Running For Grace, directed by David L. Cunningham, hit theaters and is also released on iTunes on August 17, 2018, via Blue Fox Entertainment. Savante stars as the mayor directly opposite lead actors Matt Dillon and Jim Caviezel.
The all-star cast includes Ryan Potter, Olivia Ritchie, and Emmy-winning actress Juliet Mills (Avanti), the latter of which he described as “fantastic.” “A month prior to shooting I had wrapped from another gig, and the casting director reached out to me, who was familiar with my work. I self-taped and I heard back a couple of hours later and I received the offer,” he said.
“Matt Dillion is so damn likable, it’s pathetic. He is a friendly and generous man. Jim Caviezel was great to work with, and he’s fantastic. I loved working with them,” he said about his cast-mates. ‘It has resonated very well with audiences in the limited release that it had.”
He continued, “The film is recommended for all generations. It is a very brave film and it tackles the themes of adoption and diversity. My father was an immigrant from Greece to South Africa, and we lost him a few weeks ago from cancer. I immigrated to the United States in the early ’90s, so the film is relatable. This movie touches on these topics very bravely.”
Savante praised the film’s cinematographer, Akis Konstantakopoulos, for being brilliant. “I’ve worked with Akis before and he’s a genius,” he said.
He revealed that he has several more projects coming up. No Postage Necessary was released in theaters and is now playing on Google Play and iTunes. Additionally, it will be released on Blu-ray and DVD in September of 2018. “That was the first film in history to be available through bitcoin and cryptocurrency,” he said. “It was fascinating. We were going to the premiere, and people wanted to purchase it because of cryptocurrency. Technologically, that wouldn’t have been possible a few years ago,” he said.
An actor of South African and Greek heritage, Savante listed Vera Farmiga and Viola Davis as the two female actresses that he would love to someday work with on a dream project.
Digital transformation of the entertainment business
On the impact of technology on the entertainment business, Savante said, “From an actor’s perspective, Netflix, Hulu and Amazon is good since there is more work for actors. I am grateful for them, since I am not a fan of the theme park movies that have become franchises. The great independent film struggles to get a nationwide release these days so those platforms have made those opportunities possible.”
Savante continued, “Technology has allowed creative and artistic integrity to be pushed to the next level. You are seeing great filmmakers crossover. I think technology has been positive.”
On his use of technology in his daily routine as an actor, Savante acknowledged that he “self-tapes” a lot. “From one perspective, it is very good since it’s more concise,” he said. “On the downside, casting directors are getting 6,000 to 10,000 submissions per role. They have their work cut out for them. Self-tapes have been very successful for me. I am grateful for them.”
