Cut, Print

The Latest Stop on a Michigan Triple-Threat’s Road to Success

by Kenndra Ray

“I’m fighting daily,” expressed Vince Orlando, a key player in the state’s growing film industry.

As he took the time to answer my questions, I could tell that his efforts to attract business were constant. “Right now, I’m out scouting for four feature films.”

After twelve years of experience, this producer/writer/actor is showing no signs of stopping. “I’ve been shooting here [in Michigan] and I’m still shooting here…with or without the incentive.”

The triple-threat’s latest endeavor, is a psychological thriller offering more than your average blood-and-guts premise. The story: a group of filmmakers seek genuine footage of murders, offering complete anonymity and a world-wide platform to the killer who responds. They succeed, and create the first-ever reality horror movie.

With nineteen days of shooting and twelve weeks of post-production, the entire film was complete in less than nine months. Set to premiere locally at the end of October, and to the public at large in early 2010, Cut, Print appeals to “a reality generation where the camera is always watching.”

The initial development was sparked by investors who recognized a demand for horror films. They turned to Orlando for a product, and with the help of Michigan-natives Gary Wayne Allison and Nathaniel Nose, Cut, Print was born.

“I went to Gary who had sixty pages of a first draft written,” said Orlando. “I added another fifty pages and then gave it to Nathaniel.” The collaborative effort produced a solid script, ready for the next step in pre-production.

“The visual style and editing pace of the movie is all Nathaniel; he’s young and really talented,” Orlando said of the director. “In early conversations he [Nose] would say,” ‘I keep thinking if Tarantino were to make a Blair Witch Project, how would he do it?’

This ‘what if’ mentality pushed their concept forward, attracting the attention of local and Los Angeles talent including horror film icon, Ken Foree. Production designer, Mary Ellen Murphy offered her skills, as her crew used the exposed black walls of the Detroit Pizza Factory basement to create a raw and realistic set.

Detroit artists Paradime, Trick Trick, and Hex are also featured, and at some points, add comic relief to break up the monotony of a horror film. “It can’t be all one tone or no one is going to watch it,” Orlando noted, “they [the audience] have to care about the characters.”

He elaborated on a particular shoot where the trio successfully demonstrated this idea, “They play a gang squad and they knew each other from other collaborations. Everybody was tired from the day before and their characters were supposed to be tired too. A lot of the scene was scripted, but they were free to add in their personalities, so they improvised some of it.”

Similarly, Orlando was able to relate to his role as John Damato, who acts as the driving force behind many of the basic characters. “I saw a bit of ambition in John and I wanted to exploit it,” Orlando laughed. “He reminded me that sometimes you get caught up in the drive to succeed; you get tunnel vision. You have to take a deep breath, slow down and make sure it’s for the right reason.”

The drive to succeed must have been contagious on set, as Orlando compared the work ethics of the Michigan film crew to that of a typical Los Angeles-based film.

“It’s like night and day; out there [L.A.], they are more seasoned professionals, more laid-back and the unions are heavy. In Michigan, it’s more of a community effort, no complaining, and a can-do-anything attitude. People are excited doing what they love doing; they’re more productive.”

Along with scouting, writing, producing, and filming movies in Michigan, Vince Orlando has yet another project aiming to build a creative infrastructure within the state’s entertainment market. He, along with two partners, formed House 63, a production company looking to utilize a facility in Detroit as living quarters, post-production and office space. One of the venture’s goals is to obtain scripts and develop stories in order to keep the state’s film industry moving forward.

As for local hopefuls seeking a path to success in the film world, Orlando had this to say:

“Just do it. It’s what I did; if you put too much logical thought into it, it won’t work. Read as much industry related material as you can. It helps give you more control over projects and as a creative person you’ll gain a bit more respect and get people interested. When you’re knowledgeable and passionate, things will start to happen. It’s tough; remain committed... if you’re banking on being lucky, you’re in the wrong business.”

As a result of a strong work ethic combined with creative tenacity, Cut, Print is a prime example of what Michigan’s film industry has to offer, and what is to come from Vince Orlando.

For more information and a sneak preview of the trailer, search “Cut, Print” on www.IMDB.com or www.youtube.com.

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