>> Dammit - they put out an all points bulletin
>> Stella did you ever receive an all-points bulletin?
>> Ha ha.
>> Well I doubt that your friend, the hassling waitress has received one either
>> You don't know that
>> Yeah but I know that you're paranoid.
>> Was I paranoid when the cops came and to the house, held me down and took you away?
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - Hi there, I'm Nicolas Kazamia and I'm here with Thom Fitzgerald,
award-winning director of the Hanging Gardens.
Cloudburst is the name of the film.
So, but let's talk about Cloudburst specifically.
How did the film, where did the idea come from?
>> THOM FITZGERALD - Well the story is simply about a lesbian couple who has been together
for over thirty years and they decide for various reasons that what they want to do
right now in there 70s is get married.
So they can't do that in their home state of Maine, they drive to Nova Scotia.
>> Are you two running from the law?
>> Yeah/No
>> Awesome
>> RYAN DOUCETTE - It's not just two lesbians.
It's two elderly lesbians going to get married and to see their relationship throughout this
whole film.
Like how to react to somebody that you've been with for 31 years.
You'rer insulting them, you're saying how fat they are and how crude they are but you
say it in a loving way.
Like they both know they love each other you know and it's beautiful.
>> Stella, Stella
>> Darling
>> I love you
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - This film is a showcase for these two actresses.
Actors.
Yeah they're actors.
>> THOM FITZGERALD - Actors with boobs.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - Exactly.
Big ones too.
So did you write the role specifically for Brenda Flicker and Olympia Dukakis?
>> THOM FITZGERALD - I've worked with Olympia a few times and she is absolutely an inspiration
for writing the script.
I wanted to write her a part that I thought would allow her to use some of her personal
traits.
Her rage, her passion.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - You say this.
I've seen the film.
So I'm like wow!
Okay really.
>> 31 year trial commitment.
that's a deal
>> That's a deal and then we can see other people.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - Is this your first lead role in a film?
>> RYAN DOUCETTE - It's my first role in a feature film actually.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - And how did this come about?
>> RYAN DOUCETTE - Well I auditioned for the film a little while ago and I guess the budget
didn't go through or something or maybe I was really bad in the audition?
Actually I think I was.
I think I was really bad in the audition.
But then he did the play version of Cloudburst in Halifax.
And he said I can hire you for the play version.
So I got the part there.
Then I worked hard to try and dissipate is that the word maybe my French accent a little
bit.
Then he said, "Actually, I think this works" So he got me into the movie that way.
>> Jesus H. Christ you little sissy!
>> You are a beautiful dancer Prentice
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - Is your character gay or straight?
What was your take of him?
>> RYAN DOUCETTE - I think he's bisexual.
I think he swings both ways.
I think Prentice as a character will take anything that walks his way just to get what
he needs.
Just to get by.
You know he's that guy who doesn't have any money he doesn't really have anything really
he knows that he can swindle people with a wink or a tug of his pants or something like
that.
So I think that's how he gets by.
>> Pull up your pants kid you're humping the wrong fire hydrant.
>> RYAN DOUCETTE - It was pretty intimidating.
The first few days.
I didn't know how to react.
You are very strained you don't know how to move but they were so nice and so kind with
me being super fresh on the scene.
And they were just.. it was so comfortable.
Because we were stuck in that truck for a month and they were totally not what I expected.
They were just very loud and very explosive.
They were just fun they were just energetic.
So much energy in these two ladies.
That I just didn't expect it you know what I mean?
>> What shapes are the clouds?
>> There's a donkey, carrying two nuns and a beagle
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - You've made several films and shorts in the past twenty some odd years
of your career.
So I'm curious if you watch them.
Do you watch them?
>> THOM FITZGERALD - Sometimes.
I love to watch Cloudburst actually with an audience.
I've probably watched it more than any other movie.
And that's because it's funny because it's a much more pleasurable experience to go around
and watch people laugh then to watch them cry.
Which is what of my other films evoked.
So it takes me about 17 years, I've learned tobe able to watch one of my films and enjoy
it.
But I did go to a screening last year at the Atlantic film festival and watched the hanging
garden and I could not remember the next line and I did not know what the next shot was
going to be.
For the first time I actually got to watch the movie.
Which was a completely I guess a releasing experience.
You know.
To be able to actually see it like someone else saw it and understand what they liked
about it.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - Did you like it?
>> THOM FITZGERALD - I did.
>> NICOLAS KAZAMIA - That's great to be able to say that.
So do you think in 17 years you'll be able to see Cloudburst
>> THOM FITZGERALD - Well let's hope.
You know.
>> I think I always wanted to marry you.
>> You never said anything
>> What was the point?
There were already enough things you couldn't do you couldn't have.
>> That's what changed everything Stella.
I mean if somebody else had asked me to marry them I would still think that marriage was
crock of shite.
But then you asked me.�