Wrath Mercy and the strike

Cinematographer Michael Williams, Actors Matthew Zimmerman (Adam), Deb Radloff (Mall), Carys Glynne and Sound Mixer Coley Bryant; Photo by Jennifer Lauriello

In a couple of days it will have been two months since the camera rolled on Wrath Mercy, my dream project short film about Adam and his encounters with Mall, Everett, Teddy and the very mysterious and life changing Irina.

I finished my final cut as editor on July 4th, a mere two weeks ago, and as I am waiting for my colorist, composer and sound designer/mixer to do their work before our collective deadline of August 11th, I have been trying to find some sort of actionable task to continue the process.

A private screening?

I have been so very excited to show Wrath Mercy to all of my donors, friends and fans, so I decided the best use of my time (and the hole in my heart) was planning a private September screening of the film at my local movie theater, the Los Feliz 3, here in Los Angeles.

In case you weren’t aware. I can have a “private screening” of the film but cannot have a “premiere” until after our festival run. If that still doesn’t makes sense, you’ll just have to trust me on that. I had been given a quote by the theater, and I had pitched a sponsorship opportunity to one of our Executive Producers.

Then I started to contemplate the current WGA/SAG strikes. If we had the screening, could the actors attend? Could I attend? Could I attend as only the director, but not the writer?

Strike Matters

I am non union for film (I am a member of Actors Equity), but I will one day join the WGA, and if I plan to act again…I THINK I want to act again, also join SAG. I wouldn’t want to do anything to jeopordize my future membership or my own soul as I am a staunch supporter of these unions and their demands.

We began filming Wrath Mercy two weeks into the Writers Guild strike. I didn’t even consider whether or not we should film. I thought, my work as a writer was done, I’m not in the union, it was time to direct. I did change one line on set, but even then, I didn’t think anything of it. I was in the director zone.

Things are a bit different now, as I understand that it’s virtually impossible for me to sever my writer/director role. They go hand in hand. So, what does that mean for my private screening?

Well, it won’t be in September, that’s for sure. We may still have a friends and family screening for donors and invited guests. One that Natanya, Matthew, Deb, Carys, Brice and I can all attend if available, but it will likely be in a small screening room in LA and not the very public LF3 theatre. But even that may need to wait until the strike is over. Luckily I have friends in both unions who are guiding me through the process and sharing interviews and rules with me.

And the festivals???

As I begin submitting the film to festivals in about a month, I hope very much that my cast and I can actually attend them. The first ones we are aiming for are in January of 2024. We could simply wait until the strike is over to even begin submitting, but many festivals only accept you if you are going to premiere there, and if we don’t submit as if the strike will end, that could be our only chance. Other major festivals will only accept your submission if the film was made within the last 12 months, so there’s that as well. Needless to say, I don’t want to have any “what if’s” in regard to certain festivals. If we don’t get in, that’s one thing. If we didn’t even try, that’s another altogether.

And if the strike isn’t over in January?

Well, we have bigger fish to fry than when Wrath Mercy Is seen by festival audiences with me and my cast in attendance.