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Haitian-American Patrick Ulysse in First directing Film - 'One More Try'

Thursday, January 18th, 2007

In the short time "One More Try" a ready-for-romance Adrienne finally meets her Mr. Right, but, to her dismay, her love interest, J.C., is engaged to another woman.

"There's an unexpected plot twist," says the filmmaker Patrick Ulysse.

Up and coming filmmaker Ulysse, who lives in Bedford-Stuyvesant, defies traditional Haitian conservatism in his 15-minute short film, which will show during the African Diaspora Film Festival.

"One More Try" was shot with 10 actors in Queens Village, Crown Heights and other locations in the outer boroughs.

The short is actually a condensed version of a full-length feature movie script Ulysse said he hopes to produce in the future.

The film will be showcased in February as part of the film festival's "Best of the Fest" program at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

But it will first be shown at the Jersey City Museum at 2:40 p.m. on Jan. 21.

"It's a love story that any culture can relate to because in life, stuff happens," said Ulysse, 35, a Haitian-American.

Actor Macc Plaise plays the lead character, J.C., a physical education instructor who volunteers at a community center where he meets Adrienne, a dance instructor played by Chantel Tuffet.

J.C. finds himself seduced by Adrienne's wit and beauty, leaving him to contemplate not proceeding with marrying into what he knows will be an unhappy relationship.

"I wanted to create an opportunity for myself - the Haitian film industry is growing," Ulysse said of his film. "Haitians I think are known as the poorest in the Western hemisphere, yet people fail to realize the richness of their culture."

Ulysse, who has appeared on such TV shows as "Law and Order" and "Sex and the City," said Haitian parents often have great influence in their children's relationships.

But in "One More Try," viewers will be exposed to a different side of Haitian life.

"A lot of times parents will pick someone. It's not an official or arranged marriage but it happens at times," Ulysse said.

Using digital video, Ulysse shot his 15-minute short over six months after recruiting family and friends to create the low-budget film.

"We used actors' homes and we were able to shoot it for hardly any money at all," said Ulysse. "When you're not paying people, you have to wait till you get everybody's schedule on the same page."

"It's been received rather well. People are always amazed," Ulysse said of his work, which has shown at several international film festivals since he finished editing last spring. "Even in my culture they are surprised by the ending because of the conservative Haitian culture. They say, 'Wow, you went there?'"

Ulysse shopped his production on the film festival circuit with help from fellow filmmaker Jaydee (who goes by a single name), a freelance production manager whose first cinematic feature, "Closure" played festivals in 2004.

"We're honored to be considered because not all the films were picked for the Best of the African Diaspora Film Festival," Jaydee said.