Chris Pine's Directorial Debut, "Poolman," Takes a Dive in Toronto Film Festival

Chris Pine's first directorial venture titled "Poolman" is lined up for its global premiere at the Toronto Film Festival this Monday night. However, Pine won't be present at the premiere, choosing to stand with his fellow actors amidst the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike. Stacey Sher, the film's producer, reveals that Pine's decision replicates the stance of the character at the core of his story.

"Poolman" is Pine’s tribute to Los Angeles and emerged during the COVID-19 quarantine. The inspiration for the film came from a conversation with the Wonder Woman director Patty Jenkins and her husband. Pine’s portrayal of the lead character Darren originated from this discussion and continued to linger with him through the quarantine.

The narrative focuses on Darren Barrenman, a pool man dedicated to improving his beloved city of Los Angeles. Darren's journey of love for his city puts him in the wrong company, those who seek to harm the city and its residents. Drawing its influence from L.A.-set noir classics like "Chinatown" and "The Long Goodbye," the comedy spins an original story that appealed to Sher, who is notorious for supporting directors renowned for their originality.

For Pine's directorial debut, producer Sher is thrilled to be a part of the process, having previously assisted actors such as Zach Braff and Ben Stiller in their directing careers. The pre-production phase saw Pine's unparalleled involvement, as he immersed himself in every aspect, from insisting on filming with celluloid to finalizing the costume designs.

The cast includes Danny DeVito, a well-established actor and director. Sher affirms DeVito's influence as a mentor to Pine throughout the process, providing a significant advantage in successfully managing both roles.

However, beyond his acting and directing roles, Pine's distinctive affection for Los Angeles is also evident in "Poolman". From the decision to exclusively film in L.A., thereby supporting local businesses, to the character Darren adorned in an “I Love L.A.” shirt, "Poolman" is in essence, Pine's homage to his city.

Now, not to get all Hollywood on you, but “All the world's a stage,” and it's certainly fascinating to see Chris Pine step from the limelight to behind the scenes in this directorial debut. Standing at the precipice of new territories, he seems to be not just dipping his toes in but diving in headfirst. And why shouldn't he? After all, if you can't have a little fun making a film about a pool guy lost in the sea of L.A.'s curiosities, what can you enjoy?

Pine’s dedication to this project from the get-go is admirable. He didn't merely leap into the director's chair on a whim but instead meticulously studied scripts and dissected characters, proving his commitment. There's something slightly awe-inspiring about this glimpse into Pine's creative process - a reminder that good movies aren't always about high budgets and flashy effects. Sometimes, they're born from a "follow the giggle" moment over drinks.

Moreover, Pine’s decision to abstain from attending the premiere due to the SAG-AFTRA strike asserts his deeply empathetic nature, mirroring the very essence of the character Darren. This simultaneous performance and non-performance at his directorial debut ticks a resounding yes in my book of actors who actually grok their characters.

In my humble opinion, Pine's foray into the realm of directing appears to be a calculated risk. With the industry imploding, coping, and evolving all at once, "Poolman" is a refreshing creation amongst the typical rehashed ideas. It's a potential hit, or maybe a spectacular miss - we don't know yet. But you have to give credit where credit is due; Pine knows how to make a splash.

And remember, folks, in the sincere words of Darren, "Poolman": "This is a town of dreamers, and not all of those dreams come true." However, in this case, it's worth noting that Pine’s dream of stepping into the director’s shoes has indeed come to fruition. Let’s hope this, in turn, inspires and fans the flames of dreams within the next generation. Here's to more laughter, more dreams, and yes, more pool guys. It's L.A...what else did you expect?