#MondayMovies: David Altrogge

David Altrogge

David is the type of dude I really vibe with. Like most filmmakers, he did not get into this game “to make commercials.” However, also like many filmmakers, that’s exactly what he found himself doing to get by.

“In 2011, we made a feature length scripted film…and it was really bad. It almost killed our company and put us out of business. The amount of time and money we put into it…and I had just gotten married and had my first kid, so I had a little freak out moment. So we started doing commercials…”

From there, David and his best friend and partner Michael J. Hartnett built their production company, Vinegar Hill, into an impressive and sustainable one with a resume to match. Branded corporate content “led to a 20 minute documentary and that led to a lot of success.”

As we said above, many filmmakers find themselves playing in the sandbox of commercial and corporate gig work. However, what makes David and Vinegar Hill different in my mind is the level of sustainability and growth they achieved. He has has two full-time employees, an office and a vast ecosystem of filmmakers he hires and delegates to shoot content for Vinegar Hill’s roster of international clients.

It’s not just about paying bills until he gets a big break. It’s not just about temporary solutions to long term problems. It’s about sustainability.

So, after building a successful and lasting infrastructure around him, he found himself in the position to again pursue narrative work. This time with more experience, connections and support.

Where to Watch

Altrogge actually reached out to an actor / writer friend of his, looking for something to shoot. He had raised some money for the beginning phases of what was supposed to be a feature-length Civil War epic. The film was scratched just before entering pre-production, and he needed something to make. His friend happily gave him a script that became the basis of this Saint Frank; a short that has gone through dozens of iterations both on the page and in the editing room.

What results is a fantastic film. It’s amazing how, though not given much context or circumstances on the where and when, the film has such a strong sense of time and place. At the heart of the story is a well-worn yet always complex dynamic between two men, one that rides the line of burdened responsibility and a raw sacrificial love. The acting and strong essence of the world, however, make this film feel very fresh and exciting.

Here’s what work inspired Altrogge on the film.

of mice and men

“The relationship is what initially drew me to the script. I have a few friends with traumatic brain injuries, and there are complexities and frustrations, there are joys and challenging things. Mickey is not supposed to necessarily have a traumatic brain injury, but there is that element of Frank being his protector, even though they’re just supposed to be friends.”

I, too have experience in this ilk of relationship…there is always a deep connection and love, but a distance that can never be bridged. It’s what happens when two people who love each other function on different planes. The loneliness, guilt, and love Frank feels around Mickey is Saint Fraink’s beating heart.

“A big part of Frank’s character is his wrestling with resentment. His chance to finally get ahead comes at the cost of this guy, who has been equal parts rewarding and frustrating to him.”

What’s it like when you know that despite your best efforts you can never entirely get through to someone you love? That they will may never really “get” how their actions have impacted you and your life. Every moment in some way becomes a sacrifice, a surrender.

“To my shame, I had never read the book until I was a couple drafts in. Originally in one of the scripts Mickey and Frank had an easy get-away, but a writer friend of mine said I needed an “Of Mice and Men catharsis.” I knew the book was a major influence on the original script my friend gave me, and that’s when I actually decided to pick it up.”

Where to read

AMERICAN BUFFALO

“Say what you will about him, I don’t really like a lot about him, but his thoughts on writing, screenwriting and directing—I love how he’s always saying the audience will be ahead of you. Their brain is trying to get ahead of the film, just know that…don’t insult them. I have a friend who’s a lawyer and he was telling me judges, they don’t want you to fill in all the gaps, they get it, they’re smart. You say your piece, step away and let them put it together.”

In earlier cuts, the film was about five minutes longer, Altrogge attributes this to the film’s ending which originally tied up loose ends in a much more direct way, explaining everything that would happen in the film’s aftermath to the audience.

“People are always saying to trust the audience, and I believe that. But when you’re making a movie you’re always like, ‘Oh, are they going to understand it?’ In American Buffalo, Mamet is the master of dropping the audience into this world and then giving them the responsibility to keep up with these guys. Basically, I think it was Mamet who said to burn the opening reel and the last reel. No need for exposition or typing up loose ends.”

Listen

steve jobs

“Dealing with all this dialogue, was really a challenge…as this movie is pretty text heavy. Another thing I did was watch Danny Boyle’s Steve Jobs before we went into production because I wanted to see how other filmmakers deal with talk-heavy material. Sorkin is very similar to Mamet in that way.”

For me as an actor, I have always been more comfortable delving into the “psyches” of my characters, figuring out their wants, needs and circumstances. Although this work is essential, talking to Altrogge reminds me that our job is to activate these things in the audience through behavior, especially in the visual medium of film.

“My co-director Mike, who was also the cinematographer, is really good with blocking. Originally the script was just all dialogue with not a lot of action, so he brought the best ideas in terms of what the visual story could be. How to keep it moving, what the characters do…where would they go? How do you move characters through a space, or a series of spaces to tell the most engaging story. That was definitely one of the fun challenges of this piece.”

WATCH

the cohen brothers

“I’ve always loved the Cohen Brothers; their movies are about the losers of the world. Michael and Don Corleone have never been incredibly interesting to me so much as the foot soldiers at the bottom. Like William H. Macy in Fargo or even the dudes in American Buffalo, these inept criminals…that definitely inspired the movie.”