Paul Sparks and Kate Burton indie A Great Depression wraps in New Jersey
Melissa Miller Costanzo’s new film stars Sparks as a company heir trying to rebuild his life after depression, Deadline reports.
By Bianca Rossi · Entertainment Editor
2 min read
Paul Sparks is stepping into the center of a new indie drama about depression, recovery and a life coming apart at the seams.
Melissa Miller Costanzo’s A Great Depression has finished filming in New Jersey, with Sparks, Kate Burton, Xander Berkeley and Rhys Coiro leading the cast, according to Deadline.
The film follows Mark Turner, played by Sparks, who is the heir and chairman of his family’s billion-dollar business. Deadline reports that the character is trying to take back control of his life after dealing with depression, while his surroundings begin to splinter and the boundaries between imagination, ambition and self-destruction grow less clear.
Filmmakers described the movie to Deadline as a story built around resilience, identity and recovery.
Costanzo co-wrote the script with Jenny Halper. Her previous work includes Run, which starred Sarah Levy, Phillipa Soo and Adam Pally, and her first feature, All These Small Moments, which screened at Tribeca.
Speaking to Deadline, Costanzo said A Great Depression is based on one man’s real-life experience moving through and past depression. She said the film uses magical realism and a heightened style, and that she hopes it will help lessen stigma around mental illness and treatments including ECT, while avoiding the feel of a lecture.
Who is in the cast
Sparks, whose credits include The Night Of, stars alongside Burton of Scandal, Berkeley of 24 and Coiro of Entourage, Deadline reports.
The wider ensemble includes Annie Parisse, Michael Oberholtzer, Megan Ferguson, Emily Tremaine, Sophia Bunnell, Malachi Weir, Jack Ball, Michael Gaston and Alysia Reiner.
The production brings together several indie-film players behind the camera as well. Deadline reports that Curious Gremlin, known for The Testament Of Ann Lee, is producing in association with MAP Creative Ventures.
Producers on the film are Scott Aharoni, Sinan Eczacibasi and Alihan Yalcindag of Curious Gremlin, along with Matt Jensen, Alex Peace Power, Paul Steiner and Costanzo.
Eric Buttelman serves as co-producer. Executive producers are Mark Litzsinger, Britt Power and Ryan Asher, according to Deadline.
No release date, distributor or festival plans were announced in Deadline’s report.
This story draws on original reporting from Deadline.