Exclusive Interview: Brett Dier and Jessica Parker Kennedy Talk ‘Good Bad Things,’ Trusting Their Intuitions, and More

Brett Dier and Jessica Parker Kennedy shine as two of the standout stars in the emotionally poignant indie Good Bad Things, delivering compelling performances that delve deep into the complexity of their characters.

The film follows Danny, a driven entrepreneur with a physical disability, as he reluctantly tries online dating, setting off on a journey of love and self-discovery. Brett plays Danny’s steadfast best friend and business partner, providing unwavering support and keeping him grounded as he faces new challenges. Jessica portrays the woman Danny meets through the app, sparking a connection that reshapes both his personal and emotional life.

Pop Culturalist had the pleasure of speaking with Brett and Jessica about Good Bad Things, their creative collaboration with filmmakers Danny Kurtzman and Shane D. Stanger, the importance of trusting their instincts, and much more.

PC: Brett, there’s such a fantastic friendship between Jason and Danny, and they really support and hold each other accountable. First, what was it like collaborating with Danny to bring that dynamic to life? And who in your own life has held space for you in a similar way?
Brett: That’s a good question. Danny and I had about three and a half weeks before shooting to really hang out a lot. We spent a ton of time together, working and running through the script repeatedly to make it feel real. We kept doing it over and over until we found a natural flow. Fortunately, we became actual friends, and that really helps in this kind of situation. Now, Danny’s a really good friend of mine, so I’m glad it worked out.

As for people in my own life, I’ve got a couple of good friends who’ve been there during tough times and are easy to talk to. Honestly, it’s hard to find guys who are willing to be vulnerable with you, but I have a lot of friends now who I can cry with. It took me a long time to find that, though. I’d say it’s something I’ve only really discovered in the past two years. I’m really thankful for it because it’s important to have friends who you can cry with.

PC: That friendship really comes across on screen. Jessica, you’re no stranger to playing fiercely independent women. Madi’s journey before meeting Danny is about putting herself first, which is such an empowering message for audiences. What was it about this character that spoke to you, and what do you hope people take away from her?
Jessica: She’s much more of a free spirit than I am. I’m wound pretty tight, and I’m a pretty anxious person. I love that she does what she wants, when she wants, without feeling apologetic for it. She knows how to say no when she needs to and yes when she wants to. I was raised in a way where I often questioned myself, “Should I say no? Should I say yes?” instead of focusing on what I really wanted to do. That’s what I took away from her—enjoying that element of being true to herself. She’s definitely independent. I love the line where she says, “Danny, you need to get out of your own way,” because so many of us are in our own way without realizing it. Our friends see it, and they think, “If only they’d get out of their own way.” I hope people take that from Madi. Even though she’s a free spirit, she has her own quirks and struggles. It’s hard for her to get into a serious relationship. I hope people listen to their intuition—when something feels right, you have to stick with it and follow your gut.

PC: Brett, you have such a deep and personal connection to comedy and the impact it’s had on your life. How does that comfort and sense of safety in that space allow you to elevate and deliver the performances we’ve seen throughout your career, especially with this project?
Brett: Thank you. Comedy is something I’ve always used, especially when I was younger, as a defense mechanism to keep people at a distance. I feel very comfortable in the comedy realm, but as I’ve gotten older, I’ve become more comfortable wearing my emotions on my sleeve. For a lot of my life, I was hiding behind being the clown especially when I was thirteen, fourteen, fifteen. I was a goofy kid, and I was very comfortable in that space. As I’ve grown older, my goal has been to wear my heart on my sleeve, which I hope I’m doing now. That’s been my relationship with comedy.

PC: You’ve certainly achieved that with this film. Jessica, as you mentioned, there’s a lot of vulnerability in the conversations Maddie has with Danny and in their relationship. You brought so much depth to both her strength and her ability to embrace the unknown. As an actress, how did you create the space for yourself to explore that contrast? And what was it like working with Danny, who’s making his acting debut?
Jessica: Danny’s spectacular, which was a really happy surprise for all of us because he had done the short, but this was his first full feature. His authenticity and talent made it really easy for me and the rest of us. We clicked instantly when we met, which I know Brett experienced with Danny as well. Danny is very much a “lay it all on the line, this is who I am” kind of person, and that allows you to be the same way. He’s open, accepting, and wants to talk about the hard stuff but also laugh about it. It was easy to create that connection because we got along so well from the beginning. It feels like I’ve known him forever. It’s the same with Brett and Danny. Now, I feel like Danny is my dear, dear friend. It never felt new.

Brett: I agree with that 100%.

PC: Brett, in addition to acting, you’re also an artist, and you often use your art to understand what you’re feeling at a certain point in time. Was there a piece you created during the filming process or one that you think speaks to the themes of the film?
Brett: Oh, wow. That’s a good question. I think I was sketching random stuff during parts of the movie, but I didn’t really dive into art until last summer, and we shot this in 2022. So yeah, I was just sketching random things. I actually made a little doodle in the film that I showed Danny in a scene. I’m like, “Look at this,” and he’s like, “What’s that?” I didn’t know what it was at the time. I wonder if that paper is still lying around somewhere. But I hadn’t fully discovered art until after we finished this film, which is interesting.

Jessica: It’d be cool if we had a Good Bad Things where we’re all aliens—cast and crew included. Can I request that? Can you make one of those for all of us now?

Brett: I should.

PC: Jessica, you’ve worked on projects of all sizes. What is it about independent filmmaking that excites you as a creative and storyteller?
Jessica: When you’re on a TV show or a project with a massive budget, a lot of the creative control comes from the higher-ups. It’s not always easy to bring all of your creativity because you’re trying to check a lot of boxes. That’s for the director, actors, producers—it’s a lot.

But with an independent film and a smaller budget, everyone in the cast and crew has to come together with the same level of creativity to make it work. I also think that when you’re constrained by time and budget, you’re forced to be more creative because you have to make your day. If something gets in the way of that, everyone comes together to figure it out. I really like that aspect of it. On a weird, selfish note, you also don’t have to wait as long. [laughs] You get to act more often because you’re trying to squeeze in as many scenes as possible each day. I love that about it. It’s just an extra, extra creative space to be in.

PC: It feels like art in its purest form. There’s a beautiful sentiment in the film about trusting those “good bad” feelings, which is something everyone can take away from this project. Was there a time in your own lives when you had to trust your gut, and it led to something you couldn’t have even imagined?
Brett: The first thing that comes to mind is this project I was attached to about two years ago. I had gotten the script, but it just wasn’t feeling right. I felt like I was already so deep into it, but I knew I had to drop out. It was one of the most difficult decisions because I felt like I was letting so many people down.

But the very next day, I got an audition for a film with Robert De Niro that I ended up doing, About My Father. If I had signed that contract beforehand, I wouldn’t have been able to do that, and it became a big moment in my life because it reinforced trusting my gut. Earlier in my life and career, I would’ve ignored those instincts out of fear—fear of not having a job or of a relationship ending badly. It’s important to stop being a people pleaser and focus on what’s best for you. It’s an ongoing practice, but that was a big turning point for me.

Jessica: I didn’t know that story—wow, that’s really wild. It’s such a hard situation that turned into something amazing. I know a lot of people struggle with anxiety, and I also have OCD, so I often deal with this voice in my head telling me, “Is it my gut, or is it not?” It makes it harder for me to differentiate between the two. That’s been a big challenge for me throughout my life, but I’m really trying to figure out, “Is this the monster in my head or my actual gut?” and start listening more carefully.

Like Brett said, people-pleasing has always been a huge issue for me. The only example I can think of right now is that I’m working on distancing myself from people who aren’t really friends—those who don’t make me feel better when I’m around them, where I’m always doing them a favor for one reason or another. It’s incredibly hard to do without hurting people’s feelings, but I’m trying to reduce the number of people in my life so that the quality of my friendships is better than it’s been in the past.

PC: It feels like both of those answers connect back to the themes of these characters. Shane co-wrote and directed this film. How different is the filming experience when the person who’s helped create the characters and universe is also the one directing? What was that collaboration like for each of you?
Jessica: I really like it because I can go to the director and ask, “How did you feel when this happened to you?” or “What was this like for you?” Watching the relationship between Danny and Shane on set informed how I could interact with Danny in character, and it helped me understand what it might be like to assist someone with a disability—things that might feel unnatural to me were so normal for them. For me, having that connection with Shane was really valuable. I love being able to go to my director and get specific examples. That was extra helpful.

Brett: I also loved that Shane was the writer-director. He was so collaborative, and I’m really thankful for that. We had so many conversations before filming about what felt right and natural, so I could be as real as possible in my performance. He was completely on board and worked with me on that, giving me notes along the way. The whole process of working with him was great. I love that guy so much. He’s become another good friend of mine. Shout out to Shane—he absolutely killed it.

Jessica: He’s one of those directors who’s like, “If you have a better idea, let me know what it is.” He may not always like it, but he wants to hear it. He’s very open that way. When you’re on an indie film, you get to be creative, and you get to blend that creativity together. Because at the end of the day, without sounding too frilly, we’re artists, and we want to make art together. When you have a director like that, that’s exactly what you get to do.

PC: The film has made its way around the festival circuit and has been incredibly well-received. What do you think is resonating most with audiences? Is there a scene that either of you are most excited for people to see?
Jessica: My favorite scene in the film is where I take photos of Danny in bed. I love the intimacy of that moment. There was something about that day on set where I felt the magic of what it was going to be. I thought, “This is going to look spectacular on screen,” and it does. You’re often unsure of how something will turn out, but I knew while we were filming that scene that it was extra special. That’s my favorite.

As for what’s resonating with audiences, it’s hard to say. Films are so personal for everyone. At the premiere we had two nights ago, there were so many people with disabilities in the audience, and many came up to us and said, “This is the first time I’ve seen my story on screen, where I can relate and feel represented.” That’s a big deal. We got to be part of something trailblazing—a piece of history. Even though the film isn’t just for people with disabilities, it’s for everyone. We all get in our own way; we’re all dealing with relationships, whether they’re friendships or romantic ones. But seeing so many people with disabilities say, “There I am. That’s my story. Thank you for telling it,” was really cool.

Brett: You explained that perfectly. I feel like I’d just be repeating things if I added more. But I totally agree with what you said. I always blank when people ask about favorite scenes because all I can think of now is that one. It was so good—how it was shot and how the camera moves.

Jessica: That flip shot is so cool.

Brett: And then you guys in bed afterward. That whole sequence is beautiful.

Jessica: If it helps, I love the scene with you and Danny where he’s complaining, and you’re outside in front of the house. He’s really getting in his own way, and you’re putting him in his place in such a supportive but firm way. I really like that scene—it always gives me goosebumps.

Brett: I like that scene too.

Jessica: It’s not as good as my scene with him, but it’s a close second. [laughs]

Brett: Definitely second. I like that scene because it shows a different level of their friendship. There’s no bullsh*t. It’s like, “I’m going to call you out if you’re being a pr*ck.” That’s an important scene. I remember reading it in the script and thinking, “I’m glad there’s a moment like this between the two of them.”

Jessica: Yeah, because you guys are so silly together—so goofy—but incredibly genuine and deep. When you’re watching those silly scenes, you can feel the authenticity, but it’s also nice to have a scene where you say, “I’ve got your back, and I’m going to tell you how it is.”

Make sure to follow Brett (Instagram) and Jessica (Instagram). Learn more about Good Bad Things.