Writers Digest has up a solid interview with Tom Perrotta, the author of Little Children, in which he talks about his writing process, as well as his adaptation of The Abstinence Teacher, which he’s working on for Little Miss Sunshine co-directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Ferris.

Also, surprising exactly no one in the know, the New York Times is reporting that when The Darjeeling Limited, which opened in about 200 theaters in late September, expands nationwide this Friday,
moviegoers will first see a short film, Hotel Chevalier, which distributor Fox Searchlight hopes will boost ticket sales. The thematically linked piece, starring Jason Schwartzman and Natalie Portman, is available online, and was originally not going to be shown with the film. At the movie’s press day in Los Angeles a couple weeks ago, though, director Wes Anderson admitted that it would be pegged to later prints of the movie.

And finally, it’s happy birthday wishes today to Ryan Reynolds and Ang Lee, who turn 31 and 53, respectively.