Recently in London it has been so cold and grey that our SAD has been kicking into overdrive.  But then earlier this week the sun came out, the temperature ventured above zero degrees and we were able to wear fun clothing again not just something that keeps us the fuck warm. As if this excitement wasn’t enough, we also went along to Covent Garden’s Hospital Club to speak with Desiree Akhavan, writer and director of our favourite film of 2015 to date, Appropriate Behaviour, to discuss Joan Rivers, making a piece of shit and how a Mariah Carey gig is great foreplay.

Have you been doing lots of interviews today?
Yeah. Today’s the day of press. It’s really fun. I like UK interviews more than other places. I think Americans like shock value so they are ruder. The interviews I do here are more about the theory, intent and politics behind the work which is far more fascinating to me than, ‘What’s Lena Dunham like?’ In the US they ask, ‘Is she really as cool in person?’ And it’s like, ‘Yeah, she is, but you know she’s cool, you know her work. She’s someone I admire so much BUT if she were rude or not cool I would never be able to say that, so really whatever I say sounds canned.’ It doesn’t sound genuine or authentic. It’s so funny saying this thing that you think is true but you’re like, ‘Ew, I sound like a soundbite. I sound like I’m on some really tacky show that covers Oscar clothing.’

I didn’t have time for Joan Rivers on Fashion Police.
I think as a comedian she was incredible. I love fashion. I like the idea of getting super dressed up and throwing your creativity into how you present yourself with a team of people. But then to devalue them as a human based on what they wore is ridiculous.

What’s been the worst interview you’ve had?
Oh that’s such a good question, I’ve not even asked myself that yet. The worst was with this Iranian man. He was like ‘Why did you make the choice to make all of your Iranian characters such crude stereotypes and reinforce a negative view of Persian people?’ He clearly already had his mind made up. I think that’s ok to ask but it’s how you present it. We could have a discussion about the presentation of Iranians in films, we could discuss how he might think my work is harmful, but to frame the question like that is not productive. So I walked out of that interview feeling like shit.

So we only made our debut recently as well…
Congratulations it’s a great title for a magazine and a great song!

Thank you. How did you feel about making your debut?
I just felt really lucky every step of the way and that’s mostly because my producer is my main collaborator in life and also my best friend. She lives here in London and her production company is here. Working with this person who knows you the best to help create this story that is very personally driven but also taking huge liberties to make a statement, it’s very exciting. It made this process so intimate. But I also hope it speaks on a universal level.

Sometimes the enormity of making a magazine got to me and I couldn’t get my head round it. Did you ever feel the same?
Oddly no and I thought I would. What I did wrap my brain around was ‘I think we made a piece of shit.’ When we were editing there were moments where I was like, ‘We’ve fucked up. How are we ever going to make anything of some worth from this pile of shit?’ But then in the last three weeks of editing things came together in a way I was blind to for months. I think because it was my first time I didn’t know what a rough cut looked like and I think a more experienced filmmaker would have known.

When things go wrong now I just look at the emails from my readers telling me how much they love the magazine.
You have to cling to that. That’s so smart. I didn’t realise until recently I really hold on to these negative tweets, that say things like, ‘Your voice is annoying.’ That tweet could outweigh a huge glowing review. That is a sickness and I think a lot of creative people are easily led towards a negative view of themselves.

A lot of reviews contain Girls and Annie Hall comparisons. Are there other films you would like it to be compared to?
Well, I wanted to tell a story about a couple that you knew were breaking up from the get go but you still rooted for them a little bit. That’s what I feel about Annie Hall. I also think tonally the film is a bit similar to Muriel’s Wedding, in that it bounces between comedy and tragedy. If there’s any character in my life that I identify with it’s Muriel.
And I love The Guardian but they said something really shitty about how when I was cast on Girls, Lena and I were frenemies, examining my words and taking things that I had said out of context to build up this rivalry which doesn’t exist.

Is bi-sexuality being recognised more now? The film still got called a Lesbian Girls by Variety.
I think it’s funny that I get labelled a lesbian a lot. It’s easier. ‘Lesbian filmmaker, Desiree Akhavan…’ I’m not a lesbian. It’s not an insult it’s just that my experience of life is so different to a lesbian’s. I think people are genuinely perplexed by bi-sexuality. I really want to make it part of my work. I think it’s fascinating that no one gets it, no one talks about it and it’s mine to explore. I think so many themes are regurgitated and rehashed in film, TV and music but this feels so fresh and it’s also my life.

Jack Falahee [How To Get Away With Murder] refuses to talk about his sexuality because he says it’s odd how only LGBT actors are asked about it.
The queer magazines go there because they have balls. I think non-queer magazines feel entitled to go there and ask invasive questions because they know a detail about their sex life which is very obnoxious.

Where has the most surprising positive feedback come from?
Last night there was an elderly straight white couple that loved the film so much. They would not stop talking to me about the one liners and were so excited and jazzed at 10pm on a Sunday night. I’m very surprised when older people like the film, and that’s great because it shows i’ve misjudged people. I always assume they won’t like it because to me it is a commentary on being young right now.

What is your favourite Mariah song?
Heartbreaker. I was obsessed with that show ‘The Making of the Music Video…’ And Mariah’s in the movie theatre, she in the bed having fun with her girls, there’s a scene where Mariah’s fighting Mariah, so that’s a song I really love but then there’s also Fantasy. There are lots of different genres of Mariah Carey. Who will forget the summer that Fantasy was big? I was at summer camp and that was my jam.

I have a spare ticket to her Vegas show if you want to come?
You take someone you are going to fuck to that show. If there’s anything that’ll be great foreplay it’s a Mariah Carey concert.

https://twitter.com/DesiMakesMovies
Appropriate Behaviour is on general release now by Peccadillo Pictures.