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Fienberg Interview
Marc Fienberg wrote “Play the Game” while working and raising a family in Chicago and Boston. Unlike most filmmakers he did not graduate from film school instead he got an MBA at the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern and worked in the business world for 15 years. One day he realized he was very good at something he didn’t really want to do and decided to make an independent film from his screenplay. It took five years to raise the money but he will see his dream fulfilled when “Play the Game” opens at select theatres across the country Friday, August 28th after a successful intial run in Florida. Marc not only wrote the screenplay, he is also the director and producer. And in a very unusual move he is distributing the film himself, hand picking the theatres it opens in.
Marc – We quit are jobs and moved from Boston to Los Angeles, we had no jobs, no friends and no family in California. I don’t know if it was guts or stupidity but it was worth it. Just making the film and getting this far is very rewarding.
David – I have seen a lot of trailers that appear as if the person who made it never saw the movie. How did you manage to get one that conveys the subtlety of your film?
Marc – (chuckle) I had a professional make a trailer but after I saw it I realized that he did not get it. I then spent three weeks locked in a studio recuting the trailer by hand to get what you saw. The first one was pretty much all the funny moments and none of the heart.
David – How did you come up with the idea?
Marc – My grandfather was the inspiration for Joe, just about everything that happens with Joe is directly from him. Most of the funny lines came out of my grandfather’s life, I couldn’t have written it any better than he actually said it.
David – And there was some family drama on the set?
Marc – Yes, my wife almost went into labor while we were filming. It was our third child so she told me to stay on deadline that she could have a production assistant take her to the hospital. Fortunately it was a false alarm and the baby was born six days after shooting wrapped.
David – Your cast is great, how did you get Andy Griffith?
Marc – He was always my first choice for the role. He initially turned it down but he called a few days later and said he couldn’t get the script out of his head. David – What made him change his mind?
Marc - He liked that he had a bedroom scene and that he didn’t die in the end. The theme of living live to its fullest also got Doris and Liz to sign on. Of course, having a bedroom scene with Andy sold it.
David – The other story is about a younger couple how did you come to cast those roles.
Marc - We auditioned ten people for the young couple and it was difficult but when Marla and Paul walked in they were right for the roles. They got it and their chemistry together worked.
David – How much direction did you give Andy for the bedroom scene?
Marc – Just broad strokes, we talked about it before hand and told him to play it humorous but realistic. We shot it in one take, it was not rehearsed.
David – What’s next for you?
Marc – I have written a couple of screenplays and am in talks with studios. I have also been getting offers to direct commercials, companies like the idea of someone with a business background telling their story.
“Play the Game” is a film for all ages there is no foul language or violence instead there is humor and a lot of heart. See it a personally selected theatre near you.
Marc – We quit are jobs and moved from Boston to Los Angeles, we had no jobs, no friends and no family in California. I don’t know if it was guts or stupidity but it was worth it. Just making the film and getting this far is very rewarding.
David – I have seen a lot of trailers that appear as if the person who made it never saw the movie. How did you manage to get one that conveys the subtlety of your film?
Marc – (chuckle) I had a professional make a trailer but after I saw it I realized that he did not get it. I then spent three weeks locked in a studio recuting the trailer by hand to get what you saw. The first one was pretty much all the funny moments and none of the heart.
David – How did you come up with the idea?
Marc – My grandfather was the inspiration for Joe, just about everything that happens with Joe is directly from him. Most of the funny lines came out of my grandfather’s life, I couldn’t have written it any better than he actually said it.
David – And there was some family drama on the set?
Marc – Yes, my wife almost went into labor while we were filming. It was our third child so she told me to stay on deadline that she could have a production assistant take her to the hospital. Fortunately it was a false alarm and the baby was born six days after shooting wrapped.
David – Your cast is great, how did you get Andy Griffith?
Marc – He was always my first choice for the role. He initially turned it down but he called a few days later and said he couldn’t get the script out of his head. David – What made him change his mind?
Marc - He liked that he had a bedroom scene and that he didn’t die in the end. The theme of living live to its fullest also got Doris and Liz to sign on. Of course, having a bedroom scene with Andy sold it.
David – The other story is about a younger couple how did you come to cast those roles.
Marc - We auditioned ten people for the young couple and it was difficult but when Marla and Paul walked in they were right for the roles. They got it and their chemistry together worked.
David – How much direction did you give Andy for the bedroom scene?
Marc – Just broad strokes, we talked about it before hand and told him to play it humorous but realistic. We shot it in one take, it was not rehearsed.
David – What’s next for you?
Marc – I have written a couple of screenplays and am in talks with studios. I have also been getting offers to direct commercials, companies like the idea of someone with a business background telling their story.
“Play the Game” is a film for all ages there is no foul language or violence instead there is humor and a lot of heart. See it a personally selected theatre near you.
I Recently Spoke With Marc Fienberg About His Film "Play the Game"
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