Inside The Making of Thought-Provoking Cop Drama BAD FOR GOOD with Co-Star Michael Paladine, Writer Jason Cicci and Director John Cramer
While most police officers attempt to protect their constituents and themselves ethically in both the line of duty and the line of fire, some abuse the trust and the power given to them in conspicuous and aggressive ways. When one of those well-meaning cops tries to deal with an overwhelmingly personal matter of life and death by breaking the law, is the crime an indictment of the criminal, or of the system that made him or her make such an illegal and desperate choice to begin with?
Caught in such a crisis in the award-winning Make Your Show crime drama short Bad for Good is Anthony (played by Michael Paladine), a straightforward lawman who relentlessly but ethically works to protect New Yorkers from the city’s killers, thieves and drug lords. At home, he’s the loving yet concerned son of ailing ex-cop Joyce (Denise Lute), whose decades on the beat have battered her body as much as they have her emotions.
Urgently needing treatment for her pain, Joyce cajoles Anthony to give her strong medication for her long-lingering physical difficulties, but unbeknownst to her, he finds that medication in an all-too-accessible source, risking not just his mother’s health but also his career — and maybe, his freedom.
Written by Jason Cicci and directed by John Cramer — the veteran creative partners/collaborators on acclaimed web series comedy He’s With Me and other episodics and short films produced through their company Make Your Show — Bad For Good can be seen on Paladine’s official web site, located at this link.
Bad for Good is the first dramatic film made by Cicci and Cramer’s studio, which worked side-by-side with co-star/co-executive producer Paladine to both realize and customize the project and its storyline around the actor’s unmistakably New York personality, his remarkable talent, and the nobility that exists in his cop character in spite of his moral weakness. Cicci, Cramer and Paladine discuss all of this and more with me in the following interview:
Chris Hadley: What inspired the idea for this film, and how were its characters and story developed?
John Cramer (director, Bad for Good/Make Your Show co-founder), Jason Cicci (writer, Bad for Good/Make Your Show co-founder): As with all of our projects, our client, Mike, inspired the idea. We always try to determine what we think the actor will be best suited to in terms of storytelling. This inspires a general direction (i.e. comedy, drama, etc.) and helps to spark a story idea. With Mike, his natural New York-ness and quieter demeanor seemed to lend itself to a dramatic story definitely set in New York City.
CH: Michael, in what ways did your New York personality and the law enforcement profession of your character inspire your performance in this film, and what overall qualities did you bring to that performance as an actor?
Michael Paladine (co-star/co-executive producer, Bad for Good): I envisioned the character as tough yet relatable to the viewer as the film’s story unfolded. The qualities that I brought were resolution, deference and empathy — to be strong in one’s personal beliefs and the enforcement of the law, love and respect for one’s parents/elders, and to be able to experience, although vicariously, the emotions of others.
CH: Michael, you play a cop — Anthony — who publicly works to uphold the law but who privately goes against it by giving his mother illegal drugs to help her deal with her medical ailments. In playing that character, how did you manage to capture the emotional and intellectual sides of him — especially in terms of how his actions impact him both externally and internally?
MP: I pictured him as someone who would do anything for a family member, even if he did carry a badge. Considering his actions were for the benefit of his mother, there was a sense of righteousness due to the reason. Intellectually, he knows this is wrong, but he justifies the risk because it’s not about him. He is willing to bear that internal struggle but it’s in his private moments where his conscience begins to gnaw at him, and his frustration eventually comes out.
CH: Considering that Anthony weighs his moral obligations as a cop with his well-intentioned but illicit actions as a son in trying to take care of his mother, how did those aspects of the character influence not just your performance in the film but also that of your fellow actors?
MP: It was influenced by the objective to show that nothing was going to stop him from helping his mother; there was even a little bit of desperation in order to make it possible. I know that a strong feel of the story by the wonderful cast resulted in outstanding performances.
CH: The mother-son dynamic is a huge part of this film’s narrative, and it’s the emotional core of the movie itself. Describe how you and Denise Lute (who plays Anthony’s mom, Joyce) worked to develop that dynamic in an honest and relatable way through your performances.
MP: Denise is not only a wonderful actress but very personable as well. There was a definite chemistry from the start and it made working with her that much more enjoyable.
CH: You worked closely with the film’s writer (Jason Cicci) and its director (John Cramer) in every phase of the project through their production company Make Your Show. How did you first meet them, what convinced you that their company could effectively meet the creative needs of both you and your idea, and what was it like working with them on it?
MP: I first met Jason over a decade ago when I was training to become a voiceover actor, and I met John when the three of us first sat down to discuss the possibility of a project that I had in mind, which ultimately became Bad For Good. I had an interest in doing a film that would showcase my talents, and I knew that Jason and John had a production company, so I reached out to Jason to set up a meeting to see if they could help me.
After discussing the type of film, its length, and its cost, I decided to work with them. It was phenomenal working with Jason and John. I was able to experience the dynamic process of filmmaking, especially being on the other side of the audition table. I would definitely work on another project with them and I encourage anyone who wants to bring an idea to the screen to reach out to them.
CH: When Michael presented you with the idea for the film, how did you both tailor the concept of it to play to Michael’s strengths as an actor, while taking into account his personality, his experiences and the creative objectives he wanted to achieve on both sides of the camera?
Cicci/Cramer: As we said, we are 100% inspired by the client himself. Mike originally had a more comedic idea but we encouraged him to feature his work as a dramatic actor as we think that that’s where he might find more success in terms of being cast, the objective of most of the actors we work with — a way to showcase what they do best. With more thoughtful actors like Mike, we knew that closeups of his face and getting inside his thought process would make for an interesting way to tell the story.
CH: In what ways did you both help Michael to develop and ready his concept across all parts of the production process, and what support and guidance did you give him for his role as the film’s executive producer?
Cicci/Cramer: As all of the actors we work with become executive producers of their project, we always encourage them to be a part of the process every step of the way. There are many discussions about how we see the story taking shape, the actors we might cast, the locations we might use, how to budget the project, the way it could be promoted and which film festivals might offer him the best chance at being noticed for his work. Our clients can also weigh in on editing, music choices and more of the technical aspects of storytelling. Making a film or series with us is really like going to an indie filmmaking school.
CH: John, what did you do to help Michael and the rest of the film’s cast bring out their best performances, and what was it like working with them from initial casting to the final filming process?
Cramer: Starting at the beginning, with Mike, one of my favorite things about filmmaking is getting to know new people. It’s certainly not just about trying to get a finger on an actor’s process, but I also want to know who they are as a person. So that’s where I always start as a director. Then allowing the story to lead us to actors we already know and would love to work with and see in these roles is the next fun step.
I personally love the casting process, and seeing actors play in the audition is always a highlight. Of course, my planning for production includes possible approaches to working with actors on set, but it’s always important, not to mention fun, to remain open to alternate possibilities as they present themselves, sometimes as “challenges.”
CH: How did you find the rest of the film’s cast?
Cicci/Cramer: Make Your Show has a roster of fantastic actors that we curate for our clients and ask who they might like to see in particular roles. As usual, we held a casting session, which is always an eye-opening and fun experience for actors who have never been “on the other side of the table.” In the case of Bad for Good, we were fortunate to find great actors who really inhabited their roles, most of whom we had worked with before in some capacity.
CH: What was the filming process like?
Cicci/Cramer: Mike’s project was due to go into production right as the pandemic began, so once it was safe it was very exciting to be back on a set, telling stories. We shot the whole thing over the course of two days in various locations in New Jersey. We do a lot of prep beforehand because once you get on set time can really fly, and we want to get the best results while being as efficient as possible.
CH: What have you learned from each other in working on Bad for Good, how has that knowledge helped you to become better filmmakers and actors. and what have you both taken away from the experience of making this film?
Cicci/Cramer: Whether acting, writing, producing or directing, making a film is a bonding experience like no other, especially in the indie film industry, where budgets are low. Bad for Good reaffirmed what we are always telling anyone who might want to make a film: you don’t need a million dollars to tell a good story with high production values. Mike’s performance, along with the other fine actors in the film, really helped to offer a compelling story that satisfies an audience. It’s so gratifying to know that our formula for making films really works. It has emboldened us in other projects.
CH: Who do you think would like to watch the film, and in what ways is it similar to and different from other crime dramas with flawed and morally questionable but relatable characters?
Cicci/Cramer: I think anyone who enjoys a good story, especially with family at the heart of its message, would like Bad for Good. We’ll leave it to the film critics and others to compare what other crime dramas it might be like. Our intention was to create something fresh that features Mike’s talents and offers a satisfying twist that could be the groundwork for continuing the story should Mike want to invest in doing so. That’s another model that we suggest to actors who are getting started making their own work: create a short film that you can take to festivals but (one that) could also serve as a pilot for an indie series if you decide to continue (with the project).
CH: In what ways will Bad for Good and its presence in the Make Your Show portfolio help to not only benefit creators like yourselves but also your future collaborations on projects both similar to and different from this film?
Cicci/Cramer: Bad for Good is the first drama that Make Your Show created. We hadn’t really ever created a crime drama and it was fun to stretch and try something new. I hope that we’ll be able to create other dramatic stories that can showcase our clients’ talents and create a calling card for their work. Of course, any time work can help to build new relationships, that’s a great thing. We’re always looking for new collaborations.
CH: What’s the status of Bad For Good as far as its festival screenings go?
MP: It’s currently under consideration for numerous upcoming festivals, mainly abroad.
CH: What projects are you working on now, and is it possible that Bad for Good could be expanded into either a feature film or a series?
Cicci/Cramer: We just finished another short film/pilot called The Bestie for Hannah Elizabeth Williams. It’s a comedy with a little magic in it that’s ultimately about a young woman trying to empower herself from the inside, even though she is a huge success to the outside world. As we mentioned earlier, Bad for Good could definitely be expanded on if Mike chooses to do so, as our goal with our short films is to create something that can stand alone but also be a springboard for future storytelling.
CH: What do you hope audiences take away from seeing this film?
Cicci/Cramer: Like all of the stories we create, I hope that audiences will see themselves in the complicated situations and conflicting feelings that we all experience from time to time. With Bad for Good, we especially hope that people will relate to the notion of family and the lengths we will go to for them, albeit sometimes blindly, and how to find resilience with your relatives so that bearing the burden of life is a little lighter.
Check out Bad For Good on Paladine’s official web page:
Find out more about Bad for Good on Make Your Show’s official web site for the film:
