THE BURIAL SOCIETY NOTES: THE CHARACTERS

Well-developed in their scope, the characters of THE BURIAL SOCIETY required very specific players and an impressive cast of characters including Seymour Cassel and Jan Rubes was assembled.  Jan Rubes who is probably best known for his portrayal of an Amish patriarch co-starring with Harrison Ford in Witness is head of the triumviri of men that make up THE BURIAL SOCIETY. In his 49th picture this well-respected actor and opera singer notes, “when I first read the script, I couldn’t put it down.”  Having just finished a play in New York City, Rubes admits that he was hesitant about working with a writer/director -  “my experience in New York working with a writer/director was not the greatest, neither of them liked each other or agreed on anything and they were the same person!”    It was only a matter of moments before Rubes was at ease on Racz’ set.   The astoundingly natural Rob LaBelle plays the complex lead character of Sheldon Kasner, a man who steps over the line and in so doing enters a whole other world of morality.  LaBelle is able to relate to his character and “has a strong empathy for character” which he believes has helped him prepare for the difficult role.  ”There’s so much great material to work with…” LaBelle explains “the script is so dynamic; right away I new it was one of the best scripts I had ever read.”   For director Nicholas Racz the filmmaking process is a collaborative enterprise and the actors were encouraged to give input into their characters.  Allan Rich, who plays Hy believes that “97% of movies are in the casting and Nick has crafted a very credible, interesting, character-driven screenplay about human morality and ethics – add to this a comedic quality” Rich continues, “ and you’ve got a very palatable film.”  Allan Rich, who has worked with the likes of Francis Ford Coppola, Steven Speilberg, and Barry Levinson among others, has nothing but praise for the screenplay and Racz’s directing style.  According to Rich “this young man stacks up well with those guys” and sees his character of Hy Leibowicz as an example of the complex human condition.  Allan believes that he has Hy within the framework of his own personality.  Blacklisted in 1953 during the height of McCarthyism when those with socialist leanings were mistakenly condemned as card-carrying communists, Rich has seen an evolution in North American cinema.  THE BURIAL SOCIETY provided Rich with the opportunity to “try and create a Hy Leibowicz that could be me.”   Bill Meilen, who plays Harry Epstein, thinks that the BURIAL SOCIETY is a “good drama.”  Former drama department head at the University of Alberta, Meilen takes his craft very seriously -  “we’re not here to look pretty, we’re here to convey and interpret what the writer put on paper.”  Meilen was enlightened by the subject matter, explaining that “ritual knots used in wrapping and preparing bodies for burial reminds me very much of the ancient Egyptian preparations; as a sailor fascinated with knots, I am thrilled to have learned another one!”  Meilen, an accomplished writer, producer and actor informed himself about the unique community of which he was to become a part. Penning “Songs for the Eyes of Tovah” (a novel about an Auschwitz survivor) historical comprehension about the Jewish community was tantamount to Meilen’s character preparation and development.