Michael Madsen and Dean Alioto recently collaborated on detective comedy L.A. Dicks. Chris Neil talked to the duo about the movie, getting recognition, and the trials of independent filmmaking.

Running alongside the Toronto International Film Festival is a much smaller programme of films entitled Rebelfest, whose mandate is to showcase truly independent productions from around the world. Among the films screened was the American detective comedy L.A. Dicks starring Anthony Guidera and Dean Alioto, who also served as writer and director. The film follows two private detectives who pitch their cases to Hollywood filmmakers. Having spent a long, agonizing period in development limbo, Alioto took his script and shot the film independently for a fraction of what it would have cost through conventional channels. What ultimately got L.A. Dicks financed was the involvement of Michael Madsen, whose token cameo in the picture finalized the funding. Madsen was in Toronto to promote the film, and to accept the Inaugural Equinoxe Award for his outstanding contribution to independent film. I met with Madsen and Alioto for this interview.

Dean: My initial idea for L.A. Dicks came from my experiences creating crime re-enactments where I would do ride-alongs with cops. While doing this I would inevitably hear 'Hey, so you write movies? Let me lay an idea on you: How about a cop who goes after a killer, but it turns out he's the killer?' I would go, 'Yeah, it's called Angel Heart!' or 'How about a guy who's hiding something in a chest?' I'd say 'Yeah, it's called The Maltese Falcon!' I enjoyed hearing these pitches, but what fascinated me was their aspirations for making it in the movie business. From actors to writers to directors to masseurs in Beverly Hills, all of them want to be in the business.

Michael: I got a script from my doctor one time. I sit there getting a physical and I hear 'Listen, a good friend of mine wrote a script and I want to pass it on to you,' and I'm like 'I can't believe this is happening, my doctor is trying to pitch a script to me!' Selfishly I thought it must be all about me so I say 'I'm busy right now but thanks very much,' and he was like 'Well, if you're sister Virginia is available we would really like to talk to her'!

The full article is printed in Film Ireland 108.