Awards so
far for All
Along: Audience Choice Award at the Fairhope
Film Festival Best Romance Feature at the International
Digital Video & HD Festival Honorable Mention - Best Feature
at the Myrtle Beach International Film Festival Best of Show
and Award of Excellence (lead actor: Bill Page) at the Accolade
Film Awards.
The nuclear family of
All Along
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And now the interview:
You have just co-produced, co-written and starred in a film called All
Along. In a few phrases, what's the film about ? It's
about a man who is going through a mid-life crisis. Richard (the
main character) gets taken to an amusement park by his wife and kids for
his 40th birthday. He runs into an old high school sweetheart and he then
goes into a series of daydreams and fantasies that start interacting with
real life which results in some humorous and embarrassing situations.
He visits a psychologist to discuss the fantasies and tries to realize
what it is that is happening to him. How
did the film come into being in the first place ? Who came up with the
basic story idea, and how smoothly did it translate into film ? I
originally came up with the initial idea while visiting an amusement
park in Florida in May 2003. I was vacationing with my wife and this idea
of fantasy interacting with reality just popped into my brain. Then when I
returned home, I mentioned it to two of my good friends, Paul Goodman and
Lou Leoni, and we just started coming up with several different ideas that
could also work in the movie. It took us about a year to get motivated to
move forward with the project, but then we asked a college student from
Temple University, Mary McDermott, to help write a screenplay for our
story. She wrote a screenplay for us that we were not 100% convinced would
work. So we sat on it for a while and then decided to hire a director to
take a look at the project. Overall, our idea translates to film
pretty smoothly. The movie is not 100% of how we envisioned it originally,
but the overall theme of the movie is pretty much on target.
Director Robert A.Mascantonio |
A
few words about your director Robert A.Masciantonio, who also wrote the
screenplay for All Along and played a small role ... After
we sat on the project for a few months, I made the decision that the movie
was going to get done one way or another. We met Rob and gave him
our version of the script. He liked the overall concept, but he too didn't
think that the overall story as scripted would work, so he re-wrote a new
screenplay using the story that Paul, Lou and I wrote along with some of
concepts that Mary added as well. We agreed that Rob's version of the
screenplay was more along the lines of our vision of the movie so we went
into production with Rob's screenplay and Rob as Director. This is Rob's
second movie. His first is Cold Hearts which is a horror film.
Rob also plays a minor role in the movie as Richard's opponent in a poker
game.
Krista Allen with Bill Page |
About your principal cast: Krista Allen, who plays the psychiatrist
in the film, might be most familiar to readers of my site for her roles in
the Emmanuelle TV-series and Baywatch, but she is in fact
quite an accomplished actress with multiple appearances on both the big
and small screen. What made you choose her and how easy was it to get her
?
We wanted to get an accomplished actress to play the role of
the psychologist in the movie and quite honestly we had a list of a dozen
or more actresses that we thought might work. Krista was brought to my
attention through Rob (the director) and the two producers, Charles St.
John Smith, III and Eric Bresler. They thought that we may be able to
secure her for a few days if the schedules were compatible. It worked out
and we are so happy that she is a big part of our movie.
Erin Brown with Bill Page |
Also in the cast is Erin Brown, who has only rather recently emerged
from the softcore erotica realm (where she had quite a career under her
alias Misty Mundae) into mainstream cinema [Erin
Brown bio - click here] . How and why did you get hold
of her ? Once again, the director and producers suggested
that she would be a great addition to our cast and she was fantastic. I
just wish she could be onscreen longer since she has a great presence on
the big screen.
And then there's of course you. You have appeared in several
independent features before All Along but also have a background in
stand-up comedy. What can you tell us about your career so far and what
was your motivation for making this movie ?
Bill Page |
Well Mike, I
appreciate the fact that you mentioned that I have appeared in many
different indies and a few stand-up comedy gigs, but quite frankly, that
is the extent of my career in entertainment. The motivation for
making this movie is quite simply this: Many people talk about what they
are going to do or want they want to do in life, but not many take action
to live their dream. I didn't want to kick myself in the behind 20 years
from now to say what if. I wanted to give a shot and see what
happens next. I am looking forward to see what the future holds. A few words
about the rest of the cast ... Our cast was very strong.
Tracy Toth plays Ann (Richard's wife) with great compassion and love for
him and the kids (Tina and Tom). Kristen Hughes is adorable and
perfect as the teenage daughter Tina. When you see her on the big screen,
you can help but fall head over heels for her instantly. I imagine
she will have a great career in movies. Speaking about great careers,
everyone reading this will one day know Charlie McDermott, who plays the
teenage son Tom. Charlie's career has already taken off. He has been in
some great independent movies and has just signed on to do a studio film.
Charlie will be well known within the next 18-24 months. It was a joy
working with Tracy, Kristen, and Charlie. It was almost like they were my
family. Rebecca Cook plays Richard's ex-girlfriend Ava from high
school. She truly captures the role and also has a great onscreen
presence. Joseph Aniska (young Richard), Lindsey Simcik (young Ann), and
Kristen Hermes (young Ava) also give strong perfermances. Hopefully, many
of the actors mentioned above will be household names in next few years.
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As an actor, as a writer,
and as a comic, who are people who have influenced you ? I
grew up watching DeNiro and Nicholson so they are always at the top of the
list, but recently Edward Norton has been one of my favorite actors. As
for funny men, I always enjoy Steve Martin and Richard Pryor movies. Your
favourite movie genres ? And your all-time favourite movies ? I
like comedies as well as heartfelt dramas. I am not much into period
pieces and sci-fi movies. My all time favorites include ONE FLEW OVER
THE CUCKOO'S NEST, THE GRADUATE, and BACK TO THE FUTURE,
and oh yes I forgot my very favorite is ALL ALONG. Movies
from, let's say, the last two years, that you would suggest everybody
should go see ? ALL ALONG is at the top of the list.
I really liked 40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN, WEDDING CRASHERS, KNOCKED
UP. I just saw ALVIN AND THE CHIPMUNKS and it was a nice family
movie. Movies you really hated ? BLADES OF
GLORY. Away
from movies and stand-up comedy you have also made yourself a name as The
Hairman, the (unofficial) mascot of NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
What can you tell us about that ? I used to go to the
Philadelphia Flyers games dressed in Orange/Black and wearing either a
Orange/Black mohawk or Orange/Black spiked Hair wig. I heckled the
opposing players and got the fans pumped up. Any future projects we
can look forward too (both as youself and as the Hairman) ? Well,
THE HAIRMAN is officially retired, but I hope to be working on a new film
sometime in 2008. I am in the process of acquiring distribution currently
for ALL ALONG - so if you know any distributors, send them my way. Anything
else I have forgotten to ask you are just dieing to get off your chest ? The
only thing I'd like to say to anyone out their with a dream--GO FOR IT and
I guarantee one thing--You'll be happy that you made the attempt. Thanks
for the interview.
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