Melbourne Documentary Film Festival 2019 – UNCAGED: A Stand-In Story
Marco Kyris worked as Nic Cage’s stand-in for a decade on 20 films; everything from Cage’s break out role in Leaving Las Vegas to the blockbuster franchise National Treasure. In Uncaged: A Stand-in Story, Marco talks about his early life as an actor, his journey into the entourage of Nic Cage, and what it was like working in the shadow for one of Hollywood’s Legends of Cinema.
Interview with Producer/Actor Marco Kyris
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I made this film to tell my true story of what it was like, being the man in the shadows under an A-list actor in Hollywood for a decade, 20 films in all. The industry isn't all glitz and glam like you see on TV and I wanted to share the reality that a professional Hollywood lifestyle requires with the world. The long hours, the gruelling locations, and the commitment to these films are all aspects most of Hollywood doesn't focus on, and I felt like that story needed to be told, and I happened to be in the position to experience it through the lens of the true Hollywood studio.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
You should watch this film if you want a true insight for what it was like to be a stand-in, in the Hollywood system. You're carried around like a movie star, but you're really just a stand-in. There have only been about a dozen stand-ins to have experienced this on a superstar level, as I did working for Mr Cage of the Coppola family dynasty.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
Every decision you make has consequences, and although on the surface working for a Hollywood superstar would seem like a no brainer, you have to give up things everyone else takes for granted. Uncaged explores themes of loss and sacrifice through my story, as committing to a decade of films with Mr Cage took a toll on personal life and physical health. I missed out on relationships and spent more time in hospital hooked to an I.V. than anyone could have predicted. Would I change anything? No, but it's not as one-sided a decision today as it was in 1994.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
The filmed evolved as planned overall! I've always wanted it to be a full feature film, but it was decided early on that it should be a short teaser film to get the audience, and other producers interested. I wanted it to tell my simple story, and it did.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The feedback has been positive with TV and Radio appearances, as well as newspaper articles and Q&A's globally. There has been more publicity on this tiny film than I could have ever expected, and this has all come just from after it's premiere at Hot Docs here in Canada.
Other Press for UNCAGED:
Now Magazine, April 17, 2019 -
Zoomer Radio, April 25 2019 -
InTheSeats, April 26 2019 - Cult of Personality Podcast, May 3 2019 - Reddit AMA 1 & Reddit AMA 2 (combined 1065 upvotes and 247 comments) - CBC The Q, May 8th, 2019
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
An understanding that Hollywood is a hard-working place. It's not all fluff and fold, and there is a lot of dedication when anyone is hired in any position, and that it is a large sacrifice if you want to live and work in the spotlight. I wanted to convey that to as broad an audience as possible.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
Creative Producers, Global Distributors, and Journalists.
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I would like the reception of this film to be that of a realization, the feeling of the wool being pulled back from your eyes. I want people to rethink their motivations and biases around the film business. I wanted to set out a realistic but unique vision in this very short story about a stand-in for a superstar. All that glitters is not gold.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
What is a stand-in, and how important can a stand-in really be to an actor and a film set?
Would you like to add anything else?
I'm hoping you enjoy this fun fluffy outlook from my perspective in this very short teaser film. There are many more stories about my position working for this superstar. Look for the future where I hope to make this into a feature documentary. One of the most enjoyable aspects of these film festivals is the Q&A portion where I get to go deeper into more interesting stories around my time in Hollywood.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
Marco Kyris - Working on the preliminary stages of a TV series and Feature film set on this subject. As well as the non-fiction book Uncaged: After all these years written about my life.
Interview: May 2019
We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series, music video, women's films, LGBTQIA+, POC, First Nations, scifi, supernatural, horror, world cinema. If you have just made a film - we'd love to hear from you. Or if you know a filmmaker - can you recommend us? More info: Carmela
UNCAGED: A Stand-In Story
Marco Kyris worked as Nic Cage’s stand-in for a decade on 20 films; everything from Cage’s break out role in Leaving Las Vegas to the blockbuster franchise National Treasure. In Uncaged: A Stand-in Story, Marco talks about his early life as an actor, his journey into the entourage of Nic Cage, and what it was like working in the shadow for one of Hollywood’s Legends of Cinema.
Length: 11:20
Director: Blake Johnston & Kelso Steinhoff
Producer: Marco Kyris
About the writer, director and producer:
BLAKE JOHNSTON is a 28-year-old actor, writer and director that lives in downtown Toronto, and this is his directorial debut.
KELSO STEINHOFF is a Toronto based producer, director and composer who is known for his visceral, comedic works. Uncaged: A Stand-In Story is Kelso's 5th short film.
MARCO KYRIS worked as Nic Cage’s stand-in for a decade on 20 films and has ventured out to produce his own story about his experience working for Mr Cage. As well a book to follow. This is Marco's first adventure in producing.
Key cast: Marco Kyris (Self)
Looking for: distributors, journalists, producers, buyers
Facebook: Marco Kyris
Twitter: @MarcoKyris
Instagram: @marcokyris
Hashtags used: #stand-in
Website: www.mkyris.com
Other: IMDb
Made in association with: DoMeRight Productions
Funders: Self-funded
Where can I watch it next and in the coming month? SF DocFest/San Fransisco United States - May 2019; New York Shorts International Film Festival/New York United States - May 2019; Melbourne Documentary Film Festival/Melbourne Australia - July 2019; Tokyo Lift Off Film Festival Online/Tokyo Japan - May 2019