Iratefilms was fortunate enough to meet with director Adam Del Deo, co-director and producer of the recently released, Every Little Step. This film explores the dramatic impact A Chorus Line has had on generations of artists and follows the auditions and lives of several aspiring cast members of the 2006 revival.
We met Adam at the Shore Club in South Beach to find out more about his process and how he enjoyed making this film.
Aceman: Why did you make this documentary?
ADD: We were granted exclusive access to the original interviews by Michael Bennett’s estate, the iconic nature of A Chorus Line was compelling material, to be able to examine the hopes and dreams of dancers struggling to make it to Broadway. We tried to mirror the original concept, following the lives of the dancers in a more direct fashion.
Aceman: Is it an Insider’s look at a Broadway show?
ADD: Every Little Step is both an insider’s and outsider’s look at a Broadway show, easily comparable to American Idol, except these dancers are ultimately auditioning for roles that will rarely make them famous or make them rich. There is an interesting element there, when you have people putting forth so much effort just for a chance to make it onto the show – onto Broadway.
Aceman: How much time were you filming?
ADD: We shot for about a year, and we had over 500 hours of footage to pour through.
Aceman: How do you like working with a co-director?
ADD: It’s wonderful working with my partner. Jim and I don’t divide up the work beforehand, we play it by ear – we debate on what the show is and how we want it to ultimately come out.
Aceman: What was the biggest surprise during the filming?
ADD: It was definitely when Jason Tam came in for the “Paul” audition. They had been searching for such a long time, there were a total of 3,000 auditions for all the roles and we filmed every one. But when Jason came in, it was immediate. We had full access from the actor’s entry to the audition to the creative management team and we filmed all the feedback from the auditions that the dancers were not privy to hear.
Aceman: What’s next?
ADD: We have been thinking about exploring a series developed around the entrepreneur spirit, the businesses that start in garages and turn into something amazing. But, we really haven’t set anything in stone yet, just thinking aloud.
Rick Swift: How does making a documentary like “So Goes the Nation” compare to making a documentary on a Broadway show?
ADD: The shooting is about the same, but the texture is different, obviously the types of people you run into in a political campaign vary with dancers vying for a Broadway role.
Aceman: Do you like Directing more or Producing?
ADD: I like both actually, there are more commercial things to worry about as a producer, but you have to find a balance for each without compromising the soul of the film.
We thanked Adam for his time and wished him luck in all his future endeavors. If you are passionate about theatre and a Broadway aficionado, you must check out Every Little Step.
