Tyler Davidson: Sundance, Toy’s House and Compliance

Tyler Davidson: Take 5 (Part 4)

Tyler Davidson is having an exceptional year.

The National Board of Review named his controversial project Compliance a Top 10 Independent Film and awarded Ann Dowd the Best Supporting Actress win. Dowd has also just been been nominated for a Best Supporting Actress Spirit Award. On the heels of all this award-recognition, Sundance extended its third consecutive invitation to Tyler, this time for his Cleveland-produced Toy’s House.

This kind of success accumulation doesn’t happen often. Especially for anyone working towards success in show business anywhere but in Hollywood. But Tyler is doing just that. He’s pioneering the independent film industry in N.E. Ohio and is grounded, not just in his neighborhood, but also in his strong and determined character. His tenacity sprinkled with a keen eye for quality content result in the finicky film industry’s well-deserved recognition of Tyler’s craft.

I had a chance to catch up with the ever busy yet always polite Tyler, as well as with his co-producer Robert (Bob) Ruggeri, whose sense of humor is lethal. The two worked on Take Shelter and, most recently, on Toy’s House together with two other production companies: Big Beach’s (Little Miss Sunshine) Peter Saraf and A24′s (Safety Not Guaranteed) John Hodges. If partnership is about complimentary skill sets — and personalities — then it’s a good thing Tyler and Bob found each other.

Alex Sukhoy: How does it feel to be you right now?

Tyler Davidson: I feel good. I’m proud of these accomplishments and happy and grateful for all involved who made it possible. Ann Dowd is deserving of that honor and so much more for her astonishing performance in Compliance. I read something yesterday in Art Forum where John Waters said it was far and away the best performance of the year. And I think Toy’s House is going to knock some people’s socks off at Sundance. There’s nothing quite like the excitement of this time leading up to a world premiere, especially when that premiere is on such a big stage.

This will be your third consecutive (and for Bob second) trip to Sundance, signalling to the industry that you’re a serious player with an eye for the right story. How does this track record now change things for you? What kinds of doors will it open?

TD: The Sundance thing helps a ton when I’m trying to set up a new project with exceptional talent for not a lot of money. A lot of artists will forgo the big payday up front if they feel they can have the prestige of a Sundance premiere. Maybe now I’m perceived as a producer who can get them there. I think my “indie cred” is pretty high at this point.

Bob Ruggeri: Since the news of Toy’s House getting accepted into Sundance is still fairly recent, I don’t know what kind of doors it will open yet – just hopefully not the revolving kind, cause I’d be right back where I started. But I have found that now when I ask potential investors to finance new projects, they don’t smile and pat me on the head and say, “Aww, that’s cute.” Some of them actually listen. Which I’m thinking is a good sign that things are moving in a positive direction.

With Toy’s House you returned to filming in the Cleveland area. With two films produced right here, as well as the success of other producers’ films that were shot here, is Cleveland now becoming a serious industry player? What can the public do to further strengthen its support, since films bring jobs to the area?

TD: Cleveland can be a serious industry player, but people should realize that that doesn’t happen overnight. We need to support the film production tax credit and make sure it continues to be extended. You can only build an industry with consistent production, year after year. Then the permanent production infrastructure — top tier camera houses, post facilities, and a more expansive and skilled crew base — digs in. Then you have the makings of a serious industry like they have in Louisiana. The cautionary tale is Michigan. Their industry was really ramping up with a tremendous tax incentive program, and the local economy was benefiting as a result. But they dialed back the incentive and everything collapsed. It’s all very fragile at this stage. We’re still in our infancy. We can’t take our foot off the gas.

BR: I don’t think you can look at the past two years of films shot here and not say that Cleveland is a serious player in the industry. We’ve always had diverse and amazing locations and a talented crew base – but adding the tax incentive finally gave us a chance to prove it. Cleveland provided the perfect backdrop for Toy’s House with the mix of beautiful metro parks and scenic small towns. Where else could you ask (beg) the Mayor of a city on a Friday evening to shut down the entire main street through town on the following Monday – and have them say yes? The City of Willoughby did. What I would ask is that the (Cleveland) community continue to support the tax incentive so that it remains long enough for us to build a true infrastructure.

On Toy’s House you worked with real husband and wife team Megan Mullally, who played the iconic Karen Walker on Will and Grace, and Nick Offerman, TV’s favorite steak-loving Every Man Ron Swanson on Parks & Recreation. Whose idea was it to cast the couple and what was it like working with them? Could anyone actually keep a straight face or was it a lot of laughter on set with those two?

TD: That was a collective decision by the whole filmmaking team — writer, director, producers and casting directors. And I must say, one of the best decisions I’ve ever been a part of. Both Nick and Megan kill in this movie. There were moments at the monitor when I was crying with laughter to the point that I couldn’t get a breath. But Nick also gives a dramatic turn in this movie that people haven’t seen before from him. They’re both huge talents and incredible people. So funny, nice, generous and gracious. I can’t say enough.

BR: Nick Offerman was one of the first actors attached to Toy’s House and looking back there is no one else in my opinion that could play Frank Toy. He is actually funnier then his Ron Swanson persona but I was even more impressed with his professionalism and kindness. One of the funniest things he would do when we were filming in neighborhoods was to approach gawking neighbors after takes and apologize about his performance and tell them he’d do better on the next one. Megan was cast later in the process as Mrs. Keenan and has some of my favorite scenes from the movie. They didn’t have many scenes together but the ones they did have were hysterical. They are both comedy pros trained in improv so they would rarely break character and laugh during a scene – but a quick glance around the room during filming revealed an entire crew stifling laughter waiting to burst when the scene ended.

What’s next?

TD: I’m in pre-production on a science fiction thriller set to shoot early next year. Hopefully somewhere in Cleveland. It’s gonna be great.

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Given Tyler’s three-year track record, it certainly will be.

Haven’t yet seen Compliance? Tyler will be introducing and doing a Q&A at Compliance screenings at the Cinematheque on Thu 12/13 and Fri 12/14.

You can also follow Toy’s House at http://facebook.com/toyshousethemovie and on Twitter @toyshousemovie and @HelloImBiaggio.

Check out Alex’s previous Cool Cleveland interviews with Tyler Davidson:

Tyler Davidson: Take 5 (Part 3) Comedy, Cleveland and Compliance

Tyler Davidson: Take 5 (Part 2): From Sundance to Spirit Awards to Sunshine

Tyler Davidson: Take 5 (Part 1): Spirit Awards and Back to Sundance

Tyler Davidson Close-Up: Cleveland to Sundance

Pictured – top to bottom:

Tyler Davidson, Toy’s House. Photo: Julie Hahn
Gabriel Basso, Moises Arias and Nick Robinson, Toy’s House film still. Photo: Toy’s House Productions

Reprinted with permission and gratitude from CoolCleveland.com.