Director Hannah Marks' Don't Make Me Go stars John Cho and Mia Isaac as a father-daughter duo, Max and Wally, traveling across the United States to find her estranged mother. When Max is diagnosed with a practically inoperable brain tumor, he strives to teach Wally about life during the time he has left.
Prime Video's Don't Make Me Go is Marks' third feature-length film following 2018's After Everything and 2021's Mark, Mary & Some Other People. As an actor, Marks has appeared in movies such as The Amazing Spider-Man, Banana Split, and Dinner in America.
Screen Rant interviewed Marks about filming Don't Make Me Go and how the movie's story resonates with her.
Screen Rant: You’re obviously early on in your directing career, so what drew you to this project?
Hannah Marks: I loved that it was a father-daughter story. It's pretty rare to see that on screen for whatever reason. It doesn't actually make sense to me, I mean, it's such an important relationship, such a universal dynamic, and such universal themes. I thought it was really, really beautiful.
With Don’t Make Me Go’s story being this road trip across America, how did you go about choosing a variety of locations to depict that?
Hannah Marks: We actually filmed in New Zealand, so we filmed in Auckland in the winter, which was pretty crazy for an American summer road trip movie. Thankfully, as an America, I felt like I had a pretty good handle on what those parts of the country looked like and we tried to replicate them as best as we could. But sometimes it was a little sad not getting to film the beautiful New Zealand landscapes because they didn't look like America. So, it was a bit of a challenge in that sense, but I think we pulled through and we had an incredible local cast and crew, which really helped us.
The first feature-length film you directed, After Everything, also deals with personal relationships and terminal illness. What have you taken away from working on such poignant stories that are grounded in reality?
Hannah Marks: I think the highest stakes you can have in a movie are life or death, so I am really drawn to what that brings out emotionally between characters, but also, it's something we all deal with. My dad had cancer, I've had my own health issues. I'm extremely close to my parents and I was close with my grandparents when they were alive. So, it just felt really resonant and important to share.
John and Mia were so impressive in that father-daughter dynamic. What was it like seeing them develop their relationship in front of the camera?
Hannah Marks: It was so beautiful. They were totally in love and felt like real father-daughter to me on set. They've really, really brought it and made an effort to bond, and did so beautifully. Mia is incredibly dedicated and focused. I was so impressed and she was only 16 when we filmed. John is such an experienced veteran and a terrific actor, so they really meshed well together and he was really helpful in guiding her through her first movie.
This is a film with a ton of heart. How would you describe its overall message?
Hannah Marks: I think while there's some heart-wrenching aspects of this movie, I do think it's ultimately hopeful and optimistic, and it tells people to follow their dreams and pursue what makes them happy.
Don't Make Me Go Synopsis
When single father Max (John Cho) discovers he has a terminal disease, he decides to try and cram all the years of love and support he will miss with his teenage daughter Wally (Mia Isaac) into the time he has left with her. With the promise of long-awaited driving lessons, he convinces Wally to accompany him on a road trip from California to New Orleans for his 20th college reunion, where he secretly hopes to reunite her with her mother who left them long ago.
A wholly original and emotional journey, Don’t Make Me Go explores the unbreakable, eternal bond between a father and daughter from both sides of the generational divide with heart and humor along for the ride.
Check out our other interview with Don't Make Me Go stars John Cho & Mia Isaac, as well as our previous interview with Hannah Marks for Mark, Mary & Some Other People.
Don't Make Me Go premieres July 15 on Prime Video.