Patricia Frontain, writer, director and founder of Patrick Lives On, and Sylvie Sadarnac, actor, writer, are bursting with stories to tell.
Their short film, RIP is set to premiere this Saturday, March 11 at The Patrick Lives On Film Showcase. The film is directed by Frontain, and written by and starring Sadarnac. A full list of credits for the amazing Chicago crew are listed bellow.
Filmed in the Chicago area last summer, the film stars Sylvie Sadarnac and Guy Van Swearingen.
The story: When nightmares start impinging on her reality, a fragile woman must fight her inner demons to save her decades-long marriage to a doting, but manipulative husband. Is love enough to overcome?
Filmmakers, newly found friends, and likeminded-collaborators, Sadarnac and Frontain are not just the same age, 63, they are seemingly cast from the same mold. They both have an impressive amount of accomplishments and a long list of credits on IMDb, however, both feel the pressure is on.
“When you reach a certain age you start to feel that time is starting to shrink and it’s time to start seriously thinking about what it is you want to do, or you may just run out of time,” says Sadarnac.
So what’s pressuring them?
Patricia Frontain‘s driving focus is directing. She is the Script Supervisor on Chicago P.D. since it began in 2014. She has written and directed three short films before meeting Sadarnac for the collaboration on RIP. Following an interview with Lifetime, she was recently brought on to direct the feature Twisted Sisters. The film wrapped in mid February and is in post production. Just in time for Patricia to return to her position as Script Supervisor for the startup of season 10 on Chicago P.D.
Sylvie Sadarnac is perusing her screenwriting career. She had a corporate career in finance until at some point in her mid-fifties she began pursuing a career in acting and made the jump into TV and film work. She was cast as Detective Lucie Prum-Waltzing on Steve Conrad’s Amazon series Patriot. Sylvie has appeared in television and film, as well as commercials and industrial videos. She wrote and starred in RIP. She has completed writing her next short film script which she hopes to produce at the end of the year and is currently working on writing a limited series.
Reel Chicago was able to catch up with these two amazing women to find out more about their collaboration on RIP.
How did you meet and how did this film come together?
Patricia: “You never know what little jewels life will suddenly present to you. During the pandemic, I attended IFA’s Movie Club. We watched and talked about a different movie each week. It was lots of fun and I met some really great people. Sylvie and I met there and when she approached me months later to direct & produce RIP, I jumped at the chance. It was a fantastic experience. Wonderfully talented cast and crew. I am proud of our work and proud to showcase the premiere at The Patrick Lives On Film Showcase on March 11th.”
What planted the seed for this film?
Sylvie: “What I’m trying to say in telling my own story is that women of a certain age are vibrant, have a story to tell, they are complicated. We’re not one dimension. I wanted to depict a story that represented what a woman could be going through in life.”
“You can not be dismissive of some of the things you do because you love them, because they can lead to something more. I’m an amateur photographer and I take pictures and post them everyday. I’m trying to find the beauty in everything, even though I’m a pretty melancholy person. I’m trying to find what is important, and to express it. I want this little film to have an impact like that — to provoke a feeling, a reaction, an emotion — because that’s what art is about. As a creator, instead of just being the conduit as an actor, it’s really emotional, it’s powerful.”
You can hear more about Patricia Frontain and Sylvie Sadarnac when they both tell their story in our annual coverage of Reel Women this month in celebration of Women’s History Month.
Here is the teaser trailer. You will want to see this film.
Screening info here:
Saturday, March 11
The Patrick Lives On 6th Annual Film Showcase
Resolution Studios
2226 W Walnut St, Chicago
You can purchase your tickets HERE.
RIP CREW
Directed by
Patricia Frontain
Writing Credits
Sylvie Sadarnac
Produced by
Sandy Gulliver – producer
Candace Ann O’Brien – associate producer
Amy E. Powell – producer
Music by
Lindsay Jones
Cinematography by
Jamison Acker
Set Decoration by
J.P. McAllister
Makeup Department
Nancy Vela
First Assistant Director
Alex Diamond
Sound Department
Cory Coken – dialogue editor / post sound supervisor
Ian Farthing – sound designer
Travis Spicer – post sound producer
Stosh Tuszynski – re-recording mixer
Katie Waters – foley artist
Hardy Willis – audio engineer
Camera and Electrical Department
Jamison Acker – director of photography
Justin Nosek – gaffer
Music Department
Jeff Ryan – music editor
Script and Continuity Department
Lauren Goldstein – script supervisor
Additional Crew
J.P. McAllister – production assistant
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