Locally produced feature film Stringer currently in development

Darren Keefe plays Nick Dudek in the film Stringer

By Lillian Flats

“The strength of a family, like the strength of an army, lies in its loyalty to each other.” 

If I had to sum up the premise of the Seattle/Tacoma-made feature film “Stringer”, currently in development, those are the words I’d use. Except they’re not mine, they’re Mario Puzo’s from “The Godfather”. The new crime/thriller “Stringer” is a far reach from the classic 1972 Coppola film, but similar to it are the dark undertones and the idea that family comes first: it’s more than government, it’s more than friendship, it’s everything. But of course the characters in the movie must learn that the hard way.

“Stringer is about a man who is out at all hours of the night, filming crime scenes and selling them to news stations”, explains director James Reeves. 

But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. The story follows Nick Dudek, a jaded news cameraman who must pry into a metro police conspiracy when his drug-addicted brother goes missing the day after his prison release. 

When asked about what interested him in the project, James added, “It’s a nocturnal film filled with grey characters with lots of compromise just like you and I have. It’s based on real people addressing real social issues with the media, the government and family. Each [film] I’ve done to date are just little bits and pieces to develop myself as a filmmaker for a project like this to come around. It’s a project I’m dying to do”. 

James Reeves, director of Stringer

James received his film degree from the Art Institute of Seattle in 2013 at the same time as Chris Taylor, the film’s scriptwriter. Their filmmaking knowledge stretches far beyond the classroom, however, preceding their formal education with several years of on-the-job experience. Although they’ve worked side by side only a few times since graduating, including a Tulalip Casino commercial and a couple short films, they both remain good friends. Their work relationship became much closer though when Chris approached James to direct the feature film.

“James is the first person I thought of when conceptualizing Stringer. The story is a neo-noir adventure that dips its toe into classic 80’s suspense territory, just like the James I know”, said Chris, who drew inspiration for the idea from his time working as a news stringer on the streets of Orlando, Florida ten years ago. 

Darren Keefe has the lead role in  Stringer

“A stringer is just a clever term for a freelance photo journalist”, Chris added. A fan of films like “Seven” and “Blood Simple”, Chris wanted to capture his chilling, late-night experiences as a news cameraman but apply it to a much more personally tragic situation. “I have a younger brother, so without sounding too macabre, I wanted to trifle with the notion of what a man would go through if he ever lost someone that close to him through malicious circumstances”. James, unbeknownst to Chris at the time, has a younger brother of his own. Needless to say, the partnership was a good match.

Chris Taylor
scriptwriter

The production team, spearheaded by film companies, expects to revise a final draft and add a few names to the cast by the summer. This team includes locals Chris from Adventus Films, producers Tonya Yorke and Tony Doupé from Compulsion Films and the Dublin-born duo Tom Archdeacon and Darren Keefe from Frost Pictures in Los Angeles.

While the script is only a few weeks from completion, their biggest challenges in development still lie ahead: they must pitch their film to investors to join the team, back the movie’s $120k budget and help crack open the first bottle of champagne once shooting reaches its conclusion.

While fundraising of this nature is uncharted territory for most of them, these filmmakers are no strangers to making marketable films. Tony and Tonya finished their four-week shoot in October on the horror film “The Darker Path” with actor Jesse James (The Butterfly Effect) while Chris, also a cinematographer and gaffer, wrapped just last week on the sci-fi feature “The Device” which is already sold and distributed through Ruthless Pictures. In Los Angeles, Frost Pictures recently completed dramas “Aggregate” and “Walk a Mile in My Pradas” with Tom Arnold and the stage-adaptation “Bad Hurt” starring Karen Allen (Indiana Jones), Theo Rossi (Sons of Anarchy) and Michael Harney (Orange is the New Black). 

“Even the unlikeable characters are built so [the audience] can find a point of compassion with them,” commented Tonya in regards to the script. “He or she may still do something destructive or evil but there’s enough depth in each character to get why”. 

Darren, who’s been in such shows as “Lie To Me”, “Lost” and “NCIS”, also landed the lead role of “Nick” in the film. “[The story] clips along. Edge of my seat. I keep thinking about the two brothers and the parallel relationship between [them]”, said Darren regarding his character’s fraternal bond that drives the narrative.

Tony Doupé, head of Film and Drama
Department at Shoreline Community College

Tony, who’s worked with Darren previously and will also co-direct the film, had this to say: “He’s the kind of actor you dream to work with who is all about the project and not just about himself”. Head of the Film and Drama Department at Shoreline Community College, Tony loves cross-pollination of work and school to get his students on-set experience. “The students are able to study, go through exercises and then use it in a practical way with professionals to build portfolios and network with people in the industry while still going to school”. He’s recruited his students on countless local productions, big and small, to give them first-hand experience on set, including recent movies “The Architect”, “Bit Of Bad Luck”, “Laggies” and “Lucky Them”.

The filmmakers go on to explain how excited they are to produce this movie in Washington: “I love the Northwest. It has an atmosphere about it that I couldn’t get across on screen anywhere else”, said James. Tonya added “Washington isn’t utilized enough. We don’t make enough movies here. Partner an amazing script with a hardworking cast and crew in the Seattle/Tacoma area and I just don’t think you can go wrong with investing, not only in Stringer, but investing in Washington filmmakers”.

Click here for more information on the feature film.