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Making "The Job" was in many ways a labor of love. (Photo courtesy of the San Diego Film Festival)
Of the more than 85 films that are premiering at the San Diego Film Festival, “The Job” is the one that many Americans would probably relate to the most.
Like millions of people today, the main character, Bubba (portrayed by Patrick Flueger) is out of work and desperate for a job. Unlike most people, however, Bubba’s desperation leads him down a much darker path.
After following up on a tip from Jim (Ron Perlman), a drifter, Bubba lands a well-paying job that’s too good to be true. Throughout the movie, he learns whether or not he has the killer character to do what his new position entails. Will he complete the job so that he can provide for his girlfriend, Joy (Taryn Manning) and himself?
While it seems as if writer/director Shem Bitterman wrote the script recently because of its context, the movie is actually based on his 1998 play. And the film will receive its world premiere on September 26 at the San Diego Film Festival, with an additional screening slated for September 27.
Cast members Gregory Itzin, Katie Lowes and Joey Pantoliano are attending the festival. Flueger - who’s filming a feature abroad - can’t make it. But he took some time to express his gratitude that others will get to see the dark comedy-drama at the San Diego screenings.
“I’m stoked!” Flueger exclaims. “I’m just happy that people will get to see it. Hopefully people will enjoy the journey they get to go on. I’m really disappointed I don’t get to see it with other people and see how they react to it.”
Although Flueger has had other leading roles, he says that they were in films where there was more of an ensemble cast. He adds that this is the first film where he actually went to work every day the cameras were rolling.
And the cameras rolled virtually nonstop. While “The Job” runs for 107 minutes, according to Flueger, the movie was created in only three and a half weeks.
“We worked really hard. Everybody that came out and worked on the film worked their asses off day and night,” Flueger explains. “A lot of the people that worked on the film were interns that lived in Detroit. They volunteered their time, obviously for the experience, but also to help get the movie made. I’d like to say that everybody worked really hard to get the film made and have it come out the way that it did.”
The actors and actresses enjoyed the process of shooting a low-budget film.
Itzin, who plays Mr. D, Bubba’s new boss, says that he had a great time making the movie.
“I love the guerilla aspects of low-budget movie making,” Itzin says. “It was fun.”
One of the reasons Itzin signed up for the role is because he enjoyed playing his character, who is a bad guy.
“It was a chance to do character work that was a little more daring than what I usually get to play, a little more out there,” Itzin explains. “I love playing bad guys. Bad guys got more stuff going on, as far as I’m concerned. They’re allowed to be a little more convoluted. Bad guys are bad guys because they have something strong that they want to go after, and so that makes playing them interesting.”
Lowes, who plays Connie, Mr. D’s daughter in the film, joined the cast as a result of being the lead actress in another of Bitterman’s plays, “Harm’s Way.” After the production completed its run, Bitterman asked her to be a part of “The Job.” She says that she jumped at the chance to work with him again as well as with the rest of the cast.
“It’s such a great ensemble of actors,” Lowes says. “And for me, coming in as a newbie to the business, it’s like working with powerhouses. They’re like iconic legends. It was a complete treat.”
This will be Lowes’ second trip to San Diego; the first was on a family trip when she was 16. Lowes says that she’s “super excited” to visit the city again.
“I think it’s really cool,” Lowes explains. “I’m pretty new to the festival circuit. It just seems like a really cool town to premiere a movie at. It just seems like a really cool city that’s artsy and liberal and would really welcome a sort-off offbeat dark comedy that ‘The Job’ is.”
Kristina Blake is an SDNN intern.
Event info
What: The world premiere film screening of “The Job” at the San Diego Film Festival
When: Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.; also, Sept. 27 at 3 p.m.
Where: Reading Gaslamp Stadium 15, 701 Fifth Ave., Gaslamp Quarter
How much: While all-day passes for Saturday, Sept. 26, are sold out, other passes, including film screening passes for “The Job” are still available. Single screening passes cost $12 and Sunday passes are $39.
Contact: For more information about the San Diego Film Festival, and to purchase tickets, visit www.sdff.org
Tags: film, Film Festival, film screening, Gaslamp Quarter, Gaslamp Theatre, Gregory Itzin, Joey Pantoliano, Katie Lowes, Patrick Flueger, Reading Gaslamp Stadium 15, Ron Perlman, San Diego Film Festival, SDFF, SDNN, Shem Bitterman, Taryn Manning, The Job
