MY DIVORCE PARTY - GETTING THE SCOOP FROM DESIREE STAPLES and HEIDI WEITZER

Get ready to have some fun and experience the wackiest new trend in saying adious to your spouse!

In My Divorce Party, Xan ( Desiree Staples) gathers her close friends to celebrate her impending divorce, only to reveal she intends to blow her settlement money since her husband gets half of it. Chaos ensues as each friend has a wildly different opinion on what Xan should do.

The film is a wacky journey about celebrating freedom, starting over and most importantly, appreciating your closest friends. Written and directed by Heidi Weitzer the film, set on location Joshua Tree, stars Desiree Staples, Rumer Willis, Kimia Behpoornia, Michelle Meredith, Dionne Gipson and Laith Ashley.

Desiree Staples is an LA-based actress, filmmaker, and producer experienced in short-form, episodic, and feature film content. Staples produced and stars in the dark comedy pilot IT'S WHAT SHE WOULD HAVE WANTED, directed by Nate Trinrud, which was a selection in the prestigious 2021 Tribeca Film Festival Creators Market and winner of “Best Ensemble Cast” at the Catalyst Film Festival.

She also stars as the lead in Sam Fox’s upcoming horror-comedy short film and proof of concept THE BLUE DIAMOND opposite Barbara Crampton. Most recently, Staples served as Executive Producer and lead actress of MY DIVORCE PARTY, You can also see Staples appear in multiple television shows and films, including WELCOME TO CHIPPENDALES (Hulu), EVERYONE IS DOING GREAT (Hulu), and IN THE CUT (Bounce TV). Additional producing work includes CIRCUS PERSON, Britt Lower’s (SEVERANCE - Apple TV) directorial debut, which was a Tribeca NOW 2020 showcase selection, the Winner of Best of Festival Top achievement at Catalyst Content, and the Audience Choice Award top pick at the Nashville Film Festival. Staples produced and acted in TAKE ME TO TARZANA, starring Jonathan Bennett and Samantha Robinson, which was a Gold Remi Winner at Worldfest Houston.

Staples’ comedy pilot, THE INFLUENCERS, which she co-created and acted in, has screened at over 25 festivals around the world including Dances With Films. And recently, Staples produced Sam Fox's award-winning horror comedy film FCK'N NUTS which premiered at Fantastic Fest and Beyond Fest in 2023. Desiree is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, and is the Co-President of Northwestern University’s Entertainment Alliance - NUEA West.

Heidi Weitzer is a writer/director living in Los Angeles originally from Milwaukee. She wrote and directed her first feature My Divorce Party, starring Rumer Willis, which premiered at Cinequest in 2024. She is developing a television adaptation of the James Patterson novel series “Witch and Wizard” for Axis Studios. Heidi is an AFI Directing Workshop for Women 2021 Finalist and Alternate Fellow. Additionally, she won the LA Comedy Film Fest pilot competition, was a semifinalist for Final Draft’s Big Break competition, was a 2018 Stowe Story Fellow and has had two scripts reach number one on blcklst.com.  Heidi studied and performed at the Second City Chicago but don’t ask her to tell a joke on the spot.

I spoke with Desiree Staples and Heidi Weitzer about the inspiration for the film, shooting in Joshua Tree, female friendships and much more.