Like a lot of what comes out of Hollywood, poker movies can actually be hit and miss propositions. Some movies have delved into the sport and supplied an genuine have a look at gamers and occasions. Others have missed the mark totally – bringing cringes from poker gamers and followers for unrealistic arms, unusual play, and an general lack of legitimacy.
Josh Wilcox is hoping his new movie falls into the Rounders class of poker films and turns into a participant favourite. The 43-year-old screenwriter has an extended historical past on the desk and hoped to seize a few of his personal love for the sport in a screenplay blended with some poker, drama, and intrigue.
The result’s Lifeless Cash, starring Emile Hirsch, India Eisley, David Keith, Jackie Earle Haleym, and Rory Culkin, and produced by Samuel Goldwyn Movies.
The manufacturing firm describes the movie: “When a house poker sport is robbed by armed males, professional poker participant Andy (Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe (Eisley) get caught within the center. Now, Andy should play the very best poker of his life on the largest sport on the town to save lots of his and Chloe’s lives.”
The brand new flick offers poker the complete Hollywood therapy and Wilcox hopes his efforts at poker realism repay with not solely informal viewers, however critical gamers as nicely. He even served as a poker advisor throughout filming and was concerned within the preproduction and postproduction to make sure the on-screen motion appeared prefer it wouldn’t be misplaced in any on line casino or residence sport.
“I promise, the poker within the film feels very actual,” Wilcox tells Card Participant. “Everybody at all times talks about how horrible the poker scenes are in films – myself included – however the producers and I have been devoted to creating that a part of the world feel and appear actual. Plus, it’s only a actually enjoyable journey. You’re going to expertise the identical ups and downs a gambler would have on their finest and worst days on the desk.”
Dwelling Video games To Hollywood Screenwriter
Wilcox is aware of loads about these ups and downs that may include life on the poker desk. He grew up in New Jersey, San Francisco, and Atlanta and studied artistic writing at Emory College. Since commencement, he has been juggling careers as knowledgeable poker participant and indie filmmaker.
Like many gamers, he discovered the sport from his father, however actually began enjoying extra in faculty.
“I like all types of video games, and I undoubtedly have a aggressive streak,” he says. “So, poker was an ideal match. After I graduated, I used to be working at CNN for some time and the hours have been loopy. I by no means slept. So, in my off time I might play these free poker tournaments that bars and eating places run. I began doing rather well at these, and somebody invited me to a personal residence sport.”
“One factor led to a different and ultimately I used to be making far more enjoying poker than I used to be at my job, so I stop and by no means actually appeared again. I by no means bought into the net poker growth, I solely ever performed stay residence video games and at casinos. Largely money video games, plus the occasional match as nicely. I nonetheless play in L.A. occasionally.”
That residence sport scene and a few of the gamers Wilcox interacted with caught with him and served because the inspiration for Lifeless Cash.
“I at all times needed to seize the sensation of these residence video games on display, these loopy characters that I met through the years and to let the viewers expertise that playing rush, that have of going from poker sport to sport. If you’re successful, you are feeling so invincible,” he says. “After which, in fact, the inevitable fall that each gambler experiences. So, this film is a mixture of actuality and absurdity.”
Hirsch, who is thought for movies like Into the Wild and Lone Survivor, additionally labored to deliver some realism of his personal to the movie. His character analysis included taking in some Las Vegas money video games and talking with high-stakes stay stream regulars like Alan Keating, Nik Airball, and Ryan Feldman.
“It was an unimaginable expertise diving into the world of poker and playing,” the actor famous on Twitter. “I bought so obsessive about the sport that I usually discovered myself googling ‘playing habit.’ I’ve partaken in lots of vices in my day – and that one has simply the strongest pull!”
Bringing Poker To The Huge Display
Working in Hollywood isn’t simple. The competitors will be fierce and there’s no scarcity of screenwriters hoping to interrupt into the business. There may be loads of rejection alongside the way in which and Wilcox finds some actual similarities between hitting the poker felt and pounding out scripts on the keyboard and attempting to catch a break.
“Most days I work alone scripts, at all times writing an increasing number of tasks to pitch to producers,” says Wilcox. “I often say the hustle is similar to poker, determining who’s on the up and up, and who’s attempting to reap the benefits of you. However I’m fortunate right here, I’ve an amazing neighborhood of fellow writers and filmmakers who’re at all times so supportive of one another. It’s uncommon.”
After a lot grinding – on the keyboard and on the poker desk – it was gratifying lastly getting the go-ahead and know that his screenplay would truly be filmed.
“After we lastly bought the inexperienced gentle, it truthfully felt like rivering the nuts in an enormous hand,” he says. “It’s like in poker, you possibly can plan and examine all you need, however only a few issues really feel like that rush of hitting your two-outer.”
As a fan of movies, Wilcox pointed to some poker films that he has loved by means of the years and which have served as some inspiration. What did a few of these get proper and the way did some get the sport improper?
“ Rounders is at all times up on the prime of the record in fact,” he says. “They knock it out of the park when it comes to merging leisure and poker. Simply nicely written and executed throughout. As poker gamers, we’re at all times obsessive about element and we spend so many hours on the desk enjoying that we discover any little factor that feels off a few poker scene in a film, however it’s laborious to stroll the road of sustaining poker authenticity whereas staying entertaining. I believe loads of poker scenes in films lean into the leisure, in order that they find yourself feeling a bit of cliche to us. On line casino Royale is a superb instance. Superb film, however the poker scenes are unattainable.”
“Extra just lately, I cherished Molly’s Sport, which actually nails the characters across the desk and the setting of a house sport. It felt very true to the sport. After which, some classics are Cincinnati Child, California Break up, and I’ve a smooth spot for Maverick – whole cartoon model of poker, however so entertaining. Oh, and I’ve a small cameo in Mississippi Grind which is a superb film and captures the house sport nicely.”
Filming The Motion And Wanting Forward
When moviegoers watch the motion play out on display, the aim is to make the poker look seamless like they could see at a on line casino or when enjoying with a gaggle of mates who know what they’re doing. Wilcox says that comes with hours and hours of filming the playing cards on set – closeups, low angles, flop after flop after flop.
“However there’s nothing higher than simply filming an amazing actor their playing cards,” he says. “You see all of it proper there of their face.”
Because the movie’s poker advisor for the film the screenwriter was on set daily to verify all of the poker components have been genuine. He says the producers have been additionally huge into poker and needed authenticity wherever attainable. That meant a deal with actual tables, actual shuffling machines, and good playing cards and chips that one would possibly discover in an actual sport. The hassle meant loads of work ensuring there was actual consistency in how issues appeared on the tables.
“In fact, while you’re capturing the scenes, you find yourself having to movie a shot over and over,” he says. “So, resetting these playing cards for the seller, resetting these chip stacks the way in which they have been and attempting to take care of that continuity generally is a nightmare, significantly within the remaining poker scene of the film. Andy (the principle character) performs within the largest sport of his life, and there are some huge pots. Maintaining these playing cards and chips straight was powerful.”
Wilcox is de facto hoping poker gamers and followers benefit from the movie. Now with Lifeless Cash wrapped up, he has a number of different movies he’s working to get produced and can also be collaborating with one other screenwriter. He’s additionally engaged on one other poker script. However what are a few of his private poker targets when wanting forward?
“I’d like to have that good evening on the desk the place I don’t make a single mistake. However it’s such a sophisticated sport. At all times try to play higher, that’s what makes it so nice.”
Lifeless Cash hits theaters and video on demand platforms on Sept. 13.
