“A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” can be read at http://www.atreearockacloudthefilm.com/about.html
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SANDISFIELD-Life was breathed into the old Silverbrook Café when director Karen Allen and her crew transformed the surroundings in early June to life in 1947.
Karen Allen
The café is the main setting for Allen’s directorial debut of “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” The film is based on the Carson McCullers’ short story of the same title.
“The Silverbrook Café was a challenge in many ways,” said Allen during an interview with the Westfield News. “It had been closed for about 18 months and we had to bring it back to life.”
Allen said she and her crew hadn’t anticipated the level of work that would be required to transition the café to an earlier time period.
“In the end we all pulled together and made it work,” said Allen. “It looks absolutely great in the film, so every effort paid off.”
While transforming the café was a “challenge,” Allen said one of the “biggest” challenges from the beginning has been raising the money to be able to shoot the film.
“Now we are faced again with the challenge of raising the funds for post-production,” she said, noting funds are needed for editing and sound mixing, music, titles and all aspects of finishing the film.
“We would like to submit the film to the Sundance Film Festival which means having it ready in September, so we have a timeline that we are working toward both in terms of work and raising funds,” said Allen.
Actors Jackson Smith and Jeff DeMunn are pictured from a scene of “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” (Peter Baiamante photography)
Now in post-production, producer Diane Pearlman said life is “hectic” these days.
“Karen is now working with our editor, Noriko Sakamoto, on the rough cut of the film,” said Pearlman. “We are hoping to use a local composer and are hoping to do our sound mix here as well.”
Almost two years ago, Pearlman said that Allen and her East Coast manager, Brian Long, invited her to a meeting at Allen’s home.
“They were in the initial discussions of how to go about doing the film and asked me if I’d like to join the project,” said Pearlman. “The story has been a favorite of Karen’s for decades and she wanted it to be her first project.”
Pearlman and Allen have known each other for years, most notably since Allen is on the advisory board of the Berkshire Film and Media Collaborative which Pearlman oversees.
“I had been to several of the theater productions she had directed here in the Berkshires and in New York City,” said Pearlman. “I’d also seen many of her films and admired her as an
A production meeting with department heads of the film “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” (Peter Baiamante photography)
actor and director.”
Allen is an award-winning actor, theatrical director and writer, who is best known for her performances in National Lampoon’s Animal House, Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, Starman, Scrooged, and most recently, Year by the Sea.
“Since this was going to be a Berkshire-based project, I wanted to use my experience producing here to help Karen realize her vision,” said Pearlman.
Pearlman’s responsibilities as film producer has ranged from casting and hiring the crew to being the liaison with the town of Sandisfield.
Since Allen has lived in the Berkshires for 27 years, she felt she also knew the area well and traversed the winding roads scouting out locations for the exterior shots.
“I found myself driving down many roads I had never been down and visiting areas I had never seen,” said Allen. “I just feel more and more in love with the beauty of the area.”
Allen added that although most of the film takes place inside the Silverbrook, the beginning and end of the film showcases the “extraordinary beauty” of the Berkshires in the spring and early summer.
Cast members of “A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” take a break while filming on location in Sandisfield. (Peter Baiamante photography)
Since this was Allen’s first time in the director’s seat, she said an unexpected joy was “how very much” she felt at home in that role.
“I have directed often in the theater and as an actor been on film sets for 40 years, but this was my first film project as a director and I didn’t know for certain how in my element I would feel, so that was an unexpected joy,” she said.
Local crew and talent recruited for the production include Richard Sands, director of photography; Amy Lynn, co-producer; Paige Carter, set dresser and prop master; Laura Gratz, assistant production coordinator, and actors Terry Holland, Kale Browne, Karen Beaumont and Jackson Smith.
Also starring in the film are Jeff DeMunn (The Shawshank Redemption, The Green Mile, and TV’s The Walking Dead), and James McMenamin (TV’s Orange is the New Black).
Also working behind the scenes include Kristi Zea as production designer (The Departed, Silence of the Lambs, Philadelphia, Goodfellas, and Broadcast News), and Long who is serving as a producer on the project.
“I had many unexpected joys making this film,” said Allen. “Collaborating well with a large group of people who are coming together for the first time on a project is a big joy and is never to be taken for granted.”
Allen noted that special moments also included working with two of her favorite actors, DeMunn and McMenamin, both of whom she had worked with before.
“They are both extraordinary in their roles in this film,” said Allen.
Hair and makeup artist Dan Koye is seen with actor James McMenamin prior to shooting a scene recently in Sandisfield. (Peter Baiamante photography)
Allen also singled out Smith, a 12-year-old boy from Housatonic, who is featured in the film.
“Jackson Smith has had almost no acting experience and played a large role in the film,” said Allen. “He was a real joy to work with and is excellent in the role.”
Allen noted she was also thankful she had Pearlman and Long as collaborators on this project for the last two years.
“Having their constant support and dedication was a joy,” said Allen.
Allen also said that Zea, who has been a “dear friend” for 35 years, did a “remarkable” job in production design, and said a “definite joy” was collaborating with Sands as the cinematographer.
In “A Note from the Director” on the film’s website, Allen said she came across the story by McCullers when she was in her early 20’s. As a young actor she said she was drawn to McCullers as a playwright and novelist at first, and then began to read everything she’d written.
“A Tree. A Rock. A Cloud.” always loomed large for me among her many short stories,” wrote Allen. “It is a quiet, subtle, mysterious story. It sneaks up on you and has stayed indelibly etched in my imagination all these years.”
Allen said her intention is to “stay very close and true to the story Carson McCullers wrote and to illuminate in the film the characters she has so beautifully drawn in the pages of this story.”
Allen added that the Berkshires “is the perfect place” to bring this story to life.
The story involves two strangers – a young boy and an older man – spending a rainy morning at a roadside café in conversation that inspires profound questions of lost love and days gone by.
“It is a delicate, Zen like passing of wisdom from an older man to a young boy,” said Allen.
Pearlman echoed those sentiments.
“I think it is a wonderful story about life and love,” said Pearlman. “The interaction between the old man and the paper boy is just wonderful. I also think it’s a way to bring Carson McCullers’ work back into the forefront. She was such an amazing writer and many people today aren’t familiar with her work.”
The Columbus State University’s Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians is one of the sponsors of the film and the production team hopes to bring this and other works of McCullers’s back into the educational spotlight, according to Pearlman.
“They will be showing the film at the 100th birthday celebration for Carson McCullers both at the Columbus State University (Feb. 18-20, 2017), and at the International Carson McCullers Conference at John Cabot University in Rome (July 14-16, 2017),” said Pearlman, adding, “Apparently, Carson had quite an extensive following outside of the United States.”
The film is a not-for-profit project supported by the Independent Film Project, and there is still an opportunity to participate with the project and help with funding for completion. All monies raised are contributions and are fully tax-deductible, noted Pearlman.
“We still need to raise funds for post-production,” said Pearlman. “Then there’s money needed to enter film festivals around the world and travel to those where the film is accepted.”
Pearlman noted that Berkshire businesses have also benefitted from the film including caterers and restaurants, as well as lumber, paint and hardware stores. Additionally, local artisans and production personnel have lent their talent to the project including scenic artists, painters, carpenters and graphic designers.
“Even small films like this boost our local economy, and are especially beneficial in the off-season,” said Pearlman. “We are so grateful for the local support we’ve received, especially from the town of Sandisfield. This has truly been a community effort – so many people have given their time and talent to make this film happen.”
Allen concurred.
“The community pulled together in so many great ways to help us make this film,” said Allen. “The town of Sandisfield helped us in so many ways and local businesses stepped up to help us find the furniture and props and period cars we needed for the film and also the food to feed our cast and crew during the shoot.”
