Red Hook Black (2011)

Land Varied International presents Luis Landivar's third film, RED HOOK BLACK (89 minutes) a story of two friends, Marco (Kyle Fields) and Damian (James Jackson) one white, one black, former high school football teammates who try to find a place for themselves as men in a neighborhood they no longer recognize -- Red Hook, Brooklyn. As each tries to move forward, economic and family obligations pull them back.

Marco lives in the past, trying to hang on to his life as a longshoreman. His wife Elizabeth (Victoria Negri) suffers from Multiple Sclerosis and her niece, Olivia (Danielle Lozeau), who lives with them, has her eyes fixed on escaping Brooklyn and taking uncle Marco with her as her lover. Marco loses his patience with his wife's needs and falls for Olivia's allure.

Damien, a much more stable and resourceful man, has momentum. He's found a good job and a new love after a painful divorce; but he is pulled down by his stoned out younger brother, Melvin (Keith Walker), a would be actor who is always on the verge of something and amounting to nothing.

In these hard economic times any change or go their own way presents a risk that may be insurmountable. The over-arching question for all of these characters is whether they should cut their losses and move on or settle for the little security they do have.

Luis Landivar a former public school teacher in Brooklyn, whose father emigrated from Ecuador in 1969, made his directorial debut with BUSHWICK, featured by The Brazil Times; New York Magazine; Filipino Reporter and The New York Daily News. Landivar also co-wrote and produced the award-winning independent film, A Stray Cat in Brooklyn in 2005 and is in development on the film, No Fear, the untold story of the life of Marcus Garvey and the man who hunted him down--J. Edgar Hoover.

The Original Movie Soundtrack, RED HOOK BLACK, showcases several artists from around the world including Ijah Thompson, performing "If", and Simona Migdonia, performing "Why Did You Go." All music was composed by Michael Bianco with lyrics by the Director, Luis Landivar.

The film was adapted from the original play, RED HOOK BLACK written by Luis's brother, Jose Landivar.

Production Notes

An illicit affair between a niece and her uncle.

The dependable older brother and his irresponsible younger brother who may come to blows. Two best friends from Red Hook try to adjust to the new normal economy.

These events are the inspiration behind RED HOOK BLACK, a slice of life picture set against the backdrop of the Brooklyn waterfront enclave of the same name. The film stars Innovative Artists/Paradigm actor Kyle Fields, James Jackson, Victoria Negri and Visionary Artists actress Danielle Lozeau, and was directed by Luis Landivar.

Red Hook has been the setting for several successful literary works and productions. Harlan Ellison's book "Memos from Purgatory" and Arthur Miller's A View from the Bridge are some of the most successful. The 1991 independent and award-winning film, Straight Out of Brooklyn featured Red Hook as well. Adapted from the original play, RED HOOK BLACK by Jose Landivar, the film was written for the screen by Luis Landivar.

"In constructing this film, we used an extraordinarily tight shooting schedule and guerilla film making techniques to re-create an edgy naturalism that harkens back to the cinematic genius of the Italian Neorealists of Rossellini and early Fellini. The film is an homage to La Strada and the wonderful work of Anthony Quinn, one of my idols," says Landivar. "We didn't try to replicate the exact style; we hoped to capture the emotion and complexity of the moment and to communicate with light and movement."

"While we understood the limitations of our budget, we believed that we could capture life by embracing the challenges presented through persistence, advance preparation and perspiration" said Landivar. "So we created characters with extensive backstories and relationships." The main characters in the film are Marco and his wife, Elizabeth who suffers from Multiple Sclerosis, her niece, Olivia, and Damian, Marco's best friend from the neighborhood.

Landivar is renowned for his work as an educator and his debut feature film, BUSHWICK -- a modest international success that was adapted for television and featured a prominent Brooklyn locale -- and might have been expected to take a similar approach to RED HOOK BLACK. But he turned in the opposite direction. He felt that the idea that inspired this film, which in the immortal words of Bob Dylan, "the times, they are a changing..." would require a completely different road. He set out to make a truly realistic cinematic experience, while also challenging the conventions of the genre and the evolution of our modern society.

In the authentic RED HOOK BLACK, Landivar explores several themes of duality: love and pain -- rich and poor -- young and old -- black and white -- to bring the characters to life.

Landivar explains: "For me, the most important thing was examining the individual and his/her place in the world today. Whatever choices they make, whatever decisions they take, whatever emotions they convey; this was what we hoped to capture. I wanted audiences to experience their problems at an emotional level, not to judge, but maybe to internalize the experience, and that meant bringing the story to life."

From Adaption To Rehearsal

At the beginning of the script adaption process, Landivar realized that the play was written for time now long past. Originally written for the stage, Red Hook Black was firmly in the tradition of the Arther Miller play, A View from a Bridge and Elia Kazan's On the Waterfront. Representing the ideals of American culture, the play was about lost youth and lost opportunity; "the smallness of one's ideas" Landivar says. However, it had been almost a decade since the original play, and "the America we knew is not the same." [Landivar}

Behind these changes were the Dot Com bubble, 911, Iraq War, Katrina, Great Recession and the Gulf Oil Disaster. How could a story that focused upon the lives of an Italian/Irish family in Brooklyn touch a chord with a generation who had become so jaded? Who were Marco, Elizabeth and Olivia to a world now changed? How did things change so radically only one decade later? How could all the pieces of this family drama -- the complex psychology, illness, fears and unspoken emotions of three different people -- be put together in a way that explores the meaning of family and love?

"In my research, I discovered that Red Hook was one of the only places in the city where oil is refined into gas. Having lived in Brooklyn, I knew about the pollution and environmental hazards, but not about the key link between America's economic supremacy over the past century and the oil industry. Red Hook has been the engine of growth for the city and in many ways, for America, the country. In fact, the history of Red Hook economically mirrors the transformation of American industry."

Yet, for all of the research and re-writing Landivar put into developing the story, the most important decision was the choice on how to fashion the process of production. Landivar believes that "the process is the production" and his choice of using a small crew and guerrilla filmmaking techniques were a reflection of the reality of Red Hook; this movie could not have been done any other way. However, the emotional connections that were developed by the actors, when they began to embody their roles were invaluable to bringing the story to life. "Seeing the play performed many years ago was important to the writing process for the film, but having our actors take to their roles with such courage and abandon made the script a truly organic experience. The actors would ask questions like "what was he thinking?" and "why did she do that?" and that pushed me to look deeper and deeper into the characters motivations and reasons for being." The changes Landivar made to the script after the lengthy rehearsal process were limited, but taken into their entirety, the changes represent the subtlety of reality.

"Guerrilla and Authentic": The Shoot

It was always important to the filmmakers to shoot RED HOOK BLACK on location, recreating each of the vastly different worlds in which Marco and Damian inhabit. Landivar worked closely with veteran cinematographer Valentina Caniglia (Pomegranates and Myrrh) to come up with a look for the film that would be as real and intimate as the subject matter, but also contrast the relative disparity between Marco and Damian.

Getting to each location on time was key to Landivar's vision. "The film is set in Red Hook, one of the most visually and aesthetically pleasing locations in the city and we wanted to evoke that feeling we get when we watch the sunset," he notes. "We also wanted to capture the intensity of each character's setting as authentically as possible. We had to work around the schedules of the working businesses and the Port of New York."

He goes on: "We took photographs of a multitude of locations at different times of the day which we used extensively before we set our production schedule. We were always racing the light. We scouted endlessly for the right setting. The waterfront locale was of supreme importance because the views change everywhere along the shore. "

The interior spaces were shoot in real homes. Landivar wanted to capture the essence of everyday life and existence. He also sought out such real-life possessions as the china, photographs, and even divorce papers. These touches were essential for Landivar so that the actors were living in a real world. "The guerrilla nature of production, the grit of the streets and authenticity of the locations made the actors live and breathe Red Hook," he explains.

"The artifice of the cinema presents one of the true paradoxes of our work" says Landivar, "because the intensity of emotion can only come from within for the actor. Filling that chasm, moving into the ethereal, is the art of the production."

About the Cast

Kyle Fields (Marco)

Kyle Fields was born in State College, Pennsylvania to Kevin and Eileen Fields. The oldest son of four boys, Kyle and his brothers were always active in sports and various athletics. At the age of 15, Fields enrolled in Mercersburg Academy, a coed boarding school located in southern Pennsylvania. While attending prep school, Kyle's family moved to southern West Virginia where they reside to this day.

After graduating high school Fields accepted a scholarship to play football at Bucknell University where he played two years before transferring to the University of Charleston after the untimely passing of his coach at Bucknell, Tom Gadd.

Fields graduated from the University of Charleston in 2006 after helping his football team to their most successful season in recent years. Shortly after graduation, Kyle enrolled in West Virginia University's College of Law. And it was during his legal education that Fields found his passion for acting. During his 2nd year of law school, Kyle was presented with the opportunity to work on Love and Other Drugs while it was shooting on location in nearby Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. After completing his work on set, Fields was hooked. He began taking elective film classes and working with private actor coaches.

Shortly after completing his legal education, Fields moved to New York City to actively pursue his passion for acting. Within one month of arrival to the big apple Fields was cast as the Lead character "Marco" in the independent feature film RED HOOK BLACK. Kyle Fields is one of the brightest up and coming actors in New York, look for more of his work in the very near future.

James Jackson (Damian)

James Jackson is an actor new to LA. He grew up in Miami FL and has lived in the northeast. This past summer he booked the leads in two independent features - For How Much and RED HOOK BLACK. He is classically-trained and recently played the role of Oberon in the Off Broadway production of A Midsummer Nights Dream.

His film credits include Checkmate - directed by John Farnsworth and Score directed by Brian Stoneburner.

Danielle Lozeau (Olivia)

Featured in the 20 Actors to Watch edition of Backstage, Danielle Lozeau debuted in her first movie role at the age of 14. Born and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Lozeau can be seen in the award winning, independent drama Asleep in Child's Park and The Surrogate. She can also be seen in Legion - starring Dennis Quaid and Paul Bettany, The Eye - starring Jessica Alba, and Easier with Practice - starring Brian Geraghty.

She can also be seen in the upcoming Pretty Dead Things and Garden of Hedon.

Victoria Negri (Elizabeth)

After taking some acting classes, Victoria decided attend NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. There, she attended the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute and received advanced training at the Stonestreet School for Screen Acting. At Strasberg she discovered how to control her highly sensitive instrument -- meaning her body, voice and physicality -- to form a fully realized character.

Currently, starring in Ben, Victoria has been featured in Backstage and Variety. RED HOOK BLACK is her second feature film. Her film debut was in Cellar.

Keith Walker (Melvin)

Keith Walker is a recent graduate of the School for Film and Television. He has performed in two productions at the Afrikan Womens Theatre and also appeared in Mother of GOD! An off-broadway production by New Perspectives Theatre.

Currently, starring on stage in an independent comedic production, RED HOOK BLACK is his feature film debut.

Cristina Rodlo (Eva)

A graduate of The American Musical and Dramatic Academy of New York, Cristina is an accomplished actress. Her films have included several in her native tongue, (Spanish) including Verano 79 directed by Rodrigo Oviedo and Tras La Mascara directed by Victoria Bonilla.

Currently, Cristina is starring in the stage play, Salio peor el remedio in Mexico. Fluent in Spanish and English, Cristina has also used her training in stage combat as well.

Cristina stars in Roberto Buso-Garcia's El acantilado with Marise Alvarez and Daisy Granados currently in post-production.

Maria Aparo (Ashley)

Originally from McDonough, Georgia, Aparo grew up with a natural desire for performing and knew at a very young age she loved the theatre. The first play she attended was Fiddler on the Roof and at that moment she knew acting would become her passion.

Maria spent 6 weeks at Valdosta State University intensively studying the Uta Hagen acting method. The 6 week study included live interactive theatre pieces as well as the writing and performance of an original play, exploring the style of restoration theatre. Maria would later receive the 2003 "Best Actress" award in a regional One Act Competition for her performance in The Audition is Over. Maria graduated in 2004 in the top 10% of her class with honors.

Maria has over 4 years of training as well as over 3 years professional working experience in the performing arts field. Living and working in locations such as Atlanta, Portland and New York, she has accumulated a wide and diverse array of experiences and opportunities. She currently is located in New York City.

About the Filmmakers

Luis Landivar (Writer/Director/Producer)

Luis Landivar trained with William Esper at William Esper Studios in Manhattan. He is also a graduate of The University of Florida and holds two Master's degrees in Cinema Studies, College of Staten Island and Educational Administration, Baruch College. Landivar's directorial debut, Bushwick, was featured by The Brazil Times, New York Magazine, Filipino Reporter and the New York Daily News. The film enjoyed a limited theatrical run in 2010 and was developed into a proposed television series for HBO Latino. Landivar also co-wrote and produced the award-winning independent feature, A Stray Cat in Brooklyn in 2005 and is development on the film, No Fear the untold story about the life of Marcus Garvey and the man who hunted him down, J. Edgar Hoover. Landivar is an educational administrator and resides in New York, where he is the founder of Land Varied International.

Valentina Caniglia (Cinematographer)

Throughout her many years of experience as a Cinematographer, Italian-born Valentina Caniglia, based in New York and Los Angeles, has since traveled around the globe participating in films in the USA, Europe, Middle East, Asia, Brazil, India, Guyana, and South America.

Caniglia unravels the language of light, shadow, movement and composition of film. Caniglia's unique style has been featured in narrative films, documentaries, television series, commercials and music videos that have been theatrically released and showcased in film festivals around the world. In addition, Valentina's work as a Director of Photography has been seen on HBO, MTV, Channel Plus, ShowTime TV, RAI, and Voyage TVfor whom she also filmed underwater photography in the Caribbean. As well as numerous nationally aired commercials for major multinational corporations like British Airways, Ford, and Nike; her spots for GBX Shoes and Mypace, both received the Telly Award.

Pomegranates and Myrrh (Al Mor wa al Rumman) was a Sundance director lab drama feature film, theatrically released in 2009, and screened at Sundance Film Festival '09, Cannes Film Festival '09, Berlin '09 and Winner of the Audience Award Best Arab Film at the Doha Tribeca Film Festival awarded by co-founder Robert De Niro. The feature film was lensed in the Palestinian territories, Middle East starring Hiam Abbas, Ali Suliman and Yasmine Al Masri. Valentina won the award for Best Cinematography at the 6th Muscat Film Festival 2010 for her work on the film as well.

Valentina's other work include the film Return To Sender starring Bill Cobbs, directed by Oscar winning director and producer Ravi Malhotra, Landlocked starring Leslie Lyles, directed by Jerry Melichar (manager at Focus Features International) and the thriller feature Nightmare, (theatrically released in Europe in '06), won the New York Film Festival '05. Valentina's work on the film was also the subject of an article featured in American Cinematographer.

Valentina recently finished the feature The Festival Of Light, which was filmed in New York City and Guyana 2009/2010 with Aidan Quinn, Jimy Mystry, Melinda Shankar. AYFGS premiered at the Boston International Film Festival 2010 and the Hoboken International Film Festival 2010, where Valentina received the Best Cinematography Award.

Valentina also made her mark in the music video world where she lensed music videos for The Roots, The Stain, Enzo Gragnaniello and Aesop Rock, and Fast Cars (MTV '05 Music Videos Awards). Caniglia is an honorary member of the Italian Association of Cinematographers for her artistry as a Director Of Photography.

Anastasia Cipolla (Editor)

Anastasia Cipolla is a graduate of University La Spienza and is certified in film editing from the Digital Film Academy in New York. She has specialized as a trailer editor for the past five years and directed several short films. Cipolla was born in Italy and lives in New York City.

Daniele Carli (Sound Designer/Supervising Sound Editor)

Daniele Carli is a Sound Designer, Film Composer, Director and Musician. He is an highly creative and motivated sound artist with 5 years of experience in sound creation, editing, and supervising of original audio content, with a background of 16 years in music and aptitude for organization and teamwork.

Carli is working collaboratively as Sound Designer and Supervising Sound Editor with the production companies Land Varied International of New York, Gruppo Alcuni of Treviso in co-production with RAI Fiction Italian National Television as with individual directors in guerilla, cartoon, documentary, educational, narrative, science-fiction and dramatic films.

Carli is working on the cartoon TV Series "Eppur Si Muove" for Gruppo Alcuni and RAI Fiction and "Barry the Berry Bear and Abigail Ann" for Land Varied International. The documentary, NOISE, and feature, LABOURS OF (AN)OTHER SOLIPSIST with Niharika Negi.

Michael Bianco (Composer)

Michael Bianco is a Film Composer, Singer/Songwriter and Producer.

Raised in an artistic family, his father (Vittorio Bianco) is a musician and his mother (Manuela Blanchard) is an actress, he started showing artistic tendencies at a very early age. At age 8 Michael studied drums with Italian drumming legend Tullio De Piscopo for two years, performed at theatres and on a children's TV show named "Solletico" and on Disney Channel. He has also acted in the Italian television program, Bim Bum Bam.

Bianco graduated from the prestigious "Nuovaadio Musicmedia" school in Milan and studied Piano Techniques. In 2003, he won a regional competition for songwriters, Malgrate Festival (Lake Como), with the song titled "Sei Tu" and wrote/produced his first album "Tales."

Bianco won a scholarship at the world renowned Umbria Jazz Festival in 2004 and while attending Berklee College, he was honored as the "Best Contemporary Writing and Production Student." Bianco worked for a publishing & production company based in Los Angeles and produced his second album entitled "Freedom To Believe." He collaborated with singer/songwriter Rocio Soleil, Beth Dorn and David Lipton.

In August 2008 Bianco produced his third album entitled, "The Last Day" with Mino Vergnaghi (Giorgia, Zucchero, Il Divo). Bianco lives in the UK and owner of Enigmusica Productions.

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Red Hook Black

Red Hook Black (2011)

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Opened Friday, December 9th, 2011