A team of Caribbean and US producers is cutting a new path in the world of film, with a movie project called The Cutlass. A harrowing story of trauma and survival, The Cutlass tells the tale of a woman who is robbed while liming with friends on the beach, before falling into the clutches of a dangerous character who uses mind games to trap her in his web. She must endure torture and abuse until she finds the strength to make her own path to freedom. The film is based on a true story and explores the relationship between victim and predator, set against the backdrop of a tropical wilderness. A one-minute clip from the trailer, posted on thecutlassmovie.com, sets up the story like a Hollywood psychological thriller: it shows dark footage of the protagonists, Joanna (Lisa-Bel Hirschmann) and Al (Arnold Goindhan), in a rustic shack where she is held captive at his mercy. In an interview, director/executive producer Darisha Beresford and writer/producer Tenielle Newallo discussed the new film, and the creative paths that led them here. Newallo, a former St Joseph's Convent student, had attained a Bachelor of Fine Arts in theatre performance from Florida Atlantic University, and Beresford, a Bishop Anstey alumna, had just finished film school at the New World School of Performing Arts in Miami when the pair met in Florida while working on a 48-hour film project.
The project, which Beresford produced, was called Adam and Eve Uncensored. The movie won an award for editing. They kept in touch over the years, and when Newallo showed her the Cutlass script, Beresford knew she wanted to collaborate on it. "I was very taken aback by the story and quality of her writing," said Beresford, who lives in Fort Lauderdale, where she has worked in film and television for the past 12 years. Newallo got the idea for the story when a real-life kidnap victim related her experience to her. With permission, and with changes to some details to protect the privacy of those involved, she developed the script. They received a grant from the Trinidad and Tobago Film Company (TTFC) with which they produced a nine-minute promotional trailer for the film, on the strength of which they have been seeking potential financiers. US-based Telemundo, the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, has expressed interest in screening it. Serendipity played its part in choosing the lead for The Cutlass. German-born Hirschmann, who was raised in Tobago, had been studying theatre in the UK, but came home just in time for the casting call. The film-makers were impressed. "She was very good in front of the camera," said Beresford, "and she and Arnold worked well together." "They had great chemistry," Newallo added. Goindhan, most often seen in comedic roles on the local theatre stage, is cast in a more sinister role.
Newallo explains: "We didn't want a big, strong, intimidating person; we wanted a regular guy, someone you could probably be friends with. He uses his intelligence to gain control, and he has a range of expression, using his body and his eyes." The production team draws on international talent, with Drew Umland, director of post production/art director, and Ian Bloom, director of photography, as well as Trinidadians producer Brent Webster and Luke Paddington, associate producer. The film also features American actor Kirk Baltz, whose film credits include Quentin Tarantino's Reservoir Dogs and Natural Born Killers, Face/Off and Dances with Wolves. The project is currently still in the pre-production and fundraising stage, and the team is actively seeking investment before filming can begin in earnest. "We are ready to go," says Newallo, "but we need money." A promotional screening for potential partners is planned in the near future. They are offering several options for would-be sponsors, including product placement, screen credit and financial investment. "This is new territory for business in Trinidad," said Beresford, "but it's very exciting and there is a lot of interest". "We have a great relationship with the film company," said Beresford, as Newallo added: "They are giving us 35 per cent cash-back," referring to the TTFC's Production Expenditure Rebate Programme, which provides cash rebates up to 35 per cent for expenditures accrued while filming in T&T. Despite waiting on funding-and the dry season-Newallo and Beresford are optimistic. "We want to break ground with this film and have it be internationally recognised, not just in the Caribbean," Beresford said. "We want to encourage others and open doors," Newallo said. "There is a lot of interest for Caribbean content from international distributors," said Beresford. "Local filmmakers are on the right path, once the product is good, we can appeal to audiences across the globe."
