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"   Photo: Getty Images  If you spotted a blotchy face and smudged mascara around Park City this week, it was safe to assume that a screening of The End of Love had probably just let out. The film stars Mark Webber, who also wrote the screenplay and directed, as a struggling actor trying to raise his two-year-old son after the death of his wife. Inspired by his split with actress Frankie Shaw and featuring their real-life three-year-old son, the film is only semi-autobiographical; not only is Shaw alive and well, but she too appears in the film. But End of Love is not the only reason that Webber&amp;#039;s name has become ubiquitous around the festival. The actor appears in two other feature films this week: Save the Date with Allison Brie and Lizzy Caplan; and For a Good Time, Call... with Ari Graynor and Lauren Ann Miller. And though all have been well received, it&amp;#039;s Webber&amp;#039;s directorial entry into the competition that has Sundance audiences buzzing. Amidst a hectic schedule of promoting three films within three days, Webber took a few minutes to talk to Elle.com. ELLE: How did the idea for The End of Love come about?MW: As a director and actor, I really like to strip everything away. I wanted to create the ultimate environment for myself to give the best performance that I could give. Also, I had recently become a dad and I was at the end of this relationship with the mother so it became about writing about the death of this relationship. I&amp;#039;m fascinated with relationships in general and how people act when they&amp;#039;re most vulnerable. ELLE: Was it difficult drawing on such personal experiences?MW: Only in a good way. When you put yourself out there I think you&amp;#039;re able to get rid of that awareness that actors have sometimes\u2014that consciousness that you can see. Then audiences are able to connect with your character better because they&amp;#039;re seeing real emotions. As an artist, I kind of get off on that. Also, it&amp;#039;s not really me. This guy is in a much darker place. ELLE: Had you always intended to write, direct and star in it?MW: I did. That was the intention from the beginning. My first film [Explicit Ills] I just directed and didn&amp;#039;t act in it. This time I really wanted to create an opportunity for myself. ELLE: First time you came to Sundance was in 2002 for Todd Solondz&amp;#039; Storytelling. Does it feel different this time around?MW: This time is totally different. I&amp;#039;ve only been here as an actor and never as a filmmaker. As a filmmaker, it&amp;#039;s what you want to be here as. You&amp;#039;re engaging with people and talking about your work\u2014something that you created\u2014so there&amp;#039;s more of a responsibility. I really like that. "^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/news/a8189/mark-webber-the-prince-of-sundance-36137/>