Want to be in a movie? Well, if you don’t look like a runway model, have washboard abs or look anything like the cast members of The Twilight Saga, director Keith Bearden is looking for you. In all seriousness, Bearden has an appreciation for ideas and characters that feel real. While he considers his first feature film, Meet Monica Velour, a high concept piece, it’s got much more to it than its basic premise.
In high concept terms, Meet Monica Velour is about a nerdy kid who falls for an older stripper. Dig a little deeper and you get a piece about a high school graduate (Dustin Ingram) just trying to come into his own, experience the world and learn a little something about love. On the stripper side, Monica Velour (Kim Cattrall) is more than just a porn star past her prime; she’s a loving mother that’s just trying to do the best she can with the resources she has and the stigma her career left her with. And, when these two multidimensional characters come together, we get something far more interesting, engaging and emotional than a mere boy-meets-older-woman commercial concept.
This interview is a bit all over the place in the best way possible. Not only does Bearden enlighten us on the entire process of making Meet Monica Velour a reality, but he also touches upon the tough industry standards, as well. On top of that, he also knows how to have a good laugh. Hearing Bearden talk about his unusual looking candidates for the role of Tobe is a must. And, before we wrapped up, the director touched upon his next effort, a film called God Hates Kansas. See it all for yourself in the video interview below.
By Perri Nemiroff