Late last year. Ben Sandomir and Scott Hammon (who I nicknamed BenScott)
were embarking on post-production for their first
feature film,Fortune Cookies & Glory.
They were harried, worried and pretty fried, but
still excited about their passion project. Today,
far less stressed, appearing almost Zen-like (okay,
I exaggerate!), BenScott seem even more thrilled
about their film as they approach the final phase
of post-production.
In our last sit down, the boys’ chief concern
was acquiring monies for the mammoth job of editing.
Turns out most of the financing came directly from
their own pockets but that seems to suit them just
fine--no one to have to answer to!
Currently, Fortune Cookies & Glory runs
two and a half hours. The plan is to significantly
shorten it once they’re able to screen the
film for audiences (after the music and sound work
is done). “We’ve only shown it to a
few friends to try and gauge where the laughs are.
We can’t wait to show it to people who don’t
know us and won’t laugh at the quirkier personal
things.”
You may recall, BenScott grew up in Florida, met
in college, hit it off and immediately began working
together. The writing of Fortune Cookies &
Glory was a complete collaboration of back/forth
improv ideas with both “always striving for
originality.” Post-penning, they decided to
take the leap and make the movie. Having written
the script together, they would co-direct and co-star
as well (and even co-create props!!!)
So the insanity of the production shoot ensued.
“It was a real keep-it-moving type of production.
There wasn’t a lot of time to stop and analyze.”
Looking at the footage they shot now they’re
“pretty happy with performances...The actors
put a lot of work in there...WE had to
direct and
act...so any blame goes on us if something didn’t
work...”
Miraculously BenScott survived the shoot (which
ran from July to October of 2004) and so did their
film--quite a real miracle because shortly after
shooting wrapped the boyz were burglarized and lost
a load of computer equipment as well as a state-of-the-art
camera...but miraculously, the 60 hours of shot
footage wasn’t touched!
The two still live together and are
still constantly at one another’s side. They
have to be as they edit Fortune each night
from 7PM until midnight. They’ve stuck to
the rigid schedule and editing is now near completion.
Next step involves the festival circuit. They’re
taking it upon themselves to submit to Sundance,
Cannes and Tribeca, yet are “open to submitting
to distributors...” www.hammomir.com
Fortune Cookies & Glory focuses on
Brad and Gerry (Ben and Scott) who experience the
best day of their pathetic lives before the sky
falls. Extreme circumstances force these two into
extreme situations and culminate in a “very
twisted” secret ending that has never been
done before. BenScott insist: “the ending
will get attention.” The film is an insane
tapestry of the maniacal and the zany and, from
the footage I was shown, is quite hilarious. I was
most impressed by the professional quality of the
scenes I viewed as well as the terrific camerawork.
(check out the trailer at www.hammomir.com)
Still bullshit-free, BenScott discuss their inspiration
and separate identities begin to seep through...sort
of...
Ben: “I love to act and I love to direct so
anything I do that puts me in a profession where
I can do that...that’s what I want to be...to
do.”
Scott: “My inspiration comes from other movies
and working with Ben. I get through my day job,
get home and happily sit in front of the computer.
I live for that. That’s my drive. To do something
I want to do the rest of my life and not have to
worry about making money to pay bills.”
BenScott are anxious to share their film with an
audience. “We have no idea what to expect,
but we have really good vibes about it.”
And, of course, the guys are writing a new script--together--which,
not surprisingly, starts off with the pitch: “They’re
these two guys...”
