Lili Reinhart and Cooper Raiff discuss their roles as co-dependent siblings in "Hal & Harper."

      Cooper Raiff describes Hal & Harper, his indie TV series featuring Lili Reinhart and Mark Ruffalo, as a passion project—primarily because it deviates from his own life experiences.

      Raiff made his debut with the low-budget indie film S—house in 2020, followed by Cha Cha Real Smooth, which sold for $15 million to AppleTV+ at Sundance in 2022. The success of the latter allowed him the freedom to create Hal & Harper independently. The series recently had its premiere at Sundance.

      “It’s not drawn from my life, which is why it’s my passion project. I’ve made two films rooted in personal experiences, but this one stands apart,” he shares with MovieMaker. “I started writing it seven years ago without fully grasping what I was creating, yet it’s the project I’ve contemplated and felt most passionate about writing. I fell in love with the family in the narrative.”

      The series focuses on two co-dependent siblings, Hal (Raiff) and Harper (Reinhart), coping with grief caused by their father's absence, portrayed by Mark Ruffalo. Raiff and Reinhart appear as themselves in flashbacks to their childhood.

      Hal & Harper, which is currently seeking a buyer, had its debut on a Sunday, with more screenings scheduled through February 1.

      MovieMaker had a conversation with Raiff and Reinhart about their collaborative efforts, which include Reinhart serving as an executive producer.

      Joshua Encinias: Lili, your character Harper comes across as a cynical executive, and seeing your portrayal of her as a child smoking cigarettes is quite humorous.

      Lili Reinhart: You picked up on her cynicism. “Cynical” is exactly how I would describe her during filming. Harper is emotionally guarded and tries to convey a sense of coldness and composure, likely due to the chaos around her. She feels a sense of responsibility to maintain control, which influences her behavior.

      Joshua Encinias: Is Harper’s cynicism the reason she declines Hal’s offer to listen when she’s upset?

      Lili Reinhart: Upon rewatching the episodes, I realized she presents herself as emotionless—at least she believes she does. Hal’s recognition of her sadness takes her by surprise because she thinks she’s concealing it well. That moment showcases how much she suppresses her feelings. She gets defensive and steps outside for a smoke. She feels the pressure to be emotionally strong and perfectly composed because her father is such a wreck.

      Joshua Encinias: Why is their mother’s fate revealed in a subtle manner in a later episode?

      Cooper Raiff: For me, the casual way of introducing that detail may not resonate with everyone. It’s perfectly fine if some viewers don’t grasp what it means, as the subtlety was deliberate. We address what happens more explicitly later on, but my emphasis was on eliciting an emotional response rather than laying everything out straightforwardly.

      Joshua Encinias: How often does bluffing play a role in securing funding for a project?

      Cooper Raiff: We did that, but I’m not certain if others do. [Laughs.] Hal & Harper’s script exceeds 300 pages, and it took people a considerable amount of time to read it. I told one potential buyer that we had an offer and needed them to read it quickly, which was not true. I fabricated that to expedite the process.

      The agents weren't comfortable with lying, but I was. It created a sense of urgency, and we eventually received a real offer, allowing the agents to inform others about it, which in turn prompted more people to read the script. I don’t believe professionals typically lie, but I felt it was appropriate since I was just hustling through the process.

      Joshua Encinias: Is 50 days the longest you’ve worked on a project?

      Cooper Raiff: The budget we had per script page was significantly lower than that for my previous film. It was arduous, as we filmed eight pages a day on a limited budget, which is quite intense.

      Joshua Encinias: Lili, I’m sure you were cranking out pages on Riverdale.

      Lili Reinhart: We were among the last to produce twenty-two episode seasons. It’s uncommon now; most shows film eight episodes over two years. I was working on five pages a day on Riverdale. Transitioning from five pages to eight or even eleven pages a day for Hal & Harper was challenging but doable since everyone was focused and efficient.

      In indie productions, time and money are limited, so you must work with people who are resourceful and prepared to move quickly. There’s no room for ego or laziness. You need to be engaged and fully committed, as the younger generation might say.

      Joshua Encinias: Lili, you’ve served as an executive producer on several projects, including this one. Does that contribute to getting them made,