The 15th annual San Diego International Film Festival (SDIFF) has announced its line-up for Gala, Competition, Spotlight and Short Film sections. Included in the mix is the film No Pay, Nudity, which was produced by Tani Cohen, who is originally from Coronado.
“Having grown up in Coronado, it is always so exciting when you have the opportunity to show your work in your hometown,” says Cohen. “I was fortunate enough to have another film at the SDIFF many years ago and it was an incredible experience.”
Cohen describes No Pay, Nudity as a film about hanging out, hanging in, and hanging on. “Aging actor Lester Rosenthal (Gabriel Byrne) has lost his way. In this often humorous, yet warmly poignant story, love and friendship, jealousy and re-discovery, career, family, and friends (Nathan Lane, Frances Conroy) intertwine as Lester navigates the perplexing realities facing so many of us as we pursue dreams and dignity.“
Lee Wilkof, the director of No Pay, Nudity, was inspired to create the film after visiting the Actor’s Equity lounge (located in NY). “He had not been in there for at least 10 years, and recognized a small group of actors who he saw the last time he was there. Lee said to himself, there’s a movie here. Combined with the way he was feeling at the time, it sparked an idea that he took to writer Ethan Sandler and they crafted the story,” says Cohen.
The making of the film didn’t happen overnight though. From prep to post-production, the film took nine months to make.
“Making a film is a collaboration of many many talented people’s (cast and crew) hard work, time and energy. This was one of the smallest budgeted indie films I’ve produced but you would never know that by the outcome of the film and these efforts from our amazing cast and crew,” says Cohen. “I’m really proud of that.”
Cohen, who has been in the entertainment industry for 35 years, started her film career working for Brian DePalma during post-production of the film Scarface. “During my tenure with DePalma, he directed Body Double and Wise Guys,” says Cohen. “Following that, I was a creative executive with a production company that made the film Chattahoochee starring Gary Oldman and Dennis Hopper. It was during this production I met Lee Wilkof, the director of No Pay, Nudity. Lee was one of the co-stars of the film. Coincidentally, the film was directed by Mick Jackson whose film Denial is also playing in this year’s San Diego Film Festival.”
Cohen has produced approximately 24 films including narrative features, documentary, shorts, television MOW, and pilots, and had a dozen or so films showcased at festivals around the globe. And, while she may not reside on the island anymore, she frequently visits her 92 year old mother and sister who live here.
“Coronado is a magical place. It was paradise growing up there,” says Cohen. “My parents moved there in the late 40s. My father had the local Department Store located where Rite Aid is now and in the 70s my mother opened a health food store. My father really instilled a love of the city and how fortunate we were to live in such a wonderful, idyllic place. He devoted much of his time and effort to the city having served on many boards, City Council, and as Chairman of the Port Commission. Plus, I have a group of women friends, 13 of us, that are still the best of friends. We have all known each other since at least high school, many of us were in kindergarten together. We credit Coronado for this, it is in our DNA. Their love and support is everything.”
The San Diego International Film Festival will run from September 28th through October 2nd in San Diego, CA. The most up to date festival information is available at www.SDiFF.com.
