He put his ‘Trust’ in his own hands

AFTER his one major studio film, 2004’s “Catch That Kid,” failed to catch fire, Bart Freundlich decided that he wanted to write -- or at least have a major hand in writing -- the rest of his films.

It’s not just a control issue. “I think for me writing is such a huge part of the process, maybe more than 50% of making a movie,” says Freundlich. “If I am involved, I feel like I know every word on the page and I can remember what I was thinking when I wrote that -- where the inspiration comes from. I have a much better handle on how I want to direct it.”

Freundlich, 36, says he loves the balance of writing and directing because writing is so solitary. “You feel like you’re going insane by the end. Then you get out and you are with a lot of people when you direct -- it’s collaborative. Then you are ready at the end of [directing] for some solitary confinement!”

Though his first two movies were dark dramas, Freundlich felt it was time to tackle a comedy -- “Trust the Man.” The film, which opens Aug. 18, stars his wife, Julianne Moore, and two of his best friends, David Duchovny and Billy Crudup. Moore plays an actress married to a sex addict (Duchovny) who is a Mr. Mom to their two children. Crudup is her commitment-challenged younger brother in a 7-year-old relationship with his girlfriend (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

“I was sort of trying for a man’s version of a relationship [comedy]. People I know have been in relationships a good amount of time and have kids. My one mantra over and over was: ‘Just be funny.’ ”

Besides, he adds, his friends had been pushing for him to do a comedy. “I think they were surprised my attitude in life was sort of lighthearted and I valued comedy so much,” he says.

Still, Freundlich initially thought it might be overly frivolous to spend two years of his life doing an independent comedy.

“There is no chance you’ll save the world,” he explains. “But I actually think ‘Trust the Man’ does say something.”

-- Susan King