Project Trailer
LOVE and TAXE$
Feature 1 hr 43 minutes
Synopsis:
Logline
Filmed in one take, Love and Taxe$ offers a unique twist on the romantic comedy genre. Taking place in the early 1970s, as societal norms shift and the sexual revolution gains momentum, the blurred lines between professional and personal ethics collide as Donald, an ambitious CPA, and Belinda, a free-spirited waitress, fend off sexual attraction annually during tax season citing marriages, affairs, business ventures, and personal desires. Marked by trust and betrayal, societal expectations and personal desires, this story is colored by a bittersweet narrative laced with irony and wit.
“Love and Taxe$ is totally unique. It's so difficult to find a new way to make a romantic comedy, but Ken Feinberg has done it." - Rob Reiner.
Synopsis: A unique 70s romance crafted by Lloyd J. Schwartz, renowned "Brady Bunch" writer and producer.
In the early 1970s, as societal norms shift and the sexual revolution gains momentum, the world of personal finance intersects with the complexities of human relationships and the blurred lines between professional and personal ethics. Donald, an ambitious accountant, and Belinda, a free-spirited waitress with a transactional view of relationships, find their lives intertwined with desires and insecurities.
Donald, using another accountant's office after hours, engages in a sexual encounter with Belinda during what was supposed to be a routine tax appointment. This illicit meeting leads Donald to juggle his relationship with Joyce, his fiancée/future wife and his ongoing attraction to Belinda, while Belinda navigates her own path through a series of strategic romantic entanglements.
As the years pass, Donald skillfully manages his marriage (and divorce) while always prioritizing his son Ernest above everything else. Donald’s life becomes closely linked with Belinda's through their yearly tax consultations. He starts as an awkward genius with numbers with little social skills and gradually transforms into a more confident, self-assured person.
Belinda’s life unfolds as a whirlwind of impulsive decisions, romantic entanglements, and entrepreneurial ventures. She marries Vance, inherits the restaurant, and later she becomes business partners with Tony, Vance’s son, who she ties the knot with. Belinda is a blend of sass and sincerity, her words weaving a tapestry of humor and honesty, who gradually faces her vulnerabilities.
Consoling each other through their turbulent marriages and difficult divorces, they ultimately reconcile their personal desires and find a genuine connection. A final confrontation brings their secrets and betrayals to light, forcing them to face the consequences of their choices and the cyclical nature of their behavior. When annual tax appointments become a battleground for truth and desire, they risk everything they've built, forcing them to confront the consequences of deceit and self-discovery.
Director - Ken Feinberg, Craig D. Tollis
This is the first time in the director's chair for English born/ Australian raised editor Craig D. Tollis. The challenge was to edit the film DURING production instead of in post production. Craig has won Emmys and Tellys for his editing work on THE GOOD DOCTOR, SUNDANCE TV, DISNEY, BET, Tyler Perry and others.
This is Ken Feinberg's second feature film. Ken has spent the last decade and half training young actors, (Storm Reid and others). Prior to mentoring, Feinberg was an actor on such series as STAR TREK ENTERPRISE, CHARMED, BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER and others, including a rich history on stage, which includes the Atlanta premieres of major award winning Broadway shows DEATH AND THE MAIDEN and TALK RADIO.
Director Statement
Ken's joke was that he was in charge of the Love and Craig was in charge of the Taxes, which actually wasn't a bad analogy. Ken worked with the actors for weeks on zoom, even when one was in France. Craig worked with the camera and lighting teams.
One of the classic cinematic challenges is to be able to, essentially, shoot as long of a scene as possible - all in one take. It's a challenge for the actors to memorize all of the dialogue and be able to perform it. It's a challenge for camera, lighting, sound and the way that the whole set was created. The 1970s wardrobe was nostalgic and beautiful. There were a lot of creative challenges that were interesting and fun.