Local man's screenplay lauded at film festival
By Steve Wildsmith of The Daily Times Staff
From the U.S. Air Force to the palm trees of Hollywood Boulevard to the foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains, Luis Saumell has come a long way from an early childhood in Cuba.
Now, the Maryville resident wants to take his feelings about immigration -- shaped by his own family's journey from the Castro-controlled island on his eighth birthday -- combine them with a little humor and a lot of Blount County history and make a movie titled "Masons of Maryville."
"The story just developed in my mind, based around my experiences and the people in this community that I've met as a Realtor," Saumell told The Daily Times during a recent interview. "Everybody knows about the immigration debate, and I wanted to bring in the Latino culture and the religious undertones as well.
"On top of that, I selected these places that are iconic areas in Blount County, places like Cooper's Market, and incorporated the film around all of that. I don't know where it all comes from; when you're in the zone as a writer, it just starts flowing."
On the surface, "Masons of Maryville" might seem like a quirky project with no chance of getting off the ground. But Saumell is more than just a small-town guy with big dreams -- he's got a few Hollywood connections, a few local friends who believe in him and a screenplay that's won several accolades.
More than anything else, Saumell knows about perseverance. Like a lot of Cuban-Americans, it's a trait that comes natural, dating back to their desire to find freedom on American shores.
After his family made it across the Straits of Florida, he grew up and joined the U.S. Air Force as a photo specialist. After a four-year hitch that took him to Rammstein AFB in Germany, he decided to try his luck in California and moved out there with just enough possessions to fit in his Volkswagon. Opens photo studio Within six months, he had hooked up with an agency and was on his way to opening Hollywood Shooters, a studio for photographers. He worked with a number of celebrities, including Michael Landon and Mary Hart.
"All those top actors were so friendly," Saumell said. "I've always had a passion for film, but I never did the crossover because I was working with still photography."
Saumell describes himself as an "emotional film fan" -- someone who can find a mental or spiritual connection in just about any film. Growing up in a family led by a single mother, television was often a close companion. He always knew he felt a passion to create something on celluloid, but it wasn't until after he moved back to Florida in 1986 that he was moved to do so.
At the time, Miami's South Beach was coming into its own, and Saumell did a lot of photo shoot coordination for out-of-town photographers, even going so far as to custom-build a motor home that would escort them to shoot locations. In 1994, however, he began to feel an unfamiliar pull that led him to do something more.
"I've always had a passion that it would be interesting to create something, and in 1994 or so, I really started to feel that," he said. "I knew I was going to explode if I didn't do it."
The result of his first effort was a docu-drama called "Porque?" (Spanish for "Why?"), a film about the search for freedom by Cubans. It ended up winning silver star in the Charleston Film Festival, and it provided the impetus he needed to continue pursuing his passion.
"I had a passion growing up for the whole Communist-Cuban scenario, and when the Cubans were sent back and I saw images of kids in prison and things like that, it brought out a lot of emotion in me," he said. "I wanted to document the struggles that these different people have had up to now."
In Miami, where anti-Castro sentiment runs high, Saumell was celebrated as a local hero. He continued to work in still photography, however, and after marrying, he and his wife, Syria, spent their honeymoon in Gatlinburg. They loved it so much they returned every year, until his wife -- a physician -- was offered a job in East Tennessee. It was a culture shock, moving to the area, but in a good way, he said.
"One of the reasons we decided to leave Florida is that the schools are not up to the level they are here, but more than anything, everybody waved and nobody honked the horn," he said. "I was amazed. In all the months and years of coming here and living here, I don't think anybody's honked their horn at me. I just love it here, and I love the people."
Almost a year ago, however, he started to feel that familiar itch. He wanted to make another film, and so he started writing "Masons of Maryville." Killian helps This time around, he had some local help. Aaron Killian, with United Way, helped him out through the Maryville Film Club, a project the two started but later dwindled down to just a couple of members. Killian, Saumell said, will serve as associate producer, once the script is filmed, and also helped as a screenwriter.
The two even went so far as to conduct screen tests of local residents, and the participation of locals -- as well as their talent -- was amazing, Saumell said.
"We hammered out this concept I had, and when we had our first casting, there were so many great, talented local people with no experience who tried out," he said. "They looked so good, so we ended up creating scenes for these individuals, and it grew from a short to a full-length feature film."
The story revolves around the son of a Southern Baptist preacher who falls in love with a Mexican Catholic girl, a story that Saumell jokingly describes as a cross-cultural blend of "black beans and apple pie." Earlier this month, it placed first in the Family Screenplay Category at the Indie Gathering Film Festival in WestLake, Ohio.
The festival is among the top 25 film festivals, according to Movie Maker Magazine, Saumell said.
"What amazed me is that is has so many religious overtones, yet it was still accepted in a secular film festival," he said.
All that remains, he added, is securing funding and commencing the filming. The actors have been selected, the budget -- roughly $60,000 -- is ironed out, and Saumell and Killian are anxious to get started. They're seeking a few investors -- either individuals or businesses -- and hope to start shooting within the next few months.
(Already, he added, the Waterfront Group provided a flyover of Blount County last fall, allowing Saumell to get some rich, vibrant autumn foliage footage of the area that will be incorporated into the film.)
"I think getting the award is great, because it brings value to the script," he said. "I hope that will assist in getting local corporations and individuals interested in getting involved and helping produce the film. We think it will bring positive attention to Maryville and be an overall plus for the community."
To contact Saumell, write him at masonsofmaryville@gmail.com or call 679-3456.
Originally published: August 11. 2008 3:01AM
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