INTERVIEW WITH DALLAS PENN,
CO-WRITER AND STAR OF "CHECKMATE"

By Rooftop Films on 11/26/2008

Checkmate (Casimir Nozkowski, Dallas Penn, Rafi Kam | New York City | 9:43)

Why are there always jewelry stores next to check-cashing spots? Why is there only 1 bank per 50,000 people living in Bushwick?

Q&A

Rooftop Films: Tell us about your film

Dallas Penn: Checkmate was a video we developed as a response from one of our viewers who after viewing our film 'Bodega' asked us to make a film about another one of the center city's ubiquitous retail locations - the check cashing store

RF: What was your inspiration?

DP: SInce Rafi and I had used check cashing stores previously (and I still do) we thought we could create a film that described them accurately

RF: Is there anything you'd like to share about the film that might not be immediately apparent (your conception of the film, backstory, production methods, etc.)?

DP: I think the interesting thing we discovered about check cashing locations as opposed to banks was that they were less predatory than we originally envisioned, especially when you consider all the latent fees that banks assess to customers who are less than wealthy.

RF: Any interesting stories about the production? Any particular difficulties or serendipitous events or pleasant/unpleasant surprises?

DP: The production for the film was an overall enjoyable experience. We found people on the street who were ready to describe their experiences when dealing with check cashing stores as well as banks. I think the biggest discovery for me was that making it rain (the practice of wantonly throwing wads of cash in the air) outdoors was the quickest method to losing all of your money.

RF: What initially sparked your interest in the idea of check cashing? Why this particular social exploration?

DP: Check cashing stores are fairly ubiquitous in the center city but not too many people know what takes place on the inside of these stores and the people that do know rarely examine them comprehensively.

RF: The tone of the film is comedic but it is clear that there is also a fairly dire social message about the nature of consumerism, debt, urban planning etc in America. How did you balance the two sides in making the film?

DP: I love to laugh before I cry so I don't think having a laugh at a funeral is a bad thing. Discussing serious issues with our Web 2.0675 constituency means that we need to inject some humor into our rants and and messages.

RF: Most of the film was shot in Brooklyn. Do you have any ties to Brooklyn or do the actors in the film?

DP: We all have ties to Brooklyn in various ways from growing up inside of the borough to actively using the landscape today to work, play and live. We would like to make a film in every borough of the city to help us get our points across on the universatility (my word bitches) of the urban experience.

RF: Are you a full-time filmmaker? If not, what else are you up to?

DP: I am a full-time shit-talker on the web log that I manage daily. My career goal is to make films full time since we are living in a post-literate society. I say that we are post-literate not because people can't read, but because they choose not to. They like to use video for delivering much of the information they use.

RF: What is your current/next project?

DP: We have several projects underway right now. I am anxious to complete them as opposed to talking about them.

RF: If you've been to a Rooftop show, how was the experience?

DP: The Rooftop shows have been the most fulfilling aspect of my filmmaking career up to this point. The audience contains the prime demographic that we target with our videos and to see and hear them laugh and enjoy our films is satisfying and energizing. It is one thing to have over a half million views of a film on YouTube and a totally different experience to commune with an audience full of your peers.

RF: What excites you about having your short film on Rooftop Films at IFC.com?

DP: I'm excited for more people to see our work and follow us as we make more films and tackle more subjects

RF: Do you have any questions for the viewers? We hope they'll post comments!

DP: What would you like to see us discuss in an upcoming film. We do make these films for fans you know.