...Around (2008)

Director:

David Spaltro

Writer:

David Spaltro (writer)

Release Date:

25 December 2010 (USA)

Genre:

Drama

Tagline:

Embrace the Fall

Plot:

A dark, dramatic comedy about making it in New York. From Jersey City to Penn Station, ...Around is about getting up to fall back down again.

Cast

Robert W. Evans	...	Doyle Simms (as Rob Evans)
Molly Ryman	...	Allyson Lodeir
Marcel Torres	...	Logic
Berenice Mosca	...	Theresa Simms
Ron Brice	...	Saul
Veronica Heffron	...	Mona
David Joseph Boyd	...	Bryan
Erin Sullivan	...	Marcy
Ali Tobia	...	Lizzie Simms
Amy Hoerler	...	Louise
Julie Tran	...	Jun Fei
Shawn Mahoney	...	Tony Simms
Steven Grgas	...	Young Doyle
Kristopher Torres	...	Young Logic
Nabil Vinas	...	Trey
Chris O'Neil	...	Art Teacher
Eugene Walker	...	Grizzled Resident
Amanda Sayle	...	Bad Film Student
Jan Leyssens	...	Film Chairman
Sarah Croce	...	Leona
Stepheny Stephens	...	Hipster #2
Benjamin Ragheb	...	Hipster Lame
Nathan Myers	...	Hipster #3 (as Nathan Meyers)
Bridget Fitzgerald	...	Hipstress
Larry Hillier	...	Professor Wayley
Christiane Seidel	...	Foreign NYU Director
Theik Smith	...	Thug
Jean Pierre Barthelby	...	MC Chocolate Milk
Deborah Arters	...	Financial Advisor
Maria Diaz	...	Drunken Cafe Woman
Patrick Mitchell	...	Pops Resident
April Cary	...	Bartender
Lenn Maureen Rodriguez	...	Real Estate Agent
Lee Gillentine	...	Yuppie
Stephen Hahn	...	Chef / Cafe Cook
Madison Candel	...	Young Lizzie
Tamala De Jesus	...	Party Girl
Basilica Bliachas	...	Party Girl 2
Ray Doughty	...	Old Man in Bar
rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Janis Grossman	...	Tipsy Party Girl

Directed by
David Spaltro

Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
David Spaltro		writer

Produced by
Nick Boris	....	executive producer
Grant DeSimone	....	associate producer
Lee Gillentine	....	executive producer
Lee Gillentine	....	producer
Carlos 'Storm' Martinez	....	associate producer
David Spaltro	....	producer

Original Music by
Vita Tanga		(CreativeMixing)

Cinematography by
David A. Barkan

Film Editing by
David Spaltro

Production Design by
Lindsay Potter

Art Direction by
Jess Levy

Set Decoration by
John Gist
Christy Pitre

Costume Design by
April Cary

Makeup Department
Dhyana Forte	....	additional makeup artist
Tara Pavoni	....	additional makeup artist
Mako Sama	....	key makeup artist

Production Management
Randolph Carty	....	unit production manager

Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Grant DeSimone	....	first assistant director
Jason Shahinfar	....	second assistant director

Art Department
Ola Akinmowo	....	property master

Sound Department
Joshua Hilson	....	sound mixer
Carlos 'Storm' Martinez	....	post-sound editor
Carlos 'Storm' Martinez	....	sound re-recording mixer
Carlos 'Storm' Martinez	....	supervising sound editor
Peter Martinez	....	foley artist
Peter Martinez	....	sound editor
Chuck Reina	....	boom operator
Vita Tanga	....	sound composition

Visual Effects by
Nick Boris	....	colorist

Stunts
Theik Smith	....	stunt coordinator

Camera and Electrical Department
Luis Armada	....	best boy electric
Zeynep Oguz Catal	....	gaffer
Johnathan Holmes	....	additional second assistant camera
Bruce Jones	....	swing grip and electric
Kevin Kilcher	....	Steadicam operator
Olivia Kuan	....	first assistant camera
Steve Marinconz	....	swing: grip/electric
Justin McCormak	....	key grip
Jim McGibbon	....	additional second assistant camera
Robert M. Neilson	....	grip
Rob Pimentel	....	swing grip and electric
Fletcher Wolfe	....	second assistant camera

Music Department
Jerome Loston	....	music supervisor
Carlos 'Storm' Martinez	....	score mixer
Vita Tanga	....	composer: theme music

Other crew
Jonathan Barli	....	production assistant
Bryan Condun	....	production assistant
Jason Foulke	....	script supervisor
Sam Mallo	....	key production assistant

Distributors

• Cinetic Rights Management (2008) (worldwide) (all media)

Runtime:

USA:104 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1

Filming Locations:

New York City, New York, USA

Trivia:

Most of the film was shot in a Bushwick Brooklyn loft, recycling and building sets overnight, only weeks before the building was condemned for illegal zoning and all the tenants were evicted.

Movie Connections:

Followed by Things I Don't Understand (2012)

Soundtrack:

Everyone's Starting Over

Embrace the Fall

Embrace the Fall Here is a film about passion, perseverance, optimism, determination and the ability to overcome the weight of the past. "...Around" is the debut feature from director, David Spaltro -- crafting a truly authentic film that smacks of true life experiences.

We track four years in the life of Doyle Simms (Evans), a young man who escapes a confined, unhealthy existence at home and heads for New York City to attend film school. Those years are filled with hardship and colorful characters.

Doyle makes his way in the world living from credit card to credit card, surviving any way he can, sleeping anywhere he can, meeting anyone he can. His minimal wardrobe includes a pair of Converse sneakers held together with electrical tape.

He meets a streetwise homeless man named Saul, who consistently refers to him as "movie star" while dishing out words of advice.

He also meets a beautiful young woman named Allyson, who seems, for a moment in his life, to be an ultimate destination that he can look forward to.

"...Around" navigates the 4 years of film school and its many ups and downs -- then, in typical indie-flick fashion, gives us a glimpse of an unknown future upon which we can speculate indefinitely.

I was struck by how confident the film was, both in the writing and in the visuals. By most standards today, this film had a shoestring budget. However, it seems way above its pay-grade. There are some gorgeous shots of New York City. Clearly, there is a great affinity for the big apple in this movie.

The performances are stellar. Evans has probably been told a million times that he reminds of Ryan Gosling. Not only is it true in the physical sense -- he has the reserved intensity and the weight of emotion in his facial mannerisms that will demand the comparison. He gives an effort here that works tremendously well for large chunks of the film, although, on occasion, he tries a little too hard to emote.

How is Molly Ryman not a star already? She is gorgeous in ways reminiscent of Monica Potter and Kristen Bell, and she manages to steal most of the scenes in this film with such vivid expressiveness and vital energy. Rarely have I seen such a young actor or actress whose every thought is manifested so clearly. And that is the greatest strength any actor can possess -- the ability to convey thoughts without words. If Ryman gets the right break in the right film... watch out! There are a few small flaws that bugged me during the running time. I was most energetic during the first half of "...Around". That feels like a mistake. Rather than building my interest, I felt it waning. There is a section after Doyle's mother falls ill that really lags -- therefore killing any momentum or inertia that the screenplay had produced.

I also thought that the relationship between Doyle and Allyson develops too slowly in the real timeline of these character's lives. I think we are in year three before they "get together"... and yet it is clear that the attraction is far quicker than that.

Nevertheless, this is a special little film that demands and deserves attention. If you can find it... Watch it. David Spaltro had directed a smart and acutely observational movie that doesn't have an ounce of dishonesty. It is a film that will gnaw at you long after the fade to black. After all, each one of us have difficulties, past and present... It's what we do with the opportunities we have that matters most.

Written by TC Candler