POUNDCAKE FILMMAKERS’ NOTES RAFAEL MONSERRATE – Director

As soon as I read the first draft, I was instantly inspired. Not only was it hilarious, but at its core, it was real. I was inspired to tell the story of the Morgan family, a family we could all relate to and whose attributes, we could all recognize in ourselves. I immediately knew that in order to translate this wonderfully crafted screenplay into an honest and moving film, I would have to treat it with nothing but the authenticity and truthfulness it deserved. I would have to look at the Morgan family, as if it were my own. The first thing I discovered was that at the heart of the story was the need to connect.

I had the very good fortune of growing up in what were essentially two cultures at the same time. Born in Puerto Rico, yet raised in suburban Massachusetts, I was influenced by the best of both cultural traditions. I recognized that what we all share in common is the value of family. That when times are tough, when hope is lost, and purpose is questioned, we can always rely on family to help get us by.

This film celebrates the good, the bad, the outrageousness, and the simplicity, that is family. In the Morgan’s, we see ourselves. And in their story, we recognize our own hopes, our own fears, our own dreams, and in turn, our universal need to deeply connect with the ones we love.

This is the truth of POUNDCAKE, and why I was inspired to tell this story. What are the ties that bind? Why do we work so hard to stay together? Why do we fight so much with those we love? Yet these are our fondest memories, our funniest stories, and our most cherished moments.

The Morgan’s were first conceived when screenwriters Troy Hall and Kevin Logie set out to write a series of sketch comedy skits about the crazy characters we all recognize in our own families. As they recalled the humorous and heartwarming stories of their past, they soon realized that they had much more to say about growing up in small town America.

Troy and I have been friends for fourteen years. We met while attending The American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York where we instantly became friends and realized that we shared the same passion for movies and story telling. We learned that what interested each of us most, was telling stories that were real. Since we shared a belief in the authenticity of story, we vowed to make movies together and POUNDCAKE is our first.

Since our film was set in the 80s, finding and securing the proper music was going to be crucial in setting the correct tone. As a small indie, we all knew that this was going to be a long shot but we had to persist.

Mellow pop legends Air Supply were in NYC for a concert. I worked my way backstage and was able to get inside Graham Russell and Russell Hitchcock’s dressing room. I cast aside caution and spoke to them about POUNDCAKE and how their hit “Making Love Out of Nothing At All” was essential in order for the story to work. After speaking with them for about half an hour, Graham and Russell enthusiastically said, “Yes” and then they rocked the house at BB King’s on 42nd Street. Score!

Later, Troy (writer, Hall) and I sent a letter to Robert Richards, Billy Idol’s manager, to convince him to have Billy allow us to use “Dancing With Myself” for the movie. Eventually, after much persistence, Mr. Richards called Troy and his answer was emphatically “No!” But we didn’t take that for an answer and after a long phone conversation, Mr. Richards agreed to meet us. So Troy and I flew to Los Angeles. Before the meeting Mr. Richards insisted that his answer was still “no” but he appreciated our tenacity and passion so he would at least look at the DVD we brought with us. After watching a few scenes including the one that required the song, Mr. Richards replied “What the Fuck? Now I’m going to have to think about this? Shit, I didn’t think it was going to be any good.” Three days later, Mr. Richards called Troy and gave us the magic words, “It’s yours.”