Filming a mystery/suspense story
in the backwoods of Maine might present a
host of problems for some independent directors. But
from the looks of the movie MUD, which premiered at
the Pavilion
in Portland on Friday, November 18, writer/director
Andy Davis tackles
such obstacles with the expertise of
a seasoned professional.
The atmosphere at the premiere
was buoyant and fun as attendees were treated to
lively tunes, an array of hors d’oeuvres and the
main attraction- the sixty-five minute feature, shot
on location in Porter, Scarborough and Biddeford,
Maine.
The movie revolves around the
mysterious swamp where fourteen-year old Jimmy LaPann,
played by Ryan Shoos, discovers a human skull. Tension
builds as the discovery forces Jimmy’s father Kevin,
played by Kenn Woodard, to face the truth about his
past and the life he has chosen for himself and his
family.
Drumbeats, haunting music, mist,
and circular camera action add to the suspense of the
movie. Particularly effective are the quick cuts to
black and white during flashbacks and the grim but
realistic setting of the trailer home in contrast to
the lush scenery of the Maine countryside.
A subtle look from someone like the clerk in
the grocery store, played by Dennis Doiron, speaks
volumes. The long shots of the mosquito graveyard
mirror the close-ups
of the headstones in the cemetery.
Other cast members include
Michelle Violette as Lorette LaPann, Stan Grunder
as Robby, James Stiles as David La Pann,
Dan Dow as Carol LaPann and Kristi CarrHurd as the
Teacher. Rozi Smith, Eliza Gendron, Emily Massa, and
Molly Massa play the parts of Girl in Store 1, Girl in
Store 2, Kimberly and Charlie, respectively.
Despite its dark tone and serious
subject matter, MUD lit up the screen with its
Portland debut and is sure to be a bright spot in its
forthcoming festival circuit.
Cast and crew alike had nothing
but high praise for the director’s easy-going style
and the producer Olin Smith’s motto to treat
everyone the way he would want to be treated.
Judging from the turn out at the
premiere and the camaraderie of the group, the formula
seems to have worked.
For Andy, the most amazing part
of the whole production was seeing his ten-year
effort, finally, reach the screen. Looking back at the
long process, Andy admitted that at times, “I really
didn’t think I was going to be here tonight… I
started off writing when I was a teenager. I ended up
writing as a father” (Andy has a five-year old son).
Both perspectives, as teenager and as father, added to
the richness of the screenplay. Andy credits “life
experience” for his inspiration. He wrote the first
thirty
pages in about three hours. And through
all his rewrites, “those really have never
changed.” The message of the movie, in
a word, is “hope.”
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| Actress Madeline McNulty plays Jimmy’s little sister in MUD. |
MUD writer/director Andy Davis at the Premiere at the Pavilion in Portland, ME. |
Ask Andy’s actors, and
they’ll tell you what made the project especially
enjoyable for them. Stacey Ann Strang, a theatre major
at USM, found her director to be very collaborative.
“He wanted it to evolve, to
be natural,” Stacey offers. And he allowed his cast
the freedom to make suggestions. Compared to her stage
work, this was a treat for Stacey. She appreciated
Andy’s open-minded approach to directing and the
camera’s ability to capture close-ups for the
audience. She also mentioned that, “You get to do it
over,” and considered the shooting to be a
“mellow, down to earth process.” Stacey plays the
part of Lori Peters in
the movie.
Jack Murphy joined the crew of
MUD in post production as the editor. He worked
closely with Andy during the editing and would defer
to him as the director. Since Andy also wrote the
screenplay, Jack made sure “...any time I cut
dialogue or made a drastic choice, I’d call him in
fairly soon before it would get too far into the
process.” Jack wanted to make sure that
if Andy was “really married to an idea, I can’t
say I don’t think it’s working unless
I have a real strong reason to back it up.” Asked if
working with a director who is also the writer
presented any particular challenges or opportunities,
Jack responded, “In a way it makes it easier. He is
the definitive source for what he was trying to do.”
MUD is Jack’s first feature. The best part of the
process for him? “The level
of professionalism and commitment was higher than
I’ve experienced before. It was
a real good experience working with Andy.”
Carl Zurhorst from Andover, Maine
plays Frank the bully in the movie. “It was
wonderful,” Carl states. “Andy was a great person
to work with. He was a wonderful director. The best
part was the whole acting experience.” Carl has
played bullies before, but isn’t worried about being
type cast. His well-rounded experience includes dance,
music and athletics.
Ryan Shoos (Jimmy LaPann) from
South Portland revealed his early source for acting
inspiration. “I love Jim Carey and Johnny Depp.”
Ryan auditioned for Andy and got the lead. Now he
wants to be a professional actor. Of Andy’s
directing style, Ryan relates that, “He lets you get
in the character. He wants you to know your lines, but
would rather have you be in character and wing it if
you forget your lines.” He missed a week and a half
of pre-season soccer to do the movie. Shooting took
seven days. According to Ryan, it sometimes took ten
or fifteen takes before a scene was finished. “…
it would depend on everybody’s mood.”
That’s sometimes hard to get used to. “… you
have to keep the emotion for all the shoots. You have
to keep on pushing yourself.” Ryan would love to go
to LA for college. Right now he’s 15.
Madeline McNulty (Becky LaPann)
of Cape Elizabeth says of the movie, “It was really
fun.” Madeline admits that she is “sort of”
like her character Becky LaPann. Learning all those
lines was not difficult for her. She’s done lots of
acting before, including some commercials for
David’s bridal, “Like a hundred times.” She
plays Jimmy’s little sister in MUD.
Olin Smith (Executive Producer)
spoke about shooting in seven days with one day
pick-up. It took six months for editing. Two months
were spent on pre-production. Olin commended actor
Kenn Woodard (Kevin LaPann) for coaching other actors
on the set. It was that type of collaborative attitude
that permeated the entire production. “We were
pretty easy-going.” With a small crew you can
“move quick and make a decision fast.”
MUD’s crew consisted of five people. Would he do
anything differently? “No. Not really. Some things
happen because they’re supposed to. Some
things happen because you make them happen. This was a
combination of both. Throughout this process, everyone
was treated well. We were all the same. You set the
tone. Treat people how you want to be treated. Maine
is a small town. You don’t burn any bridges, because
you’re gonna have to cross them tomorrow. And you
don’t sit around. You make things happen.”
Making things happen seemed to be
the theme of the evening. MUD was well received
by an appreciative audience.
Mary V. Dunkerly is a Portland screenwriter,
director and producer. Her independent short A FORTUNE
IN TEA BAGS, screened at the New York International
Independent Film and Video Festival. She is a regular
contributor to IMAGINE on happenings in Maine.
