Greta Gerwig makes first sole writing/directing endevour with 'Lady Bird'

When actors jump into the director's chair, there's rarely a consistent law of average. Some actors don't transition well to calling the shots, but others, like Joel Edgerton in this weekend's The Gift, do it exceptionally. There's no way to know for sure until the final product is released, but as Greta Gerwig becomes the latest to make the leap, there's a good chance she'll be joining the latter category.

Gerwig is slated not only to write but direct the drama Lady Bird, Deadline reports. Although she's co-written screenplays before, including Frances Ha and Mistress America alongside her boyfriend, Noah Baumbach, this is the first screenplay she wrote by herself. This also becomes the first movie she directs under her own control, having already directed once but with a collaborator, Joe Swanberg, in 2008's Nights and Weekends.

The upcoming movie comes under mega producer Scott Rudin, along with Eli Bush and Evelyn O'Neil, and production begins in March in Sacramento, CA. The location is important, because Lady Bird centers on a young woman and her last year spent in the city. There's no other details known at the moment but, like her last works, it'll likely combine comedy and drama in conjunction with a woman coming into her own.

Chances are Lady Bird, in particular, comes from material lost from Frances Ha in regards to the city. Just as Baumbach finds a fine muse with Gerwig, the actress/writer likely can find a great deal of support in her first individual directing effort by herself. Based on how funny and charming Mistress America ended up alone, this is more than just exciting. Gerwig is among the most encouraging young talents working in the indie scene at the moment, and it's hard to believe this will be any different. It should be noted, however, Gerwig remains strictly behind-the-camera for this. She will not star, according to reports.

As far as her acting career goes, however, she also has a handful of films soon set for release. In addition to Mistress America coming one week from today, she also filmed roles in Todd Solondz's Weiner-Dog and Rebecca Miller's Maggie's Plan, the latter set to premiere next month at the Toronto International Film Festival. She also has another performance set to film before she jumps in the director's chair: Mike Mills' Beginners follow-up 20th Century Women.