Shot and produced in St. Louis, “Parallel Chords” is a feature-length drama about the dissonance between two musicians – a father and his daughter.
“It’s loosely autobiographical,” Catherine Dudley-Rose said on Monday’s St. Louis on the Air. “My father was a classical concert pianist … I did grow up performing with him regularly, and it’s a pretty unique bond when you’re practicing with your father from a young age every single night.” Her father’s recordings of piano parts are used throughout the film.
Host Don Marsh spoke with Dudley-Rose about her film, which is scheduled to screen Friday at the St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase. Allyson Mace, co-producer of the film and founder/publisher of Sauce Magazine, also joined the conversation.
“I loved this story, and I really wanted to see it happen in St. Louis,” Mace said. “I didn’t want it to be taken out of St. Louis; I thought St. Louis was the perfect backdrop, and I’m gonna be a big supporter of St. Louis any way that I can, even when it comes to the production of a feature film.”
Dudley-Rose added to the idea of having the film produced locally and said, “I lived in New York for almost 20 years, and I moved here [to St. Louis]. I’m not looking to leave to find better pastures; I’m looking to create a better pasture here for film, and music, and creativity and everything.”
The 98-minute movie was first written as a full-length screenplay, Dudley-Rose said, however, before the feature-length film was produced, a 14-minute short was released in 2015.
“[The screenplay] got some traction – I was able to get commission to write three other scripts because of it,” Dudley-Rose said. “And then [I] put it on the shelf for a while, moved here [to St. Louis] for love, and then I thought, ‘OK – I don’t have the money for the feature, but let’s see how I can make a short.’”
Since 2015, the short has screened more than 30 times around the country and received numerous awards. The feature-length film debuts in St. Louis this weekend.
Related Event
What: Cinema St. Louis 2018 St. Louis Filmmakers Showcase Presents "Parallel Chords"
When: 7 p.m., Friday, July 20, 2018
Where: Brown Hall Auditorium at Washington University (1 Brookings Drive, St. Louis, Missouri 63130)
St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer, Evie Hemphill and Caitlin Lally give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.
