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Independent film, much like its musical counterpart, is undergoing something of a renaissance.
Industry-grade equipment is getting cheaper, technology has closed the gap between video and film, and the Internet has made it possible for filmmakers to connect directly with their audience. But, there are still key differences between the two art forms. It’s much easier to cut your own album for free on your PC than to shoot a feature-length film. Even straight-to-DVD movies are wildly expensive to make, and there are endless and inevitable hassles involving cast, crew, script, budget, equipment, time constraints, sets, lighting, filming permits, weather, etc. Even so, the often thankless art of independent film is spreading, driven by passionate and resourceful filmmakers dedicated to their craft. David Spaltro, writer and director of 2008′s “…Around,” is one such filmmaker.
In his debut, feature-length film Spaltro presents us with the semi-autobiographical Doyle Simms (Rob Evans), a poor Jersey kid that dreams of making it big across the river in NYC, but is plagued by circumstance and an underachieving support system. He’s finally overcome by the seduction of independence and enrolls in film school in the Big Apple only to be met with life’s harsh realities. The remainder of the film follows Simms’ arc of set-backs, discouragement, love and loss, self-pity, determination, and eventually self-realization.
The care with which Spaltro handles the material is impressive–particularly for a first-time filmmaker. Signs of inexperience (pacing, underdevelopment of characters, clunky exposition, etc.) are there, but are not as conspicuous as you might expect, and his passion for the story always seems to shine through.
Rob Evans does well tackling the conflicted Simms, but his narration is rushed and robs the film of some potentially powerful moments. The art of writing dialogue is especially difficult to master as what sounds good on the page often doesn’t translate well to the screen. “…Around” might have benefited from one or two more drafts. David A. Barkan’s (“Rosália,” “Theo”) cinematography, however, is a joy. With Spaltro’s direction, Barkan is able to capture all of the magnificence, beauty, despair, grittiness, and opportunity of New York without drawing attention to the camera.
The supporting cast is headed by Molly Ryman who is excellent as Simms’ love interest, and Ron Brice is a delight as the charming transient with all the answers.
Considering it was Shot in 21 days, at 190 locations all over New York City, and financed entirely by Spaltro with $175,000 in credit card debt, it’s not surprising that the quest for independence is the motor that drives these characters. “…Around” is the embodiment of the independent spirit.
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