Boroughwide

Premium Content:
Brooklyn couple makes science-inspired rom-com

October 11, 2024 Mandie-Beth Chau
Alec Moore, Jane Miller and Etana Jacobsen. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
Share this:

Brooklyn native Alec Moore crossed his interest in science with his passion for filmmaking in his latest project, the romantic comedy “Advanced Chemistry.” 

“I wrote the script based on real science that I found out about, which is that there are two species of voles, and one is naturally monogamous, and one is naturally polygamous. Scientists found out that by controlling chemical injections to their brains, involving oxytocin and vasopressin, they were able to flip flop them,” said Moore. “They can make monogamous voles polygamous, and vice versa. And I was like, ‘Well, that’s really interesting. What if they could do this to humans?’ That’s where I got the idea for a scientist who’s working in this space and trying to develop a compound, and he loves the idea of love.” 

Moore wrote the first draft of the script in 2013 while pursuing an MFA in screenwriting at University of California-Los Angeles (UCLA). The initial plot revolved around a straight male protagonist and his friend, another straight man who struggled with cheating on his wife. 

Local filmmakers cross science with rom-coms. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
Local filmmakers cross science with rom-coms. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore

When Moore revisited the script with the director, Etana Jacobson, Moore said Jacobson felt the story would be more compelling if the couple were women. Moore joked that the finished product is “like ‘A Midsummer Night’s Dream’ meets ‘The 40-year-old Virgin’ but less white and more gay.”

The script originated at a script-writing competition, with the impetus to “make science sexy,” Moore said. Though the script didn’t win, Moore kept returning to it as a viable project he wanted to make. After years of writing movies that never got made, Moore expressed dismay at the state of the industry, where selling scripts doesn’t always mean they get made. 

“It began with me feeling powerless in the industry and feeling like we should try to create our own work. If people aren’t going to pay me, I’m going to figure out how to do it. So many things in Hollywood get paid for and then never get made,” said Moore. “We got into this industry to write things that people will see and enjoy.”

The film stars actors with comedy experience. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
The film stars actors with comedy experience. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore

“Advanced Chemistry” stars a few actors with comedy credits to their name, such as the leading actor Samba Schutte who played a side character in the HBO Max comedy “Our Flag Means Death.” Moore noted that the actors were a valuable asset to the filmmaking process because of their experience in comedy and their flexibility on an independent film set. 

“I’d rather have the up-and-coming stars that we have in a movie that’s actually made and people are watching and a lot of them are loving, rather than the glamor project stars attached,” said Moore. 

While Moore’s focus has always been on writing comedies, “Advanced Chemistry” leans into a romance plot, as well. Romantic comedies are making a comeback and receiving positive feedback from audiences.

“I like the ‘com’ more than the ‘rom’ writing, but technically, it’s a rom-com, which is sort of having a resurgence lately,” said Moore. “People are like, ‘Oh, we miss rom-coms,’ and now they’re coming back.”

"Advanced Chemistry" by Alec Moore. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
“Advanced Chemistry” by Alec Moore. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore

“Advanced Chemistry” was produced by Moore’s wife and fellow filmmaker, Jane Miller. The project marked the first time that the couple worked together, despite meeting at the screenwriting program at UCLA and working in the field for years. 

“We will read each other’s work and we will give notes, but that’s as far as it goes. Alec goes through my scripts and does punch up and makes jokes funnier — he’s very good at that,” said Miller.

The pair lived in Los Angeles since graduate school, but recently moved back to Brooklyn. Miller is from the Upper East Side and found a passion for film and writing through doing theater at Downtown Art in the East Village. After majoring in film and media at Johns Hopkins, Miller worked at Miramax and Focus Features, but says writing is her calling. 

Moore and Miller met at UCLA. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
Moore and Miller met at UCLA. Photo courtesy of Alec Moore

Moore, who attended Packer Collegiate Institute where he was involved in theater as well, uncovered a penchant for comedy. After earning his undergraduate degree from Haverford College, Moore worked in marketing until a craving for creative work prompted him to take a television writing workshop at Gotham Writers Workshop. 

Now, the pair are in Cobble Hill, which Miller says is because “I just love the city. I was like, ‘I gotta be here.’ I just love it. I missed it too much. Alec was kind enough to come, and it’s been amazing.”

Moore said the adjustment came with some hesitancy on his part, but he has come to appreciate what Brooklyn has to offer. 

“A big part of it was just concern for the career,” said Moore. “Los Angeles is the better place for filmmaking and television writing, film writing. I was anxious about that.”

After screening their movie around the U.S., including New York and Los Angeles, the pair are embracing the borough. Miller noted that they are dedicated patrons of Cobble Hill Cinemas, which plays independent and local films.

Poster for "Advanced Chemistry." Photo courtesy of Alec Moore
Poster for “Advanced Chemistry.” Photo courtesy of Alec Moore

“Advanced Chemistry” is now streaming on Apple TV, Amazon Prime and other streaming services. 





Leave a Comment


Leave a Comment