Writer/director Dan Kay said finding work after college can be a struggle, especially when you're an artist living in New York City. This predicament is what inspired his film, "Way Off Broadway."
The film, which opens April 16 at Madstone Theaters with an appearance by Kay, follows five realistic characters who fight against the competition of the film and theater industry and battle with the trials of relationships. Kay got ideas for the script from his and his friends' experiences as artists.
"In college, we were big fish in a little pond," Kay said. "We came out with that mentality. It was a rude awakening. Nobody cared or noticed us. It discouraged a lot of people from artistic dreams. A number of my friends did not have what it took. They gave up their artistic ambitions. (In this film) I was writing a letter to them not to give up on their dreams."
Because Kay did not give up on his passion, "Way Off Broadway" was released by Small Planet Productions and has become an indie hit. It has been shown at more than 20 film festivals and has won several awards, including best feature at the Westchester Film Festival. But getting there was not easy for Kay.
After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Kay worked on movie sets for three years to learn about the film industry.
Kay's duties included everything from getting coffee for directors to picking up laundry, he writes in his production notes.
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It was difficult for Kay to try to get his script for "Way Off Broadway" noticed because it was his first feature length, but he refused to give up.
"It was hard for me to convince people I could make a movie," Kay said. "I had to convince them by my sheer passion."
The young and fun group of the friends in "Way Off Broadway" are strong but can be discouraged by life's disappointments.
Darrin Michaels is a playwright who briefly turns away from his dreams for the business world but indefinitely returns to his love of writing and discovers the love of his life. Jay Green, a guitar player who mooches off of his friends, makes up excuses for not playing because he fears his passion.
Ethan Willard is an English graduate student searching for love. Mickey Cancoon is a film student who wonders if "Citizen Kane" is really the greatest film ever made, and who can't let go of his ex-girlfriend.
Rebecca Moscowitz, an actress, is the only woman in the circle and creates a love triangle among her friends.
Kay said Rebecca is the focal point of the film, who, after suffering numerous rejections and hard knocks, is still standing at the end of the film.
In an age when many low-budget directors are switching from film to digital because of the lower cost, Kay said it was important for his movie to be shot on film because the look is much more engaging and cinematic.
Kay will be at Madstone Theaters this Friday and Saturday evening to talk about "Way Off Broadway." He said he hopes many film students show up to the event so that they too are inspired to follow their dreams.
