A BASHAR SHBIB Film ONEIRA PICTURES INTERNATIONAL

ONEIRA PICTURES INTERNATIONAL

a BASHAR SHBIB film ONEIRA PICTURES INTERNATIONAL

presents

a Bashar Shbib film

Starring FRANK BRUYNBROEK MELISSA WHITE DICK MONDAY LORI EASTSIDE DAVID CHARLES IVAN E. ROTH

Art Director JANET CUNNINGHAM

Director of Photography STEPHEN REIZES

Music EMILIO KAUDERER

Editor SYNOPSIS FLORENCE MOUREAUX Robert and Alexandra haven’t had the best marriage. Living Screenplay separately for quite some time, they are stunned to find out that BASHAR SHBIB an eccentric uncle Leopold has left them $23 million. But there’s GABOR ZSIGOVICS one condition, they have to produce a child within one year. That news doesn’t exactly cheer their current mates, Suzie and Ted; but Executive Producer the foursome are willing to give it a try. JANET CUNNINGHAM They all move into Leopold’s mansion to conceive the «money Directed & produced by baby», with a certified witness the uncle’s devoted butler and a BASHAR SHBIB gaggle of therapists in tow. They might not produce a child, but you can be sure there will be plenty of laughs when the foursome shows both their love and their greed. STORY OUTLINE

Alexandra and Robert, a married couple who have been living separate lives for quite some time, are suddenly forced to meet due to a family death. Leo- pold, Robert’s uncle, passed away, leaving behind a will that calls upon both his nephew and his wife.

At the notary’s office, Alexandra and Robert receive the shocking news: they have inherited 23 million dol- Not to mention Alexandra and Robert can’t stand lars. However, very strict conditions accompany the said each other! Nevertheless, the promise of fortune wins large sum. For the now-unhappily-married couple to them over and the couples give into their greed. profit from the money, a baby has to be made. In order to avoid all tricks, the couple must have Bernie, a muscle-man playboy with a hairy chest and intercourse in the dead uncle’s mansion, where a a big personality, is waiting for them at the mansion. carefully chosen witness will monitor their every move. Being the witness, his job is to make sure that none of Of course, at first, this ridiculous idea is out of the ques- uncle Leopold’s rules are broken. From now on, tion. Suzie and Ted, Robert and Alexandra’s present Alexandra and Robert must sleep in the same bed partners are completely against the proposition. each night and Ted mustn’t be alone with Alexandra. These restrictions are far from pleasant, but their greed guides them to agreement nonetheless.

Since the very beginning, the tension is visible between Robert and Ted. The girls, Suzie and Alexandra, both strong personalities, don’t get along either. Still, Bernie is there to ease the uncomfortable situation and everybody tries his or her best to get along…or at least not fight too much.

Dr. Zimmer, a fertility expert, soon shows up to test Alexandra’s baby-making capabilities. The results show she will be ovulating within a few days time and thus ready for productive intercourse. She shares this news Finally alone, Alexandra and Robert start planning their with everyone and it is decided: Robert and herself will day together, but Bernie puts a quick stop to their pro- have sex the very night. This sends Ted overboard with jects as he announces that the entire day shall be dedi- jealously, but he remains motionless and lets the plan cated to therapy sessions. From describing their dreams unfold, as if the final cash prize is worth it. to talking about masturbation or chanting, the married couple goes through a sex-counseling marathon that Robert and Alexandra go inside the bedroom, where leads them back into bed. Even with Dr. Zimmer helping Bernie is waiting for them. As they strip down, Bernie out, a fight emerges once more and Robert ends up leaves the room and goes to listen behind the door leaving yet again. instead. He has to make sure it is happening. But no- thing goes as planned. Instead of having sex, Robert Even the next day, their bickering is far from over. Slowly, and Alexandra end up getting into a huge fight about confessions begin pouring out of the endless arguing. their past married life and other current problems. Robert admits still loving Alexandra. The latter shares Robert refuses to continue talking and leaves the room. these feelings but is afraid of getting hurt again. They No baby-making for tonight. kiss and Ted surprises them. Hurt, he jumps into the pool and everybody rushes to help him. Once back inside In the morning, Alexandra suggests that she and the mansion, they agree the situation has gotten out of Robert be left alone. If they hope to produce a child, control. Suzie and Ted, realizing Alexandra and Robert’s they must at least learn to deal with one another. Ted rekindled love, decide to leave. is not happy about the idea, but accepts nonetheless. As for Suzie, the proposition doesn’t seem to affect her Alexandra and Robert are finally back together and and she leaves with no apparent worry. the 23 million dollars is theirs to spend. ABOUT THE CAST

LORI EASTSIDE (Suzie) DICK MONDAY (Ted) Mostly known for her role as a casting director and nume- Dick, like his character Ted, is a clown enthusiast. In 1998, he rous talent finds (such as Michael Pitt), Lori Eastside proves to founded the New York Goofs and did off-and-on Broadway possess an acting talent of her own, playing in a total of nine shows and festivals. He also worked on a large number of movie productions (Get Crazy, New York 2AM, etc.) talk-shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Rosie O’Donnell Show. FRANK BRUYNBROEK (Robert) Apart from Love $ Greed, Dick played in two other motion Besides being a Belgian actor, Frank is bilingual, has tea- pictures and one TV series. cher’s diploma and is also a famous dog photographer. His acting choices vary from TV series (Models Inc., La fête à la DAVID CHARLES (Bernie Rosenblitz) maison) to TV movies (Without Warning, La veritable histoire Having also played in Julia has 2 lovers and Crack Me Up, de Cathy Malone) or large cinematographic productions this is not the first time David is working with director Bashar (Rush Hour 3, Godzilla). Shbib. He is also known for having done some appearances in famous TV series, such as House and Beverly Hills. MELISSA WHITE (Alexandra) Love $ Greed is Melissa’s first acting role. Nevertheless, the movie industry is not completely new to her, since she is used to being behind the camera. She has directed two short movies (Fair Play, Quest: A Long Ray’s Journey into the light). ABOUT THE DIRECTOR Finally, frustrated by the bureaucracy involved in making a film in his homeland, Shbib headed for the sunnier shores of the American west coast where he begun making films in his own inimitable style. After 9/11 his travels were hampered by constant searches at airports, so he moved to Stanstead, (QC) close to his childhood farm. There he opened a film training program and has pursued his doctoral dissertation as a candi- date at McGill University in Communications. Shbib has a Masters degree in Communication at McGill University.

Shbib has been a painter of abstract art since 1974 and has sold over 600 works (www.aliendog.net). In 1999 and 2000, Shbib created and produced one of the first groundbreaking webisodic shows: Aliendog.net. Nominated for a Pixie Award, Aliendog streamed over 200 five-minute dramatic webshows. Shbib is now producing films in Europe and Canada (see www.oneira.com and www.sunsetpictures.ca ).

Though his past films have been described as a combination of «German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder and Archie Comics» and «Bertolt Brecht directing ‘Risky Business’» Shbib feels that his films are nowhere near as daunting as they first appear. His romantic comedies JULIA HAS TWO LOVERS and LANA IN LOVE, were premiered at the prestigious Berlin Film Festival and received critical acclaim at both the Bashar Shbib (Bachar Chbib) started making films in 1982 at 1991 Montreal Film Festival and the New Orleans Film Festival and were Concordia University with the award winning docudramas OR’D’UR and then released worldwide. BETSY. The filmmaker has over 40 feature films and 10 short subjects to his credit. He is currently producing theatrical feature films, television series and documentaries. His films have won more than fourteen awards at select Another of his comedies, LOVE $ GREED, was in competition and one of the film festivals and competitions to date. highlights at the 1991 Montreal Film Festival. Shbib also released a series of six feature films titled The SENSES, which were extremely well received by Shbib was born in Damascus in 1959 to a German mother and a Syrian moviegoers and also by the press, and have been aired on Radio Canada father, and emigrated to Canada with his family at a very early age. and several television networks worldwide. Shbib has a penchant for his Having spent his youth living and working with his family on a Charolais less commercial works EVIXION, Or D’Ur and CLAIR OBSCUR. He is now beef ranch in the Eastern Townships (Quebec), he intended to pursue preparing for the distribution of STRAWBERRIES AND WINE, LAST CHAPTER a career in science. However, after graduating from Montreal’s McGill and THE WEDDING MURDERS. University with a degree in Microbiology and Immunology, his passion for film changed his plans and he subsequently attended Montreal’s His unique directing style both attracts and inspires actors and crew to Concordia University and earned his BFA degree in Film Production. He has follow him from project to project. Upon casting his films, Shbib notes: stated that he has been largely inspired by Paradjanov, Fassbinder, “each actor is well aware before the start of production of what to Pasolini, Deren, Tarkovski and Fellini. expect in a small budget production and enjoys to work with actors that master improvisation. It is a challenge to all, but the end result is Never one to shy away from controversy and prone, in fact, to stirring it that I have a unique story and natural performances from the actors”. up, Shbib felt that independent Canadian filmmakers were not being given their due. He organized a tour in 1986 of ten independent Shbib insists on his independence driven by his passion for film when Canadian feature films and ten short films and traveled with them undertaking a project. At a time when independent filmmakers are scram- to 60 cities throughout the United States and Europe. He also bling to raise funds for their films, Shbib’s prudent shooting schedules enable organized public demonstrations in order to gain funds for him to freely direct and produce the modestly budgeted movies that he indie filmmakers in the 1980’s and once even stripped at the enjoys making. Toronto Film Festival to protest on behalf of alternative film financing ABOUT THE CREW

STEPHEN REIZES (Director of Photography) JANET CUNNINGHAM (Art Director) Stephen has studied both at McGill (Literature and Com- Janet’s specialty lies in the casting department, for which munication) as well as Concordia (Film), in Montreal. He has she has worked on large number of cinematographic pro- worked as a cinematographer on numerous TV and movie ductions. She has however proved her worth as an art direc- productions, as well as some commercials and music videos. tor, having been hired four times by Bashar (15 ugly sisters, Lana in Love, Ride me). GABOR ZSIGOVICS (Writer) Gabor has worked on a total of 7 productions with director EMILIO KAUDERER (Music) Bashar Shbib, sometimes as an actor (Hot Sauce, The Kiss), Emilio is from Argentina. He has composed the score of the sometimes as a writer (Strawberries and Wine) and once Oscar’s Best Foreign Film of 2010, The Secret in their eyes, even as an art director (Draghoula). among a large number of other compositions. His work has international acclaim. FLORENCE MOUREAUX (Editor) Florence is no stranger to the editing or sound department. Working since 1987, she has started and continued working as an editor for Bashar, but is also known for sound editing and dialogue editing jobs (Coyote, Young Ivanhoe, etc.) COMPLETE CAST AND CREW CREDITS TAIL CREDITS ROLLING TITLES Dr. Archibald Geohwitz Produced and Directed by GREGOR VON BISMARK BASHAR SHBIB Dr. Norman Gutenberg Executive Producer PETER GORDON JANET CUNNINGHAM Celestia Fox CLAUDIA KUNIN CAST Cassandra Spiritual Sex Suzie Therapist LORI EASTSIDE KENNON B. RAINES Robert Dr. Organdy FRANK BRUYNBROEK DAVID COHEN Alexandra Poolman MELISSA WHITE ROBERT WALDRON Ted CREW DICK MONDAY Jeremia P. Finley Producer’s Assistant JACK HARRIS JOSHUA STOLBERG Injured Client 1st Camera Assistant ALAN SAMUELS ALEN BAGHDASARIAN Bernie Rosenblitz Production Sound Mixer DAVID CHARLES ALAN SAMUELS

Uncle Leopold Boom Operator DAVID RAPOPORT JIM PETTYJOHN Dr. Herman Zimmer Still Photographer DAVID L. WILSON CLAUDIA KUNIN Walter Fiske Costumes IVAN E. ROTH PAT TONNEMA Dr. Basil O’Shea Make-up & Hair MICKEY COTTRELL CLAIRE MERRIMAN This picture was shot in the city of Los Angeles and the country of the United States of America.

The copyright material contained herein is protected under the laws of Canada,The United States and other countries and its unauthorized alteration, editing, distribution or exhibition is a violation of applicable laws and is prohibited. The copyright is protected under the Berne Convention and we reserve the right under the Berne Convention.

All characters depicted, names used, and incidents portrayed in this film are fictitious. No identification with actual persons or buildings is intended nor should be inferred. Any resemblance of the characters portrayed to actual persons, living or dead is purely coincidental. Any unauthorizeddistribution, duplication or performance of this motion picture is a violationof applicable, federal, criminal and/or civil law.

LOVE $ GREED

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS

Title: LOVE $ GREED Genre: Comedy Running Time: 80 minutes. Format: 35mm Color Aspect Ratio: 1:78 Release Date: 1991 Original Language: English Production Company: Oneira Pictures Producer: Bashar Shbib Director: Bashar Shbib CONTACT Oneira Pictures • 4 Phelps Street Stanstead, Québec • Canada J0B 3E2 Tel: (514) 993-0815 • [email protected]