The Playground
An
obnoxious Mom,
her quiet and confused young boy
- a man as a Nun,
and a chase through the playground by a group in masks.
Meet Rhonda a brass-trashy woman, she is constantly on her cell phone – smokes a lot, and swears up a storm. She is in her own world – and has no time for son - Chrissy.
Although she tries, however reluctantly to keep up on her mothering responsibilities. After being over a half hour late to pick Chrissy up from school, she takes her son to the playground for as she puts it - “To run around for a bit…”.
Mom’s antics have obviously taking a toll, as her son begins to see things – or does he?
The Stars
Stacey Puopolo as Rhonda Gabe Goodman as Chrissy Ineeda Match as Sister Mary
Mz. Puopolo is an actress and photographer living in Boston.
She is available and ready to act - contact her at - iwantthepart@hotmail.com
For a young kid - Gabe has had an extensive career. Check out a local play in Boston and most likely you'll see him in some capacity on the stage.
Ms. Ineeda Match bears a strong resemblance to my assistant director - in drag... hmm...
Ms. Match however is actually a hypnotist - performing at local function halls on the south and north shore of Boston. A "naked hypnotist" working the bachelor party circuit - easily she gets young men to undress...
The Shoot
The film was shot at the onslaught of winter on a beach.
It was cold, rainy and windy.... - we had a few "storm days".
Working with 12 people under the age of 11 was an experience...
On the first day of filming at the beach there was a funeral possession happening.
A woman was scattering the ashes of her brother - we worked around her...
Throughout the shoot (which was initially to be for one day) my actress was riddled with drama - aren't most actors? There was a move, a quarrel with a friend, midterms, problems with hammer toes....etc.
My directing advice to her? - I said, "Stacey when Liz Taylor was filming 'Giant' her mother was gravely ill - did she stop the production, no"! - Did Mz. Puopolo? - absolutely not! - she gave it her all, and thensome!
We wrapped after 5 days of shooting....
The film was shot on the Sony PD 150
The edit was created on final cut pro
SHOWINGS
Festival
The New Hampshire Film Expo 2002