Why Julia Fox is spreading the word about the Canadian film Something You Said Last Night

In late June, it was announced that Julia Fox signed on as an executive producer for Luis De Filippis' debut feature, Something You Said Last Night, which lent the award-winning Canadian film some major clout.

Something You Said Last Night stars emerging performer Carmen Madonia as a trans woman in her mid-20s who reluctantly goes on a vacation with her Italian-Canadian family. The film won the Changemaker Award at last year's Toronto International Film Festival and the 2022 Sebastiane Award at the San Sebastián Film Festival.

Fox, who's best known as the breakout star of Uncut Gems, hosted a Q and A with De Filippis last week at the TIFF Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Q with Tom Power caught up with the actor and model backstage to get her thoughts on the film.

"It was so beautiful and it kind of reminded me of Sofia Coppola's early work or something," Fox said. "The cinematography, everything down to the little last detail, you know, it felt like, wow, this girl's a pro.

"When I found out a little more background on who [Luis] is as a person and her own identity, I was just like, 'Wow, this is amazing.' And I even remind her, I'm like, 'Girl, you made a movie! Do you know how hard that is? And like you did it being who you are. This doesn't happen, you know. This is a miracle.'"

As for her decision to take on the role of executive producer, Fox emphasized the importance of representation and having more films about trans love, rather than trans trauma or trans abuse. Something You Said Last Night has earned widespread praise for the way it refrains from depicting clichés about trans people.

"I feel like this movie is just so necessary and it felt almost dire," said Fox. "Like, Oh my God, I need to get involved. I need to help spread the word about this film."

WATCH | Official trailer for Something You Said Last Night:

Fox was introduced to Something You Said Last Night by one of the film's producers, Jennifer Konawal, who thought she would like it. The actor and model described the feeling of watching it for the first time as "love at first sight."

"She asked me pretty much if I wanted to come on board and it was a no-brainer," said Fox. "I was like, 'Yes, I want to be on the right side of history. Are you kidding me? Do you know who I am? Yes! This is exactly the kind of stuff I want to be doing.' 

"I love that Carmen Madonia was street casted for this film because that's what happened for me and Uncut Gems. So it's like, I understand the magic, and street casting, and just the beauty of cinema when it's really art and it's not just like entertainment, and it's not just about money, and it's not just about who is in it … and it's really just about the integrity of the art. And this is one of those films."

Talia Schlanger's interview with Something You Said Last Night writer-director Luis De Filippis hits our podcast, Q with Tom Power, on Thursday, July 13. Listen and subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Produced by Shuli Grosman-Gray.