Sam Pezzullo and Miles Anthony Bouckoms’ “The Premiere” is a largely improvised comedy that follows Sam, a painfully narcissistic and delusional theater producer who attempts to make a musical version of his favorite movie, “Scream.”
The film debuts as part of the Hamptons International Film Festival’s Views From Long Island Signature Program, focusing on local filmmakers and the area’s unique landscape.
It’s a journey we’ve followed since filming began. (James Lane Post even makes an appearance in the film.) We spoke to Sam and Miles, both co-directors, writers, and producers, to learn more about the final product.
What inspired you to create “The Premiere”? Can you detail the process and how the idea grew into a whole concept?
MB: We were working with Paramount on a viral marketing campaign for the upcoming release of “Scream 5” back in 2021 when we came up with the concept. They loved the idea but ultimately did not want to take a comedic approach to the campaign. In every other instance, when one of our pitches has not received funding, we simply move on to the next one. This one was different. We felt we had to see this through. We created a mock trailer for our mock film utilizing nothing but local resources and talent. Paramount loved it, and we released it online. That was supposed to be that. But then we saw how people responded. The response was so overwhelmingly enthusiastic from people all over the world, we started thinking, what if we actually made this into a movie? Three years later, our personal lives have been destroyed, and we are in complete financial ruin, but we have ourselves a movie.
In the film, you aim to create the musical version of your favorite movie, “Scream.” How has the film “Scream” inspired you in real life?
SP: I remember seeing “Scream” when it first came out in 1996. I was 10 years old. Everything about it resonated with me. The murder mystery element. The campiness. The characters. I knew I wanted to make movies like that. Movies that were both plot-driven and character-driven. I memorized the entire script and I would recite scenes. It made me appreciate the importance of sharp dialogue and inspired me to write my first screenplay. And while it was a slasher film, there were elements of comedy, and the characters were all inspired by my real-life friends. Soon after, I got my first video camera and started “making movies” with the people around me. I was the director, and I always cast myself in the lead role. I guess some things never change. It’s been so rewarding to make this film, which reflects my love and appreciation of “Scream” while also creating a whole universe of original characters and using that as a vehicle to make people laugh.
Talk about the mockumentary format and how the film was created through improvisation.
SP: I’ve always been a fan of documentaries and reality TV and believe that truth is stranger than fiction. So, it was natural that my first film would embrace that approach to storytelling. Crafting something that was based in reality felt like the easiest and funniest way to tell this absurd and outrageous story. Easiest, because the mockumentary format made it achievable from a production standpoint. It allowed us to employ a smaller crew, simpler camera work, and less sophisticated production value. And funniest, because it forced us to create the scenes and the interactions around real people playing exaggerated, characterized versions of themselves. Our goal was to make a funny film but without relying on traditional comedic devices. There’s no slapstick. There was no script. No jokes, no punchlines. We relied purely on the awkward exchanges and spontaneity that could result from mostly non-actors improvising dialogue with very little direction. While we had an intention behind each scene and certain plot points that we needed to communicate to drive the story forward, the dialogue itself had to be unrehearsed and conversational in order for us to maintain that documentary feeling and authenticity.
Could you tell us about the world premiere coming up at the Hamptons International Film Festival? We hear it sold out quickly!
MB: The film will be premiering October 10 at 8 PM at Guild Hall, and we will have a second screening on October 12 at 2:30 PM at Sag Harbor Cinema. We sold out both shows almost instantly. It was the fastest sell-out in the history of the Hamptons International Film Festival. We are completely making that up and have no idea if it’s true. But it’s the rumor we are spreading. If you still want to get tickets, there will be scalpers out front of both venues.
You cast local East End actors and film at local establishments like Bay Street Theater. Can you talk a little about the process of filming at some of these beloved establishments and how the film became a love letter to Sag Harbor?
SP: This film would not have been possible without the overwhelming support we received from the local community in Sag Harbor. We knew we wanted to feature as many local businesses as possible in this film for a few reasons. For starters, since the film is so character-driven and dialogue-heavy, we wanted a wide variety of locations and environments to add visual diversity to the film and make it interesting and dynamic for a viewer to watch. It also allowed us to include so many real-world individuals and businesses that inhabit Sag Harbor, which not only expands the world we are trying to create but also blurs the line between what is fact and what is fiction, which is something we really wanted to achieve to support the mockumentary approach. Most importantly, using these environments for scenes really amplified the performances and gave us interesting things and people to engage with, which, from my point of view, led to some of the funniest moments in the film. As a result, the film sort of feels like it could be repurposed as a promotional video for the Sag Harbor Chamber of Commerce, but a damn funny one at that.
What were some of the obstacles you faced during the process?
MB: We did not have enough money. We did not have enough time. Crafty was a joke. The bagels were hard. There was never enough cream cheese.
What’s next following the world premiere of “The Premiere”?
MB: Moving to New Zealand and starting a bulldog farm.
SP: I’m trying not to think much about what’s next. Instead, I’m making a conscious effort to live in the moment and enjoy the experience of sharing the film with local audiences at the film festival. I hope it’s well received. I’d like to be a one-hit wonder. And then do it again with a sequel.
