THE TURNER RISK FILES
A table read with Peter Adrian Sudarso & Nick Fink.
Casting.
When casting Turner Risk, we had no set decisions on the look of any character. We focused instead on talent, particularly since the story was very demanding.
That resulted in our highly diverse cast.
But the film never focuses on that. Instead, it tells a unique story of young adults facing the challenges that life brings them. They are all ultimately connected and equally immersed in one day's tragic events.
The First.
Turner Risk marks the first feature for many young actors currently known for their work in TV and film.
Nick Fink, who plays the lead role, has appeared in such notable films as "Ostrichland," Trace, The Great and the Small, and the MTV series Sweet/Vicious. During casting Nick revealed that he had also been a contestant on American Idol, making it all the way to Hollywood Week before being cast off.
Carlin James has appeared in a number of television episodes on This Is Us, How to Get Away with Murder, as well as the Netflix series Dear White People. Carlin is arguably one of the hardest-working actors in the industry.
In a brief but notable stint on Hawaii Five-O, Rory Hart appeared as the "eccentric" med tech Nohea Eona.
Playing Ren Shimosawa on Heroes Reborn as a dream come true for Toru Uchikado, who plays Toshi in our film.
Also, Peter Adrian Sudarso currently appears as the Blue Ninja Power Ranger on the Nickelodeon series.
Young Turner and Robbie, via photo manipulation.
Turner & Robbie.
Nick & Carlin.
Turner Risk and Robbie Cruz are having a hell of a day.
Turner, tired of years of bullying and rejection, has developed a secret yet disturbing plan to reboot his life. Robbie, having just lost his job and his girlfriend, is struggling to survive. The climax of their struggles erupts in Turner Risk.
Nick Fink expertly portrays Turner's troubled personality and his uneasy adjustment to a more autonomous self. Likewise, Carlin James perfectly captures Robbie's conflicted determination to make all things right. Both deliver powerful performances matched by a mutually talented ensemble of rising stars.
The Ensemble.
A strong supporting cast of both rising and seasoned stars bring the unique story of Turner Risk to life.
Some were first time actors. Others had done stage work or short film.Still others had appeared in countless commercials or background film and TV work.
But their dedication to the film and to their characters is unforgettable. Together they help build a story that puts the innocents they play in unexpected – and very possible – danger.
The Look.
Merging the style and look of the great films of the 1970s – arguably the best decade of filmmaking ever – with the innovations of today, each scene of Turner Risk is meticulously crafted in both picture and sound.
Although the process has taken longer to complete, the results reflect both the textures of classic films and the nuances of current productions.
Composition.
Every single shot of Turner Risk was filmed in natural light. This use of practical lighting enabled cinematographer M. Sean Brodie to enhance the realistic edge of the film. Nighttime parking lot lights, sunlight flickering through car windows, shadowy room light, and more – all contribute to the film's unique aesthetics.
Maria Trinidad Cruz
Bree.
Bree wants what she wants, and like her male counterparts, she will do just about anything to get it. Driven to win back her ex-boyfriend, she saves his life – and consequently puts herself in danger. Throughout Turner Risk, women like Bree are in powerful positions, ultimately making decisions that unexpectedly impact the characters' lives.
Cars.
Several scenes of Turner Risk take place in cars, which serve as cocoons from the harsh realities of the outside world.
Of course the challenge of filming in cars requires secure camera mounting and audio placement.
In many of these scenes the actors had to travel up and down the same road several times while the cameras rolled. Nick Fink learned to drive stick as well, and in one scene, he set Turner's SUV in reverse just in time to prevent it from careening over a cliff.
Carlin James, Rory Hart, and Sean Cruz on the hunt for Turner Risk.
Sound Design.
For the sound design for Turner Risk, we had two objectives in mind: capture the spirit of retro films by relying on boom mics rather than lavs and process the most realistic sound for the scene's environment.
For example, a park scene takes place mostly in a gazebo-style shelter, which creates its own unique tonal echo, which we strained to capture. Likewise, dialogue recorded in Robbie's cavernous living room required a realistic reverb as voices penetrated the open space. Another scene in a park bathroom captured the muddled echo found in such small concrete structures. The result heightens both the realism and contributes to the tension of the scenes.
The peaceful quiet of a forest, the roar of a busy beach, the wind rustling through nervous leaves – all play their part in telling the story of Turner Risk.