Traverse City Film Festival Audience Award - Knife Skills
Knife Skills follows the hectic launch of the haute cuisine restaurant Edwins in Cleveland, staffed by men and women recently released from prison, and founded by a man dogged by his own past. It is a film about re-entry, second chances, and the healing power of fine food.
Interview with Director/Producer/Cinematographer Thomas Lennon
Main image: Marley Kichinka, trainee, previously struggled with heroin addiction; at Edwins she discovered a passion for restaurant work.
Congratulations! Why did you make your film?
I stumbled into this story by chance. I was having dinner with a friend, and it turns out this young guy, Brandon Chrostowski, was also there, and he explained to me that he was going to launch a restaurant that was going to be the best classic French restaurant in America. He said that it was going to be in Cleveland. And that it was going to be staffed almost entirely by men and women just out of prison.
My ears perked up. I knew next to nothing about criminal justice issues. I was just thinking as a filmmaker, opportunistically. If he pulls off a feat like that, really interesting. If his project crashes and burns, that’s interesting too. I flew out to Cleveland and started filming, while he was still painting the walls to his new place.
Imagine I’m a member of the audience. Why should I watch this film?
Anthony Bourdain said it better than I ever could. He screened our film and wrote us a note: “Restaurants have long been default home, school, and family for those of us who don’t, won’t, or can’t fit in elsewhere. Knife Skills is the compelling, funny, heartbreaking and thoroughly human story of one such place.”
Of course I was thrilled to have Bourdain’s endorsement, but even better was that he got the film. This improbable sixty-seat restaurant in Cleveland turned into a kind of family: all these men and women, carrying the wounds from their past with them, as we all do, and finding connection as they worked to piece together a better life.
How do personal and universal themes work in your film?
It’s a very particular story: the human face of re-entry, of life after prison as revealed in this one fancy French establishment. At the same time, it’s universal. Almost all of us love fine food. Almost all of us are aspirational, dream of a better life, as represented by the crystal and beautiful silverware, the French sauces, the arcane methods of this cuisine, the style and elegance of presenting a great dish to the public.
And unfortunately this also is universal: we all sabotage ourselves at times, undermine our best aspirations. These men and women are working to improve themselves at their core, to change basic patterns of behavior and that’s no cakewalk. Who among us doesn’t know: that’s a brutally hard a thing to do.
How have the script and film evolved over the course of their development?
I came in knowing nothing and the film evolved as the men and women in the restaurant struggled. At first, I was naïve: this restaurant seemed a miracle, a straightforward road to a better life. But life after prison is not that simple.
What type of feedback have you received so far?
The first time we showed the film to the public, at its Traverse City Film Festival premiere, the audience of 250 people jumped to their feet while the credits were rolling and stayed standing for what seemed to me like a lifetime. It was probably just 90 seconds or 2 minutes, but it felt like an eternity. I was up on stage taking in the applause, and after nearly four years of work on the film, I almost cracked.
And then a couple of days later, I got word that we had won the Audience Award. Of all the prizes you can win, that one’s the sweetest.
Has the feedback surprised or challenged your point of view?
It soothed me, made me feel like maybe we’d done something worthwhile.
What are you looking to achieve by having your film more visible on www.wearemovingstories.com?
I think Knife Skills is a moving story. But to get it seen means work. Incarcerated men and women who are due to soon come out into the world– I want them to see it so they can learn, and improve their odds. I want church groups to see the film, because churches are all about redemption, second chances. I want legislators to see it. I want all these people to land on your great website and be inspired to chase the film down.
Who do you need to come on board (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists) to amplify this film’s message?
HBO . . Netflix . . . are you reading this? Come snap up this film before a competitor of yours gets to it! Journalists: write about re-entry!
What type of impact and/or reception would you like this film to have?
I want state legislators to see this film. Forget the federal government: it’s paralyzed, and anyway most people who are incarcerated are under state or city custody. I want legislators to think hard about what it takes for men and women to thrive and stay on track after prison. As anyone who watches our film will see, there’s a lot more to re-entry than just being handed a few dollars and a set of civilian clothes.
What’s a key question that will help spark a debate or begin a conversation about this film?
I’m thrilled that in America today, liberals and conservatives are largely in agreement: we have too many men and women in prison. Yes, many need to be set free. And . . .then what? Is it just a matter of wishing them good luck? If you’re harboring that illusion, you need to watch our film.
And oh yes, I want viewers to take themselves off to eat at Edwins in Cleveland. Not just because it’s a good cause -- the food is really tasty.
What other projects are the key creatives developing or working on now?
I’m percolating a couple of projects. But my first responsibility right now is to this film: to make sure that it finds its way in the world.
Interview: August 2017
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We Are Moving Stories embraces new voices in drama, documentary, animation, TV, web series and music video. 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
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Knife Skills
Knife Skills follows the hectic launch of the haute cuisine restaurant Edwins in Cleveland, staffed by men and women recently released from prison, and founded by a man dogged by his own past. It is a film about re-entry, second chances, and the healing power of fine food.
Length: 39:54
Director: Thomas Lennon
Producer: Thomas Lennon
Editor and Co-Producer is Nick August-Perna
About the writer, director and producer:
Thomas Lennon - Director/Producer/Cinematographer
Veteran filmmaker and journalist Thomas Lennon’s work in documentary film has earned him an Academy Award, three Academy nominations, two national Emmys, two duPont-Columbia awards, two George Foster Peabody awards, and two films that premiered at the prestigious Sundance Film Festival.
Nick August-Perna - Editor/Co-Producer
Nick August-Perna is a New York–based filmmaker and documentary editor. His projects have enjoyed international theatrical release, and aired on National Geographic, PBS, and HBO.
Looking for (producers, sales agents, buyers, distributors, film festival directors, journalists): buyers, distributors, journalists
Facebook: facebook.com/KnifeSkillsDoc
Twitter: twitter.com/KnifeSkillsDoc
Other: Director's Twitter - twitter.com/TLennonFilms
Funders:
Soros Justice Fellowship - Open Society Institute
Margaret and Daniel Loeb - Third Point Foundation
New York Community Trust - Joan Ganz Cooney & Holly Peterson Fund
Where can I see it in the next month?
Still TBD -- waiting on some film festival news soon. We're confirmed to be screening at several film festivals in October and November and are seeking distribution through our sales agent, Ro*Co Films International.