Zach Braff’s new film, ‘Wish I Was Here,’ is the viral media gift that keeps on giving: first there was the (controversially) crowd-sourced fundraiser on Kickstarter, then there was the much-hyped Sundance debut, then there was the teaser trailer, and now—finally!—the full-length trailer, featuring a dog called Kugel and a rabbi who thinks personal happiness is overrated.

Braff—who wrote, directed, produced, and starred in the film—appeared on the Today Show this morning with co-star Mandy Patinkin to promote the trailer (which features a new song from Garden State darlings The Shins, written specifically for the movie).

The casting of the Homeland star, it seems, was bashert: the two actors bumped into each other on the streets of New York, and Braff had to work up the courage to approach his childhood idol. “I’m so shy around famous people,” he explained. “But with Mandy I’m a lifelong fan… I was like, ‘C’mon, get your courage. You have to go talk to Mandy Patinkin.'”

A few months after the initial encounter, they ran into each other again. “We were at Fairway having breakfast,” said Patinkin, “and he said ‘I got this movie.’ I read it, I wept like a baby when I read it, it was about family, it was about my sons and the connection to my sons, everything I wish for in a story; if you love somebody, tell them… you only get so many [days], don’t waste it. He asked me and I went, ‘What, are you kidding?!’ He took one of those little selfies and we were off and running.”

Patinkin plays Gabe Bloom, the ailing father of Aidan Bloom (Braff), a thirty-something actor who is flailing spiritually and professionally. Highlights from the trailer include: a dog named kugel! A very old, mean rabbi who doesn’t care about happiness! An adorable child who thinks “hairy balls” is cursing! Jim Parsons holding a mask! The release date is July 18.

Image: Today.com

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Zach Braff On His New Role In “Bullets Over Broadway” And Being An Emo Kid

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The teaser trailer for Zach Braff’s new Kickstarter-funded film, Wish I Was Here, has just been released. It contains very little dialogue (there is one notably twee line at the beginning—Braff’s character tells his daughter she can buy any costume wig she likes as long as it’s “unique and amazing, like you”*), and it doesn’t reveal much about the plot of the film, but the sound and aesthetics are pretty much Garden State redux—which is either the most amazing or worst thing on earth, depending on your feelings about Garden State.

Kate Hudson is cast as Braff’s wife, Mandy Patinkin as his ailing (possibly dying) father, and there are lots of lovely, sun-dappled shots of Los Angeles/California. At one point, we see Braff looking uber-serious as he follows a kippah-wearing man (rabbi?) down a hallway. And it’s all scored by The Shins’ “Simple Song,” from their 2011 album Port of Morrow.

The movie will be released on July 18.

Compare and share, guys:

WISH I WAS HERE

GARDEN STATE

*Does anyone actually talk like that?

Related: Zach Braff On His New Role In “Bullets Over Broadway” And Being An Emo Kid

(Image: Youtube)

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Variety reports that Zach Braff’s Kickstarter-funded movie “Wish I Was Here” will be in movie theaters in New York and Los Angeles on July 18. (If you’re perturbed by the idea of a rich movie star soliciting squillions of dollars for a major film project via the internet poor, you’re not alone.)

Here’s the unofficial IMDB synopsis of the movie, which stars Kate Hudson and marriage-officiant extraordinaire, Mandy Patinkin(!):

Aidan Bloom, a struggling actor, father and husband, who at 35 is still trying to find his identity; a purpose for his life. He winds up trying to home school his two children when his father can no longer afford to pay for private education and the only available public school is on its last legs. Through teaching them about life his way, Aidan gradually discovers some of the parts of himself he couldn’t find.

Do we detect lightly Jewy undertones from the “conservative/Orthodox”-raised filmmaker? Let’s hope so!

The post Zach Braff’s New Movie, “Wish I Was Here,” Has A Release Date! appeared first on Jewcy.

Whether or not you think Zach Braff’s Kickstarter campaign last April was a bit bogus for an actor of his stature, I am pleased to report that we will be seeing him back on the big screen in the near future. Thanks to crowdfunding support from his adoring fans, Braff completed the rest of his film, and it’s now headed to debut at the Sundance Film Festival.

Braff emailed his backers (he reached his goal of $2,000,000) on Wednesday to announce that the film would debut at the highly acclaimed festival:

“”It is quite an honor,” he wrote. “It means so much to me to premiere this film at the very same festival where I premiered Garden State exactly 10 years ago.”

Wish I Was Here, co-written by Zach and his brother Adam, tells the story of a struggling actor married with children, still trying to find purpose in his life. The star studded cast includes Kate Hudson, Mandy Patinkin, and of course, his main bro, Donald Faison.

Best part? Even if you didn’t donate to his campaign, you can still follow Braff’s every Wish I Was Here move by joining the production community! Braff posted a message on the film’s new website, where he will add his videos, playlists, and photos from the set.

Now the only question is…Team Kate or Team Natalie? We shall see how the on-screen chemistry compares.

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