Your new movie Clean
Up Duty - in a few words, what is it about?
It’s about an old mobster who is in the witness protection program. He is going
through his daily routines when an old friend comes back to settle a score
and let’s just say in the middle of this process they get caught up in
some small details.
How
did the project fall together in the first place? Me
and Fiore Leo [Fiore Leo
interview - click here] were talking about doing another project together and I
really wanted to try a comedy, so I reached out to Skip Shea
[Skip Shea interview -
click here] about a script. Do
talk about Clean Up Duty's
writer Skip Shea, and what was your collaboration like? Skip’s
a good friend and I know he loves to write and tell a good joke. I reached
out to him asking if he could write a short comedy with few locations and not
too many characters. Since it’s my first comedy I wanted to scale
things down. I can’t remember how much time passed but it felt like a
day and boom a script was in my inbox and it was Clean Up Duty. We know
each other well. He knows all the films I like so it really wasn’t a lot
of back-and-forth. I read it and it was hilarious, and I got to work. At
least to me, Clean Up Duty
came across as wickedly funny - so to what extent could you identify with
your movie's brand of humour? I’m
a big fan of Larry David. I like situational or "can’t let the
little things go" type of scenarios. Also being a big fan of crime
films, mob films in particular, there’s always great banter that’s
clever and just hilarious. I felt like we had a mix of them.
What can you tell us about
your overall directorial approach to your story at hand? We
did a read through over Skype. I explained how I wanted things to go.
Basically I wanted to shoot it like this was an art film. I wanted
everyone to think drama while allowing the writing to shine. The jokes
were already written, so no need to put any emphasis on them or try to
sell it. Just play it straight. I always like to encourage my actors to
bring something to the table. They’re creating the characters so I like
them to contribute. It’s a team game! Do
talk about Clean Up Duty's
key cast, and why exactly these people? David Graziano [David
Graziano interview - click here] and Fiore Leo [Fiore
Leo interview - click here] are both professionals and they’re always well prepared. I
knew I wanted to be behind the camera as well as direct and when you split
your focus you need actors that are professional and give it their all.
They help make it a smooth process. It’s great when you have people that
want to make a project just as much as you do.
A few words
about the shoot as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
I
like to make sure things are done timely, and we’re knocking things down
and not wasting anyone’s time. It also needs to be fun! We always have
fun on set but seeing how this was the first time I had a script that was
really funny. It was just more laughs and a lot looser vibe on set. We had
a great time. It was really like hanging out with your friends and telling
jokes.
The
$64-question of course, where can Clean
Up Duty be seen? We
have just started to submit to festivals. After its run we will make it
available online for everyone to see. Anything you can tell us about
audience and critical reception of Clean
Up Duty? So
far it has been really good. People are getting the humor and enjoying
it and they seem to really like the pace. We are still gathering some more
opinions, but early on it’s as good as it gets. Any future projects you'd like to
share?
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Feeling lucky ? Want to search any of my partnershops yourself for more, better results ?
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The links below will take you just there!!!
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Nothing I can talk about at the moment, but I just finished doing some DP work on a
feature. I have another two shorts I’m attached to as well. I’m
looking forward to getting back to work and creating. I’ve been focusing
more on camera work these days. I have been getting a lot of enjoyment out
of that.
Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever
else? Best
place is www.christopherdinunzio.com. Anything else you're dying to mention and I have
merely forgotten to ask? No,
but I would like to remind everyone to wash their hands after they go to
the bathroom. No one wants to have that awkward conversation! Haha. Thanks for the interview!
Thank you for taking the time for me and our film.
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