Left At Wall has been out for a little over a month and a half. One of the most common questions that I’ve gotten, both at screenings and online since its release, is “Is this film autobiographical?”
No, it’s not. Not at all, actually. The story is inspired by the GameStop incident that happened in 2021. (We say ‘based on’ for brevity but that’s *technically* not 100% accurate, though, technically not wrong either. Words are fun). I, personally, had no involvement in that occurrence. I mean, I wish I had, but alas I wasn’t aware of it until after it already hit the news. Also, I don’t have an older brother. I have a younger sister and our relationship is nothing like John and Don’s, which is a good thing.
Without giving anything away, I consider John and Don’s relationship to be somewhat tragic, and it is, in my opinion, the darkest part of the film. It’s also the most significant.
I wrote the first draft of Left At Wall shortly after the whole GameStop thing occurred. We’re talking winter, 2021. Our first trailer was out by August of 2021 (Long before Dumb Money, just for the record). The pandemic was still raging and fresh in the culture. One of my pandemic activities was to re-visit some classic shows. The Sopranos was among them. (Side note: Are there some problematic elements about that series? Sure, I say that especially as an Italian-American, but, overall, it’s brilliant storytelling and equally brilliant acting).
On the surface, Left At Wall and The Sopranos don’t have much in common. One is a quirky indie comedy film, the other is an epic drama. The Sopranos spent more in a half day of shooting one episode than we did for our entire production. But, the one thing they have in common, they’re both really about the same thing.
When it comes to a story, be it film, tv show, novel, or anything else, there’s what the story is about, then there’s what the story’s really about.
What’s The Sopranos about?
A New Jersey mob boss, dealing with the stress of the gig, a rival New York gang, his own family, and the changing times.
What’s it really about?
Family.
What’s Left At Wall about?
A struggling writer takes on the Wall Street machine and his own brother when he cooks up a scheme to thwart his brother’s short sell attempt.
What’s it really about?
Family.
Here’s a list of everywhere you can watch Left At Wall!
David Chase, if you’re reading this, I’m available.
great content! keep it up!