Go Away With … Chris Robert Riegel

By Jae-Ha Kim
Chicago Tribune and other outlets
November 7, 2023

Filmmaker Chris Robert Riegel (“The Big Wedding”) has a lot to say about his upcoming indie film “Expectations.”

“I was actually orphaned at a very young age, just like most of the characters in both the source material of ‘Great Expectations’ and also our cheeky comedic companion piece of a film, ‘Expectations,’” he said. “Going through adolescence [and] knowing you don’t have a conventional background can have an effect on a sense of self, or identity. But I’ve found with my own circumstances, the start of the journey is something none of us can control. How we go about it and the things we do along the way, that’s where we can find real meaning. That’s also the case for the characters of Dickens, and certainly where we pick up these characters in this film.”

Riegel, who had an international upbringing (New Zealand, Australia, Latin America, England), splits his time between California, Florida and England. Readers may keep up with him on Instagram (username: @chrisrob3rt).

Q: Do you know what your ethnic background is?
A: Believe it or not, I’ve never pursued my ethnic background. I’ve been having far too much fun in the present and looking ahead to spend all that much time worrying about what was behind me.

Q: Did any of your personal experiences as a child make it into “Expectations”?
A: I think all of us that write find ourselves somewhere in the crevices of our characters. In many ways, so much of the comedy comes from the relationships I’ve managed to find during my journey and the found family I’ve been fortunate enough to cultivate around me over the years. There’s quite a few dynamics among the adopted siblings that reflect the intricacies of all of the people around me.

Q: Did you travel much when you were younger?
A: I was able to travel quite a bit before I was 18. For me, I always saw it as an adventure. All of the great protagonists from all the stories I read when I was younger traveled. For me, I guess that was an inspiration. So I made it my mission to take in as much as I could, wherever it was that I went. I think it’s because of that silver lining that I feel so inspired to write about so many different cultures and nationalities today as an adult.

Q: Where are some of the places you filmed on location?
A: Some films we’ve done with my company have taken us to places that I’ve gotten to visit for the first time, like Amsterdam for “Kill Switch” and Berlin for “Stowaway.” But it’s the ones that have locations that are so plot-centric that make the pairing of the host town and filming location so unique. There was a film I co-produced called “Lost in the Sun” with the fantastic Josh Duhamel, which was shot in Austin. You’ll find that city is so ingrained in the look, feel and vibrance of the narrative that it just feels like the film couldn’t have been made anywhere else. The same is true with “The Big Wedding” starring Robert De Niro. We shot that in Greenwich, Connecticut, and for all of those from that lovely locale, I’m sure it’s easy to recognize some favorite spots in and around all of the many places that those hilarious characters happen to find themselves. I will say that Canada was especially a terrific home for “Expectations.” Between the uniqueness of the architecture and the wonder of the winter, it made every frame of the film extra special.

Q: What is your favorite vacation destination?
A: My wife [actress Annie Q. Riegel] and I can never resist a visit to Hawaii. Oahu has always been our favorite, whether it’s on the eastern or northern shore. We try to sneak away there whenever I finish a film, or she finishes a season of television.

Q: What untapped destination should people know about?
A: There’s a lovely island off the coast of Queensland, Australia, called Moreton Island. You’ll find an amazing resort there called Tangalooma. For anyone interested in aquatics, this place is hard to beat. Not only is it maybe the greatest place I’ve ever seen for scuba and snorkeling in the Great Barrier Reef, but it also features wild dolphins that swim up to shore. Don’t get too comfortable with them, though. They’re wild after all!

Q: What childhood trip stood out?
A: I’m of course biased with my travels, but if I had to pick one really unique experience, it would be New Zealand. I spent an evening hanging out in a Marae, the word the Maori use for “meeting place.” The hospitality was amazing and learning about their culture was one of the experiences I will never forget. Still, I’ve never managed to look as intimidating as they do when sticking out my tongue. I guess it just means I’ll have to go back and practice again.

Q: What are your five favorite cities?
A: I would say in no particular order, Vancouver, Brisbane, London, Tokyo and Miami.

Q: Where would you like to go that you have never been to before?
A: I have never been to Lake Como, Italy. It’s certainly a spot on my list that I hope to visit soon.

Q: What is your best and/or worst vacation memory?
A: My best vacation memory is swimming in formation with sea turtles at Hanauma Bay, Oahu. I can’t express how awesome it was to get caught in a drift beneath the water and be connected with so much natural wonder beneath the surface of the sea.

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