The Lesson - about
There are so many stories to tell; of ordinary people and extraordinary characters, compromising situations and commanding journeys. I love to observe people at the airport while awaiting a flight. It’s a microcosm of the world; a great landscape of peoples playing out their stories. The layers of emotion, the secrets visible at the seams, the subtleties of each relationship offering a little window into someone’s joy, yearning, ecstasy, or emptiness within the bustle of activity.
What lies beneath the surface of who we appear to be? What draws us towards each other? What makes us stand in a crowd and feel totally alone? What makes us take a chance to change our lives?
Circumstances, life’s harsh experiences, a faster and faster pace of our society have stripped many people of any intimate connections or community, leaving only a profound sense of isolation. A place that is hard to emerge from once deep in its grasp. The Lesson is s story that begins in this place, with characters that decide to take a chance. A tale about ordinary people leading lonely lives and the ways they find to move forward with the cards they’ve been dealt.
-- Maninder
Logline Thin floors and an active upstairs prostitute cause Rose, a lonely middle aged Latino woman, to repeatedly bang on the ceiling with a broom in the hopes of a quiet evening... until one day a piece of the ceiling gives way to reveal a secret that changes both women's lives.
Synopsis Rose, lonely middle-aged Latino women, lives below an audibly active prostitute. Struggling to get some peace and quiet she repeatedly bangs on the ceiling with a broom until one day she pokes a hole through to the apartment above. Hearing voices, Rose's curiosity compels her to climb onto a chair and peer into Brandi's apartment. To her surprise she learns a secret about Brandi that causes her to reflect on her own past. Rose, in a quiet effort to connect with Brandi and help her in her life, begins to leave anonymous presents on Brandi's doorstep. As the relationship grows both women gain new hope and strength in their lives.
Story of Creation The Lesson was born through a collaboration between my sister and myself, a continuation from when she would write plays for my theatre company. She has an amazing talent to create unusual and complex stories upon request. If I wanted something a certain length with certain restrictions but exploring a certain theme, out would come a surprising and interesting tale that embodied those qualities. I wanted a short film to direct, character driven, about secrets. A New York story. She conceived and penned the Lesson.
Story of Production Then there was production. It’s own New York story. We built the set in a loft space in a narrow Manhattan four story walk up. Not only were we all exhausted at the end of the shoot, we were in much better shape. I would say the shoot was a typical low budget experience, each day a million things would go wrong, everything was acquired through begging, borrowing and begging, each day was filled with disappointments and surprises, and at the end of the day it was the passion of the participants that kept it all moving along. Through the long days, these amazingly committed, talented actors and creative team made this film happen. Thanks to them all! And to my partner for showing up at 3 in the morning at wrap to help carry the set, lighting and grip gear back down!
