feature | drama | 2024
Ian’s first feature-length film is a modern cautionary tale starring Actor Awards nominee Patrick Fabian, who played Howard Hamlin for six seasons of the Peabody Award-winning series Better Call Saul. In The Way We Speak, Fabian plays an up-and-coming writer who refuses to leave the spotlight at a prestigious thought leader summit when his best friend and debate opponent suffers cardiac arrest, leading to a rift with the writer’s ailing wife and an obsession over his new opponent—a bestselling author. Diana Coconubo, Kailey Rhodes, Ayanna Berkshire, Lowell Deo, Ricco DiStefano, and Reed Diamond round out the ensemble cast.
The film is lensed by Director of Photography A.J. Marson (Iris) and reunites Ian with Sound Designer Brendan J. Hogan (SXSW award-winning feature Prospect), VFX Artist Luke Swain, and Composer Billow Observatory—comprised of Denmark’s Jonas Munk (Manual) and Detroit’s Jason Kolb (Auburn Lull). Long-time Francis Ford Coppola collaborator Robert Schafer edited The Way We Speak; Schafer’s credits include Apocalypse Now Final Cut and Megalopolis.
The Way We Speak had its world premiere at the 2024 Florida Film Festival as one of 10 narrative features selected for their American Independent Competition. The film won awards including Best Director at the 2026 Liverpool Film Festival, Outstanding Writer of a Narrative Feature at the 2024 Anchorage International Film Festival, and Best Actor at the 2024 Albuquerque Film & Music Experience. The Way We Speak is available to stream in the U.S. and Canada—and on Emirates Airlines.
“A rich character study.” -Morgan Rojas, CINEMACY
“A career-defining role for Patrick Fabian.” -Anne Campbell, FILM GATE REVIEWS
“Undeniably fascinating…the type of dialogue-driven feature that would make screenwriter Aaron Sorkin beam with pride.” -Peter Gray, THE AU REVIEW
“Patrick Fabian’s knife-edge performance…a stellar, memorable, even risky piece of work. Diana Coconubo, Kailey Rhodes, and Ayanna Berkshire make a spectacular ensemble.” -Anne Brodie, WHAT SHE SAID
The Way We Speak – Official Trailer: