"Finding Red Cloud" (2008) The lives of three people are dramatically changed when
they are forced to live together and deal with the dysfunctions that keep their lives
unfulfilled. Starring Michael Wayne James, Eddie Kehler and Melissa Sullivan. A
touching dramedy that will make you laugh and leave you in tears. This is a very
personal story about the traumas people encounters in life and what we do to overcome
them. Mike, played by Michael Wayne James, is a man who simply wants to redeem
himself by saving someone's life.
I was cast in the lead role of 'Mike'. Unknowing to me, the writer/director/producer
Michal O'Connor pretended to be Michael Levin the casting director. After I was cast, I
was told Michael O'Connor was the writer/director and that he had cast me in a role he
had written for himself. But, decided to direct only for his directorial debut. I felt honored
and privileged to take on the role and to fill his shoes in telling his story. We became
very good friends during the filming. My wife Suzanne and I worked very closely with
Michael O'Connor on the publicity for the film and submissions to film festivals. Sadly,
Michael O'Connor passed away from pancreatic cancer before the film was released and to be screened as a best picture nomination in 2009 "The Action on Film
International Film Festival" in Pasadena, California.
"Finding Red Cloud" was one of four films which had been nominated for best picture.
Later on, during the festival. I was informed that Michael O'Connor was to receive "The
Alan J. Bailey Award: Excellence in Directing". This was Alan's individual award; no
voting was done in selecting this award; it was his personal choice. I was overwhelmed,
due to the fact that Alan J. Bailey is a highly respected film executive. Alan was Senior
Vice President and Treasurer at Paramount Studios from 1975-2009 (34 years) During
which time Paramount was the most successful Hollywood studio. He secured the
financing for such Hollywood classics as "The Godfather Trilogy", "Forrest Gump".
"Saving Private Ryan", "Transformers" and "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button. And
has since been Executive Producing his private slate of films.
On awards night when the "Alan J. Bailey Award: Excellence in Directing" was
announced for Michael O'Connor, I walked to the stage to accept the award
Posthumous. I was emotionally moved in excepting the award and honored to have
performed the role of Mike, for which he had written for himself but decided to direct
only.
In my opinion, I strongly believe this was Michael O'Connor's swan song. He knew he
was dying. That the story was about his life and the characters were based on the
people that surrounded him. The key to that is in the final scene when 'Mike' returns
home to his wife. Listen closely to the final narration. I understood at that moment, his
pain and acceptance that in time no one will remember his name. RIP Michael
O'Connor, your story has been told.
