Set in the 1930’s, THE USUAL is a commentary paralleling today’s social economic issues with those of the Great Depression. Life was unpredictable, even the wealthiest, most prominent businessman had much to fear. During this uncertain time, a privileged couple learns, through a series of events, the meaning of pay-it-forward, when they unexpectedly find themselves the ones in need. This is essentially a film about kindness, hope and looking out for each other, even during tough times.
Director Statement
My favorite stories are those that deal with loss and rising above (whether that is loss of dreams, loss of love, loss of happiness, or loss of self). I have always wanted to tell stories that move people to laughter or tears, intrigue, provoke a conversation… Inspired by my friends, colleagues and heroes, I wrote THE USUAL with the goal of telling a story about something positive and good. We needed a unique and interesting setting for this message so I chose the early 1930s, paralleling the Great Depression to our current uncertain climate. Deciding to shoot this as a period piece created many fun challenges for cast and crew. With the help and expertise of an incredibly technical, creative and talented team, it made the experience exciting and unforgettable. It was an amazing opportunity to work with period wardrobe, locations, dialect and the look and sound.
Color was key for me on this film. The warm, rich golden tones at the start show wealth and happiness and stature. Later in the film I wanted to use cooler, darker tones to create an impoverished feel, and to show the decline of characters and the uncertainty of their future. Daron Keet, our DP, was able to achieve most of this in camera using the Canon C300, the final color correction was added by Blacklist Digital, marrying A Camera and B Camera seamlessly and taking the beautiful landscape the DP had painted and really making the colors pop. Jennifer Raim, our editor, brilliantly put the puzzle pieces together, and while being true to the script and story I was trying to tell, lent her own interpretation. The sound design breathed fullness into the film, and the music soulfully helped mold the story. The cast brought the characters to life, giving them a voice, and the focus and care that was taken by each actor with their character was so exciting to watch. It was truly a unique and incredible experience.
Credits
| Cast | |
|---|---|
| Mrs. Ford | Renee O’Connor |
| Mr. Ford | Mackenzie Astin |
| Jimmy the Waiter | Russell Sams |
| Maitre D’ | Raymond O’Connor |
| Homeless Man | Robert C. Pullman |
| Homeless Woman | Dustin Quick |
| Crew | |
| Director / Writer / Producer | Dawn Higginbotham |
| Production Companies | Morning Person Pictures Risoli Films DMH Ltd. |
| Executive Producers | Sharen Davis & Renee O’Connor |
| Producers | Kumari Bakhru & Claire Risoli |
| Director of Photography | Daron Keet |
| Costume Designer | Courtney Hoffman |
| Editor | Jennifer Raim |
| Composer | David Lebolt |
| Camera Equipment Provided by Canon |
| Lighting Equipment Provided by ANC Productions |
| Filmed at The Smokehouse and Universal Studios Hollywood |
| Specs | |
|---|---|
| Format | Digital |
| Sound | 2 CH Stereo |
| Run Time | 9:30 |
| Country of Production | U.S. |
| Date of Completion | March 2016 |
Photo Gallery
Links
The Usual on IMDb:
