BPS 167: From Self-Produced Play to Hit Feature Film with John Pollono

This week I brought on the show, playwright, screenwriter,
director, and actor, John Pollono.  I wanted to go down the
road a little bit about his remarkable journey in the business
which expands across theatre and short films. 

John is one of the founders of the Jabberwocky Theatre Company in
2004 which became the Rogue Machine Theatre in 2008 where he
produced his earlier plays. His big break came with his
screenplay for the acclaimed biographical drama film, Stronger
which premiered at the 2017 Toronto International Film
Festival.

The screenplay, based on Bauman's memoir Stronger, was number two
on the Black List (most-liked "motion picture screenplays not yet
produced) in 2016.

Stronger, starring multiple award-winning actors, Jake Gyllenhaal,
is the inspiring real-life story of Jeff Bauman --- an ordinary man
who captured the hearts of his city and the world to become a
symbol of hope after surviving but losing his legs in the 2013
Boston Marathon bombing and must adjust to his new life.

This project came along for John right after signing with Los
Angelos - based Creative Artists Agency. Producers, Alex Young
and Todd Lieberman were already familiar with Pollono’s work. And
they were on the hunt for something. That was when adapting
Stronger became a prospect. At the time, the book was not yet
published so he had a chance to review the unpublished
book. 

Producer Scott Silver was looking to mentor a more junior writer
for the Stronger film and fortuitously, John was a good fit having
grown up 20 minutes from where the characters take place, he was
the best candidate for the job. So, with a follow-up pitch, the
book’s film adaptation screenplay was sold to Lionsgate.

Writing Stronger (the film) was a double success for Pollono. Not
only was he mentored directly by the incredible Scott Silver and
receiving writing directions about theme, structure, etc, but the
project brought him some notoriety as well by topping number two on
the blacklist a year before production. That script made a big
enough splash for his career.

Besides Stronger, Pollono is known for writing Small Engine Repair
(the play and its film adaptation), Lost Girls (2013 and 2015)
Off-Broadway release, Second Of Rules (the play), Lost and Found
(2006), Razorback (play, staged in 2008) and his one-act Illuminati
play which won Best Play at the 2010 Network One-Act Festival in
New York City.  

In his career in front of the camera, Pollono made appearances on
shows like Grey’s Anatomy, recurring roles on Mob City and NBC's
This Is Us TV series, and have worked professionally in
entertainment Public Relations

Pollono’s love for stories and movies dates back to being a kid who
was also a voracious reader -- reading every Stephen King book
there is. He picked up short story writing at a pretty young age.
Obviously, he had a sort of knack for storytelling and started
pursuing that path and passion to become a filmmaker and has
been fortunate to shadow so many directors who I really admire in
the business.

He earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1994 from the University of New
Hampshire and did two semesters of film school at NYU on an
exchange. His experience in New York City, being surrounded by such
a diverse group of artists was the biggest epiphany of his life
that helped him decide his filmmaking career.

He's guest-starred in the television series, How I Met Your Mother
and has had smaller acting credits on film and stage.

In 2021 he wrote and directed the black comedy-drama, Small Engine
Repair which will premiere this September. The film is based on
Pollono's play of the same name. I can not recommend this film
enough. It is easily one of the best films I've seen in
2021. 

Events spin wildly out of control when three lifelong friends agree
to do a favor on behalf of the brash young woman they all adore. It
follows lifelong friends Frank (John Pollono), Swaino (Jon
Bernthal), and Packie (Shea Whigham) who share a love of the Red
Sox, rowdy bars, and Frank’s teenaged daughter Crystal (Bravo). But
when Frank invites his pals to a whiskey-fueled evening and asks
them to do a favor on behalf of the brash young woman they all
adore, events spin wildly out of control in this exploration of
brotherhood, class struggle, and toxic masculinity.

This interview was a pretty cool conversation and I did not hold
back getting John to share all the gems of the business he’s
learned and fun questions like what it’s like working with Frank
Darabont and working on the new Hulk Hogan movie currently in
production.

Enjoy my conversation with John Pollono.

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