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Dustin Guy Defa: No. This never happened.You structured the film as a series of flashbacks. Why add that extra layer, instead of just telling it in the present?
The storytelling device is based on my friend Bene, who plays the lead. I love to hear Bene tell stories. The way he tells them is so cinematic.Bene is actually played by your real-life friend Bene Coopersmith. Was he always the guy who was going to play this role?
I wrote the film for Bene. We've known each other for about six years, and during the last four or so I've been trying to understand how to write for him. This was the breakthrough.Bene's character is so real. He comes off so natural, with his little quirks and Brooklynisms. How much did he bring to the role through improvisation and how much was written?
I wrote the film so Bene could essentially play himself, which he does for the most part, though he wouldn't necessarily act the same way in this situation. We adjusted some stuff during rehearsal. But for the most part, it was completely written before that. The first few minutes in the record shop, before the story really kicks in, is improvised with Bene's friends. Bene is a natural character in real life—he is so vibrant and unique. What became exciting was realizing that he could memorize his lines and then not only deliver them as himself, but in accordance with what was happening in the film. This makes him not a non-actor, but a true actor. He can believe in the scenes, and that's what matters. And to me, Bene is New York.What are you working on now?
I'm working on my feature, an ensemble film also set in New York with similar vibes as this one. Bene is one of the main characters.Jeffrey Bowers is a tall mustached guy from Ohio who's seen too many weird movies. He currently lives in Brooklyn, working as a film curator. He's the Senior Curator for Vimeo's On Demand platform. He has also programmed at Tribeca Film Festival, Rooftop Films, and the Hamptons International Film Festival.