How did we get here?
USE THE BUTTONS BELOW TO JUMP AROUND IN THE TIMELINE OF MEETING MR. OSCAR’S EVOLTUION
December 2020
New York to Pucon
In the height of the world’s uncertainty, Toni Short decided to jump on a plane and explore a new part of the world. As she flew over the magnificent Andes Mountains she was humbled by their grand beauty unaware of the magical moments about to unfold in front of her.
Landing in the small town of Pucon and embarking on what she thought was one month abroad her adventures turned into a three month self -reclamation tour where she traveled the country solo by bus. The incredibly diverse landscapes and the warm & welcoming people of Chile co-created a never to be forgotten experience and planted the seed to another new adventure, the making of Meeting Mr. Oscar.
January 2021
Nestled in the Puesco mountains Toni found the women of
Río Abajo Río Sur & Millallipen.
Immersing herself into the local community & spirit Toni, along with 18 others, learned the art of making a drum from scratch.
A profound and deeply transformative experience.
At the retreat she met Maria and through Maria she met Thomas.
It was Thomas who first told her about the real Oscar Chihuaipan…
Listen to Thomas recount the story of Meeting Mr. Oscar.
He shares about the first and second time they randomly met, the origins of his name, the way he smelled and the intricate and heart warming details of Mr. Oscar’s peaceful existence.
Toni couldn’t help but scribble everything down. Capturing everything Thomas experienced.
From the first moment she heard the story she could see the movie in her mind.
Returning home… Toni couldn’t help but think about Thomas’s experience with Mr. Oscar… a lot…
so… from March 2021 Onwards… Toni scribbled & scribbled…
Imagining and allowing the story to unfold…
early July 2021
As if by magic, into Toni’s inbox came an opportunity to share Thomas’s story - to give it a home. The theme had her thinking about how Thomas only took Mr. Oscar from point A to point B and not all the way back to his home or final destination. While, on one hand, Thomas moved Mr. Oscar physically, on the other hand there was this deeper feeling of how the interaction moved Thomas emotionally. And by default, it moved Thomas to look at his life differently.
So, Toni began working with one of her collaborators, Joanna Gómez, to develop a structure and put some form to Thomas’s story and the script for Meeting Mr. Oscar Version 1.0 was born.
“Your idea should be inspired by this year’s theme: movement.
Movement reflects change, progress and collective action.
What does movement mean to you.”
Joanna & Toni began to write and write and write and soon enough….
that structure… turned into this script… >>>>>>>
…and to accompany the the script submission Toni answered Soho House’s questions like this.…
Tell us about your story so far. How did you get to where you are today?
She’s always been on the move. Turning water into wine. Shifting dark to light. She knew what she was here to do. Move people. From A to B. It was simple. Finding innovative ways for every day humans to feel love on a soul level. Stripping away the boundaries of our societies and education systems to open the channels for every single human to feel the depths of their emotions. The human experience is beyond special. To be in the moment. The intimacy of humans connecting on a level that equates to a deeper source of knowing. We are all looking to be loved and appreciated. When we stand in front of another human and be our true self. That is a way of being that emanates a freedom that is palpable.
She looks at movement as a way to transcend something that we would otherwise not be willing to look at. She has committed her life to transcending. And telling stories. And those stories led her to you.
What is your idea and how does it relate to our theme? Please describe your submission.
She felt this responsibility to the human race is to share the stories that move us. From place to place. In our hearts. In our bodies. Minds. Imagination. Where we stand. In all things life.
Her friend Thomas shared his incredible story about meeting Mr Oscar. She felt compelled, by something greater than herself, to share it with you.
Science says being moved, emotionally or spiritually changes us on the inside and those around us. She felt this listening to Thomas. She felt this in re-imagining the story for you in the form of a script.
This script almost got the Hollywood treatment. Losing all of its truth. She almost colored within the lines. She knew what type of stories she wanted to tell. The real stories that are full of heart.
Seize the moment to move yourself forward. Out of the loneliness. Fear. Dread. Anything that holds you back from movement. Be open to see situations in your life from a different perspective. Take a risk.
When she leads with her heart the meaning behind Meeting Mr Oscar shines through. Allow yourself to be moved. The first move is on the inside. Then everything outside will make sense.
WHAT HAPPENED NEXT?
late July 2021
WITH SOHO HOUSE SHORTS…? NOTHING…
But that didn’t stop Toni. It was simply the start of something else…
ENTER JEONGWON LEE (pronounced Joe)…
“Why don’t we make the movie together?”
— Jeo says to Toni one day at lunch after reading the script and hearing about Thomas’s story… and with that… Meeting Mr. Oscar Version 2.0 was born…
Jeo coming on board as Writer, Producer and in turn Co-Director really took the production to the next level. #biglove
In October 2020, Toni was cast as Laura in Jeo’s new film, Uncalled Guest.
In upstate NY, Toni met an incredible group of humans on set.
Many of who joined Jeo & Toni as crew to make Meeting Mr. Oscar.
PRE-PRODUCTION BEGINS
August 2021
this is where the Universe really picks up speed in supporting us to bring the film into form....
this is where the Universe really picks up speed in supporting us to bring the film into form....
Jeo & Toni begin re-writing the script.
Meeting often to rework the magic of Thomas’s experience into something that could be not only entertaining and inspiring for audiences
The story gets simpler. Concentrating on a few core elements brought over from V1.0.
Thomas becomes Audrey so Toni can play the lead role.
The backstory of the characters is left more to the audiences imagination.
They created new objectives & outcomes for Audrey & Mr. Oscar.
The story became a mix of Thomas, Toni and Jeo’s personal stories and life experiences.
And Audrey was named after Toni’s Maternal grandmother….
FIRST
NEXT: LOCATION
In June 2021, Toni met the incredible Jan Greer and Michael Kokas after staying at their Airbnb situated on their beautiful organic farm in Tivoli.
Staying in contact, Toni got the idea to see if their farm was large enough for a truck to drive across it and not come across any other traffic. Their farm wasn’t but they suggested a road nearby, nestled between corn fields, and spraypainted with delightful fall colors…
A site visit (see BTS for more) confirmed they had found their location…
Looking at houses in the area, Toni & Jeo, visited Stop 43 (an amazing place her friends owned that she’d seen before). It wasn’t quite right so the search continued. Then, as if like magic, on visiting the area again they realized Audrey’s house was right in front of them - the main homestead at Upstate Farms NY.
Being the kind angels that Jan & Michael are, they agreed to open up their home for Audrey’s scenes.
Michael also happened to have a fabulous old truck, THE MILLENNIUM FALCON, and just like that, two more pieces of the puzzle fell into place…
THEN: AUDREY’S HOME & TRUCK
September 2021
CASTING WAS NEXT
Frank Ramero
When Toni & Jeo began casting they knew they needed someone who was unique and would bring a certain feeling to the screen. Something to touch on the phantom quality that Thomas had mentioned about the real Mr. Oscar. None of the online applicants they saw felt like “the one”…
Then one day, only minutes from Toni’s home she noticed Frank at a community bookshop and she knew. She approached him asking he was an actor or performer. Frank mentioned he had trained with Al Pacino at HP Studios back in the day. He also said that he had seen Toni the day before in the street and it was a special moment of synchronicity that they were now speaking. It was undeniable… they had found Mr. Oscar and Toni couldn’t wait to introduce him to Jeo. Rehearsals begin immediately… (see more in BTS).
+ CREW & MORE SITE VISITS
Putting the crew together was easy.
Having worked with DP, Shu Hirayama, before. Toni knew that it was his eye for detail and exquisite sense of aesthetics that would capture the beauty of the area and bring the story to life on the screen.
1st AD Anna Maués also fell into place. She brought a sense of organization, structure and most of all, a sense of humor to their three day shooting schedule.
With the principal team in place, Jeo set about to bring in the rest of thew crew and prepare them to go upstate together. Housing, food, transport, contracts, insurance and all that jazz.
They also visited the location, one last time, to work through the details of shooting schedules, transporting the picture truck as well as meeting with the local team that would support them while on set.
“Decks Save Lives...”
For anyone that knows Toni, she loves makings presentation decks…
CLICK HERE TO CHECK OUT
Meeting Mr. Oscar’s Creative & Production Deck.
It’s filled with inspiration, color palettes, costumes
& other fun insights into the evolution of bringing the film to life.
DIRECTOR, TONI SHORT’S MESSAGE TO CREW
before going on set
October 2021
Now they were ready to shoot…
Check out our gallery of Interviews and BTS Photos and Videos to see the on-set action and more on how Meeting Mr. Oscar came to life.