35 And TickingAn Interview with Director Russ Parr
By Wilson Morales
May 19, 2011
Coming out this week is the romantic comedy ’35 and Ticking,’ which stars an all-star ensemble cast with Nicole Ari Parker, Tamala Jones, Kevin Hart, Keith Robinson, Wendy Raquel Robinson, Meagan Good, Mike Epps, Clifton Powell, Jill Marie Jones, Kym Whitley, Luenell, Dondre Whitfield and Aaron D. Spears.
Directed by Russ Parr, the film centers around the lives of four lifelong friends who, after approaching the age of 35, are struggling to build the families they’ve always dreamed of.
For Parr, whose day includes hosting the nationally syndicated ‘Russ Parr Morning Show,’ the film represents a major step in his film career. As an independent filmmaker, the California native previous directed ‘The Last Stand’ with Laz Alonso and Anthony Anderson, and ‘Love for Sale’ with Jackie Long and Mya. Image Entertainment in conjunction with Swirl Films and Up To Parr Production will open ’35 & Ticking’ in theaters on Friday, May 20, 2011 in Atlanta, Washington, D.C. and Baltimore.
In speaking with Blackfilm.com, Parr spoke about putting this film together and getting it in theaters.
Where did the idea come from to write this story?
Russ Parr: For years, I’ve been watching friends and once they hit the age of 35, and not women, but guys, it’s the red flag stage because they start figuring that they have to get stuff together before they hit 40. The five year window is a lot of pressure when one is not married or have any kids. I’ve seen many people go through that dilemma and figure there’s a story that needs to be told.
You have a cast that most audiences are familiar with from their previous films of TV shows. How did assemble such a well rounded group?
RP: I knew a couple of them and a couple of people had read the script and really liked it. The feedback I got was that it was really good. Sometimes when you get one person on board, others will follow. I couldn’t afford to pay them their normal fee, but if it’s a good project, a lot of these folks will come on board and partner up with you and hope for a back-end deal and you go from there. The script was the enticement.
At any time, did you have to tweak the lines of certain characters because of the actor who is playing the role?
RP: No, I wrote that script in 6 days. I’m a really fast write and we shot that film in 15 days, so I’m a fast director too. Once you know who’s cast in the film, you can work with the actor. With Kevin playing Clevon, I don’t have to do much with the character. The hard part is making sure it all makes sense and I take pride in developing the characters in a short period of time.
With Kevin Hart, Mike Epps, and Kym Whitley in the film, did you allow them able to ad-lib any of their scenes?
RP: Some. In the original script, Kevin Hart pretty much follows the script, but when you have these talented people, you have to allow them to ad-lib. At times, I will have them do what’s written, and then I would say, “Do your thing!” I do what’s best for the film.
As the writer of the film, was it a challenge mixing the comedy along with the main topic of the film without losing focus?
RP: That’s a good question because that was a fear of mine. I would kick it off with the comedy and then I would come at you hard with the drama. I wanted to make sure it was balanced. It had to be topsy-turvy because you can’t sit and wallow with one character because Kevin Hart would be in the next scene ready to make you laugh out loud.
With as many marketable names that you have in this film, why is it that the film will be shown in limited areas, as opposed to another black romantic comedy ‘Jumping the Broom,’ which is playing in over 2000 theaters?
RP: I am an independent producer, and I imagine that T.D Jakes is as well, but with more money. I do a small business monologue. I do films with a budget under a million dollars. I had a number of offers, but a lot of people view the film as small and you have to prove yourself. That’s a big problem in Hollywood. They put us all in the same box. If a Tyler Perry comes out and doesn’t do well, you won’t see a black film for four or five months. This is a film that has universal appeal because everyone has the same issues, whether one is black or white. I’m just a small independent producer and I don’t have the respect yet of the big studio houses because everyone wants to see that you spent $5 million dollars on a movie and I didn’t. Some people don’t think that good strong relationships being demonstrated by black people sell. They think that comedy sells. This is more like a romantic dramedy. I think Tyler has been pretty successful with it. I trying to do something more people can relate to.
When do you find time to films as well as keep your day job, which is the radio show?
RP: It’s pretty easy. I write quickly. I just finished another script that I wrote in four days, which is also a romantic comedy. I let my closest friends read the script and let me know if it works or not. I didn’t know ’35 and Ticking’ was really funny and I wrote that two years ago. These stuff is easy for me and keeps my mind occupied.
Why should anyone see ’35 and Ticking’?
RP: The reason anyone should see the film is because if it does well in the three markets (Washington D.C, Baltimore, and Atlanta), they will roll it out bigger. AMC Theaters is doing something with independent films that if that a film does a certain number per average, they will roll it out in other markets. I think my film deserves a bigger audience and without bias, it’s a fun, emotional real movie. The film touches people and it’s not fake or over the top. The issues presented in the film do happen in real life.
What’s next?
RP: My next film is called ‘The Under Shepherd.’ It’s not a romantic comedy or a model that everyone loves and I’m taking a chance. This one is a very powerful drama that deals with two pastors and this is a campy film where one is leaving the church and comes back. This is someone leaving the church. One of the pastor turns into this huge tele-evangelist. This won’t the stereotypical thing where he’s having sex with young men. I’m doing something that’s real, and that really does happen in the church. It just shows what power, money and greed does to people. To me, it’s one of my favorite scripts and I wrote that about three years ago. Right now, I have Omari Hardwick as one of the leads.
