Tommy Dorfman is broadening her artistic scope by stepping into the world of film direction.

At the New York premiere of her first directorial venture, “I Wish You All the Best,” held at the IPIC Theater and Club Bohemia at Gitano, Dorfman, 33, shared her aspirations for the film with Us Weekly on Monday, October 27. She expressed a desire for audiences to experience the film as a comforting embrace.

Reflecting on her own experiences, Dorfman remarked, “Growing up, I didn’t have the advantage of social media to form a trans community. Today, while there’s more access to such communities, I still had never seen a nonbinary character at the core of a cinematic story like this.” Her goal is for viewers to effortlessly connect with the film’s protagonist, Ben, without having to force themselves to relate to cisgender characters. Dorfman hopes audiences can simply relax and enjoy the journey presented in the story.

The film, slated for a limited theatrical release on Friday, November 7, adapts Mason Deaver’s 2019 novel of the same name. It chronicles the life of Ben (played by Corey Fogelmanis), a nonbinary teenager who is cast out of their home after coming out to their parents. Ben finds refuge with their older sister, Hannah (Alexandra Daddario), and her husband, Thomas (Cole Sprouse), embarking on a voyage of self-exploration and the forging of new relationships.

In her memoir, “Maybe This Will Save Me,” Tommy Dorfman reflects on her brief romance with her “13 Reasons Why” co-star Brandon Flynn. She recounts an early cast gathering at Flynn’s San Francisco residence, where the Netflix series was filmed. As Dorfman stepped out onto the balcony for a cigarette, she recalls the budding connection among the cast members during those initial nights.

The 13 Reasons Why alum said she was immediately hooked by the book.

“I was obsessed with Mason’s book and the characters in it really spoke to me in a way that I couldn’t have ever imagined like a teen book would when I was 27,” Dorfman said. “I think I was just reliving high school as this nonbinary kid finding themselves and falling in love and having that much information about who they were and confidence about that, just needing the right people to support it.”

The photographer and writer told Us she had previously written other screenplays, but there was something crucial about this story needing to be told.

“This felt like the one that was most urgent and most pressing to tell, so I just immediately after optioning the book went right to the page,” Dorfman said. “[I] wrote 20 drafts, spent years developing it and then on the side of directing it, it wasn’t something that I had initially thought anyone would let me do, but as I was writing it, it became very clear that maybe I was the only person who should. I think there’s a lot of similarities between Ben and I. I grew up in the South as a trans kid, and I just had a really clear vision for it that I think was real enough on the page that they let me get behind the camera. And now I’m directing my second film, so that’s cool. I start shooting on Thursday.”

Tommy Dorfman did not hold back about the low wage she received for season 1 of 13 Reasons Why — even as the series turned into a cultural phenomenon. “My earnings for the entire first season of 13 reasons why were $29,953.24 prior to agency and manager fees (20%) and taxes. 8 episodes over six […]

Despite the film being shot years ago, Dorfman says it’s more relevant now than ever.

“I think a movie like this couldn’t be more valuable and more prescient than the time we are living in. We are really on the tipping point of what feels to me like a major terrifying pit that we will all get lost in if we don’t act soon and act now and find more compassion and love and support for each other,” Dorfman said. “So I feel really, really grateful that this movie is coming out even though the world right now is so dark and terrifying, I think people need a movie like this, they need a hug like this more than anything else right now. And yeah, my hope is that it does shift hearts and souls and minds, and it’s also just a really good movie to watch with your family and your friends. It’s like a good time.”