May 3, 2021 • 26 mins
A brilliant cast come together for a film that explores societal pressures of millennial culture in "Taking the Fall" which is available on Apple TV and Amazon.
Writer/Producer Steven Hellmann's first film tells the story of recently released Tyler, who was serving six years in jail for procession of marijuana. He is soon welcomed back by his old college friends, who have changed quite a bit from the ambitious students he once knew.
The film has found critical acclaim on the festival circuit and won the Audience Award at the Charlotte Film Festival.
We talked to Hellmann about producing the film with a very short schedule, the incredible cast, and some tales from the set.
Writer/Producer Steven Hellmann's first film tells the story of recently released Tyler, who was serving six years in jail for procession of marijuana. He is soon welcomed back by his old college friends, who have changed quite a bit from the ambitious students he once knew.
The film has found critical acclaim on the festival circuit and won the Audience Award at the Charlotte Film Festival.
We talked to Hellmann about producing the film with a very short schedule, the incredible cast, and some tales from the set.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Hey, what's up. This isSeth Green and you are listening to Somewhere
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(02:15):
My guest at this time really iskind of kind of, you know,
put his foot in the you know, he putting pretty much broke down
the door. Actually in terms offilmmaking. He has his first film out,
it's called Taking the Fall, andyou know, it's very interesting to
kind of go in in the directionof self financing and really trying to get
(02:36):
your name out there as well.And he's done a really great job,
especially with the cast he's gotten andall the all the all the awards awards
he's been getting, especially the CharlotteCharlotte Film Festival where he's gotten some of
the top awards as well. We'vegot Stephen Hellman on with us right now.
How you doing, Stephen. I'mdoing great, Mark, Thank thank
you for having me. Thank youfor the warm introduction. No problem at
(03:00):
all. And you know, Ihaven't had a chance to watch the movie
yet, but obviously a lot ofa lot of critical critical success in terms
of that as well. How howwas it for you, especially that first
festival audience, to be able tobe able to watch it and kind of
get their you know, kind ofgauge their gauge their reaction to the movie.
Yeah, you know, it wasan interesting sort of UM landscape with
(03:23):
the festivals because our first one wasUM in February twenty and twenty at the
at the how at the Chinese Theaterin Hollywood, and there was people there
UM and then everything sort of wentand it was great. It was awesome
obviously seeing my first film on aon a huge screen, and then it
went all to digital with COVID andso too, you know, especially in
(03:45):
the Charlotte Film Festival, to winawards and just sort of see you know,
reaching a probably a broader audience thanwe would have because of being on
digital. To see that sort ofsuccess and you know, people really starting
to kind of understand the the sortof message I was trying to send,
but allowing you know, interpreting ittheir own way, and just seeing how
it was resonating with people. UMwas was really cool. It was really
(04:08):
cool to see UM and it's soit's been such a you know, fun
experience for me, especially now thatit's out that seeing how people react to
it in different ways and and youknow making it. You know, is
it a film about just going foryour dreams? Is it you know about
a guy reacclaimedia society. I thinkit's a lot of things. So it's
fun to let people kind of takewhat they want from it as opposed to
(04:28):
us sort of this is what it'sabout, you know. So that's that's
pretty cool. Why the decision forthis particular script to to be able to
uh, to be able to dofor your first film, I mean,
was there obviously, you know,I'm a writer. I have a kind
of ships, you know, inmy back pocket, but you know,
trying to decide what the first filmis, you know that you're really trying
(04:49):
to finance what was kind of yourthought process and that you know, I
wanted to really do something that Ifelt represented my you know, as a
working you know millennium. I thinkanyone going through there, you know,
their twenties and you know into latetwenties in the early thirties is scene how
much change? And so this,this story to me was just really about
(05:13):
you know, how a lot ofpeople and that I've grown up with and
just in general, how I've alwaysfelt like, you know, people we
kind of take things for granted.I think a lot of us are realizing
that now just everyday life, asCOVID has kind of stripped away a lot
of our normal everyday freedom. SoI just felt like this story was to
(05:34):
tell people like, hey, wehave it so much better than we probably
think we have now. Not everyone, but it just was a really important
message for me, that something thatI've always felt like, why why are
we spending all this time and energycomplaining on things when you know, if
you have a job you don't reallylike, most of us have sort of
the opportit, the power to quitit. If you're in a bad relationship
(05:55):
with someone, we have the abilityto do that. And it just felt
like a really important thing to methat I just I just really needed it
to be said. So hopefully,you know, obviously I when I continue
making films, but this just feltlike this, this is a story that
hey, if I ever get onecrack at this, this is this is
the story that I really needed totell for myself, and I think people
needed to hear. Yeah, youknow, I mean it's it's a character
(06:17):
study basically, and and how peopleperceive it. I mean, we have
the main character who just you know, was was basically as society for six
years, and you just think abouthow much has changed in those six years
coming out. And it's also it'salso looking a little bit about you know,
(06:38):
when you get out of college,you know, things change, you
know, things, things direction cames, you know. I mean, you're
you're so ambitious going into into collegeand and be wanted to take over the
world. And this movie is asituation where he comes he comes out of
prison and sees that, you know, it's it's not I guess there's no
(07:00):
you know that that. I don'tknow how to explain it. The the
idea of wanting to conquer that mountainhas kind of fell to the wayside because
there's other things to do. Imean, you know, how's it.
How's it? You know, how'sit with the relationship between the characters,
and especially especially the main character.Yeah, you know, to me,
(07:25):
it's with that main character, it'slike, you go, he missed that
whole six years of after college becauseyou go into college you're expecting, this
is a line of movie. Yougo to college with a major, expecting
you're going to get a job inthat major. So to miss those six
years where you're going through growing painsand maybe doing internships or things that you
want to do. A lot ofthings in life just sort of happened,
(07:47):
and I think a lot of peopleand a lot of people get side course
for various different reasons, but it'sdefinitely that almost sort of that illusions of
grander that I think college sort ofsells you where it's like you can be
anything you want to be and asyou and it's great to get an education,
and you know, anyone that shouldobviously like that's that's awesome. I
(08:09):
know some people don't have those opportunities, but it can be really frustrating.
Where you come into college was sucha like oh, I'm gonna do all
this, and then this guy comesout of jail and he sees all his
friends are where most people are sortof in that kind of brought up like
I don't like my job, Idon't like that. But if you're just
being reacclimated into this, you're gonnabe like, what what's going on?
(08:31):
Guys? Like why are you?Why are you complaining? When I was
just in prison this entire time.So to me, it was about those
growing pains that your college. Butit's really like to me, it always
feels like a film about perspective andlike an appreciation for what we have and
what we can't control, because there'sa lot of things we can't but there
are things we can. Yeah,you know, I mean that's great.
I mean, talk a little bitabout the cast. Obviously you got some
(08:54):
really solid, solid actors to bea part of this cast. Kind of
tell me a little bit about thatthat that process of of getting these actors
involved. Yeah, so that that, you know, working with the director
and the other producer on the film, we we did a bunch of casting
calls and we were able to kindof go through, like we had so
many submissions for all the all thecharacters minus the lead Monroe Chambers, who
(09:18):
I'll get back to that, Butwe had all these auditions, so we
kind of looked through and we invitedpeople to do casting. But to get
this the actors that we did,you know, to get you know,
Roland, both Katie Gill and therest of the supporting cast, they all
did their did their read throughs,they ran them, you know, read
the lines, and they just nailedit. And I had these these characters
sort of in my head and Ican't imagine, you know, for my
(09:39):
for my first film, to getsuch a talented, you know, group
of actors that were really going tocarry this you know, sort of entire
film was the dialogue and the storyand the acting. So to have someone
like Monroe Chambers, who has justbeen in a bunch of things, it's
just a pro and he gets itwas was so cool because I just envisioned
the character as sort of being thiskind of gritty, gritty, kind of
(10:01):
small guy, you know, thelead tyler. So to to get him
where the director he he once wefell out the rest of the cast,
he said, oh, like,these are the guys we can get for
the role. And the first namehe said was Monroe Chambers and I just
like stopped listening to them. Iwas like, that's the guy who I
totally want for the film. Soit was really cool, you know,
to work with with such talented actors. And you know, Roman buck Is
(10:22):
he's currently filming the next like ParamanormalActivity, so he's he's sort of going
kind of you know, he's beengoing up. He's a regular in Chicago
and bed So it's just really coolto get such a such a talented cast
and they all they all really steppedup and just did a great job.
Talk about you know, working withthe director. I mean, was that,
um, you know, how howwas it for you to work with
(10:46):
the director? It was great Joshand then the r DP and also other
producer Chris, like they were youknow, this was such a collaborative process.
I wasn't going to be super tightabout my my script and just oh
the lines need to be read thisway. And it was a very good,
you know, just team effort tomake the script the best that we
(11:07):
could make the story, you know, make it come out the best.
So working with Josh and alongside theactors where I was kind of I would
I would call myself assistant directing wherewe would say to him like, hey,
these are the lines, these arethe points you need to get across,
um, and you know, youwant to see some different way to
do it. And I think havingthat sort of flexibility in camaraderie where there
wasn't you know, because this wasall sort of a newer experience for us.
(11:31):
It was so it was so collaborative. There weren't there weren't those big
egos where people are are I wantto get my idea across as and I
need my stamp on it. Andas a writer, you know, maybe
I could have done that, butI didn't want to do that. I
wanted it just to make the bestmovie that we could. And I think
that that everyone was really on pagefor that because we you know, I
(11:52):
think we we did a great job, especially given that you know, by
finances to myself and that we wereall just you know, coming together and
kind of this is the first timewe kind of all did this. Yeah,
so many people have have big egosin terms of you know, what
they want to convey and all thatas well, and really, to tell
you the truth, just going intoa movie should be a team setting where
(12:15):
you know, you want to bringthe best product in. So it's great
to be able to see all theactors and all the all the all the
crew get along very very very verywell. Um where was it shot?
By the way, it was shotin Los Angeles, So we just we
rented, um you know, it'sit's mostly a single location, uh drama.
So it's all pretty much shot inthis house. So we rented the
(12:37):
airbnb that basically fit the script thatwe wanted, had had the settings that
we sort of wanted. And youknow, we filmed in Los Angeles,
which is a little difficult. I'mnot gonna lie just to the film permits
and all the restrictions. You know, we we were just at a house
and we had to do so muchpaperwork. So they really do not make
filming in Los Angeles an easy thing. And we just we were just at
(13:00):
a house that we rented, likeso it was wasn't it was tough.
Now I hear so many filmmakers wantingto get out of California and turn filmmaking.
I mean, well there was Atlantawas a hotbed. Now it looks
like that's going to be changing forquite a bit. I've talked to UM
Toronto has been doing a very goodjob, and as well as Vancouver in
(13:22):
terms of it as well. SoI'm really looking forward to maybe maybe seeing
other things. I think Austin maybestarting to be the next up, I
think, but even out here inVegas, I think it's you know,
I mean with the film office outhere has been very it's it's usually very
very um, very gracious to beable to be able to work with.
So yeah, it'll be interesting andkind of interesting to see where everything kind
(13:43):
of goes goes from here. Ithink things in California might be changing a
little bit. I think there they'rekind of fed up with Newsom right now,
so they're getting rid of him.So yeah, so yeah, hopefully,
hopey it'll bring some work back backin there. Maybe it'll be a
less of a less So it hasto be able to work in in LA
and you know, any anytime soon. But yeah, but I think it's
(14:05):
great that that film is gonna beshot sort of anywhere, because I moved
out to LA into Death sixteen andI just kind of thought, oh,
this is where I have to beto do this, and you really don't.
I mean, I mean, Imet a lot of great people,
which is helping with this path.But I think I think it's awesome that
I know people are filming all overthe place, and you know, you
go to place all of America,Oh you need a bar to shoot him?
(14:26):
Here you go, no problem.So I think that that it's going
to continue to you know, sortof branch out everywhere and there will be
these these hotbeds. But it's reallycool to see that that narrative is changing
where it's like, oh, youhave to be in one place to film
and you don't anymore, so it'spretty cool. Yeah, you know,
I mean I've I've shot both myfilms actually up in Montana, my home,
my home state, and um,you know, people were always so
(14:50):
gracious to be able to to setlocations that as well. I mean it's
yeah, I mean, you know, I I like it a lot as
as well. Now, how longdid it and how long did you guys
shoot for? Okay, so wefilmed ninety seven pages of script in eight
days? Wow? Yeah, soum that that is the beauty of pretty
(15:15):
much one one location. But itwas just non stop you know, running,
running the scenes, getting the coveragefrom all different angles. So it
was you know, the crew andcasting everyone did just such a great job.
I mean, that is an insanepace that we had, and so
it really takes a lot of youknow, hats off to the whole the
whole crew for for making that happen. I mean I was running around doing
(15:37):
a lot of a lot of differentthings as well on set, and everyone
was just kind of contributing. Butto to pull that off, and yeah,
I you know, I haven't reallysaid that's to too many people just
because I you know, you wantpeople to kind of see what, you
know, just what the film is. But it's it's pretty crazy that we
were able to do it. Yeah, you know, I mean some people
(16:00):
might realize, well, you know, oh you they only had one location,
while you know, you know thatthat helped a lot, but you
know, obviously setting up a camerain different different spots, in different locations,
and to be able to to doso many takes, you know,
it's that's that's that that takes.You know, that takes a lot of
coordination. Yeah, And I thinkand and it really is a testament to
(16:23):
the director at DP, and Ithink more importantly, the actors were just
we're just so prepared. I meanthere's very you know, very little rehearsals,
and I you know, it definitelydoesn't show in the film, you
know, definitely the you know,the two leads um Rowland and Munroe.
You know, a lot of peopleare like, I thought, these guys
are best friends forever, and youknow, they they did a couple of
(16:45):
rehearsals and they were just ready togo. So I think just having these
really professional guys and just go outthere and do what they had to do,
that's that's to me, was reallymade it really easy for me to
put down my my ego because Iwas just like these guys, I've been
here way more than I have.They know what they're doing. So it's
really cool to just see these umsuper talented group of actors just get in
(17:07):
there and just do their thing.But obviously they all liked, they all
love the script or all, theywouldn't be doing this this movie as well.
Um, you know, did didthe actors have a lot to ask
you in terms of their characters?Um, you know a little, not
too much. I think the Ithink the big thing was that some of
(17:30):
the when we were filming, Idon't think at first everyone kind of realized
kind of had sort of the fullmeeting maybe of what of what I was
kind of going for because it isat the breasts, the guy getting on
jail, reconnecting with people. UM, so I think they were kind of
sort of trying to understand, youknow, why why the characters were you
(17:52):
know, complaining about these things likewhat like someone asked me like, oh,
the one character says, you know, I got a promotion, didn't
get a raised though, Like theyasked me like, is that like correct?
And I was like, Oh,that happens all the time, and
we're like, that's that's a verydeliberate line that I wrote. Um,
So I think getting you know,now that it's it's out and you know,
during the festival run, people arereally sort of relating to it.
(18:15):
It's it's interesting because it's you know, you're you're taking a group of actors
that are all genuinely doing what theywant to do and doing a great job
of it, and they're they're portrayingthese characters of people that are are beaten
down, unhappy with their with theirpersonal day to day lives, and it's
such a supposed to be such araw and real thing that you know,
(18:37):
hats off to them for for reallychanneling it. But I think they're they're
sort of navigating these characters that aren'texactly that this character, the mindset of
the characters aren't the people that theyreally are. So I mean, that's
that's great acting obviously. So Ithink having those sort of like conversations and
explaining like where it was sort ofcoming through was someone that that has worked
jobs I don't like still you know, still sort of doing the same and
(19:02):
kind of you know, doing thisas a hobby. Is is something that
I've was you know what. Ithink as we got on the same page,
people were like, Okay, weget it, we get why,
um, why you felt the needto tell the story, you know,
So it was cool. Yeah.So, I mean a lot of it's
it's just motivation, you know,having the actors know what the motivation is
(19:22):
and stuff like that, and you'reright, and it's a it's a it's
a hallmark of great acting. It'sto have that that kind of in the
back of your mind. I'm prettysure they've all had the experience where they,
you know, may not have feltlike they were getting what they deserved,
you know. So you know,Dad, driving that that back of
your mind is you know, atsome point in your life, you know,
I'm always so bad a method acting. So exactly exactly, Yeah,
(19:48):
I mean, you know, Imean it's great. I mean, tell
me a little bit about the editingediting process as well. Did you do
it during during during the shoot obviously, or just right after the shoot or
kind of tell me a little bitabout that. Yeah, right after the
shoot. So the director did ummost of it, so he was kind
of able to put together sort ofa cut right really like short, like
(20:10):
a few like within a few monthsafter after we filmed the movie. And
you know, we I think withthis film, you know, we there
because it's sort of one location,sort of story driven. There wasn't a
lot of different you know, specialfacts or anything that we needed to add
in. So I think that thatthat really helped the editing process come along.
But it was really the sort ofdirector making a lot of decisions with
(20:33):
this, the shot choice and thingslike that, and and he did,
and he did a great job.I think. You know, when you
have editors that are also you know, directors and dps, they you know,
they know they're already shooting all thedifferent coverage shots that they need in
there, and he's coming into itwith that mind of like, okay,
this is you know, I gottaget these different coverage shots. But ideally
(20:55):
I'm seeing it like here here,here, here, like we're in cut
here. So uh yeah, hejust did. He just did a great
job. And you know, wekind of had to go do it all
and make it work because we weren'tgoing to be able to sort of go
back to that house, um andand do any pickup shots. So they
really put together what I thought waswas great. And I'm I'm not sure
(21:15):
how many how many hours it tookfor him. I know it took a
lot, took a lot of work, but he did a great job.
Yeah. I just I was justthinking in the back of my mind,
uh, you know, talk,you know, thinking about the actress as
well, having the ability to tobe you know, to drive to location
and then you know, you know, drive home every every night. You
don't always get that in terms oflocation. Yeah, yeah, I think
(21:40):
I think the AC well, that'sthe one upside for shooting in La.
Everyone was living in LA at thetime except for Monroe. You know,
we put up in a hotel,but no one was there. I actually
stayed at the air being like theAirbnb the entire and the entire time,
because I was like, well,I'm already paying for this thing, and
I have to be here every day, so I'm as able to stay here.
So I think people definitely like atleast like that aspect of it,
(22:03):
where they could go home and decompressand not be you know, going to
a room or somewhere where they onceto minus Unroe obviously. Yeah. So
yeah, obviously relief and obviously,you know, you don't have to spend
as much as much money on theoutdel rooms as well, so that did
help out with the budget as well. So here, you know, I
mean, like you said, you'vebeen getting a lot of critical praise with
(22:26):
this as well. Quite a fewof your stars are really doing some things
right now, obviously after a coupleof years as well, And hopefully Hollywood
will open up a little bit morenow that everything is kind of settling back
to normal at least quote unquote newnormal. I know here in Vegas will
be opening up June first, Ithink, is what they were saying.
(22:48):
So you know, most things aregoing to be opening up pretty quickly up
here. So hopefully everything gets backto normal one and everybody's vaccinated and everything
gets kind of get back to normalas well. So you get another projects
going as well, and you know, hopefully we'll get you'll get a lot
of money and maybe you get ita little lice, a little deal once,
you know, once the vod um, you know, he starts getting
(23:10):
out there in the process. Yeah, Now, it's it's really cool just
seeing more and more people get,you know, eyes on the film every
day, and and you know,I want to keep you know, sort
of making stories in the in thesame vein of you know, coming of
age, growing up. I thinkit's you know, you write what you
know, and I definitely emphasize witha lot of you know a lot of
people that are you know, strugglingwith complacency and trying to find their way.
(23:33):
So it's cool to to make afilm like that and see it resonate
and have that that sort of impactwhere you can't you can't have those conversations
in real life. They don't stickthe same way, but to do it
through film is pretty cool. Yeah, you're thinking about doing comedy probably next,
I want to. Yeah, Imean I I wasn't expecting people to
(23:53):
find it as funny as it asit did. You know, it's a
it's a build up and there's alot more communicants sort of in the you
know, the first two acts ofthe film as it you know, continues
to get more serious. But Iwant I want to continue doing um,
you know, driving more comedy.Um. I really like the comedy drama
sort of sort of lane, SoI want to I want to keep hammering
that because it's it's you know,the life, life is very comical interesting.
(24:18):
Uh, and so to kind offind the humorous moments and a lot
of things that maybe might not beso humorous is something that I've always enjoyed
and kind of how I you know, approach a lot of things. So
everybody, you guys can check outTaking the Fall right now on video on
demand. You guys can check itout on Apple and Amazon for rentals.
So definitely check it out as well. Where can people find you on social
media? They can just if theyjust search Stephen Stephen Hellman that they'll be
(24:44):
able to find me there, youknow. Just uh, we're at Steve
Mayo, ste V E. Ma o h. My last name is
Hellman, like the mayonnaise So norelation to the mayonnaise fortune unfortunately, but
yeah, that's about people. Weused to call me Mayo when I was
a kid, so the name kindof just sort of sticks. Well.
I look forward to, you know, being able to watch the Dost movie
(25:07):
and more importantly, some of thenew stuff that comes out, So hopefully
hopefully we'll get some some new newfilms from you coming up soon. Yeah.
Awesome, Well, thank you verymuch for having me, Mark,
and as it was a pleasure talkingto you. You guys can check us
out on social media at swi Vat s w by V on Twitter,
also Somewhere in Vegas on Facebook,and you guys can check us out on
(25:30):
Instagram at SWIV podcast at swiv podcastand make sure to subscribe to any of
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you guys can check us out ifyou have a Alexa. Just asks for
(25:52):
somewhere in Vegas and you'll be ableto listen to the latest episodes. With
that in mind, we'll see youguys coming up this next time around.
We do shows every Monday and Wednesday, so definitely check out the podcast as
well. Thanks for joining us.We'll talk to you next time.
Hey, what's up. This isSeth Green and you are listening to Somewhere
in Vegas with Mark and I amso hot. I would desperately like a
glass of water. Please please giveme some water. This is Cindy Preston
and I'm with Mark. I'm somewherein Vegas. Hi. This is Melissa
Peterman from c MP's to Singing dand the television show Freeba and I have
(00:23):
to tell you I just have toget it off my chest. I love
Somewhere in Vegas with Mark. Hi. Here, this is Sath Glasgow and
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watch out. You know how tofund you. Hi. This is Shannon
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a queue. This is Courtney Cronin. You're listening to Somewhere in Vegas with
your host Mark, and I wouldmake sure to listen every week because he's
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Vegas with Mark. Hi. Thisis Cherry Nunn from Berlin and you're listening
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to Mark somewhere in Vegas. Hi. This is Mirka Laurie from Josh Veden
Stallhouse. There are three flowers ina vase and I'm listening to Somewhere in
Vegas with Mark. Hi. Thisis Aaron Hill and you are listening to
Mark on blog talk radio and somewherein Vegas. Mark is a great guy.
Hi, this is Pulaski. I'mstill trying to figure out Mark Pico's
(01:30):
sexuality, but I know you're listeningto Somewhere Live in Vegas. Did you
go, Mark? I'm sorry,I thought you were I'm sorry. Yeah,
I'll attenden to get out of you. Hey. This is Lance and
Anna from Free Radio and Anna,and you're listening to Somewhere in Vegas.
(01:51):
Yeah, my Fay, you know, that's that's usually what happens with me.
I go to Vegas and I getlost, and so I end up
somewhere in Vegas. Somewhere in Vegas, but I just don't know where it
is, not quite sure. Yeah, we get ready, it's gonna be
huh, it's in Vegas. Checkout, Mark, be there or be square.
(02:15):
My guest at this time really iskind of kind of, you know,
put his foot in the you know, he putting pretty much broke down
the door. Actually in terms offilmmaking. He has his first film out,
it's called Taking the Fall, andyou know, it's very interesting to
kind of go in in the directionof self financing and really trying to get
(02:36):
your name out there as well.And he's done a really great job,
especially with the cast he's gotten andall the all the all the awards awards
he's been getting, especially the CharlotteCharlotte Film Festival where he's gotten some of
the top awards as well. We'vegot Stephen Hellman on with us right now.
How you doing, Stephen. I'mdoing great, Mark, Thank thank
you for having me. Thank youfor the warm introduction. No problem at
(03:00):
all. And you know, Ihaven't had a chance to watch the movie
yet, but obviously a lot ofa lot of critical critical success in terms
of that as well. How howwas it for you, especially that first
festival audience, to be able tobe able to watch it and kind of
get their you know, kind ofgauge their gauge their reaction to the movie.
Yeah, you know, it wasan interesting sort of UM landscape with
(03:23):
the festivals because our first one wasUM in February twenty and twenty at the
at the how at the Chinese Theaterin Hollywood, and there was people there
UM and then everything sort of wentand it was great. It was awesome
obviously seeing my first film on aon a huge screen, and then it
went all to digital with COVID andso too, you know, especially in
(03:45):
the Charlotte Film Festival, to winawards and just sort of see you know,
reaching a probably a broader audience thanwe would have because of being on
digital. To see that sort ofsuccess and you know, people really starting
to kind of understand the the sortof message I was trying to send,
but allowing you know, interpreting ittheir own way, and just seeing how
it was resonating with people. UMwas was really cool. It was really
(04:08):
cool to see UM and it's soit's been such a you know, fun
experience for me, especially now thatit's out that seeing how people react to
it in different ways and and youknow making it. You know, is
it a film about just going foryour dreams? Is it you know about
a guy reacclaimedia society. I thinkit's a lot of things. So it's
fun to let people kind of takewhat they want from it as opposed to
(04:28):
us sort of this is what it'sabout, you know. So that's that's
pretty cool. Why the decision forthis particular script to to be able to
uh, to be able to dofor your first film, I mean,
was there obviously, you know,I'm a writer. I have a kind
of ships, you know, inmy back pocket, but you know,
trying to decide what the first filmis, you know that you're really trying
(04:49):
to finance what was kind of yourthought process and that you know, I
wanted to really do something that Ifelt represented my you know, as a
working you know millennium. I thinkanyone going through there, you know,
their twenties and you know into latetwenties in the early thirties is scene how
much change? And so this,this story to me was just really about
(05:13):
you know, how a lot ofpeople and that I've grown up with and
just in general, how I've alwaysfelt like, you know, people we
kind of take things for granted.I think a lot of us are realizing
that now just everyday life, asCOVID has kind of stripped away a lot
of our normal everyday freedom. SoI just felt like this story was to
(05:34):
tell people like, hey, wehave it so much better than we probably
think we have now. Not everyone, but it just was a really important
message for me, that something thatI've always felt like, why why are
we spending all this time and energycomplaining on things when you know, if
you have a job you don't reallylike, most of us have sort of
the opportit, the power to quitit. If you're in a bad relationship
(05:55):
with someone, we have the abilityto do that. And it just felt
like a really important thing to methat I just I just really needed it
to be said. So hopefully,you know, obviously I when I continue
making films, but this just feltlike this, this is a story that
hey, if I ever get onecrack at this, this is this is
the story that I really needed totell for myself, and I think people
needed to hear. Yeah, youknow, I mean it's it's a character
(06:17):
study basically, and and how peopleperceive it. I mean, we have
the main character who just you know, was was basically as society for six
years, and you just think abouthow much has changed in those six years
coming out. And it's also it'salso looking a little bit about you know,
(06:38):
when you get out of college,you know, things change, you
know, things, things direction cames, you know. I mean, you're
you're so ambitious going into into collegeand and be wanted to take over the
world. And this movie is asituation where he comes he comes out of
prison and sees that, you know, it's it's not I guess there's no
(07:00):
you know that that. I don'tknow how to explain it. The the
idea of wanting to conquer that mountainhas kind of fell to the wayside because
there's other things to do. Imean, you know, how's it.
How's it? You know, how'sit with the relationship between the characters,
and especially especially the main character.Yeah, you know, to me,
(07:25):
it's with that main character, it'slike, you go, he missed that
whole six years of after college becauseyou go into college you're expecting, this
is a line of movie. Yougo to college with a major, expecting
you're going to get a job inthat major. So to miss those six
years where you're going through growing painsand maybe doing internships or things that you
want to do. A lot ofthings in life just sort of happened,
(07:47):
and I think a lot of peopleand a lot of people get side course
for various different reasons, but it'sdefinitely that almost sort of that illusions of
grander that I think college sort ofsells you where it's like you can be
anything you want to be and asyou and it's great to get an education,
and you know, anyone that shouldobviously like that's that's awesome. I
(08:09):
know some people don't have those opportunities, but it can be really frustrating.
Where you come into college was sucha like oh, I'm gonna do all
this, and then this guy comesout of jail and he sees all his
friends are where most people are sortof in that kind of brought up like
I don't like my job, Idon't like that. But if you're just
being reacclimated into this, you're gonnabe like, what what's going on?
(08:31):
Guys? Like why are you?Why are you complaining? When I was
just in prison this entire time.So to me, it was about those
growing pains that your college. Butit's really like to me, it always
feels like a film about perspective andlike an appreciation for what we have and
what we can't control, because there'sa lot of things we can't but there
are things we can. Yeah,you know, I mean that's great.
I mean, talk a little bitabout the cast. Obviously you got some
(08:54):
really solid, solid actors to bea part of this cast. Kind of
tell me a little bit about thatthat that process of of getting these actors
involved. Yeah, so that that, you know, working with the director
and the other producer on the film, we we did a bunch of casting
calls and we were able to kindof go through, like we had so
many submissions for all the all thecharacters minus the lead Monroe Chambers, who
(09:18):
I'll get back to that, Butwe had all these auditions, so we
kind of looked through and we invitedpeople to do casting. But to get
this the actors that we did,you know, to get you know,
Roland, both Katie Gill and therest of the supporting cast, they all
did their did their read throughs,they ran them, you know, read
the lines, and they just nailedit. And I had these these characters
sort of in my head and Ican't imagine, you know, for my
(09:39):
for my first film, to getsuch a talented, you know, group
of actors that were really going tocarry this you know, sort of entire
film was the dialogue and the storyand the acting. So to have someone
like Monroe Chambers, who has justbeen in a bunch of things, it's
just a pro and he gets itwas was so cool because I just envisioned
the character as sort of being thiskind of gritty, gritty, kind of
(10:01):
small guy, you know, thelead tyler. So to to get him
where the director he he once wefell out the rest of the cast,
he said, oh, like,these are the guys we can get for
the role. And the first namehe said was Monroe Chambers and I just
like stopped listening to them. Iwas like, that's the guy who I
totally want for the film. Soit was really cool, you know,
to work with with such talented actors. And you know, Roman buck Is
(10:22):
he's currently filming the next like ParamanormalActivity, so he's he's sort of going
kind of you know, he's beengoing up. He's a regular in Chicago
and bed So it's just really coolto get such a such a talented cast
and they all they all really steppedup and just did a great job.
Talk about you know, working withthe director. I mean, was that,
um, you know, how howwas it for you to work with
(10:46):
the director? It was great Joshand then the r DP and also other
producer Chris, like they were youknow, this was such a collaborative process.
I wasn't going to be super tightabout my my script and just oh
the lines need to be read thisway. And it was a very good,
you know, just team effort tomake the script the best that we
(11:07):
could make the story, you know, make it come out the best.
So working with Josh and alongside theactors where I was kind of I would
I would call myself assistant directing wherewe would say to him like, hey,
these are the lines, these arethe points you need to get across,
um, and you know, youwant to see some different way to
do it. And I think havingthat sort of flexibility in camaraderie where there
wasn't you know, because this wasall sort of a newer experience for us.
(11:31):
It was so it was so collaborative. There weren't there weren't those big
egos where people are are I wantto get my idea across as and I
need my stamp on it. Andas a writer, you know, maybe
I could have done that, butI didn't want to do that. I
wanted it just to make the bestmovie that we could. And I think
that that everyone was really on pagefor that because we you know, I
(11:52):
think we we did a great job, especially given that you know, by
finances to myself and that we wereall just you know, coming together and
kind of this is the first timewe kind of all did this. Yeah,
so many people have have big egosin terms of you know, what
they want to convey and all thatas well, and really, to tell
you the truth, just going intoa movie should be a team setting where
(12:15):
you know, you want to bringthe best product in. So it's great
to be able to see all theactors and all the all the all the
crew get along very very very verywell. Um where was it shot?
By the way, it was shotin Los Angeles, So we just we
rented, um you know, it'sit's mostly a single location, uh drama.
So it's all pretty much shot inthis house. So we rented the
(12:37):
airbnb that basically fit the script thatwe wanted, had had the settings that
we sort of wanted. And youknow, we filmed in Los Angeles,
which is a little difficult. I'mnot gonna lie just to the film permits
and all the restrictions. You know, we we were just at a house
and we had to do so muchpaperwork. So they really do not make
filming in Los Angeles an easy thing. And we just we were just at
(13:00):
a house that we rented, likeso it was wasn't it was tough.
Now I hear so many filmmakers wantingto get out of California and turn filmmaking.
I mean, well there was Atlantawas a hotbed. Now it looks
like that's going to be changing forquite a bit. I've talked to UM
Toronto has been doing a very goodjob, and as well as Vancouver in
(13:22):
terms of it as well. SoI'm really looking forward to maybe maybe seeing
other things. I think Austin maybestarting to be the next up, I
think, but even out here inVegas, I think it's you know,
I mean with the film office outhere has been very it's it's usually very
very um, very gracious to beable to be able to work with.
So yeah, it'll be interesting andkind of interesting to see where everything kind
(13:43):
of goes goes from here. Ithink things in California might be changing a
little bit. I think there they'rekind of fed up with Newsom right now,
so they're getting rid of him.So yeah, so yeah, hopefully,
hopey it'll bring some work back backin there. Maybe it'll be a
less of a less So it hasto be able to work in in LA
and you know, any anytime soon. But yeah, but I think it's
(14:05):
great that that film is gonna beshot sort of anywhere, because I moved
out to LA into Death sixteen andI just kind of thought, oh,
this is where I have to beto do this, and you really don't.
I mean, I mean, Imet a lot of great people,
which is helping with this path.But I think I think it's awesome that
I know people are filming all overthe place, and you know, you
go to place all of America,Oh you need a bar to shoot him?
(14:26):
Here you go, no problem.So I think that that it's going
to continue to you know, sortof branch out everywhere and there will be
these these hotbeds. But it's reallycool to see that that narrative is changing
where it's like, oh, youhave to be in one place to film
and you don't anymore, so it'spretty cool. Yeah, you know,
I mean I've I've shot both myfilms actually up in Montana, my home,
my home state, and um,you know, people were always so
(14:50):
gracious to be able to to setlocations that as well. I mean it's
yeah, I mean, you know, I I like it a lot as
as well. Now, how longdid it and how long did you guys
shoot for? Okay, so wefilmed ninety seven pages of script in eight
days? Wow? Yeah, soum that that is the beauty of pretty
(15:15):
much one one location. But itwas just non stop you know, running,
running the scenes, getting the coveragefrom all different angles. So it
was you know, the crew andcasting everyone did just such a great job.
I mean, that is an insanepace that we had, and so
it really takes a lot of youknow, hats off to the whole the
whole crew for for making that happen. I mean I was running around doing
(15:37):
a lot of a lot of differentthings as well on set, and everyone
was just kind of contributing. Butto to pull that off, and yeah,
I you know, I haven't reallysaid that's to too many people just
because I you know, you wantpeople to kind of see what, you
know, just what the film is. But it's it's pretty crazy that we
were able to do it. Yeah, you know, I mean some people
(16:00):
might realize, well, you know, oh you they only had one location,
while you know, you know thatthat helped a lot, but you
know, obviously setting up a camerain different different spots, in different locations,
and to be able to to doso many takes, you know,
it's that's that's that that takes.You know, that takes a lot of
coordination. Yeah, And I thinkand and it really is a testament to
(16:23):
the director at DP, and Ithink more importantly, the actors were just
we're just so prepared. I meanthere's very you know, very little rehearsals,
and I you know, it definitelydoesn't show in the film, you
know, definitely the you know,the two leads um Rowland and Munroe.
You know, a lot of peopleare like, I thought, these guys
are best friends forever, and youknow, they they did a couple of
(16:45):
rehearsals and they were just ready togo. So I think just having these
really professional guys and just go outthere and do what they had to do,
that's that's to me, was reallymade it really easy for me to
put down my my ego because Iwas just like these guys, I've been
here way more than I have.They know what they're doing. So it's
really cool to just see these umsuper talented group of actors just get in
(17:07):
there and just do their thing.But obviously they all liked, they all
love the script or all, theywouldn't be doing this this movie as well.
Um, you know, did didthe actors have a lot to ask
you in terms of their characters?Um, you know a little, not
too much. I think the Ithink the big thing was that some of
(17:30):
the when we were filming, Idon't think at first everyone kind of realized
kind of had sort of the fullmeeting maybe of what of what I was
kind of going for because it isat the breasts, the guy getting on
jail, reconnecting with people. UM, so I think they were kind of
sort of trying to understand, youknow, why why the characters were you
(17:52):
know, complaining about these things likewhat like someone asked me like, oh,
the one character says, you know, I got a promotion, didn't
get a raised though, Like theyasked me like, is that like correct?
And I was like, Oh,that happens all the time, and
we're like, that's that's a verydeliberate line that I wrote. Um,
So I think getting you know,now that it's it's out and you know,
during the festival run, people arereally sort of relating to it.
(18:15):
It's it's interesting because it's you know, you're you're taking a group of actors
that are all genuinely doing what theywant to do and doing a great job
of it, and they're they're portrayingthese characters of people that are are beaten
down, unhappy with their with theirpersonal day to day lives, and it's
such a supposed to be such araw and real thing that you know,
(18:37):
hats off to them for for reallychanneling it. But I think they're they're
sort of navigating these characters that aren'texactly that this character, the mindset of
the characters aren't the people that theyreally are. So I mean, that's
that's great acting obviously. So Ithink having those sort of like conversations and
explaining like where it was sort ofcoming through was someone that that has worked
jobs I don't like still you know, still sort of doing the same and
(19:02):
kind of you know, doing thisas a hobby. Is is something that
I've was you know what. Ithink as we got on the same page,
people were like, Okay, weget it, we get why,
um, why you felt the needto tell the story, you know,
So it was cool. Yeah.So, I mean a lot of it's
it's just motivation, you know,having the actors know what the motivation is
(19:22):
and stuff like that, and you'reright, and it's a it's a it's
a hallmark of great acting. It'sto have that that kind of in the
back of your mind. I'm prettysure they've all had the experience where they,
you know, may not have feltlike they were getting what they deserved,
you know. So you know,Dad, driving that that back of
your mind is you know, atsome point in your life, you know,
I'm always so bad a method acting. So exactly exactly, Yeah,
(19:48):
I mean, you know, Imean it's great. I mean, tell
me a little bit about the editingediting process as well. Did you do
it during during during the shoot obviously, or just right after the shoot or
kind of tell me a little bitabout that. Yeah, right after the
shoot. So the director did ummost of it, so he was kind
of able to put together sort ofa cut right really like short, like
(20:10):
a few like within a few monthsafter after we filmed the movie. And
you know, we I think withthis film, you know, we there
because it's sort of one location,sort of story driven. There wasn't a
lot of different you know, specialfacts or anything that we needed to add
in. So I think that thatthat really helped the editing process come along.
But it was really the sort ofdirector making a lot of decisions with
(20:33):
this, the shot choice and thingslike that, and and he did,
and he did a great job.I think. You know, when you
have editors that are also you know, directors and dps, they you know,
they know they're already shooting all thedifferent coverage shots that they need in
there, and he's coming into itwith that mind of like, okay,
this is you know, I gottaget these different coverage shots. But ideally
(20:55):
I'm seeing it like here here,here, here, like we're in cut
here. So uh yeah, hejust did. He just did a great
job. And you know, wekind of had to go do it all
and make it work because we weren'tgoing to be able to sort of go
back to that house, um andand do any pickup shots. So they
really put together what I thought waswas great. And I'm I'm not sure
(21:15):
how many how many hours it tookfor him. I know it took a
lot, took a lot of work, but he did a great job.
Yeah. I just I was justthinking in the back of my mind,
uh, you know, talk,you know, thinking about the actress as
well, having the ability to tobe you know, to drive to location
and then you know, you know, drive home every every night. You
don't always get that in terms oflocation. Yeah, yeah, I think
(21:40):
I think the AC well, that'sthe one upside for shooting in La.
Everyone was living in LA at thetime except for Monroe. You know,
we put up in a hotel,but no one was there. I actually
stayed at the air being like theAirbnb the entire and the entire time,
because I was like, well,I'm already paying for this thing, and
I have to be here every day, so I'm as able to stay here.
So I think people definitely like atleast like that aspect of it,
(22:03):
where they could go home and decompressand not be you know, going to
a room or somewhere where they onceto minus Unroe obviously. Yeah. So
yeah, obviously relief and obviously,you know, you don't have to spend
as much as much money on theoutdel rooms as well, so that did
help out with the budget as well. So here, you know, I
mean, like you said, you'vebeen getting a lot of critical praise with
(22:26):
this as well. Quite a fewof your stars are really doing some things
right now, obviously after a coupleof years as well, And hopefully Hollywood
will open up a little bit morenow that everything is kind of settling back
to normal at least quote unquote newnormal. I know here in Vegas will
be opening up June first, Ithink, is what they were saying.
(22:48):
So you know, most things aregoing to be opening up pretty quickly up
here. So hopefully everything gets backto normal one and everybody's vaccinated and everything
gets kind of get back to normalas well. So you get another projects
going as well, and you know, hopefully we'll get you'll get a lot
of money and maybe you get ita little lice, a little deal once,
you know, once the vod um, you know, he starts getting
(23:10):
out there in the process. Yeah, Now, it's it's really cool just
seeing more and more people get,you know, eyes on the film every
day, and and you know,I want to keep you know, sort
of making stories in the in thesame vein of you know, coming of
age, growing up. I thinkit's you know, you write what you
know, and I definitely emphasize witha lot of you know a lot of
people that are you know, strugglingwith complacency and trying to find their way.
(23:33):
So it's cool to to make afilm like that and see it resonate
and have that that sort of impactwhere you can't you can't have those conversations
in real life. They don't stickthe same way, but to do it
through film is pretty cool. Yeah, you're thinking about doing comedy probably next,
I want to. Yeah, Imean I I wasn't expecting people to
(23:53):
find it as funny as it asit did. You know, it's a
it's a build up and there's alot more communicants sort of in the you
know, the first two acts ofthe film as it you know, continues
to get more serious. But Iwant I want to continue doing um,
you know, driving more comedy.Um. I really like the comedy drama
sort of sort of lane, SoI want to I want to keep hammering
that because it's it's you know,the life, life is very comical interesting.
(24:18):
Uh, and so to kind offind the humorous moments and a lot
of things that maybe might not beso humorous is something that I've always enjoyed
and kind of how I you know, approach a lot of things. So
everybody, you guys can check outTaking the Fall right now on video on
demand. You guys can check itout on Apple and Amazon for rentals.
So definitely check it out as well. Where can people find you on social
media? They can just if theyjust search Stephen Stephen Hellman that they'll be
(24:44):
able to find me there, youknow. Just uh, we're at Steve
Mayo, ste V E. Ma o h. My last name is
Hellman, like the mayonnaise So norelation to the mayonnaise fortune unfortunately, but
yeah, that's about people. Weused to call me Mayo when I was
a kid, so the name kindof just sort of sticks. Well.
I look forward to, you know, being able to watch the Dost movie
(25:07):
and more importantly, some of thenew stuff that comes out, So hopefully
hopefully we'll get some some new newfilms from you coming up soon. Yeah.
Awesome, Well, thank you verymuch for having me, Mark,
and as it was a pleasure talkingto you. You guys can check us
out on social media at swi Vat s w by V on Twitter,
also Somewhere in Vegas on Facebook,and you guys can check us out on
(25:30):
Instagram at SWIV podcast at swiv podcastand make sure to subscribe to any of
your podcast catchers. You guys canalso check at us out on iHeartRadio dot
com or New Home as well assprigger dot com or old Home, and
you guys can check us out ifyou have a Alexa. Just asks for
(25:52):
somewhere in Vegas and you'll be ableto listen to the latest episodes. With
that in mind, we'll see youguys coming up this next time around.
We do shows every Monday and Wednesday, so definitely check out the podcast as
well. Thanks for joining us.We'll talk to you next time.
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