Go behind the scenes of Edie Arnold Is A Loser in this interview featuring the cast and creators. We talk inspirations, “Fran-spreading”, and more.
Edie Arnold Is A Loser is a high-energy coming-of-age comedy that strikes a chord between the rigid halls of Catholic school and the rebellious spirit of the punk rock scene. The story follows Edie Arnold, a self-described dork whose life takes a sharp turn when a mishap at a punk show lands her behind a drum kit. To her own surprise, Edie is a natural, leading her to secretly form an all-girl band named The NunDead.
As she balances a budding romance with an altar boy and the chaos of secret rehearsals, Edie must navigate the fallout of a suspension and her mother’s strict expectations. Ultimately, the film is a loud, proud celebration of finding one’s voice, culminating in a Battle of the Bands performance that changes everything for Edie and her family.
Mama’s Geeky sat down with the creative team and cast behind this film to discuss the vulnerable writing process and the electric energy on set. We were joined by filmmakers Megan Rico and Kade Atwood, alongside the film’s stars, Adi Madden Cabrera (Edie) and McKenna Tuckett (Francis). From the origins of the script a decade ago to the instinctive way the cast brought their characters to life, the team shared what it took to bring The NunDead to the big screen.
Finding the Rhythm: Filming the Performances
For stars Adi Madden Cabrera and McKenna Tuckett, capturing the raw energy of a live band was a highlight of the production. Madden Cabrera noted that while filming a performance is different from a real concert, the directors went the extra mile to keep the adrenaline high.
“I think to help get us like really hyped, like Kate and Megan would come on stage and like dance around to like behind the camera. And so I thought that was, I don’t know, that was just such a fun, a fun part about it.” — Adi Madden Cabrera
Tuckett, who plays the high-energy Francis, recalled how the group “clicked in” almost immediately during their first musical sequences.
“It was crazy to just be like, and now we’re a band. Okay, cool. Uh, and I remember like feeling like Francis was such like a high energy character that I was like all over the place.” — McKenna Tuckett
A Decade in the Making: Inspiration and Directing
The film’s roots are deeply personal for Megan Rico, who first penned the script in college based on her own upbringing. Revisiting the material years later allowed her to see the depth of the story she had created.
“When I revisited it as like an adult, I was like, whoa, I was like really, I was really working through some stuff in this… with distance, I was like, wow, this is pretty vulnerable.” — Megan Rico
Directing the feature was a collaborative marathon for Rico and Kade Atwood, who had previously worked together in sketch comedy. Atwood emphasized that their shared history allowed for a seamless “yes-and” approach to filmmaking.
“I think we both just align really well in like what we’re trying to achieve with each scene, which allows us to then like just collaborate really well and like work towards the same goal.” — Kade Atwood
Authentic Friendships & “Fran-Spreading”
One of the most praised aspects of the film is the genuine friendship between Edie and Francis. The cast was drawn to the script because it avoided the typical tropes of teenage girls competing with one another. Tuckett even found herself physically transforming into the character before she even stepped on set.
“While we were filming, Francis would always sit like this, like a bro, like knees spread. And we called it her Fran spread… while I was reading [the script] out loud, my body language started to just like sink in.” — McKenna Tuckett
The filmmakers were shocked by how much the actors’ instincts matched their original vision. Rico shared a moment where the storyboards and reality perfectly aligned without a single word of direction.
“In that storyboard, we had drawn Francis specifically sitting like this. We didn’t show these storyboards to Addie or McKenna or truly like any of the actors. And McKenna just like took that position. And Kate and I were like, Oh my God, it’s happening.” — Megan Rico
Madden Cabrera echoed the sentiment that the writing felt refreshing and grounded in reality.
“The writing is so good… it’s refreshing because it feels really genuine and also like, age appropriate. So I loved the writing. That was another big pull for me.” — Adi Madden Cabrera
Edie Arnold Is A Loser is a testament to the power of friendship and the courage it takes to be uncool. Be sure to watch our full interview for more behind-the-scenes details.
About Edie Arnold Is A Loser
Timid Catholic school dork Edie Arnold is dragged to a punk show where a mishap lands her on stage behind the drums. She’s mortified… but a natural. Convinced by her best friend, she secretly forms a band called The NunDead. Her newfound confidence leads to a date with the altar boy but also a fight that gets her suspended.
Thinking she bailed on their first gig, her bandmates bust her out of the house just in time to win a Battle of the Bands. But when she faces expulsion and her mother’s wrath at a disciplinary hearing, footage of her kick-ass performance has an unexpected effect on her mom.
Edie Arnold Is A Loser celebrated its world premiere at SXSW on March 13, 2026.
