“Chappaquiddick” was the closing night film at the 2017 Austin Film Festival. We chatted with UT Alumni and co-writers Andrew Logan and Taylor Allen on the red carpet. This is the first feature film they wrote and it is definitely going to be an awards season contender with Jason Clarke’s brilliant performance as Ted Kennedy. They spoke about what they learned at UT that has stayed with them, inspiration for the film and more. We also chatted with Director John Curran and Producer Campbell G. McInnes. Take a look!
About “Chappaquiddick”
“Chappaquiddick” recounts the tragic events of the 1969 car accident involving U.S. Senator Ted Kennedy (Jason Clarke) and a young, female campaign worker named Mary Jo Kopechne (Kate Mara) who died at the scene. Kennedy left the scene of the accident and didn’t alert authorities for ten hours.
What happens over the ensuing days, reveals how one of the most powerful and influential political family dynasties in U.S. history orchestrated the truth behind the death of Kopechne. Their efforts to control the story in the press, run damage control and preserve the family’s legacy is an extraordinary story of the powerful and the untouchable.
This tension-filled war room became Kennedy’s savior and nemesis, ultimately revealing his vulnerabilities, his damaged relationship with his father, Joe Kennedy Sr. (Bruce Dern), all while testing his integrity and political future. As his brother John’s presidential promise to land a man on the moon unfolds, Kennedy considers his own legacy. This infamous incident will become a defining moment in his career, as he wrestles with his own moral compass, and ultimately puts his future in the hands of the American People.
“Chappaquiddick” opens nationwide November 22! You can find more exclusive interviews and reviews from the 2017 Austin Film Festival here.
Catherine grew up watching action flicks at a very young age which led to her love of film. She graduated from the University of Texas at Austin with a Bachelors in Radio-TV-Film in 2012. Always the adventurer, Catherine traveled and lived in Sydney, Australia for a year where she took a selfie with Brad Pitt. She runs Shuffle with passion, lots of caffeine and tacos. When she’s not editing or writing you can find her crafting and planning her next adventure.