If a gamble is defined as a risk hoping for a favourable outcome, then holding four aces in your hands wouldn’t be much of a risk at all.
But what if you had the same winning hand two times in a row? That could be the case for actor and filmmaker Thomas Gofton of the famed Guelph film Four Aces.
The film’s title, inspired by a small dinner in Clifford, should be familiar to Royal City residents. It was originally filmed around town during the summer of 2006 and received local acclaim after being given a lavish premiere at Guelph Galaxy Cinemas the next May.
“The original story had merit but the premiere presentation just didn’t quite do the job,” says Gofton.
“Technically there were too many errors. We all thought it was great and fun, but we were inexperienced and really had no clue what the difference was between alright and amazing.”
With the Aces shelved, other projects were taken on by Gofton. Meanwhile, the potential distributors that were consulted noted that the film itself was hilarious, and hinted that should it present well in the future, it would be a fantastic indie comedy.
An old friend of Gofton’s was made aware of the potential of the film, prior to his preparation to head off to Afghanistan with the military. He wanted make an investment that would make him feel good while he was away in a place that could make him feel bad. Plus he was the room mate of the original version’s co-producer.
So the question came up between the two friends: “How much to we remake it?”
“I wasn’t quite ready to go on with this,” explains Gofton. “But the entire Synn Studios voted it in as the summer feature and kind of pushed me into accepting the generous offer from this friend.”
He adds, “In a positive light, it was the best push I ever had! And if the premiere goes well with our invited distributors the best push the studio’s ever had.”
So the re-shoot was on. Synn Studios began principal photography last July and shot at locations throughout Guelph during that whole month. But this Four Aces promises to be an improvement in every sense, says Gofton, who took up the roles of writer, director and co-star for the new Aces.
“When it was a ‘go’ to re-shoot it, I started thinking about cast. I knew a few things had to change.”
That knowledge came on good authority thanks to successful showing of the first film. They served as the test audiences who after viewing the original film offered suggestions of what really did and did not work.
For instance, the Bowling Alley didn’t fit in the re-shoot. And all the character development flaws were repaired in the new script as well. These and other “weaknesses” from the first version and made several additional and new scenes for the second version.
“We’ve actually cut a few scenes that were in the first version,” laments the director.
While the bonus section of the DVD will house the cut scenes of the original version, Gofton says that the new scenes are funnier, and will make the story even better.
As for that original film, the one that was directed by another of Gofton’s friends, the filmmaker thinks back in hindsight that the first mistake there was entrusting another artist with his vision and bringing it to life.
“Note: never let anyone direct a piece you wrote and created, if you’re going to be on set,” he explains. “It will eat you alive when they change things you’re not willing to let go.”
As for casting, and bring the original cast back, it became quickly apparent that a reunion would be out of the question. “I called the old Four Aces, one of them turned it down due to other obligations,” Gofton says adding it was then that he realized fate was saying re-cast.
First order of business was to switch the roles he played, taking on the role of Luke “the Broken Heart” instead of Michael “the Jerk.” Candidly, the new role suited him better says Gofton, he always admired Luke more.
“Maybe it was more fitting,” says Gofton. “So I switched and cast myself as the Broken Heart. Aspiring as an actor, the one thing about producing, directing and creating your own piece is you can cast who you know will do it justice. I’m not saying I’m a great actor, but I know I am competent as I know the story inside and out.”
For Gofton, the rest of the casting came easily casting improv comedian and good friend Kevin Sheward to play “the Nerd” character Gabes. It was a role inherent to Sheward.
“I’d seen him act several times before and literally steal the stage.”
For the film’s “gay friend” Christopher, he needed to be muscular and pretty gym-worthy in the eyes of the director. So he cast aspiring actor Kevin Withers, showing his talents in his first film.
The last part to be filled was that of Michael. Paul Kingston was cast based on a referral from assistant director Deanna Palazzo who works with Kingston in Toronto theatre.
“I watched some of his work and then met him,” remembers Gofton. “Within five minutes all Four Aces were laughing, joking, acting and showing enthusiasm. I knew I didn’t even have to go to auditions.”
One more ingredient remained: the girl they’re all to pursue. “As for Jess, I needed sexy and appealing,” he explains. “The girl I cast was both that, and on top of things I acted on stage with her in a Broadway musical. So I knew she knew how to sass it up.”
During the film’s re-shoot the cast and crew were very open and were allowed to offer suggestions as they pleased. For a director, that can sometimes be suicidal but the actors trusted the direction for the film’s vision and the director himself. “If I didn’t like it, I’d say no and they didn’t get offended. They were a family; and honestly it was one of the best experiences of my life.”
That family feeling extended to crew as well. “The [Director of Photography] was great. A few times he used the trust me line, which usually takes me to the hospital with fear, but I trusted him.”
“I believe in the theory that allowing perspective from other eyes shows you colours you’d never known existed. It makes the world just that much more insightful.”
After the completion of Four Aces, Gofton will fill the year with three features that he has lined up and ready to film. The first one will go before the cameras in mid-June and will be followed up in early October by the second. A third feature is currently scheduled to begin in late November. All three will be made under the Synn Studios banner.
It’s certainly a favourable resource— as Kenny Rogers points out— to know when to hold ‘em and know when to fold ‘em. But the brilliance of a director is in know when to re-shoot. And in the case of Thomas Gofton, he can say with a smile that he was always “dealing with a stacked deck.”
