SIMPATICA
Directed by Dean Merrill & Gary Robinov
Written by Erin Enberg
"A man with a decision to make meets a mysterious woman at a bar on the eve of a snowstorm."
Simpatica is a short film that Dean Merrill asked me to write. He was inspired by Grace, a restaurant and bar set inside an old Church in Portland, Maine. His only requirements were that it be elegant and required a scene outside in the snow. I hadn't written a romantic script before, so I thought about the kind of romances I enjoy; something unexpected and a little bizarre. I watched some of my favorite romantic scenes (Janet Leigh picking up Frank Sinatra in the original The Manchurian Candidate--totally weird and delicious) and tried to evoke a sense of mystery and a little film noir. I love 1940s films with snappy dialogue and attitude from the women and although the film isn't set in the 1940s, we tried to use that classic spirit. It was also my first script with a bit of a twist ending.
Gary Robinov came on as co-director and I was Assistant Director for the production. We lucked out with our leads Dana Packard and Jennifer Nichole Porter and the weather, which gave us a fresh dusting of snow the day of our night scene--Hollywood couldn't have created a prettier set!
Gary Robinov came on as co-director and I was Assistant Director for the production. We lucked out with our leads Dana Packard and Jennifer Nichole Porter and the weather, which gave us a fresh dusting of snow the day of our night scene--Hollywood couldn't have created a prettier set!
Simpatica won the Local Love Muscle Film Fest! A big thanks to the entire crew who worked so hard to make my story and Dean and Gary's vision come to light. Check out the film in its entirety below.
Simpatica from Dean Merrill on Vimeo.
Read more about the entire production and process on Dean's website.
BEHIND THE SCENES
CAST
Anthony: Dana Packard
Josephine: Jennifer Nichole Porter
Young Woman: Kat Moraros
Bartender: Lowell ”Jeff” Jeffers
CREW
Directed By: Dean Merrill & Gary Robinov
Written By: Erin Enberg
Director of Photography: Dean Merrill
1st Assistant Director: Erin Enberg
2nd Assistant Director: Andrea Nilosek
1st Assistant Camera: David Meiklejohn
2nd Assistant Camera: Corey Rich
Steadicam Operator: Robert Fiske
Sound: Matt Fletcher
Gaffer: Adam Belanger
Grip: Drew Buerhaus
Wardrobe: Alison Slattery
Hair and Makeup: Tasha Judson Zwickerhill
Props: Kimble Lavoie
Sound Post: Seth Kearns: Tidal Sound Studio
Set Photographer: Bret LaBelle
Craft: Emily Young
Production Assistants: Ben Howard , Kelsey Taylor, Malachi Tekur Whitten
Anthony: Dana Packard
Josephine: Jennifer Nichole Porter
Young Woman: Kat Moraros
Bartender: Lowell ”Jeff” Jeffers
CREW
Directed By: Dean Merrill & Gary Robinov
Written By: Erin Enberg
Director of Photography: Dean Merrill
1st Assistant Director: Erin Enberg
2nd Assistant Director: Andrea Nilosek
1st Assistant Camera: David Meiklejohn
2nd Assistant Camera: Corey Rich
Steadicam Operator: Robert Fiske
Sound: Matt Fletcher
Gaffer: Adam Belanger
Grip: Drew Buerhaus
Wardrobe: Alison Slattery
Hair and Makeup: Tasha Judson Zwickerhill
Props: Kimble Lavoie
Sound Post: Seth Kearns: Tidal Sound Studio
Set Photographer: Bret LaBelle
Craft: Emily Young
Production Assistants: Ben Howard , Kelsey Taylor, Malachi Tekur Whitten