Your new movie Clean
Up Duty - in a few words, what is it about?
Well according to IMDb it says, "Henry is in witness protection. As
he goes through his daily routines, Lou, an old friend drops by looking
for payback - but what stands between them may not be the barrel of a
gun." That's accurate! I'll let director Christopher Di Nunzio [Christopher
Di Nunzio interview - click here] answer that. It's his movie.
What
were your sources of inspiration when writing Clean
Up Duty? I've had this comedic bit about handwashing in the back of my head for
years. I've always wanted to add it to a script but it never quite
fit. It was more like a Jerry Seinfeld, Larry David cringe humor type
scene. But it definitely changed with this script. How did the project fall together in
the first place?
Chris asked me if I had a short film script. He wanted to shoot
something. I didn't but I took the opportunity to finally put the
bit to paper. Do talk about Clean
Up Duty's director Christopher Di Nunzio, and what was your collaboration
like?
We talked a little about the cast, which is when I knew I needed to
make it more of a mob hit comedy as well. Clean
Up Duty isn't the first time you've worked with Christopher Di
Nunzio - so what can you tell us about your previous collaborations, and
how did the both of you first meet even?
I went to a screening of Chris's first feature Livestock, which is
called The Unholy Order now, at the
Coolidge Corner Cinema. I was
friends with a cast member Robert Hines. So we met there. I sent him a
rough cut of my first horror short Microcinema and he gave me great
advice and we really hit it off. And we've been working together since
either on movies or running film festivals. At least to me,
Clean Up Duty came
across as wickedly funny - so what can you tell us about your movie's
brand of humour?
Well I wrote it as a comedy so I'm glad you found it funny! It took a
turn away from the cringe humor when I wrote it for this particular
cast and made it more absurdist. With Fiore [Fiore
Leo interview - click here] and David [David
Graziano interview - click here], I wanted to
make it a mob spoof as well. I knew they would nail that. So that's
where it falls more into Monty Python absurdist territory for me. Just
an absurd conversation that doesn't quite fit the circumstances.
To what extent were you involved in the actual making of Clean
Up Duty, and if applicable, what can you tell us about the shoot
as such, and the on-set atmosphere?
My involvement was the absolute best. I handed off the script and was
done. I enjoyed a cup of espresso at home while they were working.
The $64-question of course, where can Clean
Up Duty be seen?
Who pays the $64 here, is that you or me? The answer may depend on
that. I know it is just starting the festival submission process.
But I suspect a festival that is near and dear to me might have a
slot for it. Anything you can tell us about
audience and critical reception of Clean
Up Duty?
You liked it! Any future projects you'd like to
share?
My short experimental doc The House will have
its world premiere at the Buffalo Dreams Fantastic Film
Festival on August 19th. It is about the clergy sexual abuse at
the notorious House of Affirmation, which was a treatment center for
pedophile priests. Kind of ironic. And even though this is where
some of my abuse took place, the short has comedic elements as well.
I'm also in post for what looks to be my final horror feature Florence, which has elements of
The House in it. In fact some of it
was shot in the former House of Affirmation. And Chris Di Nunzio was
my DP
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Your/your movie's website, social media, whatever else?
I'm Skip Shea everywhere.
Anything else you're dying to mention and I have
merely forgotten to ask?
I just want to thank you for your support of indie cinema. We need more
people like you in order for those of us who work at this level can
continue. I truly apprecate that you are here for us. Thanks for the interview!
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