‘Rounding second and heading for home’
Actor Treat Williams in a scene from "Catatonk Blues," shot in the schoolhouse on Monhegan last fall. Courtesy of Bob Mrazek
"Catatonk Blues" writer-director-producer (and part-time Monhegan resident) Bob Mrazek (forefront) directing a scene from the film now nearing post production completion. Courtesy of Bob Mrazek
Actor Treat Williams in a scene from "Catatonk Blues," shot in the schoolhouse on Monhegan last fall. Courtesy of Bob Mrazek
"Catatonk Blues" writer-director-producer (and part-time Monhegan resident) Bob Mrazek (forefront) directing a scene from the film now nearing post production completion. Courtesy of Bob Mrazek
“Catatonk Blues,” filmed on Monhegan Island, in Rockland and in Augusta last fall, is “rounding second and heading for home,” according to director-writer-producer Bob Mrazek. He expects a final version to be ready sometime in May.
As of last week, two-thirds of the film was rough cut. His plan is to submit the film to the Toronto Film Festival, which has a deadline of mid-April, despite the fact it will not be color corrected or sound edited, and the score incomplete.
Mrazek planned to be further ahead in the post-production phase of the film, but midway he elected to change editors.
“I believe it will lead to a better movie,” Mrazek said. “For all the challenges of doing it on a small budget, it will really be good. The actors are superb and brought the story alive.”
Those actors include Treat Williams in the lead role, Ryan Merriman, Josh Mostel (son of Zero Mostel), George Hamilton and Elizabeth Marvel.
Mrazek wrote the script at his home on the island in the fall of 2012. He is a part-time member of the Monhegan community, a community he said has gifted him with inspiration and played an important role in the lives of his family members. Catatonk, the fictional name for Monhegan, is the name of an Indian village outside of Ithaca, N.Y., that Mrazek used for the film.
On Catatonk, an eight-term congressman (Williams), tired of playing the game in Congress, decides to get away, and visits the island in his district. The congressman becomes caught up in issues surrounding the lobstermen there and is captured on video expressing his opinions; opinions that are viewed by Congress and considered to be “unpatriotic.”
In an October 17 phone interview, Mrazek spoke about his fondness for the films of Frank Capra, such as “It's A Wonderful Life” and “Mr. Smith Goes to Washington.”
“In each film there is a basic message about what it really means to be a 'patriot' and freedom of expression.”
Mrazek, a former Suffolk County New York legislator (1975-1982) and member of the 98th United States Congress, has not yet determined when the film will be released.
“But,” he said “we could arrange something for Boothbay in the fall.”
For more on “Catatonk Blues,” visit www.catatonkblues.com.
Related: A story about fighting the good fight: ‘Catatonk Blues’
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