Steven Jay Bernheim is known for The Perception (2018), Reality Queen! (2020) and Gangland (2001). He has been married to Julia Faye West since November 23, 2013.
indieactivity: Why this particular story, sir?
Steven Jay Bernheim (SJB): I was triggered by an online post from a woman in her early-twenties who was at the Coachella music festival. She happened to see Paris What’s-Her-Name, who was all decked out in typical teenage festival garb.
The young woman found it rather ridiculous that Paris was trying so hard to fit in with teenagers and twenty-somethings half her age. That inspired me to ask, what if Paris tried to make a comeback?
I imagine today’s TV offerings played muse to the script, too?
Steven Jay Bernheim (SJB): Well, in our film, we reference a reality TV show called, Catching Up With The Kims which centers on three sisters, all of whom are named, KIM. (They’re Korean; Kim is their surname). And then there’s, Heirheads, about two celebrities who are forced to take on simple jobs and experience ordinary life. Sound familiar? So, yes, there are plenty of references to today’s TV offerings.
Watch the trailer for Reality Queen
Did you weave in any real-world stuff into the script?
Steven Jay Bernheim (SJB): Pretty much everything keys to something or someone in the real world. I wanted to be sure everyone would understand exactly who and what we’re satirizing. I think the character names say it all: London, The Kim sisters, Rochelle Ritzy.” And London’s surname is Logo, suggesting that she’s as much of a brand as she is an actual person. Who does that remind you of?
How long did you take to complete the script? (Do you have a writing process?)
Steven Jay Bernheim (SJB): Well, first off, I didn’t write the script by myself – I used a team of eight writers including me. The process I used was modeled on television comedy writing, rather than on the traditional film writing method. I’ve never written for television, but I’m an alumnus of the Harvard Lampoon, and many of my old colleagues from that humor magazine went on to do big things in TV comedy.
As with TV comedy, we started with a concept (that I developed). A first draft screenplay was written by one writer. Then we sat around a writers table every day for months, improving (hopefully) the original draft, punching it up, solving plot problems, etc. Once production started, I frequently let the actors ad lib, which resulted in some of the funniest bits in my opinion.
Denise Richards, John Colley, Kate Orsini and John Witherspoon (of Ice Cube’s FRIDAY films, may he rest in peace) were especially brilliant with the improv. In fact, this is John Witherspoon’s last feature film; he passed away tragically a few weeks ago. He was a comic genius.
During production, what scene was the hardest to shoot for you and the cast?
Steven Jay Bernheim (SJB): The beach scene in Malibu, by far. We had to shoot it twice, because the first time we went out there, it started pouring rain and we had to suspend production. Also, access to the beach wasn’t that easy. The crew really had to hump the equipment a long way from our trucks, through big rocks.
You wrote, and directed the film, how hard is juggling a couple of roles at once?
SJB: As mentioned, I co-wrote the film, with a team of amazingly talented comedy writers. Nearly all the screenwriting was done before the directing really got going, so there wasn’t much juggling.
Let’s talk finance, how did you finance the film?
SJB: It was financed primarily through private equity.
How did you get High Octane Pictures on board? Was the US distribution hard to snare?
SJB: At the American Film Market, we signed with a distribution agency called House of Film. House of Film got High Octane Pictures on board. From what I understand, House of Film had several offers and went with High Octane because of their excellent reputation.
Do you think the film works just as well for an older age group – as it does younger?
SJB: I sure hope so! Time will tell!.
If the film were a VHS tape in a Blockbuster store – which category would you place it under?
SJB: Funny enough, years ago I actually produced a movie – Point Doom — that really was a Blockbuster World Premier – meaning it was initially available only on VHS in Blockbuster stores. And THAT’s how old I am! I’d hope Reality Queen! would go into Blockbuster’s comedy category, since it is intended to be. . . a comedy. It wouldn’t be great if they watched it and then decided it should go in the horror or student films section. No sir. Not good at all. . .
Tell us what you think of the interview with the Steven Jay Bernheim. What do you think of it? What ideas did you get? Do you have any suggestions? Or did it help you? Let’s have your comments below and/or on Facebook or Instagram! Or join me on Twitter.
Follow Steven Jay Bernheim on Social Media
Website
IMDb
Facebook
Instagram
MORE STORIES FOR YOU
The Key Facts Behind How Jeff Nichols Made The Indie Hit MUD
Jeff Nichols gives himself directorial challenges to master on every project.
In Conversation with Michael Oblowitz Director of Confidential Informant
Confidential Informant stars Mel Gibson, Dominic Purcell, and Kate Bosworth
