"It Was a Trust Fall": Sarah Paulson & Cody Fern on the Making of Closing Night

American Horror Story alum Cody Fern makes his feature directorial debut with Sarah Paulson as his star in the emotional, high-stakes drama Closing Night. Joining host Perri Nemiroff at the Collider Media Studio at TIFF 2026 (presented by Campari and the Cayman Islands), the long-time collaborators break down their transition from co-stars to director and lead actor. During their conversation, Cody Fern discusses writing the "emotionally autobiographical" script with co-writer Devon Bostick, overcoming the fears of making his first feature, and why he prioritizes creating an open, collaborative space for his cast. Sarah Paulson shares what drew her to the role of Sandra Vale, how the trust they built on AHS carried over to this set, and how she approached the film's unforgettable ending. Plus, Sarah gives an exclusive look behind the scenes of American Horror Story Season 13! 00:00 - Teaser: The Connection Between Sarah Paulson & Cody Fern 00:21 - Perri Nemiroff Welcomes Sarah Paulson & Cody Fern to the Collider Studio 00:58 - Closing Night Official Spoiler-Free Synopsis 01:50 - Cody Fern on Writing the Script with Devon Bostick & Directing His First Feature 02:43 - Absolute Faith in the Greenlight Process & Staying Romantic About Filmmaking 04:32 - Sarah Paulson on Cody Fern’s Transition from AHS Co-Star to Director 06:08 - Naming Sandra Vale & Cody Fern’s Actor-First Directorial Approach 07:30 - The Best Gift a Director Can Give an Actor: Space and Agency 09:59 - Sarah Paulson on the Terror of Directorial Expectations & Overcoming Fear 11:10 - Approaching Closing Night’s Unforgettable Final Scene 13:25 - Directing Without Predicting: Finding Real Trust on Set 14:34 - Cody Fern’s Acting Bucket List & Staying Behind the Lens 15:15 - Sarah Paulson Teases American Horror Story Season 13 & Playing 4 Characters in 1 Day 16:51 - Closing Thoughts & Celebrations #sarahpaulson #codyfern #americanhorrorstory #ahs #tiff For interviews, movie reviews, and more visit https://collider.com FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL   / collider     / collider     / collider