Wash Me In The River

After producing over 120 feature films and television series including such iconic and blockbuster films including THE IR/SHMAN, LONE SURVIVOR and TWO GUNS, a year ago I made the decision that I wanted to get back to my roots by transitioning to the role of director and storyteller. While it's clear that as my role of Producer, I am incredibly efficient at producing very commercial content, that role is more of a transactional one involving constant negotiations and number. crunching and making sure I perform flawlessly under the pressures of getting a film 1nto production, I have always had the desire to push myself into the art itself. When I set out to Los Angeles at 20 years old, I did so with the intent to present a viewpoint on the world, one that has a history of rich experiences and deep and meaningful connections. To be as blessed as I am today for all the support I felt in the directing chair and after all of these years of producing, it has reinvigorated my true passion for filmmaking. My directorial debut MIDNIGHT IN THE SWITCHG RASS was the first big step for me and WASH ME IN THE RIVER will allow me to continue on this incredible journey.
MIDNIGHT IN THE SWITCHG RASS, while best described as a thriller, also contains several emotionally impactful moments. In the film starring Bruce Willis, Megan Fox, and Colson 'MGK' Baker, a Florida law enforcement officer, played by Emile Hirsch, returns to the home of a grieving mother who has recently lost her daughter at the hands of a twisted serial killer. At the end of their first meeting, she asked that if he were to ever "catch the devil that did this" that he should knock on her door again. Byron returns for this second meeting with the necklace of the mother's slain daughter in his hand which immediately lets her know that he has accomplished his mission. She breaks down in tears at first sight of Byron. Though her daughter wasn't saved, justice has been served. When we shot this pivotal and emotionally gripping scene in the movie, everyone on set felt that power and in that moment I understood that these precious cinematic moments are key in building the audiences trust and are the cornerstone that makes a movie standout over time. Our editor, Colby Parker, who has worked with Peter Berg on MILE 22, DEEPWAT ER HORIZON, is diving into all the footage now since we wrapped, and we are very excited to bring the film to screen in the new year. WASH ME IN THE RIVER contains a plethora of these moments staged against the commercial backdrop of action and I couldn't be more excited to bring them to life.
WASH ME IN THE RIVER at its core is a story about love and loss. These themes are universally understood by audiences around the world and have served as the bedrock of storytelling for generations. Think, NO COUNT RY FOR OLD MEN. While the circumstances surrounding the film's themes are modern, my hope is that the film feels timeless and while there is plenty of action and intrigue, it is layered with rich performances. To that end, I am confident that I have assembled the best cast possible for this film. Robert De Niro is one of the finest actors of our generation and perhaps of all time. To have him play Sheriff Church is a dream come true. Church has experienced the same kind of loss that Shelby has, these two characters are intertwined with sympathy and intent. Sheriff Church knows he must stop Shelby but having experienced the same loss in his life is torn between what is the right path to take. While Bob is phenomenal in every performance he brings to the big screen, I am beyond thrilled to learn about his commitment to thi􀀉 film. He is currently speaking to local sheriffs in Georgia in order to fully prepare for nis role and has told me he wants to take inspiration from classic characters of this genre. Colson "MGK" Baker was born to play the role of Shelby John, and I have only ever pictured him in the role. I am thrilled that he shares my enthusiasm for the project. Lastly, I have wanted to work with John Malkovich my entire career and I am ecstatic that our relationship will begin as that of director/ actor. Malkovich will b'ring a gravitas and sensitivity to Peter in the first two acts of the film that will allow the darkness of his true nature to be that much more satisfying and gut-wrenching in the final act. A moment you will never see coming.
My philosophy regarding the placement of the camera is that it should place the viewer right at the heart of the scene. The audience should feel exactly what the character is feeling. I will employ push ins and long takes at key moments to keep the audience's attention on the character at the heart of the scene. It is similar in tone to NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN or MAN ON FIRE in that the action is not central to the film but enhances the dramatic moments and raises the stakes at every turn. The action will remain grounded and will never feel over-the-top. Again, I want the viewer to feel everything that our characters are feeling, and none of these characters are superheroes, they should not feel comfortable in the intense environment they find themselves in. The shootout at Coyote's compound will be intense, raw, and thrilling.
One of the great joys of my career has been producing Martin Scorsese's last two pictures, THE IRISHMAN and SILENCE. Through these experiences, Marty has become a mentor of mine. It is certainly the case that my conversations with him throughout the past six years have inspired me to step out of the role of producer and into that of director. Marty, while making both commercial and arthouse films, always strives to explore some aspect of human nature in his stories whether in one of his mob-films such as THE IRISHMAN or the deeply personal SILENCE, both of which I had the pleasure to be involved with. I hope that his words of wisdom and support for me on this project will allow me to utilize even just a touch of the magic that he's been able to impart to audiences worldwide. I am so lucky to have him a part of this journey with me.
On a final note, I wanted to thank all of you for the unwavering support you have given me. I promise that WASH ME IN THE RIVER will be a theatrical success and will stay true to the themes that we all love to see on the big screen.