Howie
Written & Directed by Angelo Mei
Trailer | Photos | Production Notes | Cast | Crew
A dark comedy about a man in his late 20′s moving back home with his sexually active mother.
Howie moved away from home 6 years ago. 1 month ago he was laid off from his job and now he is unable to pay rent! Not to worry. His loving mom welcomes him back home with open arms. Clean laundry, hot meals, all expenses paid, the new living arrangement is practically paradise for Howie
Or is it…..
Ed Deraney(Howie) delivers a breakout performance, wonderfully complimented by a supporting cast rich with talent. Actress Danielle Hartnett co-stars as Monique, Howie’s seductive girlfriend fresh off the boat from France. Connie Schiro plays the part of Howie’s nurturing mother Audrey. And last, but definitely not least, the hysterical J. Michael Ferniany stars as Shlomo, the charmingly irksome boyfriend of Howie’s mother.
Trailer
Photos
Production Notes
The idea for Howie was conceived in October of 2003. In June of 2004, Angelo Mei was able to take the idea and turn it into a script, and eventually crew up, cast and shoot. Recognizing the importance of color on set, Angelo went with Steraro’s theories relating to how colors affect the subconscious. “I find that if you are consistent with colors there is a bigger payoff visually.” Angelo cites color influence from Big Fat Greek Wedding, Ghost World and Lost in Translation.
With aesthetics playing such an important role in Howie, Angelo needed the right Director of Photography to help bring his vision to the screen. “I was a big fan of D.P. Zach Rogers. I saw a commercial he had shot that completely blew my mind. The lighting was not natural but was completely captivating.” Wanting the visual emphasis of Howie to be on the stimulating pallet of colors more than creating natural looking light, made Zach’s style a perfect match.
Casting was integral to the success of the film. After numerous auditions the cast was selected. “They were all instantly funny on the first reading”, says Angelo about the final cast-members. “I wanted Howie to be a regulator, but not any more threatening than an angry Woody Allen.”
For Angelo the scene where Howie is walking in his boxers with the city lights behind him was, in his own words, “a moment I have always dreamed about shooting. I had an experience almost identical, as a teen in the hills of the Palisades.”
Some directorial influences that stand out in Howie are Antonioni (composition), Fellini (family humor of Amarcord), Spike Lee (abnormal dolly moves) and David Lynch (surreal absurdity).
Cast
Ed Deraney as Howie
Ed has performed in several plays and numerous short films. Most recently he held the lead role in the winning picture of this year’s Esquire Magazine Celluloid Style Film Competition.
Connie Schiro as Audrey
Connie Schiro trained at Charles Conrad Studios in Burbank in film acting. She has acted in several independent films in the Los Angeles area. Her most notorious accomplishment was her role in the award winning drama “Women on fire”.
J. Michael Ferniany as Shlomo
Recent film credits include “Hank” in “Sub Rosa”, “Shawn” in “Sonata for Dani”, and “Osama Cum Lauden” in “Rectuma”. TV appearances include parts in “Price of a Broken Heart”, “The Golden Girls” and “Benson”. Stage roles include “Juan” in “Trolls”, Clyde Tolson in “American Iliad” and “Prince Metternick” in “The Rothschilds”. Currently Mr. Ferniany is in the process of writing a dramatic play for the stage.
Danielle Hartnet as Monique
Recent theater credits include Luisa in The Fantasticks, Maria in West Side Story, and Fan in A Christmas Carol. She toured the US and Asia with Yale’s premier women’s singing group, Whim ‘n Rhythm. She performed musical parodies, stand-up, improv and sketch comedy at Caroline’s on Broadway, The Improv, the Sierra Stage, and many other LA and NYC hot spots. She just wrapped two feature films, Ghost Game and Paranoid, and you probably saw her screaming “I love history!” for Old Navy.
Crew
Angelo Mei, writer/director
Milena Chioibasu, producer
Zach Rogers, director of photography
Jarrod Tallman, editor
Raney Schackne, composer
