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'Starving' artists
By EILEEN SCHULTE
© St. Petersburg Times, CLEARWATER -- For a five-minute scene, actor John Meyer was supposed to ride an old bike on the sidewalk on the Campus Walk strip mall in Clearwater. But there was a problem, as there always is when you're making a feature film: There was no old bike. So Tony Verde, the producer, tore out of the parking lot in search of one while the cast and crew waited patiently under the hot sun. Verde went to four thrift stores. No old bike. Back at the set, the film's director, Michael Fuchs, wandered around with nothing to do. "This doesn't happen at Miramax," he said, referring to the major motion picture company. Verde, sweaty and exasperated, pulled into the Serendipity Mobile Home Park. "Old people have old bikes," he said to himself. He spotted a home-for-sale sign and knocked on the door. An elderly woman answered. "I need an old bike," he said. "I guess you can buy it," she answered, a little dumbfounded. There was little time to explain that he was producing a local low-budget film and actors were waiting to shoot a scene. He handed her $25, grabbed the pink bike and took off for the set. It was a typical day of shooting for the movie Starving. The movie, set in 1991, was written by Fuchs. Fuchs, 21, and Verde, 50, a former schoolteacher, have formed a Clearwater production company called Hook/Verde Entertainment. They have some money -- much of it from Verde's personal account -- but not for post-production work, including two months of editing. So they are having a fundraising party tonight at the Royalty Theatre featuring six local bands. They also plan to show raw footage of the movie. This is how Fuchs explains the plot: "It's four different scenarios about four different people that are all connected in some way by a drug dealer. It comments on the medical system, like Medicaid. It comments on the frustration of the modern marriage. It also comments on people taking their passions too seriously and losing love. It has a lot to do with regret." The film has been in production since April, and shooting will continue until November. Post-production will be completed by January, Fuchs said. The film is so low-budget, the actors -- all friends -- are working for free. The filmmakers' dream is to raise $5,000, finish the movie and be invited to show it at Cannes and/or the Sundance Film Festival. A side dream is to promote art in the Tampa Bay area. As Meyer, a 24-year-old actor/musician, put it: "There's a lot of art in this area that doesn't have sea gulls on it. We're trying to bring that out." Fuchs and Verde spent $9,000 on a camera and other equipment, and received a $16,000 check from a local invester. In return, the invester gets 10 percent ownership of the movie. But that's not enough to create a 21/2-hour movie. Fuchs knows enough about filmmaking to anticipate snags. He moved here with his mother at 10 and began writing plays at 14 while attending Largo High School. He said his biggest influences are Stanley Kubrick and Martin Scorsese, and his favorite films are A Clockwork Orange and Vertigo. He met Verde through a friend who worked at a pizza restaurant in Dunedin. Verde went there every week after teaching at Dunedin Academy to take advantage of the $2.99 Monday special. The friend introduced the pair and within a few months, a partnership was formed. Verde's lifelong dream was to make movies. He feels lucky to have met Fuchs, who believes the community can benefit from their efforts. "We want to be an inspiration to other people," Fuchs said. "I think there's more talent here than in Miami. But there's no consciousness about supporting the arts from the powers that be. It's ragtag." For a few days, Fuchs had to stop shooting the film and concentrate on the fundraiser, a hassle for someone who doesn't enjoy the business end of filmmaking. But he knows it's worth it. "I'll be making movies for the rest of my life," he said. "Even if this one doesn't make it, we'll find a way to make the next one." If you go:A concert to raise money for the completion of the local feature film Starving will begin at 7 p.m. (doors open at 6) today at the Royalty Theatre, 405 Cleveland St., Clearwater. Six bands will play: The Gita, Action Movie Soundtrack, Izabo Blue, Headband, Skyline and the Eleventh Hour. Also, footage from the movie will be shown. Tickets cost $10, or $15 for front row seats. Call (727) 441-8868.
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