John Cassini is one of the most recognizable actors in the 麻豆传媒映画screen scene.
He鈥檚 been in the business for decades, and his lengthy credit list includes blockbuster fare such as Seven and Alive and starring roles in Intelligence and Robson Arms.
Cassini has played reluctant heroes and villains and scum. He鈥檚 poured his guts into unlikable characters, and made audiences care about really bad dudes.
He鈥檚 not afraid of vulnerability.
But Daughter 鈥� the feature film that has its world premiere this Saturday at the 2019 麻豆传媒映画International Film Festival 鈥� might be his most vulnerable work to date, and he鈥檚 feeling the weight of it.
鈥淚 do feel a little 鈥� in a good way, and it鈥檚 fine, I鈥檓 a big boy 鈥� but I feel a little exposed in this film,鈥� says Cassini. 鈥淚 feel like it鈥檚 an extended private moment to a certain degree, of which I鈥檓 a big fan in the work and the process.鈥�
In Daughter, Cassini plays Jim, a father traumatized by the sudden death of his teenage daughter. Jim is wealthy and, instead of working through his grief with his wife (played by Cassini鈥檚 real-life wife, Jenn Maclean-Angus), he deadens his pain with bourbon, expensive hotel rooms and escorts 鈥� until one long night, when the escort who knocks on his hotel room door bears more than a passing resemblance to his dead daughter.
Daughter marks the feature film directorial debut of Anthony Shim, a longtime actor and teacher who started writing Daughter in order to jumpstart his filmmaking career.
鈥淚 wrote a lot of really bad stuff, but then I started writing this one-act play about a man in a hotel room separated from his family, and it just felt so easy, even though I鈥檓 not a father and I鈥檓 not a 26-year-old escort,鈥� says Shim. 鈥淭here was something about these characters that I really liked. I鈥檝e always been drawn to human emotion, human relationships and the drama that exists in everyday life that doesn鈥檛 get much attention.鈥�
Shim knew pretty quickly that he had something special with Daughter, and he asked Cassini to read the script and offer his thoughts.
鈥淚 responded to the sophistication and the maturity of the script instantly,鈥� says Cassini. 鈥淚t was undeniable for me, and that鈥檚 when I said to him, 鈥榃e could make this film right now.鈥欌��
There was something about Jim and the circumstances of his sadness that lodged under Cassini鈥檚 skin.
鈥淚 really cared about Jim and the first time we did a table read... it was electric. After that reading, we all looked around and said, 鈥楬oly shit, we have something here,鈥欌�� he said.
Cassini signed on to star and produce, and the team shot the film on a low budget, careful not to sacrifice production value or Shim鈥檚 unique storytelling voice. 鈥淚 said to Anthony, 鈥業 want you to make your movie, and I鈥檓 on board if it鈥檚 your movie,鈥欌�� says Cassini.
Shim鈥檚 movie 鈥� which has its premiere this weekend at VIFF鈥檚 venerable B.C. Spotlight Gala 鈥� gave Cassini the opportunity to play the type of role he normally only gets to play on stage.
鈥淚鈥檝e done some incredible roles on stage, but in order to be the lead of a movie, some of those scripts, if they鈥檙e really incredible, are going to go to stars, so that鈥檚 where the independent film world can really sustain an actor like myself,鈥� says Cassini. 鈥淲hen I read this, I thought, 鈥楾his is why I became an actor.鈥� It鈥檚 challenging on every level. It challenges me to bring my humanity to the role, to bring my vulnerability places that, if you love acting, you love to go.鈥�
One aspect of Daughter that required extra care from the production team was a storyline involving cyber-bullying and sexual violence among teens.
鈥淭here were a lot of conversations with the actors who play those characters, because they鈥檙e of that age,鈥� says Shim. 鈥淚 would ask them, 鈥業s it crazy for a girl to be passed out and a guy to take a picture of them?鈥� And they鈥檇 say, 鈥楴o, that鈥檚 the norm, and it鈥檚 not with evil intent, people see something that looks funny to them and they take a picture.鈥� But from that moment on, what happens is beyond their control.鈥�
Cassini concedes that it鈥檚 heavy stuff.
鈥淎nthony and I always talked about making a film that might be difficult to watch but has a strong resonance when it鈥檚 over,鈥� says Cassini. 鈥淚 love these films that get under your skin.鈥�
Daughter also stars Teagan Vincze, Jordyn Ashley Olson, Ryan Robbins, Gabrielle Rose and Camille Sullivan.
Daughter screens Oct. 5 and 8 as part of the 2019 麻豆传媒映画International Film Festival. Tickets are at .
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