ike Usiak, 24
years old, is on
his way to the
big screen. A
year ago he and
friend Jonathan
Bauer, teamed up
to form an
independent film
production
company called
LKProductions,
LCC. Mike is
currently
working on the
pre-production
of the company
and the
company’s first
feature film,
“Small Violins.”
A
Boston
University
graduate, Mike
got his start in
the production
business in June
2006. He teamed
up with talented
screenplay
writer and
director
Jonathan Bauer.
Together, they
formed
LKProductions,
LCC. The two
met through a
mutual friend at
a birthday
celebration in
February 2006.
After being
introduced, they
found that they
shared a love
for film in
common.
Discussions
regarding the
creation of the
independent film
production
company began
shortly after.
Soon
after, in June
2006,
LKProductions,
LCC was created
to support their
vision of
producing a film
that contains
high artistic
and production
quality, which
they want to
gain at very
efficient costs
with controlled
overhead. The
company seeks to
have the film
released across
North America
and then around
the world to all
viable markets
and platforms.
With this, Mike
and Jonathan
hope to earn a
profit for all
of their
investors and
partners.
They started the
company in order
to “give the
world a complex
coming-of-age
story that is
sorely needed by
the new
generation.”
They plan on
doing this by
taking an
organically
grown concept
and molding it
into distinct
entertainment
that people
worldwide can
value.
The
film “Small
Violins” was
awarded
honorable
mention in
2005’s Writer’s
Network
Contest. It’s a
dramatic,
truthful-feeling
film about
families, death,
and oppression,
reminiscent of
the
“tragicomedies
of adolescence”
that John Hughes
made so famous
in the 1980s.
It’s full of the
kind of dialogue
that rings with
the authenticity
of boredom,
anticipation,
angst, and the
action of the
film is “willing
into being”
teens living
with their
“lives on hold.”
The film tells a
story of Shawn
Henderson, a
popular high
school senior
who doesn’t want
to waste his
life. He
prefers to live
without
responsibilities
and ignores the
painful and
uncomfortable
aspects of
life. Shawn
lives in a
beautiful
mansion in the
middle of the
Jersey suburbs,
but he doesn’t
enjoy being
there. He looks
for any excuse
to go out and
never turns down
a drink. His
mother ran off
with his uncle,
his younger
brother is
dying, his
father Jack is
depressed, and
he himself is
close to the
breaking point.
When his brother
commits suicide,
Shawn decides to
make a change in
his life, but
balancing his
father and the
phoniness of
suburbia keeps
him from finding
happiness.
Besides being
behind the scene
producing the
film, Mike also
has a role in
“Small
Violins.” He
plays the part
of Shawn’s best
friend, Steve
Chomiak. This
character is a
goofy and
careless jock
with an overly
involved
mother. Ms.
Chomiak doesn’t
leave his side,
and holds
drinking parties
for all of their
friends as a way
of staying in
touch with her
son. Mike’s
character is 18
years old, the
boy-next-door,
and one-hundred
percent Polish
and proud of it.
The
name
LKProductions
has more of a
personal meaning
than a business
orientation.
The initials ‘L’
and ‘K’
represent the
words Loh and
Key
respectively.
“The name was
based on a
strong bond of a
group of friends
that will now
transpire into
financial
success. As one
of our slogans
states, we hope
to unlock the
imagination of
our audiences,”
Mike said.
From the
entertainment
business
perspective,
Mike sees
LKProductions,
LLC approaching
the world of
independent film
production from
the same concept
as Lions Gate
Films: quality
films at lower
budgets. From
an acting
perspective, he
personally sees
actors such as
Johnny Depp and
Christian Bale
as inspirations
for a couple of
reasons. First,
their
versatility as
actors is well
documented by
the wide range
of characters
they have helped
bring to life.
Second, their
devotion to each
individual role,
outside of the
script and
“getting into
the character”
is at a level
represented by
few in the
industry.
Like many
aspiring actors,
writers, and
producers, Mike
has set many
goals for
himself. He
hopes that
LKProduction,
LCC develops
from its
original state
to a future
powerhouse in
the production
and distribution
of independent
films.
“Personally, as
an actor, I want
to master the
ability of
acting to the
extent that
audiences will
always be able
to put their own
lives aside for
the duration of
that movie and
truly experience
the world of the
portrayed
character,” Mike
said.
Mike also wants
to establish the
versatility,
range, and
devotion to
acting as
exemplified by
the above-named
actors. As for
the film itself,
Mike and
Jonathan are
looking for
actors and
actresses who
will bring the
characters of
“Small Violins”
to life.
They have
received a $4.5
million budget
and are
attaching
“big-time acting
talent.”
Unfortunately,
the names cannot
be revealed just
yet. As for the
crew, there are
Emmy award
winners, film
festival
participants and
winners, and
multiple years
of experience
making the team
stronger than
they could have
hoped for.
Principal
photography is
estimated to
begin and there
has been talk
about Sundance
soon after.
Mike, Jonathan,
and the rest of
the team have
already begun
discussing
future projects,
both original
ideas and
adaptations.
Mike informs
readers to check
out imdb.com to
find out more
information on
the movie. So
keep your eyes
and ears opened
for this up and
coming star and
the production
company he has
co-founded.
~
