When Christian de Rezendes was 17, he decided to produce, direct and edit a documentary about his high school class. He calls that project the first large and ambitious venture he had ever committed to finishing. With an old and clunky 8mm video camera and primitive means of editing, his commitment to filmmaking began. Christian turns 28 this month bringing his film career to 11 years. In fact, he and IMAGINE share April 2nd as their birth date.
It's unclear when Christian de Rezendes decided he would become a filmmaker, but it was at a very young age. As a teenager, he studied acting and later attended Dean College for Theatre Arts and Communications. In '95, he studied theatre in London for a semester with Roger Williams University. "While I loved the theatre, I practiced filming rehearsal procedures, getting to know more people and producing college theatre documentaries for my own growth. Those experiences heavily shaped how I work today. But no matter what, my first love always returned me to film and directing."
He honestly tries not to focus on the past or the future, but chooses to live and learn in the present. "Otherwise," he says, "I can get unfocused. I have a number of projects that I will bring to fruition, so I choose to grow positively with my artistic process and the industry. I have faith in what I do and where it will lead me."
It appears Christian has maintained his focus having a considerable body of work and a large project currently in production. Most recently he completed his film GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND (GORI), a story that had been kicking around in his head for two years. "My last project ALZIRA'S STORY (a documentary on the life of his grandmother. His third production, it received four awards, including the Silver Award, from Worldfest-Houston) had taken close to five years on and off to complete. So with GORI I wanted to do something with actors and a set story, but do it quickly by capturing the rawness and unpredictability of life. So instead of writing dialogue, I chose to improvise the entire film."
GORI
came about due to de Rezendes' fascination for films that capture the
true nature of small town American life and the remoteness that often
plays "a vulnerable role to outsiders who arrive to stir up opportunities
for the unrealized dreamers in the crowd... actors, writers, painters,
filmmakers, many of who have been trapped, or unable to leave behind
their hometown
neighborhood for the pursuit of a lifelong ambition." He further
elaborates, "When Jeff Bridges smashed a coke bottle over Timothy
Bottom's eye in THE LAST PICTURE SHOW, it echoed the end of innocence
for teenage friends in a windy Texas town. Meanwhile, the yellow caution
light that always blinks above the road where their fight was set just
keeps blinking. While time stopped for them, their town did not."
"One day, the title GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND came to mind. The thought of it provoked two key images that I could not help but combine: The beauty of small town entrapment with the hype reported in the local press...
Providence (home is Slatersville, RI) was being hailed as the new 'Hollywood East'. While this was far from the truth, many aspiring filmmakers who once called Rhode Island home for all or most of their lives decided to stick around."
The rest of this story is in the filmmakers' own words: "Hollywood East pushed forward with great excitement and anticipation for local [Rhode Island] artists to get involved. Film parties, press gatherings, fundraisers and location forums were everywhere to be found, but the work was scarce. Many dreamers, such as myself, did an endless amount of work for free, putting our lives second to our aspiring goals of independent filmdom. Years of ideas were put on hold as I labored for the good of visiting filmmakers. While I had met many interesting artists and made some wonderful friends, it was time to break away and find myself again.
"In its story, style and theme, GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND became a creative culmination of this learning experience and departure. Its main characters emerged from multiple sides of my own persona during this time as well as certain individuals I personally encountered. Initially, the story was to be shot on mini-DV over the course of 9-12 days, ending in a film party.
"As the process evolved, I quickly realized that all I wanted to do was live in that party for the majority of the film. So I took the same characters and placed them in one setting - an open house fundraiser for a newly formed production company, A Flash of Yellow Pictures, with a focus on films being produced in northern Rhode Island.
"This decision not only changed our schedule, but it enhanced our risk taking factor as artists when I chose to shoot GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND in a two-and-a-half hour timeframe with only two cuts for reloading video and sound as all of the actors would improvise their way through the story. Three cameras would be rolling, two of which were to be operated by cast members. So while I could see them, no one could see or look at me operating the main wide-angle mini-DV camera. The basement apartment of my house was transformed into a last-minute party scene to celebrate the homecoming of Rhode Island's own Jacob Mattison.
"To better enhance the realism of this setting, we adapted many of the rules in the Dogme '95 Manifesto, co-created by Danish filmmakers Thomas Vinterburg and Lars von Trier. While Getting Out of Rhode Island is not a Dogme film, our uses of natural light or light found on set, handheld camera, and no artificial actions were creatively utilized.
"With the support of a grant from the Rhode Island State Council for the Arts, GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND officially rolled at 6:45pm on the evening of November 17, 2001 and wrapped at 9:18 pm that same evening. There were 44 cast members, 8 of which were main characters. The remainders were party guests who mostly auditioned. Upon casting, they were encouraged to create their own characters within the scenario. They were only informed as to why they would be in attendance and nothing about the inner workings of the plot; so all reactions could be realistic. Certain members of the main cast also gave shocking reactions to pieces of news they did not expect in the slightest.
"Our production assistants served as caterers and bartenders during the party, so they took care of the film's needs before your eyes. In addition to the 3 camera-mounted shotgun mics, 6 of the main actors had wireless sets, which greatly enhanced our sound design."
The films premiere is this month at the Castle Cinema Café in Providence at 9:00 p.m., on Wednesday, April 9th. "As we put the finishing touches on GORI..., I am still proud of and endlessly grateful to my cast and crew for working so effectively as a team." Christian says, "All involved truly believed in the authenticity of this project and welcomed its challenges with courageously open arms."
GORI was reviewed by Film Threat giving it a resounding 5 stars and many kudos including, "A high level of praise is deserving of de Rezendes for daring to create a feature that stakes out such emotional power..." and "GETTING OUT OF RHODE ISLAND is something you don't see everyday in contemporary filmmaking: a masterpiece." GORI has been selected to screen in competition at The Bare Bones International Film Festival in Muskogee, OK, April 21-27, 2003. The film's soundtrack is available on CD. It's titled "Sean Fullerton: 3 Years on the Couch."
"...I am proud to say that all of this work, support and sponsorship was voluntary. Following the shoot, we had a party to celebrate its success. Since our cast came from seven states to be a part of the film, it was great to have this time with them. The post-party lasted longer than the shoot itself." De Rezendes told IMAGINE.
Christian de Rezendes is already immersed in his next project, a feature-length documentary on the life of Dr. Vicki Monroe, who has had the ability to see and communicate with the dead since the age of three. The story is centered in Portland, Maine. "in light, VICKI MONROE" is the film, and Christian is aiming for its completion by the end of this year.
For more information about GORI visit:
www.breakingbranchespictures.com
about "in light, VICKI MONROE" visit:
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