Indie Movie: Early pandemic days grow to be plot system for Portland filmmaker

Blake Wright and Mariah Larocque in “Dole Mates.” Picture courtesy of Daniel Chaimowtiz

Because the pandemic years grind on, it’s been attention-grabbing to see how our actuality has seeped into our leisure. Whereas tales in regards to the pandemic itself aren’t precisely what escapism-minded viewers are flocking to (sorry, Judd Apatow’s “The Bubble”), the influence of a worldwide medical emergency, with all its attendant worry and isolation, inevitably turns into simply one other truth of big-screen life. The truth is, this nightmare has gone on so lengthy now that Portland filmmaker Dan Chaimowitz is relying on viewers of his newest movie, “Dole Mates,” to be just a little … nostalgic?

“I’ve had the title for years,” mentioned Chaimowitz, helpfully explaining that the “dole” of the title refers back to the British time period for happening unemployment. “It was all the time some sort of story about unemployed individuals having to stay collectively, but it surely by no means fairly got here collectively.” That’s, till COVID confirmed up.

“Dole Mates” tells the story of a younger couple (Mariah Larocque and Blake Wright) who, after hooking up one Saturday night time proper in the beginning of the pandemic, are compelled to quarantine collectively for 28 days in Wright’s house. Dropping their jobs because of enforced isolation is merely the beginning of their tribulations on this unusual new world, with the pair having to discover ways to stay alongside somebody they’ve simply met.

For Chaimowitz, a veteran screenwriting teacher on the College of Southern Maine, these first, disorienting days of lockdown no less than offered him with the hook his long-simmering story wanted.

“Everybody at USM was despatched dwelling,” recalled Chaimowitz, “and the 2 leads of the movie (who’re additionally a real-life couple) have been dwelling collectively in Bangor on the time. Initially, we began out to make it into an internet sequence, doing all the pieces remotely, with no crew. However, after we’d filmed a few episodes, we preferred what we have been getting, however determined we would have liked an even bigger scope, so I long-established it right into a function.”

Chaimowitz, whose first movie, the Portland-shot love story “The Reverse of Cleveland” streamed on Amazon final 12 months (“I made about 5 {dollars},” he jokes), drew upon his fruitful affiliation along with his USM college students in making “Dole Mates.” Other than Larocque (USM class of 2021) and Wright (class of 2020), the movie’s director of pictures is fellow 2020 grad Angie Dubois. Chaimowitz additionally cites the help of Maine-based crew members Garrick Hoffman, Zach Wheaton and Wright’s filmmaking accomplice, Henry Riley, in bringing “Dole Mates”’ claustrophobic story to cinematic life. He’s additionally effusive in regards to the producing abilities of his spouse, Brenda, who kinds the opposite half of their DBC Productions, LLC. Particularly since, like “The Reverse of Cleveland,” “Dole Mates” was funded totally from early withdrawals from their shared retirement account. “I promised I’m by no means doing that once more,” mentioned Chaimowitz.

Along with these Maine abilities, the filmmaker can also be proud to have assembled a soundtrack made up of all-Maine artists, with “Dole Mates” boasting songs from such native music scene regulars as Sparxsea, The Facet Chick Syndicate, Mouth Washington, Midnight Breakfast, Andi Fawcette & Doubting Gravity, SnugHouse, Sparks the Rescue, Jeigh, Andy Happel and Mariah Larocque herself. (The multi-talented Larocque simply got here off a 12 months of representing Maine within the Miss America Pageant. She was Miss Congeniality.)

Nonetheless, the movie’s construction, and Chaimowitz’s ties to so many younger and gifted Maine actors, musicians and filmmakers, allowed the director to get loads of manufacturing worth into his “no-budgeted” film. (“Dole Mates” got here in underneath $25,000 complete.)

“In some methods, making the movie in such a confined house was simpler,” mentioned Chaimowitz. “It was designed that manner, and we filmed for 10 days final August at our home.”

As Chaimowitz explains of the movie’s remoted setting, “the manufacturing design (of character Owen’s bed room) basically turns into a personality and a metaphor for Owen’s inside relationship struggles. It additionally allowed us to regulate prices with minimal areas and setups.”

Chaimowitz additionally cites the story’s timeframe as essential to the themes of “Dole Mates,” saying, “It’s that first weekend, when all the pieces modified. It nearly makes it nostalgic – these two individuals meet on Saturday that first weekend at the beginning shut down, after which they’re caught collectively for 28 days.”

That’s an evocative quantity, as Chaimowitz notes, each for a rom-com (suppose Sandra Bullock) and a narrative going down in the beginning of a viral outbreak. (Suppose “28 Days Later,” however with out the rage-zombies.)

With “Dole Mates” already being accepted to The Worldwide New York Movie Competition, Chaimowtz has excessive hopes for his second directorial effort. “We completed up a few month in the past, and determined to deal with movie festivals which have classes for ‘no-budget’ movies, pondering that they’ll perceive sure manufacturing values. That mentioned, ‘Dole Mates’ seems nice, due to Angie, who’s only a terrific (director of pictures). We considered how you can make all of it look cinematic, altering up the look of the room, and the actors. (Mariah did her personal hair and make-up). So though they spend their time all in that one room, it actually seems terrific.”

Dennis Perkins is a contract author who lives in Auburn along with his spouse and cat.

Associated Tales