He honed his directing chops in acclaimed and Emmy-winning TV series as “Six Feet Under,” “Swingtown” and “Big Love.”  Now Alan Poul makes his feature film directing debut with Columbia Pictures’ romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan” starring Jennifer Lopez and new heartthrob Alex O’Loughlin.  The film explores dating, love, marriage and family “in reverse.”

Poul talks about his memorable directing experience in the following interview:

Q: What made you choose “The Back-Up Plan”?

Allan Poul: It was the quality of the material that attracted me to it. I loved this script! Screenwriter Kate Angelo had written something that could be crude and even rude, but that still had the rhythm of the classic comedies.

Q: How would you describe the two main characters in the story?

Poul: They are classic screwball comedy characters, because they are people that shouldn’t get along and whose worlds never should have intersected, but who are thrown together and learn how to love each other.

Q: When did Jennifer Lopez come on board this project?  What is she like to work with?

Poul: Actually, she was the first to come on board, even before me. I have worked with many great actors, but never with anybody quite like Jennifer. She has amazing comedic instincts and the most incredible control over her own physicality and expressions. Jennifer is like a precise instrument capable of giving you exactly what you want over and over again, and at the same time she surprises you!

Q: How do you see Zoe, her character?

Poul:  I see her as a strong and independent woman whose life experience has taught her not to rely on men. Zoe is a high aspiring and achieving person that has made the conscious decision to try to meet the right guy and form a family; but, after dating in vain for several years she decides to move on and have a child on her own.

Q: Who is Stan?

Poul: Stan is a non-aspiring guy, with dreams but not much drive or ambition. He has had it easy because he works in a family business, is very good looking and has never really had to make the kind of commitment that would lead to a long lasting relationship.

Q: You picked Alex O’Loughlin, relatively a newcomer to play Stan…

Poul: Alex had never done comedy before, but he is a classically trained actor who is used to working quickly.  Watching him learn to find the right comedy rhythm without sacrificing any emotional integrity was great, and it made me feel I was on a journey with somebody.

Q: How different is “The Back-Up Plan” to other romantic comedies we have seen recently?

Poul: I felt this film offered the possibility to reinvigorate or reinvent a genre. Many of the recent romantic comedies have become synonymous with “chick flicks;” but this script has a classic feeling about it that we haven’t seen on the screen for some time, while still addressing many of today’s issues.

Q: How do you think having a background in television has helped you?

Poul: I think that in a way it puts you ahead of the game and is an asset, because television is so fast-paced that you constantly have to make decisions and be committed to them. There is a long tradition of film directors that have come from television.

(Opening across the Philippines on Friday, April 23, “The Back-Up Plan” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.)

Actor-on-the-rise Alex O’Loughlin (“The Invisible,” “Whiteout”) has to struggle with instant parenthood when he falls in love with Jennifer Lopez’s character in Columbia Pictures’ new romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan.”

After years of dating, Zoe (Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. But on the day of her artificial insemination, Zoe meets Stan (O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities.  The arrival of Stan in Zoe’s life begins her romantic journey in love, in life, and in labor.  He throws her plan off course in a way that has wildly comedic repercussions both due to circumstance as well as their contrasting personalities.

When it came time to casting Stan, the filmmakers set out to find a fresh face – someone sexy, funny, strong, yet also vulnerable.  It was going to be a challenge to find someone who had the whole package but when they met Aussie actor Alex O’Loughlin, they knew they had found their Stan.

“The minute we had him read with Jennifer, you could just feel it in the room – their chemistry was undeniable,” says producer Todd Black.  “Alex also came in very prepared.  He understood where the comedy was and he wasn’t afraid to take it as far as it could go.   It’s so thrilling as a producer to discover someone new. I’m proud and excited.  I can’t wait to watch where his career goes; I think he’s going to be a major movie star.”

O’Loughlin cherished his first turn as a feature leading man.  “The cast and crew were amazing and the material is really good.  Plus, starring opposite Jennifer was awesome.  I had a ball.”

The actor previously joined the team of the FX hit drama series “The Shield” for most of Season 6, where he played the new potential leader of Vic Mackey’s strike team, ‘Kevin Hyatt.’

Following this, he starred in the feature films “The Invisible” with Marcia Gay Harden and Justin Chatwin, directed by David Goyer, and “August Rush,” alongside Robin Williams, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Terrence Howard, Keri Russell and Freddie Highmore, directed by Kirsten Sheridan.

O’Loughlin then took the lead in the CBS/Warner Bros. television show “Moonlight” in which he played the role of ‘Mick St. John.’  Not only did he instantly attract a dedicated and deeply passionate fan base, he proudly accepted The People’s Choice Award for Best New Drama. O’Loughlin recently starred opposite Kate Beckinsale in Joel Silver’s “Whiteout” and in CBS’ weekly medical series “Three Rivers.”

The actor is actively involved in the charity Donate Life.  Donate Life’s mission is to educate the public on the importance of organ donation.

Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Back-Up Plan” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Absent from the silver screen since 2006, Jennifer Lopez now returns to acting with an upbeat, comedic performance in Columbia Pictures’ funny love story “The Back-Up Plan.”

Lopez plays Zoe who, after years of dating, has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long.  Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes a fertility doctor’s appointment and decides to go it alone.  That same day, Zoe meets Stan (Alex O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities.  Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive could be proof positive that they were made for each other.

Producer Todd Black recalls his realization after the filmmakers’ first meeting with Lopez that she was the perfect match for Zoe.   “She literally embodied Zoe and she completely got the script.  She understood the humor involved in this character becoming a new mom, and the humorous and scary nature of her having a new lover in her life at the same time.”

“Zoe is very strong, brave and independent,” describes Lopez, “but in a very different way than I am, as she didn’t grow up with a family like I did. But precisely because I grew up with a lot of love I also need it and rely on more people, whereas Zoe is different. And she is strong enough to make the decision to have kids on her own. I don’t think I could do that.”

“The script definitely rang true to me, having just gone through my own experience of having babies for the first time,” continues Lopez. “All the little jokes about what it is to be pregnant – being tired, insatiably hungry and the hormonal changes.  I could really relate.”

Lopez’s grasp of the material was important but she also had the right chops for a role that requires the ability to play comedy, as well as more tender moments.  “Jennifer can convey the perfect amount of emotion and comedy all at the same time,” says Black.  “She’s an all around solid actress.  Most times you find an actor who can just do the comedy or just the drama.  It’s rare to find someone who is strong with both.”

Director Alan Poul, who most recently produced and directed such television hits as “Swingtown” and “Six Feet Under,” was particularly impressed by Lopez’s fearless approach to the physical comedy.  “Jennifer has an extraordinary gift; she can go very far with physicality – with slapstick – while still keeping it grounded in the reality of the character.”

Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Back-Up Plan” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

In Columbia Pictures’ new romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan,” Zoe (Jennifer Lopez) has a very full and charmed life.  But while staring down her late 30s, she comes to the realization that the one thing that has evaded her, Mr. Right, may never come along.  She decides to fulfill her dream to have a family on her own and makes an appointment with a fertility doctor.  As luck would have it, mere moments after the procedure she meets Mr. Right.

The arrival of Stan (Alex O’Loughlin), aka Mr. Right, in Zoe’s life begins her romantic journey in love, in life, and in labor.  He throws her plan off course in a way that has wildly comedic repercussions both due to circumstance as well as their contrasting personalities.

“Zoe is a planner,” explains Jennifer Lopez.  “She decides it’s time to have a baby and she sets out to make that happen.  Stan, on the other hand, is much more of a free spirit.  He’s not living out his dreams (he owns a cheese stand at a NY farmer’s market) but he’s relaxed into his situation.  He’s not really thinking about the future, and certainly not looking to be tied down.”

Writer Kate Angelo derived the idea for her first feature from witnessing her close friends dealing with thirtysomething female issues. “There is an undeniable biological ticking clock.  And, at some point, if you haven’t met that right guy by a certain age, you have to consider other options in order to have a family.”

“When I read the script, I laughed out loud all the way through which doesn’t happen often,” recalls director Alan Poul.  “And then I cried at the end.  I thought to myself ‘if I can bring even just 75 percent of that experience to the screen, it’s going to be a very satisfying movie.’”

Poul appreciated the script’s reflection that society has turned the traditional ‘courtship, love, marriage, parenthood’ sequence of events on its head in recent years.  He was also thrilled that Lopez was going to play Zoe.

The vision was to create a modern romantic comedy.  To that end, Poul looked for every opportunity to elevate what he refers to as the material’s “cutting edge contemporary comedic voice.”

Poul is quick to mention, however, that Angelo’s script also has a nice balance of classic romantic comedy elements from which he pulled.   Perhaps the most notable is the energy of Zoe and Stan which Poul likens to the famous team of Hepburn and Tracy, whose witty banter and on-camera electricity made the genre iconic.  Says Poul, “From the moment Zoe and Stan’s worlds collide upon hailing the same cab, it’s a classic romantic comedy.”

Though Poul found Zoe and Stan’s relationship to be “hilariously funny and genuinely romantic,” he also looked beyond the two leads for entertainment value.

“He looks for comedy in the background and on the sides, wherever the camera is,” says producer Todd Black.  “He’s always looking beyond the main actors for how he can make people smile watching the whole frame of the movie.”

Lopez prides herself on doing her homework before every shoot day.  She always strives to be aware of each scene’s whole picture, including the beats within the beats, in order to stretch the comedy further.  Poul makes a habit of doing the same.   Together they were able to mine every scene to the maximum extent.  Lopez enjoyed collaborating with the director.  “Alan had ideas for each scene I would not have thought of, and vice versa,” says Lopez.  “Working together allowed us to maximize the value of the material.”

Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Back-Up Plan” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.

Fall in love.  Get married.  Have a baby.  Not necessarily in that order.

Columbia Pictures presents Jennifer Lopez and Alex O’Loughlin (“Whiteout,” TV’s “Moonlight”) in the new romantic comedy “The Back-Up Plan,” a hilarious tale that explores dating, love, marriage and family “in reverse.”

After years of dating, Zoe (Lopez) has decided waiting for the right one is taking too long. Determined to become a mother, she commits to a plan, makes an appointment and decides to go it alone. On the day of her artificial insemination, Zoe meets Stan (O’Loughlin) – a man with real possibilities.

Trying to nurture a budding relationship and hide the early signs of pregnancy becomes a comedy of errors for Zoe and creates confusing signals for Stan. When Zoe nervously reveals the reason for her unpredictable behavior, Stan commits fully and says he’s in.

Never before has love seen a courtship where a wild night of sex involves three in a bed – Stan, Zoe and the ever-present massive pregnancy pillow. Or, where “date night” consists of being the “focal point” at a near-stranger’s water birth which does for kiddie pools what “Jaws” did for swimming in the ocean.

The real pregnancy test comes when both of them realize they really don’t know each other outside of hormonal chaos and birth preparations.

With the nine month clock ticking, both begin to experience cold feet. Anyone can fall in love, get married and have a baby but doing it backwards in hyper-drive could be proof positive that they were made for each other.

“The Back-Up Plan” is directed by Alan Poul (TV’s “Six Feet Under”) from a screenplay by Kate Angelo (TV’s “Will & Grace”).

Opening soon across the Philippines , “The Back-Up Plan” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.  Visit www.sonypictures.com.ph to see the latest trailers, get free downloads and play free movie games.