| The New York Optimist July 2008, Vol. 01: Issue 01 |
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| THE BIG SHOT-CALLER: An uplifting and inspiring NYC story about a lonely outsider who rediscovers his self-esteem through Salsa dancing. NYC Premiere - HBO NY LATINO FILM FESTIVAL Friday July 25th 10:30pm and Sunday July 27th 6:30pm at the Fordham Univ Theater 113 W. 60th St. b/n 9th and 10th Ave. |
Indiewire.com review:
Fed up with the world of music videos--where an artist's look outweighs the director's vision--Marlene Rhein ditched the bling and Cristal and
turned her attention to writing a feature script. Using her brother as inspiration, Rhein recently wrapped on the project, which she describes as
"the most amazing thing she's ever experienced."
"The Big Shot Caller" follows Jamie who is heartbroken when his girlfriend breaks up with him and for guidance turns to his sister (played by
Rhein) who encourages him to pursue his love of salsa dancing to get over the girl. Rhein cast her real-life brother, David in the lead, who suffers
from the eye condition Nystagmus (born without irises). "I was trying to make this other film and it never came through so I said fuck it I'm just
going to write this other thing," Rhein recalls. "I thought of my brother, who's this shy, insecure person, but is the most amazing salsa dancer I've
ever seen, so it's kind of based on a true story about him."
After getting financing from private investors, Rhein shot around New York in June, but filming was anything but easy. Rhein remembers one
time being shut down from a location because the building manager thought they were shooting some other type of film. "My character wears a lot
of wigs and thinks she's some hip hop queen so he thought we were shooting a porn," she says. "He shut us down but we reshot the scene
somewhere else and it turned out so much better. That's the point of the movie, there's a reason everything happens."
Her tenacity also got her a few hours to shoot a key scene at the Sheraton Hotel on 7th Avenue, which meant a lot to her as she wrote most of the
film in the hotel's bar. "This kind of thing kept happening," she says. "We would get these incredible locations by just talking to people heart to
heart."
Shot on HD by Paolo Cascio, the film is currently being edited by Christine Giorgio, who's also the producer.
Source: www.indiewire.com
Fed up with the world of music videos--where an artist's look outweighs the director's vision--Marlene Rhein ditched the bling and Cristal and
turned her attention to writing a feature script. Using her brother as inspiration, Rhein recently wrapped on the project, which she describes as
"the most amazing thing she's ever experienced."
"The Big Shot Caller" follows Jamie who is heartbroken when his girlfriend breaks up with him and for guidance turns to his sister (played by
Rhein) who encourages him to pursue his love of salsa dancing to get over the girl. Rhein cast her real-life brother, David in the lead, who suffers
from the eye condition Nystagmus (born without irises). "I was trying to make this other film and it never came through so I said fuck it I'm just
going to write this other thing," Rhein recalls. "I thought of my brother, who's this shy, insecure person, but is the most amazing salsa dancer I've
ever seen, so it's kind of based on a true story about him."
After getting financing from private investors, Rhein shot around New York in June, but filming was anything but easy. Rhein remembers one
time being shut down from a location because the building manager thought they were shooting some other type of film. "My character wears a lot
of wigs and thinks she's some hip hop queen so he thought we were shooting a porn," she says. "He shut us down but we reshot the scene
somewhere else and it turned out so much better. That's the point of the movie, there's a reason everything happens."
Her tenacity also got her a few hours to shoot a key scene at the Sheraton Hotel on 7th Avenue, which meant a lot to her as she wrote most of the
film in the hotel's bar. "This kind of thing kept happening," she says. "We would get these incredible locations by just talking to people heart to
heart."
Shot on HD by Paolo Cascio, the film is currently being edited by Christine Giorgio, who's also the producer.
Source: www.indiewire.com
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| ‘THE BIG SHOT-CALLER’ A Marlene Rhein Film (FILM ID # 8138) VISIONARY STATEMENT After directing over fifty music videos (including 2Pac Shakur’s last and Amy Winehouse’s ‘F-Me Pumps’), I had spent a lot of time in Hollywood trying to get a movie made. Not having a lot of luck, I returned home to New York City. What happened was a detour of life. One that happens by fate. One that teaches you that no matter how hard you try to make things happen ‘out there,’ the only way forward is to face what is within. I learned heartbreaking lesson after heartbreaking lesson until I had no choice to but to share it with the world the only way I know how - to make a movie about it. I put pen to paper - but something was missing. Then, my younger brother, who was born with a rare eye condition that severely limits his vision, called me from abroad where he was studying - dejected and depressed. He had followed by previous advice to overcome his loneliness by going to a club to do what he loved most; dance salsa. But, this night (as had happened before) he had been denied entry by the bouncer who looked at his eyes and deemed him to be ‘on drugs.’ The usual speech I would give my brother about believing in himself and making himself happy would no longer work. He had a vision handicap that I would never understand. His pain affected me…until my screenplay was no longer a screenplay. It was destiny. I called my brother back and asked him if it was okay if I made him a movie star, and if we could show the world what it was like to be him and find strength within. Six months later, I was shouting ‘Action,’ my brother was on fire with purpose, and I was living my dream. Making the film was not easy, and miracle after miracle occurred to bring this vision to fruition. It is my hope that this simple brother sister story reaches millions of people who need to have a little more faith in themselves. THE BIG SHOT-CALLER speaks the message - sometimes you have to break down to break through. It is about following your heart’s dream to find self-acceptance. It is a very personal story, one in which I had to reach into the darkness of my own human journey in order to encourage everyone who watches to find the light within themselves. I believe this is in line with Heartland’s mission - and I hope you wish to include it in your unique festival of beautiful and uplifting values on screen. |