Chris Rock described Los Angeles as a city with "very wonky priorities" and a "crazy dichotomy" of extreme wealth alongside homelessness during a Variety cover story interview published Tuesday.

The comedian and filmmaker sat down to promote "Misty Green," his first directorial effort in 12 years. The A24 comedy-drama follows a once-successful actress struggling to maintain her lifestyle after her career stalls. Rosalind Eleazar stars as the title character, with supporting turns from Adam Driver, Daniel Kaluuya, Anna Kendrick, Topher Grace, and Rock himself.

Rock tied the film's themes directly to life in Los Angeles. "The movie is about Misty Green, but a lot of it's about L.A.," he said. "L.A. has got very wonky priorities. There's a real estate office on the same street as The Ivy on Robertson, and in the window, there are houses for $30-$40 million. But there's a homeless guy sleeping right outside. The movie is about that crazy dichotomy."

"Misty Green" will have its world premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival on Saturday as part of the Gala Presentations section. The festival runs through September 20. A24 plans a theatrical release in the United States on October 9.

The project marks Rock's return behind the camera after 2014's "Top Five." Production took place in Los Angeles on a modest budget of roughly $5 million. Rock noted challenges in assembling the cast at scale pay rates and said he personally persuaded Kaluuya, who had stepped back from acting, to join the project.

The interview touched on Rock's approach to directing, which he described as heavily focused on casting strong performers. He expressed hope that attention for the film centers on Eleazar's lead performance rather than his own past experiences.