“MODUS OPERANDI” INTERVIEW
May 21 | Author: Mike Plante
MODUS OPERANDI is a revenge tale about a desperate CIA agent on a mission to find the man who murdered his wife. An epic made on super-8 film, director Frankie Latina harkens back to 70s spy films, from the US and Europe, with equal amounts action, giant characters and sleeze.
These are interviews from the key visionaries who made it possible….
(Director) FRANKIE LATINA:
Tell us briefly about the film’s story and the world you created for it.
The story is a classic revenge tale about a man picking himself up after being crushed by life. Never knowing if you’re going to get another chance to make a film, I decided since there are so many films and genres that I am so passionate about, I wanted to bring them all together. This way, if this was my last chance, at least I would go out in a hail of bullets. I methodically crafted each and every scene to look more like a masterpiece painting, rather than a scene in a movie.
How did you find your cast and crew? There are some Milwaukee legends in there.
I don’t audition actors. For instance, if I am looking for a bartender, then I just go out to some bars and find some one who encapsulates what I’m looking for [as] I feel they have a much more organic approach to the scene rather than an actor. After seeing Randy Russell in one of my top 5 favorite narratives, AMERICAN JOB (directed by Chris Smith), I said to myself I just have to write a film for Randy with his melancholy matter-of-fact Keyser Soze persona. Randy is the best actor I have had the honor to work with, and I can’t even imagine my film without him. I also had the chance to direct “Milwaukee’s Robert DeNiro,” Mark Borchardt, who is the most down-to-earth, warm, passionate person this side of Lake Michigan .
Your film is in the Area 52 section, which is described as underground and midnite movies, films with an aura around them. What do you those film terms mean to you?
These are the films that I fell in love with COFFY, FOXY BROWN, SHEBA BABY, FRIDAY FOSTER…well, maybe I fell in love with Pam Grier first and the films second, but nevertheless, Pam Grier’s acting and the power of these films gave me the inspiration to pursue this career by hook or by crook .
What do you think the role of a film festival is?
To take chances on the underdogs. To find a diamond in the ruff. To give an opportunity to someone who deserves it, who might otherwise be working in a pizzeria writing scripts in between taking care of customers.
Do you gamble?
My entire life is a gamble. I have invested every ounce of my being into this film. When all the rest of my peers were getting health insurance, dental insurance, and 401k plans, telling me they heard an interview on NPR; that there’s only a 1% chance that independent filmmakers will ever sell a film. It’s fitting that I rolled the dice on my entire life and career and ended up having the world premiere at the CineVegas Film Festival in the Palms Casino. I wonder what odds the bookies will give me ?
(Actor) Randy Russell:
Tell us briefly about the film’s story and the world you created for it.
The way I interpret it is that we’re seeing the world through the mind of this CIA agent, Stanley Cashay, who is twisted with grief because his wife was murdered, and he feels responsible. He has been called out of retirement to find these incriminating materials that were stolen from a top presidential candidate, and at the same time, he wants to find who killed his wife. But he’s gone partly insane, and what the audience sees is the world shifting from reality to what’s in Stanley’s mind–but not shifting back and forth–it’s all blended into
a kind of alternative universe.
How did you decide to work with and trust your director? (Frankie’s question)
I had acted in another of Frankie Latina’s movies, and he asked me to be in MODUS OPERANDI. I seem to recall he just said, “Do you want to be in a scene?” and I said “OK.” Then there was another and another, for three or four years. I kept asking him when we’d be done so I could grow back my beard, and he’d say, “Just one more scene, and that will be it.” I’m probably not remembering that correctly. Anyway, I knew Frankie well enough to know it would be interesting, but he has really surprised me and exceeded my expectations!
Your film is in the Area 52 section, which is described as underground and midnite movies, films with an aura around them. What do you those film terms mean to you?
When I look at a film festival program, that’s the first place I look because they’re often films that are made by someone who is following their own unique, sometimes very weird, vision (as opposed to films that seem more like stepping stones to jobs in the film industry).
What do you think the role of a film festival is?
At best, I think film festivals can be like having a friend who is into lots of really great but obscure music, and you go over to his house and he plays you a song off of one record, then another, jumping around with excitement, and you’re carried away with his enthusiasm.
Do you gamble?
No. I don’t even participate in the office lottery pool, but this really nice co-worker always puts in a dollar for me because she knows I won’t. I don’t know… I’ve never been to Las Vegas, maybe I’ll start. My grandfather was a card player. Maybe that’s my new direction in life.
(Actor) Michael Sottile:
Tell us briefly about the film’s story and the world you created for it.
Five years ago, if someone offered me a million bucks to locate Milwaukee on a map, I would have failed miserably. But here I am. Through an odd series of events, I opened a tiny, postage stamp-sized bar for artists, musicians, and like-minded thinkers while my acting ambitions slowly became a distant memory. One night, I’m at the bar replacing some candles and in walks this guy with slacker good looks wearing a purple tunic and sporting a tattoo of Carmen Miranda on his forearm. He says, “Hi, my name is Frankie Latina.” I shoot back at him, “Your name is Frankie Latina, tough guy filmmaker in a purple tunic?” The friendly jab lost on him, he proceeds to tell me he’s going to make me a movie star. Having walked that aisle, I tell him that celebrity is a bit over-rated. It doesn’t phase him. He “buys” a cerveza, meaning I give him a free one, and we start talking shop.
A short while later, he tells me that he wants me to be in his super-8 movie about a CIA agent searching for the man who killed his wife. I like the idea, not the medium. He tells me he wants me to act with Mark Borchardt from AMERICAN MOVIE. Little did he know, after 9-11, I went to a local video store in Manhattan and was looking for something to lift my spirits, some film geek behind the counter sent me out the door with AMERICAN MOVIE.
NYC TO MKE you tell me? Forgetting the conversation with Frankie, I’m leaving a Brewers’ game (baseball is okay if you like stats – me, not so much). The phone rings. It’s Frankie telling me that he rewrote the whole script and added several more scenes for me. I say “Why?” He responds, “Like I told you, to make you a star.” That was two years ago. MODUS OPERANDI is right now. The little movie that could, from the town everyone thought couldn’t.
I’m Michael Sottile. I hope you like the film.
Actor: Mark Borchardt:
Tell us briefly about the film’s story and the world you created for it.
MODUS OPERANDI is a delectable and seemingly infinite series of intriguing twists hyperventilating through a cinematic labyrinth of stunning visuals indebted to Frankie’s vast filmic imagination and exploitation films of the super 70’s.
How did you decide to work with and trust your director ? (Frankie’s question)
Frankie is truly passionate about his work – and his charisma and caring about people ensure trust in him and his filmmaking.
Your film is in the Area 52 section, which is described as underground and midnite movies, films with an aura around them. What do you those film terms mean to you?
Those terms convey a sense of energy and edginess that generally supersedes the paler paths of conventional narratives.
What do you think the role of a film festival is?
The role of a film festival is to provide an energetic venue that showcases talent and achievement that otherwise may not be so readily available to many.
Do you gamble?
I don’t allow my fate to fall into the fickle fingers of giddy chance…not if I can help it. Thanks and God Bless!!!
2009 CineVegas Film Festival screenings:
Saturday, June 13 – 9:00 PM
Sunday, June 14 – 11:00 PM
See also:
