collectively have the same idea as what it could be. I never shy away from any type of film or filmmaker. It’s about connecting with the material and the creatives and having a cohesive vision as to what we’re getting into and what we want to create. Then it’s off to the races to get these films made.

Q: After directing this film, would you prefer to get back to directing again or do you want to balance it out with the producing? What kind of direction do you want to take?

J.G: I absolutely love this, the process of directing the film. I’ve never enjoyed any creative experience more in my life. It is absolutely the priority for me right now to continue directing. That being said, I feel very fortunate that I’ve come out of the world of producing. It’s something that I know how to do relatively well.

So I’m still producing movies alongside projects that I’m pushing forward to direct. There are particular films that come across my eyes that I wouldn’t want to direct, but I would certainly want to see get made. So I’m continuing to make movies in any way that I can and give other filmmakers the opportunity to make movies. Those other filmmakers include myself.

Q: This film was shot in Phuket, Thailand. Were there any challenges you faced while out there? What challenges did you face when you were shooting in there?

J.G: I have to say, I feel incredibly fortunate that there were no challenges at all. I was surrounded by the best crew I’ve ever worked with the best team of people I’ve ever worked with.

Q: Were there any Thai crew?

J.G: My partner that I worked with out of Thailand assembled the crew. He was also my DP and it was the most seamless, beautiful creative experience I’ve ever had. I’d have to pick my brain to find an obstacle or challenge that was put in front of us that we weren’t able to navigate and deal with seamlessly. I can’t say enough about how amazing my experience was shooting in both Phuket and Bangkok.

Q: This is such a great film that people can enjoy over the summer. What kind of message do you want an audience to take away from this female oriented action film?

J. G: Well, there’s two things. One is for people to go to this movie and get lost in it and escape from  everything going on in the world and enjoy themselves for 90 minutes. That’s a great thrill for me, that I’ve created a sense of escape and enjoyment for people. That’s the magic of making movies.

Two, I would like them to take away the same experience that I have watching movies in the ’80s and ’90s with those actors I’ve mentioned before. Seeing that these women, who are fiercely loyal with one another, can provide that same adrenaline-fueled ride — you can go on this journey with them. I like to create a new look, a new idea of those films that I love and create the same kind of energy, happiness and desire to want more through the eyes and journey of these women we have in “Sheroes.”

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Here’s the trailer of the film.