People often will do whatever it takes, and overcome any obstacles they’re faced with, in order to succeed in their careers. That’s certainly the case with the characters and the writer-director-producer, Stephen Marro, of the new comedy-drama mystery “Broadway’s Finest.” The film is screening, and winning awards, at several film festivals across the country. While the characters in the movie, unlike Marro, are turning to illegal activity to get what they want, their determination is still certainly resonating with audiences.
Broadway’s Finest” follows three struggling men who are so desperate for success, they impersonate New York City undercover police officers. Wanting to create their own cutting edge police drama they chase down a notorious drug dealer, in order to get the authentic material they need to create their Broadway show. As the adventures of the ill-prepared supposed detectives get them deeper and deeper into the case, they are driven to extremes.
The film and Marro, a native of Long Beach, New York, have been awarded at the numerous film festivals the movie has screened at so far. “Broadway’s Finest,” which was the opening night feature film at the 15th Annual Long Island International Film Expo on July 13 at Bellmore Movies, won the Audience Award during the closing night ceremony on July 19. The film was also awarded in several other categories at the expo, including, Best Editing for John Zieman; Ben Goldberg and Marshall Grantham were awarded for Best Original Score; and John Petersen was a Best Original Song Honorable Mention.
Marro, who also won the Best Director award at the Hoboken International Film Festival, the Outstanding Achievement Writing award at Visionfest and Best Screenplay at The Hills Film Festival, generously took the time to speak over the phone about “Broadway’s Finest” right after winning the awards at the Long Island International Film Expo. Among other things, the filmmaker discussed how writing and producing “Broadway’s Finest” helped him in his directorial duties; the limitations he experienced from having a limited budget and a short shooting schedule; and the gratifying feeling he felt after the movie won its numerous awards.
Question (Q): You both wrote the screenplay for, and directed, “Broadway’s Finest.” Where did you come up with the inspiration for the story?
Stephen Marro (SM): A newspaper article and my life experiences.
Q: Do you find that writing the script for the film helped you in your directorial duties once you began shooting?
SM: Yes, it certainly did. Obviously, I spent a lot of time writing that screenplay. I knew the story worked; there were no holes in it. When I was on the set, inevitably, there’s a rain delay, something doesn’t work or you’re under some type of time pressure. But I didn’t really have to worry about whether or not my script was working, or whether or not the story was going to work. I could just concentrate on telling the story, and directing the actors.
Q: Speaking of rain delays and some things not working, the independent film company Arrested Development Productions released “Broadway’s Finest.” Did working with an independent studio and a lower budget place any kind of limitations on what you could shoot for the film?
SM: Well, of course. As you said, the first limitation is that it’s a lower budget. The second limitation is that it’s an ambitious film. I believe there’s 16, 17, maybe even 18 locations in the film that take place all over New York City, in Manhattan, Queens and Brooklyn, and even Nassau County (on Long Island) and in New Jersey.
Obviously, it was an ambitious project. It put a tremendous amount of pressure on the entire production.
Q: Like you mentioned, “Broadway’s Finest” was shot in multiple locations in New York City, Nassau County and New Jersey. What was the process like, getting the locations for the film?
SM: Once again, since we had such a limited budget, you need to get a full shoot day in for a movie like this. Often times I would try to find locations where we can go and spend a whole day there. I could point my camera looking east, and it would look like a different location. I would point my camera west, and it would look like a different location. So I’m maximizing every particular location that I go to.
Q: Besides being the director and writer on the film, you also served as a producer on “Broadway’s Finest.” Did serving as a producer help you as you were directing as well?
SM: It helped me in the regards that if I felt we needed an extra shot or that we needed to go into overtime, it wasn’t like I needed to get approval from anyone. In other regards, on this level, it’s nice to have a producing partner who can take some of the weight off your back in getting through an independent picture.
Q: “Broadway’s Finest” is your feature film directorial and writing debut, after penning and helming such short movies as “The Quality of Mercy” and “The Delivery Boy.” What was the transition period like into feature films with “Broadway’s Finest?” Were there more difficulties in shooting a feature film?
SM: Of course there were more difficulties in shooting a feature film. Instead of shooting two-to-three days, like on a short film, you’re shooting maybe 22 days on a long film. Usually a feature film is more involved, there’s a bigger crew, so hence more things can go wrong.
Q: What was the casting process for the main characters for “Broadway’s Finest” like?
SM: With this particular project, I didn’t necessarily have any specific actors that knew would be perfect for the roles. So we spent about six months auditioning New York City actors.
Q: One of the actors in the film, Chris Kerson, has said he had a great working relationship with you. What was it like working with him while shooting “Broadway’s Finest?”
SM: It was terrific working with him. Chris comes to the set completely prepared, in character. One of the wonderful things about Chris is that he doesn’t become involved with all the going-ons that are happening on the set. He sits in a room or a hallway or anywhere he can stay in his character and his thoughts. That way, when he comes to the set, he’s completely prepared. He doesn’t let any distractions get in the way of his performance.
Q: “Broadway’s Finest” has played at several international festivals, including The Hoboken International Film Festival, the Garden State International Film Festival and the Long Island International Film Expo. What has the reaction to the film been like at the festivals?
SM: I was elated. You work very hard, and to be recognized for your work gives you a tremendous feeling.
Q: How have audiences reacted so far to the movie at the film festivals?
SM: It’s been very good. We received an award at the Long Island International Film Expo; we were the audience favorite award. It was a big audience, it was close to 300 people, or maybe a little bit over 300 people, which is a big size screening these days. The audience seemed to love the movie, I couldn’t be happier.
Q: So you’ve been receiving positive feedback from audiences who have already seen the film?
SM: Yes, I have been receiving positive feedback. This particular show was near my hometown of Long Beach, and there were a lot of people from Long Beach who came to the show. The next day, when I was walking through town, people actually came up to me and told me they heard the movie was terrific. They asked when they could see it.
As I said to Kevin Lane, the executive producer of the film, the first question usually on studio audience surveys is, would you recommend this film to your friends? It was very encouraging to hear how many people came to the screening said they would actually recommend the film to their friends.
Q: Do you have any information about when “Broadway’s Finest” will be released? Are you aiming for a theatrical release, or a Blu-ray or DVD release?
SM: Obviously, because the film is so entertaining, and because audiences seem to really enjoy the movie, we’re trying to get a theatrical release. We might actually be doing a limited run here on Long Island within the next month.
Q: “Broadway’s Finest” has won several awards at the film festivals it has played at so far, including Best Director at the Hoboken International Film Festival. What was the feeling like after you won the award?
SM: Quite frankly, I didn’t expect that at all. That was the first award, so in a lot of ways, that was the best. As I said, it was unexpected. First and foremost, I consider myself a film director, and to be recognized for that was extremely gratifying.
Q: Do you enjoy directing more so than writing and producing, or do you enjoy all aspects of filmmaking?
SM: Well, I enjoy directing the most, producing next, and the thing I enjoy the least is writing. It’s ironic, since the film won two writing awards. (laughs)
Q: Are there any directors that you look up to and influence your work?
SM: I would say, and I’m probably a little out of vogue on this, but Steven Spielberg is a director that I always look up to.
Q: Do you have any upcoming writing or directing projects lined up that you can discuss?
SM: (In a sarcastic voice:) Well, I’m actually working on a screenplay that is very unique. It’s a love story, and it doesn’t have a vampire, werewolf or a zombie in it. So we’re going to be breaking ground on that.
