new week, tighter cut
This is a pretty exciting part of the process: finally sculpting the excess from the film to shape the final cut. I lifted nearly 15 minutes this week, bringing the run time to 82. It plays incredibly!!
The feedback we’ve accumulated through the IFP Lab and the test screenings we’ve held have led us to trim back on exposition in favor of the quiet moments - the spaces between plot where the characters simply exist in their world as it is reshaped by their parents’ actions. Act Two really moves and packs a nice emotional punch. I lifted 5 scenes from Act One. The crazy thing about making a movie with such a talented and raw cast is how their faces communicate in a moment what my script said in ten pages.
This week I am focusing on two major band sequences. The first is at the end of Act Two as we progress through the Fall - an important time for Mummer’s in South Philadelphia as they prepare for the parade. Mark Doyle and I went to South Philly Stringband practices twice a week for three months to shoot 50 hours of documentary footage for this four-minute scene - often with the actors. Mummery is one of the oldest folk traditions in the country and it’s never been captured in this much detail. This is all thanks to the South Philadelphia String Band who welcomed us into their ranks during their busiest season. That kind of relationship, and the moments it produces, are my favorite part of filmmaking.
The second sequence I’m working to shape is the parade that closes the film. The function of the parade has shifted from the screenplay in a really nice way. The significance of the event, to the family, their band, and the city, are all so clear that many of the plot pieces could be shaved away. The trick is to best capture the idea of tradition, which is much more universal than Mummery - it’s our way to hold on the the past and to share a connection with people that are no longer here. If I can have that be both subtle and clear, the film will be a success!!
Meanwhile, some FREAKIN’ AMAZING phone calls came in this week. I can’t say too much just yet, but stay tuned for cool news…. : )
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Exciting news! Can’t wait to see it. The stills look great. What do you have in mind for score? Still thinking along the lines of Elliott Smith?