FILMMAKER MAGAZINE | Spring 1997: PRODUCTION UPDATE

PRODUCTION UPDATE

Romantic comedy convention gets a neat twist in Brian Sloan's I Think I Do. In this film, the two college roommates who reencounter each other - and their never-consummated attraction - at an old pal's Washington wedding are both guys.

Five years after graduation, Bob (Alexis Arquette) has given up on his unrequited love and made peace with college roommate Brendan's heterosexuality; he's now a year into a relationship with hunky soap star Sterling Scott, his date this weekend. But in the years since college, Brendan has come out, and now he's decided that Bob is his romantic destiny.

"It's a goofy take on a classic screwball comedy," says Sloan. "Instead of Katherine Hepburn and Cary Grant, it's Cary Grant and Jimmy Stewart. Gay or straight though, it's all about loving someone."

Sloan, 30, grew up outside Washington, D.C., and first made waves with Shall We Dance, a short made in NYU's grad film program that played several dozen festivals in 1992; his '93 NYU thesis film, Pool Days, went to 50 fests including Sundance and New Directors and was included with two other coming-out shorts in the Strand Releasing trilogy Boys' Life. To get I Think I Do made, Sloan turned to fellow NYU student Lane Janger, also 30, an established music video producer who also produced I Like It Like That, Darnell Martin's debut feature. With Janger signed on, I Do quickly gathered steam and "high six-figure" LLC financing from investors.

I Think I Do's 25-day shoot rolled October 1 with the filmmakers shooting New York City and environs for Washington, capturing the necessary D.C. exteriors over two days at the production's tail end. Janger says the 35mm color I Do should be ready to hit the festival circuit by the end of March. Strand partners Jon Gerrans and Marcus Hu are executive producers and will serve as sales agents.

Cast: Alexis Arquette, Guillermo Diaz, Lauren Velez, Jamie Harrold, Maddie Corman, Tuc Watkins, Marianne Hagan, Christian Maelen. Crew: Producer, Lane Janger; Screenwriter/Director, Brian Sloan; Executive Producers, Jon Gerrans, Marcus Hu, Robert Miller, Daryl Roth; Cinematographer, Milton Kam; Production Designer, Debbie Devilla; Costime Designer, Kevin Donaldson & Victoria Farrell; Casting, Stephanie Corsalini; Editor, Francois Keraudren. Contact: Lane Janger, I Think I Do LLC, 100 Varick St., 3rd floor, NY, NY 10013. Tel/Fax: (212) 982-1399.