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THE JOURNEY |
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ABOUT SPEED FOR THESPIANS |
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At 29 minutes long, "Speed For Thespians" barely makes the cut-off for
a "short" film. Rather, it’s a "featurette!" Long enough to explore
the complexities of a human relationship and short enough to be a
financially viable option for a first-time filmmaker like Kalman Apple,
screenwriter and director of the project. This fast but impactful
featurette was shot in six days on board an out-of-service New York City
bus, traversing Central Park West. As is the case with true guerilla
filmmakers, "Speed For Thespians" was a fly-by-the-seat-of-your-pants
production where a bus served as the set and Kalman’s apartment served
as the production office. "Each morning at 5:00am I had 25-30
production people in my apartment looking for coffee and bagels,"
Kalman recalls. |
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Lunch was eaten with the pigeons in Central Park and, during the
long days, the bus not only served as the set, but the mobile production
office as well. With the exception of an occasional pit stop at Kalman’s
place, the cast and crew braved bouncing and creaking of the bus for the
entire shoot, including an all-night vigil of crossedfingers and complaining
when the bus broke down. One day short on extras, The production team went
around solicitingpassersby to get on the bus and be in the film. Not
surprisingly, a lotof New Yorkers eagerly took them up on their offer
and made their acting debuts. |
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Speed For Thespians" is adapted from Chekhov’s little known
one-act play "The Bear." However, it’s a bit like the case of "which
came first, the chicken or the egg?" because Kalman had jotted down the
genesis of"Speed For Thespians" on a 3x5 card and stuck it in his file
years before he read the play. The card read: A director and a small
theatrecompany perform a play on an in-service NYC bus. He titled the
card "Speed For Thespians" but it wasn’t until he read "The Bear" that
the idea fully hatched. Chekhov’s "The Bear" is a tongue-in-cheek
story oflove and betrayal that takes place in one room. Kalman’s long
lost 3 X 5 finally found a home. One room. One bus. A couple of actors.
Great dialogue. A low budget. A perfect match. |
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Casting was a challenge. After all, it’s Chekhov. Jared Harris, son of
actor Richard Harris, was slated for the lead but had to back out at the
last minute. Still enthused about the project, he told his brother Jamie.
Next thing you know, Jamie’s agent is calling the casting director, a meeting
is set and Jamie is bowling everyone over with an incredible performance.
The heat between Jamie and lead actress CamillaEnders was akin to Henry
Higgins and Liza Dolittle, so the two leads were set. |
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Veteran stage and film actor, Denis Holmes, came on board to round out the
cast of three, even though his agent didn’t think he’d do it. "I’m an actor,"
says Holmes. "I don’t care if it’s on a bus or the backlot-- if the
material’s good, I’m interested." So there’s the story of "Speed For
Thespians," a quick and comical ride through the relationship of two
star-crossed lovers. The commute will never be the same. |
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Festival Circuit
- Speed For Thespians made it’s debut in Los Angeles in
June 2000 at Dances With Films, winning the Jury Prize for Best Short
Honorable Mention.
- It then went on to win Best Short at the StonyBrook Film Festival New
York, in July.
- It has been official selection of the Shorts International Film
Festival in New York City, The Kansas City Filmmakers Jubilee, the
Bermuda Intl. Film Festival, the 50th Melbourne Intl. Film Festival,
and The Palm Springs Intl. Festival of Short Films.
- In September 2001 it was awarded the Jury prize Best Short film at
the Long Beach Intl. Film Festival, Ca..
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