The City in Grey.

Shooting on my second screen role wrapped yesterday at 4:00 pm. The film, a short called The City in Grey, will be screened at the next Kino Ottawa event later this month. It was my first gig with Deniz Berkin, an Ottawa filmmaker, and it was a pleasant experience--save for the moment I took a swig of bourbon, thinking it was apple juice. The role I played was the Mentor. There are two characters in the film, the Mentor and his Protégé. I played the Mentor, and the chemistry between my scene partner (the Protégé) and me was first-rate.

I wrote this backstory for the character. The Mentor, Alfred, is an ambitious man who succeeded in business. He came from a working-class background and applied his business acumen to build his empire. Along the way, he accepted that graft and corruption are a part of life in the business world. He had dealings with corrupt public officials and underworld figures. He succeeded in avoiding scandals--though wagging tongues claim that he indulged in shady business dealings on his way to the top. Alfred lives on his own terms; he does not care what others think. Alfred understands that it is a dog-eat-dog world, and if you are not careful, you end up on the inside looking out. He has no regrets.

His doctors advise that he is ill and has a short time to live. Given that reality, he decided to put his affairs in order and choose suicide. He will die the way he lived, on his terms. He selected a trusted associate to take the reins of his business interests. As a test of loyalty and her resolve, he made the offer of proprietorship of his business empire contingent on her assisting in his suicide. The day has come. He summoned her to meet him at the park where he sat, viewing the river, as he took stock of his life and legacy. She met him at the park and made their way to his apartment. There he poured a drink and handed her an envelope. He placed a letter of introduction for his lawyers for the reading of his will, plus the legal documents that transfer proprietorship of his business to her, and a note for his family. She handed him the gun he would use to take his life. They embraced before she left his apartment. Once she was on her way, she heard the shot.

I look forward to the next Kino Ottawa screening to see the City of Mist in its first public viewing.