I Killed Angela

I was inspired to make this film after testing out an idea for a story that came to mind shortly after learning about a major entertainer’s death. You can guess who that may be (Spoiler Alert). The beginning of this inspiration actually came about on the exact day a friend of mine and I, while lunching at an Upper West Side locale in October 2022, were in disagreement about whether this entertainer had played a particular role in a particular musical at a particular time. And as fate had it, this very well known entertainer died at the exact time we were speaking or perhaps better put, enjoying our friendly debate. The next day, I emailed my friend and suggested to him that he may have been responsible as he mentioned (her) name almost at the exact moment she died. Absurd, right?

However, other than a macabre joke, (and let’s be honest, it’s really not nice to kid about someone dying, even after a remarkably productive and wonderful life and career), could there be a story here that might contain something meaningful worth exploring? And soon, a story evolved as I started writing. I like writing from my own experience, and finding truth even when things seem absurd, glib, tongue in cheek, etc. So, what was there in my life and experience particularly poignant and necessary to write about, and maybe even to build into a script?

How about two old friends of a certain age, living in the same metropolis (let’s call it NYC) for decades, and not being wunderkinds any more? They share a lifetime of work in the theater, many memories and times both good and bad. And in spite of being run into by people on the street looking at their cellphones, people pushing their strollers (with our without having a baby inside, just Nordstrom bags and a small well groomed miniature dog), and other examples of “not being seen,” they still meet for their weekly dinner at their decades long favorite diner. The diner is their refuge, their command center…. their old black and white headshots from decades past are even on the wall by “their table,” a la Sardis.

The fun part was adding in something that I think almost everyone, regardless of where they live and work, their age, where they’re from, whatever…. have in common. Which is… superstition. Like turning a baseball cap around when the ball team is trying to pull out a victory. Or crossing fingers or knocking on wood. Throwing salt over the shoulder…. Heck, maybe even believing that somehow WE can alter events from thousands of miles away, just by thinking or SAYING SOMEONE’S NAME. After all, IF people get older and start to feel “unseen,” irrelevant, powerless even…. imagine IF they could mention someone’s name and cause something really dire to happen? (Excuse the pun) Imagine? Imagine!

And so, as they say, it goes. The style and tone came easily. It had to be something that enables two experienced and comedic actors could dive into, and make their “own.” And being that I am a huge fan of Larry David… whom I have even been told I look like even though I’m a “silver fox,” the somewhat glib and dry and acerbic shone through. This came about naturally as the two friends, Jim Walton (as Morris), and James Shankman (as Jack) read the script together as it went through different drafts. The opportunity to work with skilled veteran actors, who are also good friends of mine, along with Lindsey Mitchell (as Harriett) and George Dvorsky (as Fred), was a gift. Add to that a very collaborative and experienced DP, (Ricardo Birnbaum) and his talented team, and Garage Creative Studios (post production, edit, sound, color), and a fun piece of music over credits writing by the talented River Weinfurtner of River Beats…. and you have our recipe. “I Killed Angela.”

The question isn’t really who killed Angela. That, as they say, is a red herring. To me, the film should speak to people of any age, any situation. We all share in common, (and at this time of divisiveness in our country, our world), the desire to be loved, respected, appreciated, meaningful, contributory…. When we don’t have these things, where do we seek them? What gives us hope, and keeps us in the present and vital? Perhaps it starts with embracing other people in our lives, and appreciating where we are right now.