An in-depth exclusive interview with writer/director CHASE PALMER talking about the John Boyega-led NAKED SINGULARITY.
We are all well familiar with Chase Palmer as a screenwriter. He both dazzled and shocked us with his screen adaptation of Stephen King’s chilling IT. Proving to be more than adept at tackling screen adaptations of densely written works, Palmer now ups the ante and not only adapts the PEN prize-winning novel A Naked Singularity by former Manhattan District Attorney Sergio De La Pava for the screen but picks up the directing reins as well for his first narrative feature directorial, NAKED SINGULARITY. The result is a compelling and ambitious cinematic adaption of this tale of judicial travesties and legal dysfunction. And I can safely say that based on my own personal experience of almost three decades working in the legal arena, Chase Palmer delivers a powerfully authentic film.
Set in the criminal courtrooms of New York City, NAKED SINGULARITY is the story of Casi, a young idealistic public defender whose belief in the criminal justice system is thwarted at every turn be it by prosecutors, clients, judges, or even himself. Feeling hopeless, Casi makes a deal with the devil and is pulled into a high-stakes drug heist by a former client, setting the stage for a showdown between justice and the law.
Boasting an all-star cast starting with John Boyega as Casi, NAKED SINGULARITY also calls on the talents of, among others, Bill Skarsgard, Olivia Cooke, Ed Skrein, Tim Blake Nelson, and an award-worthy turn by Linda Lavin as Judge Cymbeline.
A dialogue-heavy film, Palmer was faced with the daunting task of bringing this heist thriller to life visually while keeping the film rooted in Casi’s conflicted morals of idealism and resulting frustration and failure versus the system.
Calling on the talents of cinematographer Andrij Parekit who faced some similar considerations with The Catcher was a Spy for director Ben Lewin, Palmer and Parekit develop a visual tonal bandwidth that is intimate and textured, exploring Casi’s emotional growth from act one to act three, using light and framing to their best advantage. Key is the richness of the visuals and capturing the grittiness of the city and of the criminal justice system through camera movement, use of zooms, and developing an almost 70s noirish patina that builds upon some impeccable production design.
Working with editor Katie Mcquerrey, Palmer and Mcquerrey faced the challenges of not only finding the tone of the film, but the balance of that tone given the dense dialogue, Casi’s inner conflicts, a complex heist, and the importance of getting the courtroom sessions “right.”
I spoke at length with CHASE PALMER talking about the “making of” NAKED SINGULARITY covering everything from:
- the appeal of De La Pava’s book
- dovetailing the language and tone of De La Pava with his own voice
- adapting dialogue-heavy dense material
- the challenges of casting
- working with a dialogue heavy script
- cinematography and developing the visual tonal bandwidth and visual interest set against and in tune with the dialogue
- editing and finding tone and tonal balance
- production design and the importance of the devil in the details, especially with courtroom scenes
- working with composer Brendan Angelides to find the right score and sound for this film
- the directorial learning curve
- and more!
TAKE A LISTEN. . . . .
by debbie elias, exclusive interview July 30, 2021
NAKED SINGULARITY is in theatres in NY on August 6th and Opening Wide and On-Demand on August 13th.
