I'm getting excited to do the Q&A at RIFF on May 21! Makes me start thinking of all the great memories in making Manhattan Night. This photo was snapped during our first morning on set together doing the first scene of the day. (Where Porter is on a story at the beginning of the movie). Adrien asked if Porter should be wearing a hat in that scene. The hat was Adrien's idea and it was a great one because it would pay off in later scenes as well. We would also always check in about if Porter should be chewing gum in a scene. On page 3 of the novel Manhattan Nocturne it says that Porter chewed a lot of bubble gum. There was a rational to the gum chewing in our movie thinking. It went with Porter on the beat - process related, literally "chewing on it" as he worked on his stories. It also calmed Porter when he had to face something unpleasant or stressful. Or it was a reward to follow such a thing, reminding him of his childhood. Nostalgic and soothing. So before each set up of an exterior scene we'd look at each other and say "hat"? "gum"? After a while we both had the same intuitive sense and that turned into "hat and gum" or "No hat, no gum" "hat no gum" or "gum no hat" One of the many things that I loved about working with Adrien is that he also valued the choices in the tiniest details and appreciated the consideration tree that comes with them. Anyway, lots to share for that Q&A! Looking forward to your questions!

Tickets available here

https://www.eventbrite.com/e/ridgefield-independent-film-festival-riff-tickets-21724005084