‘Road to Nowhere’ Leads to Cannes
By Rebecca Russell and Donna Spangler
Road to Nowhere is Producer Brian Meier’s first feature film. He earned his Business Management Degree at Barry University in Miami Shores, studied photography at the Art Institute, and studied film production, writing, and acting at UCLA and at the Judith Weston workshops. He currently resides in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Director Juliette Manet, originally from Biarritz, France, studied art history at l’Ecole du Louvre in Paris. She was an international fashion model based in Paris, and a favorite of Helmut Newton, amongst others. She is also the author of several thrillers published in France and Germany. For several years, she resided in the United States, but now lives in France. Road To Nowhere is her directorial debut. The film will be featured in the Marché du Film as part of ITN Distribution’s line-up.
IFQ: How did you get involved with your new movie, Road to Nowhere?
Brian Meier: The script for ‘Road to Nowhere” was written by my friend and lead actress for the film, Cheyenne Crowe, whom I had known in Fort Lauderdale. It was her first original screenplay, which she wrote while vacationing in Morocco. After her trip, she moved to Paris. One day, she called and asked if I would be interested in reading her screenplay. I said I would and flew to Paris. We had a meeting at the Hotel Costes, where I read the script and fell in love with it.
IFQ: Why did you want to do this movie?
BM: The script had some unique and strange elements to it, which I really liked. Also, the idea of producing a tragedy appealed to me.
IFQ: What hat did you wear in the creation of this movie?
BM: I wore the producer hat and was on-set for 95% of the shooting.
IFQ: What is the theme of Road to Nowhere?
BM: It’s a dark, suspense thriller about an 18-year-old girl who tries to escape her abusive past to find love and new beginnings, but instead finds herself in a downward spiral of sex, drugs, deception, and betrayal.
IFQ: What message does the film deliver to its viewers?
BM: Not everyone is who they seem. Innocent victims sometimes end up in endless cycles of victimization, violence, and delusion. And, if they’re not careful, the road that appears to lead to freedom and endless possibilities can become just a dead end — a road to nowhere.
IFQ: What do you feel is the best part of the movie?
BM: For me, it is the tragic portrayal of Kate, a smart and beautiful girl filled with promise, who, when confronted by her betrayers, trembles with fear and whispers, “I don’t understand.” It’s the terror she feels when she is helplessly unable to stop the realization of her disturbing forebodings. All the pain and betrayal in her life, the life she so desperately wants to change, comes crashing down upon her in a tragic end. I think many people have found themselves feeling, to one extent or another, that same sense of dread and desperate hopelessness.
IFQ: Do you have any interesting stories associated with your movie?
BM: I could talk for hours! One thing most people don’t know is that our director, Juliette Manet, is Cheyenne’s mother. Both women love film, and Juliette has a particular eye for artistic beauty. After procuring the script, I asked her if she wanted to direct the film. She instantly said, “Yes!” and jumped on a plane to the United States. From that point forward, we immediately started pre-production and are very pleased with the finished product.
IFQ: What obstacles did you have to deal with during the making of your movie?
BM: As first-time filmmakers working with a small budget, we faced many challenges, but I think our greatest single challenge was logistical coordination of cast, crew, and locations. Yet, we found wonderful people who opened their hearts and gave their all. Everyone who worked on this film did so with passion, courage, and dedication.
IFQ: What advice can you share with other indie film producers?
BM: Do your research and understand the market potential for your film. Plan, plan, plan! Be realistic with your budget and scrupulously work within its constraints. Be organized. Set a date to start shooting and on that day, start. Realize that the more quickly you can shoot the film the fewer risks to completion you will face. Expect the unexpected! And most importantly, keep going, and don’t give up!
IFQ: What plans do you have for future projects?
BM: I’m presently reviewing options for an adaptation of a brilliant novel written by an award winning French novelist about a boy’s unexpected relationship to a man who is bedridden; and, a dark comedy about a girl who seems to have it all, but jumps out of a fourth-story window and lives to write about it.
*Photo Credit: Dashmoor Entertainment, LLC