Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, September 28, 1995 TAG: 9510030038
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: STACY JONES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Five-Borough Bagels, Kroger and Brothers Bakery were just a few of the establishments they hit on a Tuesday morning in August. Around 11 a.m., the pair could be found shuffling out of Awful Arthur's in downtown Roanoke. No one had yet agreed to feed them.
``It's not something we'd be hip to,'' said the manager at Awful Arthur's.
``Let me get back to you,'' said the bespectacled man behind Five-Borough's counter.
``I think we're approaching this wrong,'' said Hough, his British accent lending authority to the statement.
Morris and Hough aren't hungry, homeless or affiliated with some grass-roots social organization. They are filmmakers - make that cash-strapped filmmakers - who hope to get some community support for a film they will be shooting in Roanoke later this month. Food for the film crew is one of their needs - hence the visits to Kroger, et al.
Morris, a native of Roanoke, graduated from New York University's film school in June. When her friend and fellow NYU film student, Hough, asked her to serve as producer on his latest project, ``Career Day,'' Morris couldn't say no.
``Yes, I've postponed my job-hunt for awhile,'' she said.
In the tradition of other NYU alumni - Spike Lee, Martin Scorsese and Oliver Stone - Hough and Morris hope to get their careers in gear with a take-notice student film.
Why come to Roanoke?
``We thought we could get a lot of community support,'' said Hough, who wrote the script for the 35-minute film.
Unfortunately, that hasn't proved to be the case.
``People say, `I'll get back to you,' which I take as a `No,''' Hough said.
``Not necessarily,'' countered Morris, who is perpetually upbeat.
Another surprise for the duo has been the level of red tape they have encountered.
``There is a real big bureaucracy that you don't expect to find here,'' explained Hough. ``I thought we left that in New York.''
One example of bureaucracy in action took place in Salem.
The filmmakers went to the courthouse to look at courtrooms for possible filming sites. When they asked to look at specific rooms, they were turned down. It seems the judge who presides over that particular courtroom was out of town. Everyone else refused to show the pair the room.
``They wouldn't even let us peek our heads in,'' said Morris.
``So we found a little New York,'' laughed Hough,who was clad in the typical filmmakers' uniform of worn jeans, ill-fitting sports jacket and black T-shirt (emblazoned with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer).
The team's biggest needs are food and money. Because they will be responsible for feeding (and housing) the eight-member film crew when it arrives in Roanoke to shoot, from Oct. 18 to Nov. 1, food is number one on their list. Morris' parents, residents of Roanoke, plan to assist with the lodging.
``The more we can save on food costs, the more we can spend on film stock,'' said Hough. ``That means instead of filming one take, we can shoot three or four.''
The film school supplied Hough and Morris with equipment and three rolls of film - which, according to Hough, ``Is nothing. We'll use about 100 rolls for this shoot.''
Although a student film, the production is completely professional, from the cameramen to the actors, said Morris. Roanoker Richard Kirkwood, who appeared in the Showtimers' production of ``The Shadow Box,'' has been cast in a major role, and other locals will be cast as extras.
Production costs are steep for a student budget. Hence the need for fund-raising.
The shooting budget is $5,000, but post-production costs are expected to push final expenses up to $15,000.
``What it's come down to is, I'm financing the film from my earnings as a teaching assistant,'' said Hough.
``We're just managing,'' he said. ``I'm not sure how to pay the rent after this shoot.''
The post-completion scenario is ``very intense and competitive,'' Hough said. First, the film will be critiqued by NYU professors. The top seven student films are sent to movers and shakers in the film industry, who select the top three. Inclusion in the top three usually guarantees a call from top executives, Hough said. He said a friend who finished second in a previous competition signed with Disney for $750,000.
But that's putting the cart before the horse. Right now the only thing Hough and Morris care about is funding their film. ``More money, less stress. Less stress, better film,'' said Morris. ``That's what it comes down to.''
Kids from grades K through 5 and their parents are still needed as extras. For information about donations or the extra casting, call Michelle Morris at (212) 604-4778.
by CNB