Julia Fox stars in The Trainer indie film ensemble, joining forces with a remarkable cast that includes Lenny Kravitz, Paris Hilton, Bella Thorne, Gina Gershon, Beverly D’Angelo, Gayle King, Finneas O’Connell, Taylour Paige, and John McEnroe. This unique film, directed by Tony Kaye and co-written by Vito Schnabel, makes its North American debut at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 7, bringing together Hollywood newcomers and legends alike for an energetic, offbeat satire based in Los Angeles. The unexpected roster and unconventional production style have drawn attention to this project, which blends celebrity, ambition, and pop culture with an intense spirit.
Tony Kaye and Vito Schnabel Assemble a Surprising All-Star Cast
The decision to group such a sprawling cast—reminiscent of blockbuster franchises or Wes Anderson’s ensembles—for an indie film surprises many, particularly since Tony Kaye and co-writer/star Vito Schnabel are not traditional Hollywood insiders. Kaye, whose past credits include the controversial debut American History X, returns with limited but impactful experience, while Schnabel, more recognized in the art world as a curator and son of Julian Schnabel, brings a fresh creative perspective to the screen.
The film, The Trainer, introduces audiences to personal trainer Jack Flex—portrayed by Vito Schnabel—on a determined mission through Los Angeles to pitch his unusual fitness device, the “Heavy Hat,” to several iconic figures, both real and imagined. Schnabel’s Jack flexes ambition despite struggling with a clear plan, leading to a frantic journey filled with spontaneous meetings and high-pressure investor pitches.
How ‘The Trainer’ Came Together: Director and Lead Actor Dynamics
Vito Schnabel initially conceived the idea for The Trainer over ten years ago, intending to direct rather than star. However, Tony Kaye, introduced via a mutual connection, saw Schnabel’s potential for the lead role.
“Then Tony Kaye showed up on my doorstep through a mutual friend,”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter. Kaye’s persuasion was unexpected:
“He was like, ‘I know you want to direct this movie, but I want to direct it, but the only way I’ll do it is if you play Jack.’ I laughed and I said, ‘You’re out of your mind.’”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
Tony Kaye recognized Schnabel’s inherent ability to embody the character.
“He had a character in his mind, and he just played straight into my sensibilities. I hijacked the movie and I said, ‘Look, you have to be an actor,’”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
“I could just see that I could get a movie from this fellow.”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
Schnabel, hesitant due to limited acting experience aside from small roles in projects like Feud: Capote vs. The Swans and Miral, described his doubts.
“I felt like I had no business even trying to do it, to be honest. I was scared,”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
“But I wanted to do it. And I felt like maybe I could with Tony.”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
From Kaye’s perspective, Schnabel’s background as an art curator was a valuable asset.
“He has this honest ascension to a higher language,”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
“There’s a godlike focus that comes over him, and he goes into a zone, for example, when he looks at a painting or a sculpture, and it’s from another world. He has the gift to transfer that focus onto a written character or an unscripted character, or into a moment with another actor.”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
Julia Fox’s Role and Quick Casting Behind the Scenes
Julia Fox, cast as Bee—a receptionist for RVCA and Jack’s eventual romantic interest—was a longtime acquaintance of Schnabel from their teenage years in New York. Her inclusion in the project happened almost by serendipity. In Tony Kaye’s words:
“One day I was doing my old man run around my block. I was running out the driveway of my house, and I called Vito and I said, ‘We’ve got to have Julia Fox.’ I’d literally got 150 yards out of my gate when he called me back and says, ‘Okay, we’ve got Julia Fox. So how are we going to make that movie?’”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
Kaye admired Fox’s unique skillset and chemistry with the lead.
“Julia was so professional, so machine-like, so trained and untrained,”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
“She and Vito together — they were right for each other and not right for each other. And that was the perfect thing.”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
Capturing Star Talent: Kravitz, Hilton, O’Connell, and Others
Lenny Kravitz plays a fictionalized version of himself, initially wary of Jack Flex’s persistent approach. His participation was uncertain at first.
“That almost didn’t happen, but then once he decided to do it, he went all in,”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
“We wrote it for him. Since we made this movie during COVID, all of Lenny’s stuff was shot at his house in Eleuthera, because he was getting ready to potentially go on tour, and obviously he didn’t want to get sick.”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
Paris Hilton’s appearance is seen as the perfect expression of the movie’s satire on celebrity culture, entrepreneurship, and social media. She joined the production late, becoming crucial to the plot’s commentary.
“She is such an incredible phenomenon — what she created and what her personality represents,”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
“It made total sense that she would be the perfect person to help Jack sell this thing.”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
Finneas O’Connell, known for his collaborations with his sister Billie Eilish, offered a unique draw for Kaye.
“I’m a student of Finneas and Billie,”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
“I’ve studied their sound and their lyrics, and so to have Finneas as a part of our team was amazing.”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
The ensemble, including appearances by Gina Gershon, Beverly D’Angelo, Gayle King, Taylour Paige, and John McEnroe, reflects both Hollywood mainstays and emerging talent. Each actor made the most of compact filming schedules driven by pandemic restrictions and production limitations.
“We got these people in the blinks of an eye, and we had to work very quickly with them,”
—Tony Kaye, Director.
Schnabel noted the sacrifices made by the cast, who were motivated by creative passion rather than high pay.
“Nobody got paid a lot of money to be there,”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
“People came together, and people want to work with Tony. It was such an incredible experience for me, and working with him — it changed my life.”
—Vito Schnabel, Actor/Screenwriter.
Festival Debut and the Promise of ‘The Trainer’
As The Trainer prepares for its North American premiere at the Tribeca Film Festival, the film stands out for its daring combination of ambitious indie production, a multifaceted cast, and audacious satire. The collaboration between Tony Kaye and Vito Schnabel, bolstered by star turns from Julia Fox, Paris Hilton, Lenny Kravitz, and other cultural figures, aims to spark conversation about celebrity, creativity, and the hustle mentality often seen in Los Angeles. Whether its unique casting and sharp social commentary will captivate a wider audience remains to be seen, but with its festival debut imminent, The Trainer already marks a high-profile entry into indie cinema’s boldest experiments.
