I think the number one question I ask any filmmaker is 'where do you get your ideas'. And the answers vary, depending on the filmmaker and what the movie is about, but, in my time, I have heard that it's best to make movies about what you know. Well, in a new movie by James Vogel, The City, we learn that making a movie about what you know can be murder!

The City is the tale of Scott, Scott is a hopeful screenwriter who's working on a gritty urban tale, the problem is that Scott's teacher feels that his story is derivative and doesn't feel 'authentic'. So, Scott decides to go out and get himself a little experience. Enter T.K., a hustler with a mean streak a mile wide. T.K. is the kind of guy you don't want to run into, no matter how well lit the alley! As T.K. shows Scott the darker side of life, the two form a strange friendship, a friendship forged in sex, drugs and murder! And, as the two friends grow apart...as friends sometimes do...who knows what might happen to the unstable T.K..

The City is a cool movie about the nature of friendship and what happens when one friend continues to grow, while another stays where he's at. Ezra Stead is perfectly cast as the nerdy writer, Scott and Greg Hernandez is amazing as the ruthless T.K., the story is original and great! The City is a little bit Henry: Portrait Of A Serial Killer and a little Audition and its all good. I'm giving The City 4 out of 4 cigars, its well worth your time to check out this cool little indie! You can find out where to get your own copy by clicking over to the film's MySpace page.