Meet the Makers: “A Legacy of Whining” Writer, Director, Actor Ross Munro

“Meet the Makers” is a series of interviews to introduce the filmmakers of the 2016 Willson Oakville Film Festival. Answers are edited for clarity and space.

Ross Munro

ABOUT THE FILMMAKER: ROSS MUNRO, writer/director/actor
Ross Munro is an actor and writer, known for Broken Palace (2014), A Legacy of Whining(2016) and Brewster McGee (2000).

ABOUT THE FILM, “A LEGACY OF WHINING”
The past ain’t all it’s cracked up to be when two former high school friends reunite thirty years later in a painfully comedic and bittersweet rollercoaster of an evening.

Q: What kind of film did you want to make?

Ross: A buddy comedy. I grew up watching movies in the ‘70’s and I saw buddy movies where there’s a tradition of humour. There’s banter between the buddy characters and the buddies are matched for comedic effect. I watched Bob Hope and Bing Crosby. They had a lot of banter back and forth – even when faced with serious trouble – and they often used sarcasm to comment on the problems in the story. I liked these movies and they were an inspiration that led me to do a buddy comedy.

Q: Help us understand the buddies, Mitch and Dunc.

Ross: Mitch and Dunc reunite 30 years after high school. When they meet in the airport, they want this to be a new beginning but it doesn’t take long for Dunc to remember how Mitch used to bother him. Mitch, who is the character I play, has barely changed. We all know people like that – living in the past. Mitch hasn’t really progressed. Given the opportunity to reunite with his high school friend, he wants everything to be the same as it was back then. Making Mitch an actor feeds into the idea that he lives in a fantasy world. I wanted to contrast Mitch with Dunc. Dunc has progressed but in a way that’s cynical and hardened. Dunc is a drinker and a womanizer with a broken marriage. He criticises Mitch; he’s like ‘the devil on your shoulder’ that reminds you of your failings. In this case Mitch is a failed actor. They’re 2 sides of the same coin.

Q: What are the themes in “A Legacy of Whining”?

Ross: As it says in the film’s description, “The past ain’t all it’s cracked up to be.” The big theme is male midlife crisis. Mitch sees a better version of himself in his fantasies while Dunc talks big but he’s really just a drinker and a womanizer. Mitch is at a crossroads in his acting career; he has to answer to the choices he’s made. Has he wasted his life? Did he make choices that led to failure? The title says it – “A Legacy of Whining”. Many people reach a time in their lives when they wonder, “What’s my legacy?” For Mitch the theme of legacy creates painful humour because his life might not have any meaning. The dynamic between Mitch and Dunc is like that between Laurel and Hardy – the insults and slights; Mitch having his dreams ridiculed by Dunc. By looking at each other’s lives, both characters are seeing how other choices could have led to other kinds of failure. We all want to leave a legacy. For the average person, being fondly remembered by their children is enough for them to be proud and happy.

Q: Who is this film for?

Ross: I believe even though the main characters are 50-something males, the story is universal. It asks the question, “Who am I?” At different ages we all feel angst over making life choices. We wonder, “Am I enough?” Another audience group who will appreciate the film are people who have a broad knowledge of film and genres. They’ll get the references to movies of other decades like “Five Easy Pieces” and the Fred Astaire musicals. I use movie references throughout – especially in Mitch’s fantasy sequences.

Q: What do you want the audience to take away from this film?

Ross: I want them to be entertained and laugh and be invested in the world of the movie. I wanted to create a nocturnal dreamlike world where anything can happen. I hope they might see a little bit of themselves or relate to things in their own lives. Though not everyone reunites with an old buddy after 30 years, we can find these interpersonal dynamics in many relationships. We can all relate to painful self-discovery.

Q: Is there anything more you’d like the audience to know about the film?

Ross: A lot of Canadian independent films are a labour of love. My wife, Marie is the producer of “A Legacy of Whining” but she wasn’t originally a producer. She’s a graphic designer. To help me on this journey to bring this film to the light of day, she went out and learned all she could about producing. Everybody on this film worked hard and sacrificed. Now getting in front of an audience is amazing for us. Marie and I are excited to come to Oakville.

Interview by Cathleen MacDonald
Cathleen MacDonald is a writer and filmmaker.

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