Did you know that an amazing feature film starring Oscar-winner Anna Paquin (True Blood, X-Men, The Piano) shot in Sarasota late last year? Well, we sure did. In fact, the filmmakers used our O&E building as their production offices! Strap in and prepare yourself for an in-depth interview with the film's writer/director Shana Sosin!
INSIDER: What inspired you to tell this very personal story?
SHANA SOSIN: Free Ride is based on my life story. I've been interested in telling the story of my mother's rise and fall through the drug trade from the perspective of my sister and I since I discovered that I had had a unique upbringing. The frame of reference and it's accompanying naiveté was a story I needed to tell if for no other reason than to put a feminine face to a trade that has long been dominated by male characters. I also wrote the piece for my mother and sister. A love letter of sorts...
INSIDER: Please tell us about the genesis of Free Ride. How did you get the film made?
SHANA SOSIN: Susan Dynner (co-producer of Brick) found the script and has been a champion of the project from the beginning. When we started casting, we sat down with Stephen Moyer, Anna's husband, to play one of the male roles. In the middle of the meeting, he asked me, "Has my Anna seen this?" Well, Anna had always been at the top of my list. We had had issues getting it through the ranks, but once Stephen passed it to her agent, an attachment happened very quickly. In that meeting, Stephen also
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