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 take a look at gamers and occasions. Others have missed the mark fully – bringing cringes from poker gamers and followers for unrealistic fingers, unusual play, and an general lack of legitimacy.
Josh Wilcox is hoping his new film 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 combined with some poker, drama, and intrigue.
The result’s Dead Money, starring Emile Hirsch, India Eisley, David Keith, Jackie Earle Haleym, and Rory Culkin, and produced by Samuel Goldwyn Films.
The manufacturing firm describes the movie: “When a home poker game is robbed by armed men, pro poker player Andy (Hirsch) and his girlfriend Chloe (Eisley) get caught in the middle. Now, Andy must play the best poker of his life at the biggest game in town to save his and Chloe’s lives.”
The new flick provides poker the total Hollywood therapy and Wilcox hopes his efforts at poker realism repay with not solely informal viewers, however critical gamers as properly. He even served as a poker marketing consultant throughout filming and was concerned within the preproduction and postproduction to make sure the on-screen motion regarded prefer it wouldn’t be misplaced in any on line casino or dwelling recreation.
“I promise, the poker in the movie feels very real,” Wilcox tells Card Player. “Everyone always talks about how terrible the poker scenes are in movies – myself included – but the producers and I were dedicated to making that part of the world look and feel real. Plus, it’s just a really fun ride. You’re going to experience the same ups and downs a gambler would have on their best and worst days at the table.”
Home Games To Hollywood Screenwriter
Wilcox is aware of a lot 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 University. Since commencement, he has been juggling careers as knowledgeable poker participant and indie filmmaker.
Like many gamers, he realized the sport from his father, however actually began enjoying extra in faculty.
“I love all kinds of games, and I definitely have a competitive streak,” he says. “So, poker was a perfect fit. After I graduated, I was working at CNN for a while and the hours were crazy. I never slept. So, in my off time I would play those free poker tournaments that bars and restaurants run. I started doing really well at those, and someone invited me to a private home game.”
“One thing led to another and eventually I was making way more playing poker than I was at my job, so I quit and never really looked back. I never got into the online poker boom, I only ever played live home games and at casinos. Mostly cash games, plus the occasional tournament as well. I still play in L.A. from time to time.”
That dwelling recreation scene and a number of the gamers Wilcox interacted with caught with him and served because the inspiration for Dead Money.
“I always wanted to capture the feeling of those home games on screen, those crazy characters that I met over the years and to let the audience experience that gambling rush, that experience of going from poker game to game. When you’re winning, you feel so invincible,” he says. “And then, of course, the inevitable fall that every gambler experiences. So, this movie is a mix of reality and absurdity.”
Hirsch, who is understood for movies like Into the Wild and Lone Survivor, additionally labored to carry 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 incredible experience diving into the world of poker and gambling,” the actor famous on Twitter. “I got so obsessed with the game that I regularly found myself googling ‘gambling addiction.’ I’ve partaken in many vices in my day – and that one has easily the strongest pull!”
Bringing Poker To The Big Screen
Working in Hollywood isn’t simple. The competitors will be fierce and there’s no scarcity of screenwriters hoping to interrupt into the trade. There is loads of rejection alongside the best way and Wilcox finds some actual similarities between hitting the poker felt and pounding out scripts on the keyboard and making an attempt to catch a break.
“Most days I work on my own scripts, always writing more and more projects to pitch to producers,” says Wilcox. “I usually say the hustle is very similar to poker, figuring out who’s on the up and up, and who is trying to take advantage of you. But I’m lucky here, I have a great community of fellow writers and filmmakers who are always so supportive of each other. It’s rare.”
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 really be filmed.
“When we finally got the green light, it honestly felt like rivering the nuts in a big hand,” he says. “It’s like in poker, you can plan and study all you want, but very few things feel like that rush of hitting your two-outer.”
As a fan of movies, Wilcox pointed to a couple 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 mistaken?
“ Rounders is always up at the top of the list of course,” he says. “They knock it out of the park in terms of merging entertainment and poker. Just well written and executed all around. As poker players, we’re always obsessed with detail and we spend so many hours at the table playing that we notice any little thing that feels off about a poker scene in a movie, but it’s hard to walk the line of maintaining poker authenticity while staying entertaining. I think a lot of poker scenes in movies lean into the entertainment, so they end up feeling a little cliche to us. Casino Royale is a great example. Amazing movie, but the poker scenes are impossible.”
“More recently, I loved Molly’s Game, which really nails the characters around the table and the setting of a home game. It felt very true to the game. And then, some classics are Cincinnati Kid, California Split, and I have a soft spot for Maverick – total cartoon version of poker, but so entertaining. Oh, and I have a small cameo in Mississippi Grind which is a great movie and captures the home game well.”
Filming The Action And Looking Ahead
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 bunch 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.
“But there’s nothing better than just filming a great actor looking at their cards,” he says. “You see it all right there in their face.”
As the movie’s poker marketing consultant for the film the screenwriter was on set on daily basis to ensure all of the poker components have been genuine. He says the producers have been additionally massive into poker and wished authenticity wherever attainable. That meant a give attention to actual tables, actual shuffling machines, and good playing cards and chips that one may discover in an actual recreation. The effort meant loads of work ensuring there was actual consistency in how issues regarded on the tables.
“Of course, when you’re shooting the scenes, you end up having to film a shot over and over again,” he says. “So, resetting those cards for the dealer, resetting those chip stacks the way they were and trying to maintain that continuity can be a nightmare, particularly in the final poker scene of the movie. Andy (the main character) plays in the biggest game of his life, and there are some massive pots. Keeping those cards and chips straight was tough.”
Wilcox is de facto hoping poker gamers and followers benefit from the movie. Now with Dead Money wrapped up, he has just a few 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. But what are a few of his private poker targets when trying forward?
“I’d love to have that perfect night at the table where I don’t make a single mistake. But it’s such a complicated game. Always strive to play better, that’s what makes it so great.”
Dead Money hits theaters and video on demand platforms on Sept. 13.
