Francesca Barker McCormick is one of Hollywood’s fastest rising starlets and is Beatrice Magazine’s latest cover girl. Just a few short years ago, Francesca was pursuing her career in Fashion as the producer of events at the highly coveted Vogue Magazine in New York. Fast forward to today, Francesca has transitioned her career into acting where she has appeared in 7 films to date. Her latest film, Mother-In-Law features Vivica A. Fox, Miguel Nunez and premieres at the end of this month.
Can you tell us a bit about the concept of “Mother-in-Law” and what audiences can expect from the film?
It’s a really exciting film because it’s not your typical RomCom. Instead, it ramps up the stakes by exploring themes of family ties, commitment, classism and cultural traditions. Audiences will get a front-row-seat to a trainwreck of wedding nuptials gone wrong as two lovers confront the challenges of bringing two families together.
My character, Melody, is an employee and friend of Koya’s (played by the incredible Ciarra Carter). Their relationship is one that, at times, is laugh-out-loud funny as Koya often vents to Melody about her new relationship, her ex, and all of the family drama.
The film boasts an impressive cast with notable Hollywood and Nollywood actors. Can you tell us more about working with such an incredible cast?
Absolutely! Working with such a knockout cast was an incredible experience. To see them all in action, was an acting masterclass in itself. Their in-depth understanding of their character and the world they live in shines through via strong, nuanced choices made throughout the entirety of the film. I think audiences would be surprised to learn just how many moments were improvised – and improvised impeccably. That’s a true testament to understanding one’s character and being able to make in-the-moment choices based on what’s going on in their environment. And these Hollywood and Nollywood icons absolutely delivered!
How did the director, Prince Joshua Nana Morrison Budukuma, approach the storytelling and themes in “Mother in Law”?
He approached them in a very balanced manner, which is often how they happen in life as well. In every tense situation, there can be moments of sadness, anger, joy, anxiety, and comic relief all taking place at the same time. In Mother-in-Law, you get to see all of these emotions play out as the stakes continue to escalate. However, as it often does in life as well, these tribulations prove to strengthen relationships, promote growth through hardship, and bring the unlikeliest together.
It’s a wild journey but one that proves worthy in the end!
The film explores cultural traditions and family ties, as well as themes of commitment and classism. How did the filmmakers navigate these complex issues while still creating an entertaining and engaging film?
I think Joshua’s success in navigating these themes began with the perfect casting. He made sure to properly represent the two cultures being explored by bringing on Nollywood powerhouses, Adjetey Anang and Patience Ozokwo (aka “Mamma G”) and Hollywood icons, Vivica A. Fox and Miguel A. Núñez Jr.
Joshua also made sure there were moments of wins, losses, growth, and commonalities explored as the two families battled it out. I believe these choices are what ultimately allowed the movie to close in the manner it does – that overall as humans, we are more alike than we are different.
“Mother in Law” is described as a romantic dramedy. Can you tell us more about the balance between romance and comedy in the film and how the two genres come together?
The balance between the two genres plays out beautifully as the families make their way through this unexpected adventure. The romance stems from the love felt between Koya, Kumi, and their families. Each family is fighting for what they believe to be right. This stems from the love they have for their children and their strong determination to protect that. And Koya and Kumi share such a beautiful love, one that refuses to be limited by outside opinions or beliefs.
The extreme sides taken evolve into comedy. The juxtaposition is so strong that you can’t help but laugh at the reactions, comebacks, and strategies plotted to be the “winning” family.
The synopsis hints at some unexpected twists and turns in the plot. Without giving too much away, can you tell us about some of the challenges that the characters face and how they impact the story?
Kumi’s (played by Adjetey Anang) culture has a strict adherence to marriage within their tribe, a detail that he loses sight of as he falls more and more in love with Koya. Marriage outside of the tribe is strictly prohibited, and his parents maintain their viewpoints on this, unwilling to compromise. Koya’s parents, on the other hand, are sceptical about Kumi’s culture, which accepts polygamy. And with such strong viewpoints, you can imagine that neither of the Mother-in-Laws are taking this lightly! These stances set the stage for the perfect battle between love, tradition, and family.
What was your favorite memory from filming?
My favourite memory was shooting the final wedding scene. We had a blast shooting it and to have all of the cast together to witness such a beautiful ending was the pinnacle of my Mother-in-Law experience. It was also where we finally got to see both of the families celebrating love and togetherness while putting their differences aside.
The film is set to make its world premiere with a star-studded red-carpet event. How does it feel to finally be able to share this film with audiences, and what are your hopes for its reception?
It’s so exciting! It feels great knowing that audiences will see what we worked so hard on to bring to life. I can’t wait to hear what they think. There are numerous moments in the film we can all relate to and that will bring smiles and laughter to the audience.
I’m also eager to reunite with the cast to celebrate such a big win! At the premiere, we will celebrate and share this beautiful story with the world. And have a great time doing it!
