Emily and Mateo’s first meeting Photographer: Gareth Taylor
THE PARK BENCH is a romance comedy about Emily(Nicole Hayden), a neurotic librarian-to-be, assigned to tutor Mateo(Walter Perez), a rogue Latino undergrad, struggling to pass American Lit. When she is assigned as his tutor, they agree (reluctantly) to meet three times a week on a park bench to study. At first they do not get along, but when the discussion turns from classics to confessions, they reveal secrets that could change their lives forever. Soon these two opposites learn that they have more in common than they ever could have imagined. Since Emily is engaged to be married, and Mateo has no shortage of girlfriends, the two are forced to tread carefully over their growing feelings for each other. Utilizing a colorful and whimsical blend of animation with live action, THE PARK BENCH tells a compelling story of how things get complicated when you share more than a good book.
It’s refreshing when a Hollywood romantic movie does not fit in the mode of ‘oh, no not again’ and that is precisely why we liked ‘The Park Bench’ by getting us hooked in the conversation. I get so tired of silly romance movies with no depth and yes I suppose more could have been done with the characters cultural differences but overall kudos to director/writer Ann LeSchander for bringing some originality to the big screen. We had a chance to find out more about the film from Ann and the lead actress Nicole Hayden about ‘The Park Bench.’
Mateo makes excuses for missing his appointment Photographer: Gareth Taylor
Questions for Ann LeSchander
- RG: What was the inspiration for the story?
Initially, I wanted to come up with an idea that was “make-able.” I wanted to make a feature film, and I remembered times in my life when I’d been sort of forced into a relationship with someone – working on a project, or scene partners in acting class, or even tutoring – and how that can turn into a very intimate relationship. Plus, I thought that if they’re studying American Lit, it would be a great gateway to revealing things about themselves, because, I felt, that you can’t read Gatsby or Hemingway or poetry without having feelings about them and sharing something of yourself. Coming up with the idea of the park bench, initially, was simply that I wanted to shoot outside and use natural light. I had just finished a short film that was very “film noir” and the expressionistic lighting took days and days – so I thought, I’ll find a scenic place and that’s where they’ll meet. I thought that would simplify and help us make our days – but shooting outside, of course, has a gazillion challenges of its own!
2. RG: What other romantic movies resonated with you as a filmmaker and how did it influence you?
I think one film that had a great influence on me was “Once.” I thought that film was so simple and lovely. Folded into that story, was the music and how the music reflected their feelings for each other. To me that was very moving. Also, I’ve always loved the films of Bill Forsyth – like “Gregory’s Girl” and “Local Hero” – those stories feel magical. And of course, “Roman Holiday” is one of my very favorites. In general, like those, I like films that underplay emotion – the idea that, like in life, things are talked around, not directly at.
Mateo teaches Emily to dance Photographer: Gareth Taylor
3. RG: Can you share the casting process because this movie relies on the chemistry between the actors ?
Yes! Well, I had a wonderful Casting Director named Amey Rene Morris who was fantastic to work with. I was very fortunate to find my Emily (the lovely Nicole Hayden!) who was just so warm and sweet and open – but she was also great at tapping into a neurosis and energy – so that when she worked off our Mateo (the fantastic Walter Perez!) – who was much more grounded and calm, it just was just a great complement. Walter is great because everything he does is authentic – very honest and real – so it worked together well. To be honest, I sort of didn’t know that’s what I wanted until I found them and put them together – and then I felt, “ah, yes, this is going to work!” The nice thing is that they really struck up a wonderful friendship during the film – you could see that they truly enjoyed each other – and they still do – which I love.
4. RG: For me the film reads like a novel was this intentional ?
Yes, it really was. I always felt that, since this was a film about stories, each meeting could be like a chapter. So the story about stories unfolds like a book. This gave me liberty to cut to black like we do a lot, and also to use the interstitial titles which we tried to use judiciously. But I love how the titles turned out – a beautiful design by my graphic designer Vicki Shiveley. It adds one more element to the film and each title is, hopefully, a bit evocative.
5. RG: Can you share how you choose your cinematographer?
Oh, my fantastic cinematographer Gareth Taylor! He was a wonderful collaborator and did a lot of pre-production with me. How did I choose him – well, to be honest, I found him on a job board when I put a posting up for Cinematographers! I looked at people’s reels (I can’t even tell you how many – dozens and dozens) and I met with a few, but once I met with Gareth, I just knew he understood my vision for the film. I really wanted each scene to be well composed and I wanted it to be as cinematic as possible – even with the one location. Gareth really worked hard to come up with every angle possible! But it was all informed by what happens in the scene, how the characters are feeling at that moment – that guided us as we chose our shots and lighting choices. I can’t say enough great things about Gareth. Without sounding super corny – but since it was just a job board posting and I managed to find him – I feel like the universe sent him to me for this project. (that sounds corny, right?)
6. RG: What are you hoping audiences will take away from the film?
Well, to be honest, I hope it leaves them with a positive feeling – the faith that we should be open to possibilities and it can bring us great joy. I suppose also – to consider how we allow ourselves to open up and reveal pieces of ourselves. I think Emily and Mateo were given a special boost because they were forced to talk about books and poetry – but it’s true, don’t you think – how you can’t help but share feelings and personal stories, when you discuss how you feel about a book. I like that. I also think the film says a little something about who we are as people – aren’t we the stories we tell? Don’t we regale people with our stories – what happened yesterday, that time we saw our grandmother’s ghost, etc., etc, so that we can share and get to know each other?
7. RG: What did you learn new about yourself doing this film?
I learned that making an independent feature film is hard! But that’s probably not what you’re asking. I think I learned about perseverance and responsibility. Once this movie was cast, then it was a great freight train rolling down the track – and I felt a great responsibility, not only to keep the train moving to its completion, but mostly, to take care of my actors and my crew who had committed so much to it. I hoped I could keep making the right choices to make it something of quality. And there are SO many choices to make – and I sweat every choice! People may not know that about me but I agonize over everything – so in a way, I learned to just keep going – keep moving forward. And then – one person wrote the nicest comment on the Facebook page – she said “The Park Bench helped me fall in love with my husband all over again.” Well, that was lovely, right? So, I guess a little agony is worth it.
Emily and Mateo skip their studies Photographer: Gareth Taylor
Questions for Nicole Hayden:
1) RG: How did you get involved with the film and what was it about the script that intrigued you?
a) I auditioned for it… 1 first call and 2 callbacks… With lots of time in between… Usually you have an audition and you let it go but I loved this project and character so much I was stalking my agent during all the waiting! Ha ha
I loved the simplicity and honesty… Really a testament to Anne and her need to tell a story that meant a lot to her and came from her heart!
2) RG: With just the two main actors to carry the film how did you decide to approach your role?
a) Well Emily is a lot smarter than me … Ha ha…so I did a lot of research and prep… Read all the books she talks about, had to learn about all the terms and things she discusses and enough so they sounded as natural as they would when Emily speaks of them like 2nd nature…
Emily tries Ceviche Photographer: Gareth Taylor
3) RG: There was such a natural feeling between you and Walter? How much time did you spend together before filming?
a) We only got to meet once before filming… But I did feel like I had known him forever the second we met! A lot of the “1st times” did happen in front of the camera! All the prep work I did on my own was really helpful since we shot out of order and had to jump from scene to scene all of which took place at different parts of the year and different places in our relationship… Walter made fun of me all the time for all the notes and pictures and crazy stuff I had written all over my script!
4) RG: How similar or not are you to your character?
a) I didn’t realize how much we were alike really until I saw the movie… Like I said she is way smarter than me but I do have OCD tendencies, love musicals and am dorky on occasion! Ha ha Walter will tell you I am dorky all the time… But I disagree
5) What did you learn new about yourself doing this film?
a) Well it was honestly one of the best weeks of my life! I have always known how much I love acting and story-telling but this project was so special and we were so emerged in the world it made me yearn for more stories like this one to tell and it strengthened my love for acting. The story also taught me to never judge a book by its cover and that there is always more than meets the eye… The art of conversation… I think Emily learned about herself through hearing her thoughts and feelings out loud to Walter and by seeing the world through his eyes. It strengthened my real life listening skills and love for other people’s point of view for sure!
I think this film did so well because of its heartfelt honestly… Anne had a story in her heart she just had to tell… It wasn’t “controversial” or “shocking” or “weird” it was just simple and honest and people connected to it… So proud and grateful to have been a part of it!
