BLOGS

'Endless Shards of Jazz for a Brutal World'.

That's the sub-title of the movie. In a way, it actually signifies the concept of the film itself: which shall be a collage of scenes and sentiments, feelings and ideas, dramatic poems and songs,  guitars and blood, nooses and belts, sun and moon - all attempting to affix themselves on one large canvas whose sole goal is to express the pain of a life that feels and sees too much.

The past 7 months have been rather overwhelming.  Not because of the work load but because of the challenges I had finding the right actress for my upcoming feature film, Octavia: Elegy For A Vampire, a drama about a 150 year old African-American vampire who wants to die due to the world's cruelty, apathy, and seemingly eternal racism.  The film was conceived as a cinematic poem and "theatrical-cubist-drama" that meditates on identity, colonization, and the spiritual battle Black people throughout the diaspora must undergo as we push further in the 21st century - a world that seems, once again, to have lost its "center." It's not that there are no morals.  It's that there is no consciousness.  And man's derangement has corrupted the very blood flowing through his veins.  This alone frightens the vampires in my film.  But it's no so much the blood that the vampires need -- it is a re-affirmation of who they are, a reminder of their identity, a reiteration of truth in the world.  Truth is blood.  Without it, we are nowhere, no one...no thing. 

It was hard getting actresses' to commit to such a low budget, yet artistically luxurious project. The script alone either attracted or confounded actors.  It subverted the "vampire-horror" genre, emphasized the horrors of the real world as opposed to some adolescent fantasy world and it zeroed in on the pain of being alive in a world that you know hates you.  As is the case with my dramatic productions, there would be an emphasis on language, dialogue, and emotional connections between everyday observations, history, and political crisis.  The role of Octavia demanded someone unafraid, intelligent, and open enough in their emotional life to connect and explore themselves and the themes contained in the script.

I am happy to say that NUMA PERRIER, the Los Angeles based actress, producer, and artist has been cast my leading lady and has taken up the challenge gallantly and with a great deal of finesse, passion, and confidence.  Three qualities Octavia herself must possess.

This past weekend we shot the teaser for the film and held a promotional publicity-photo session of the punk band, the Savage Paws, Octavia's rock & roll trio - featured in the film.  Slowly, it all started to come together.  It is taking shape. It has become real.  We got our sonogram. We are closer to realizing our vision and illuminating the script; bringing this incredible story to the screen, and introducing a new character for our times.  We will stop at nothing to express it all.

Principal photography commences late February-early March, 2015.

More updates to follow.  A teaser will be released next week - along with our next crowdfunding campaign.

(c) Photo of Writer/Director Dennis Leroy Kangalee and Numa Perrier as "young" Octavia with her blood-stained Stratocaster guitar with custom finish ("Silverback") by award-winning photographer & cinematographer Erik Swain; wardrobe and styling by Nina Fleck; Rockefeller Center November 23, 2014.