Journalist Jessica Pressler’s dazzling story of Anna Delvey, an aspiring “It” girl who duped New York City by dropping names, dreaming big and throwing around $100 bills, is getting “a lot of interest” from Hollywood, Pressler told TheWrap.
We reached out to Pressler because three paragraphs into reading her New York Magazine piece, we were already wondering who would get the movie rights.
We talk about the reasons why in our latest “Shoot This Now” podcast, which you can listen to on Apple or Spotify or here:
Pressler’s story recounts how Anna befriended Neffatari “Neff” Davis, a hotel concierge and filmmaker, and took her on a spiraling journey through New York’s money-and-bluffing-based caste system.
We wrote to Neff to see if she’s received any Hollywood interest.
“SO MANY HOLLYWOOD PEOPLE ARE FINDING ME,” she responded.
If you’re reading this, Hollywood people, Neff is a filmmaker as well as a former concierge. And she’s available to help tell the story.
“I would love to be a part of the filmmaking process — even if it’s behind the scenes and casting etc.” she told us. “Everyone, and I mean everyone, has hinted I should make the movie.”
The story begins with Anna, a young mystery woman with a trace of a German accent, asking Neff, a concierge at the New York boutique hotel 11 Howard, for restaurant advice — and then tipping her a $100. Soon Anna looped Neff into her plan to create a luxury SoHo House-style arts club on Park Avenue.
The tale includes cameos from the likes of Macaulay Culkin, “pharma bro” Martin Shkreli, real estate tycoon Aby Rosen, and a trainer-to-the-stars whose clients include Dakota Johnson.
“I want people to know my friend Anna is amazing — she’s smart, caring and never once told me or clued me in on her scandal,” Neff told us. “Her story would be from a concierge view if I’m involved — I only told NY Mag a tiny bit of our friendship. I’m a very smart girl.”
That “scandal” Neff referred to is the reason the whole affair unraveled. We aren’t giving away the story’s ending, but recommend you check out Pressler’s story… or wait for the movie.