Director statement:
This is a favorite work of mine because of the nature of the word play and the suggestion of how powerful, complicated and tricky words can be. At the same time, the script’s essence is quite simple and minimalistic to its merit. The story is also reflected in the motifs which work with the plot of a guy simply longing to fulfill an intrinsic human need as he hits wall after wall thanks to some exploitative abusive powers and a tricky agenda. Ambiguous by design, the story is ultimately a juxtaposition of absurdity and endearment, with a wink behind it. The wink lets us know that in every corrupt environment, hope does exist. The original stage version, which I wrote, was produced twice in NYC and proved to be an accessible story. As a performance piece, it facilitated a very film friendly adaptation. Bringing in a new Administrator (R. Saylor) to play opposite Mr. Young (S. Key) from the theater just barely a week before the shoot allowed for that fresh and exciting discovery one ideally experiences when peeling away layers of a new script. Saylor’s effective perspective of the story and its characters in the small window of time we had in rehearsal created a significantly inspired and ultimately juicy impact on each character. The primary locations in classic old New York possess dramatic, imposing, and confining characteristics presented by beautiful camera work. The huge starkness of the government lobby contrasts the inevitably cagey intensity of the characters.

Bio-filmography:

Christopher Ludgate studied Film, Creative Writing and Literature at the City University in New York, as well as Drama at the Strasberg Theater Institute. His official debut as director, The Love Permit (2010), is the adaptation of one of his successful stage plays. As founder of (small print) Films, he is currently in production on a documentary New York City and will be directing an adapted narrative of his short fiction story The Hidden Face this summer while development of his first feature. As a new filmmaker transitioning from theater, he believes that TLP is a tight little piece showcasing his talents with hopes of progressing onto further projects illuminating social and political themes. He has also enjoyed success as an actor in movies, soap operas, off and off-off-Broadway.