Up on the Glass is a 2020 thriller about a wanderer who secretly desires the life and wife of his more affluent friend. Actor and writer Nikki Brown talks with us about the film and her background. Here’s what she had to say.
What part of the country do you call home?
Memphis, TN is home, a place that my husband and creative partner Kevin Del Principe and I chose and moved to in December.
Have you always been based there?
Before moving to Memphis, we lived in Los Angeles for nine years. We met there while both attending the University of Southern California’s MFA Writing for Screen & Television program.
Was the goal always to write and produce movies or did you start out doing something else?
I’ve always considered myself to be a writer and storyteller, but when I first set out on the creative path at USC, I had no idea I would end up calling myself a filmmaker—writing, producing, and acting in films.
At any time did you consider trying to sell Up on the Glass to a studio – or was it something you and Kevin always wanted to do together, independently?
Given that the spirit of Up on the Glass is more independent, we never considered that a studio might be interested. It’s been rewarding to have the freedom to be able to make the film we wanted to make rather than having to answer to the whims of studios, financiers, and executive producers.
Tell us about the inspiration for the script?
In the summer of 2014, I brought Kevin to my parents’ cottage on Lake Michigan where I spent summers as a child. We sat on the deck overlooking the lake and Kevin began spitballing ideas for a story that started with a reunion of college friends that went wrong.
They don’t make movies like these anymore do they?
Unfortunately the studios and big production companies will not risk making films like Up on the Glass—films that do not fit cleanly into a genre category, whose characters do not easily match familiar tropes, and that prompts audiences to come up with their own interpretations rather than spoon-feeding them how they should think and feel about the story.
What kind of movies did you sit down to watch before tackling the script?
We were inspired by the uncomfortable thriller The Talented Mr. Ripley based on Patricia Highsmith‘s novel as well as the portrayal of class dynamics in The Servant, the 1963 film whose screenplay was written by Harold Pinter.
Where did you find your actors?
We worked with an incredible casting director, Rachel Imbriglio. She introduced us to Chase Fein who plays the lead role of Jack DiMercurio. After meeting Chase in person, we knew he was the right fit for the part. Rachel was great about finding actors who were familiar with the Midwest experience. Chelsea Kurtz (Liz Shelton) and Steve Holm (Moze) both grew up in Ohio. Jessica Lynn Parsons grew up in Michigan, and Burke Sage lives and works in Michigan (we actually discovered Burke on Instagram). Hunter Cross, though originally from Maryland, had visited the Lake Michigan area many times and was familiar with the small-town environment of the film.
If one of them ends up a breakout star as a result of the movie, who do you predict it’ll be?
Fein delivered a stand-out performance and showed unbelievable depth and nuance of character in Up on the Glass. Whether it’s Up on the Glass or another film, Chase’s talent will continue to be recognized.
What’s the best piece of independent filmmaking advice you can offer others reading this article?
Find people you trust and lean into them. Independent filmmaking is a long and difficult journey, and it’s the people who have your back who will help get you through the rough patches.
UP ON THE GLASS is available September 8 on Blu-ray, DVD and Digital from Gravitas Ventures