Eric Lavallee: Name me three of your favorite “2014 discoveries” …
Andrea Roa: Tranparent, The Babadook, Fun Home.
Lavallee: With regards to the casting choice of Cobie Smulders, what were some of the personality traits that you were looking for in the casting process of the anti-domesticated, career-oriented future mother to be Samantha.
Roa: Pregnant!
Lavallee: This is your second “Swanberg” feature, I was wondering at what point did you come on board, and how long of a gestation period was there since Unexpected was shot late in the game (early Fall).
Roa: I came on board last year at Sundance when Kris and I met to discuss the script. So it came together quickly.
Lavallee: Between features Drinking Buddies, Sunlight Jr. and now Unexpected, you’ve maintained strong ties (in the producing capacity) to short filmmaking/filmmakers. Could you describe your attraction to the form?
Roa: The attraction is the filmmaker. And they were also projects that I thought would be fun to be a part of.
