The adventures of Zeke and Mack may stick closely to a slapstick atmosphere, but eagle-eyed viewers may notice a true symbol of hope and determination in the comic chaos- the Christopher Reeve Paralysis Foundation's "Go Forward" tags. This choice in wardrobe is not a random development. "Issues" creator-director Scott Nap has a special connection to the CRPF that reads more like fiction than fact.
"Not to sound corny, but it began with a voice from above," Nap said. "I was working at First Energy Park as the Lakewood Blueclaws baseball team's head cameraman and had wrapped up my work in the game. Just before I hit the dugout steps, I heard PA announcer Kevin Clark announce that the keynote speaker for the Empower NJ conference would be NJ native Christopher Reeve."
The announcement caused the "Issues" director to nearly drop his camera. "One of my heroes...on my home turf...and I could film the event for free? I couldn't believe my luck and immediately called my buddy Tim Serabian back at college and told him to block the day off."
Serabian, a Superman fanatic, was thrilled. He would have good reason to be ecstatic, because the night would prove to be one of destiny for the young men. Not only would Nap get to film his idol and Serabian get to speak with him, but Tim would also go on to meet his future fiancee for the first time that night.
Initial worries over rain in the forecast led to speculation that Reeve might need to cancel on the event. "Fate had other plans I guess," Nap said with a shrug. Thunder did roll through the ballpark, but as a result of Reeve entering the home plate area of the field.
"That was the second time Christopher Reeve changed my life," Nap went on to explain. "As a freshman, I was feeling down and out and unsure about what to do with my life. Then I saw Reeve appear in an episode of (the young Superman show) "Smallville" and he delivered a line about how one must write their own destiny. Those words took on a literal meaning to me and that night I had an honest-to-God revelation. I wanted to help people, and in writing stories and screenplays, I could reach a bigger audience. That was the day I turned my full attention to film."
Serabian, likewise, remembered his conversation with the stem-cell research advocate and screen icon. "I asked him what the first thing he would do WHEN he walked again. He replied, at first, that it wasn't going to involve a lot of standing. He had this cheeky glint in his eye and it slowly dawned on everyone what he was talking about. The crowd was cracking up. But then he replied back that he wasn't sure what he'd do, but he was sure that when the moment came, he wouldn't be afraid of falling down...he was prepared to get back up again."
Nap remembered being moved to tears by Reeve's fierce defiance of boundaries and limits and his encouragement for all to find inner strength. "And he had a sense of humor. I mean, he could have gone the entire time and not mentioned the whole Superman angle, but sure enough, he reminded people, 'I'm not from Krypton, I'm from New Jersey...Krypton was great, but NJ is more interesting."
For a brief moment, the two locked eyes as Reeve entered the dugout and disappeared from view. "He smiled at me," Nap remembers. "I wish I had said something...but I was just in awe. He had such dignity about him...and then a few weeks later, he was gone."
Since that night to remember, Nap has tried to go forward with plans to help the legacy Christopher and his wife Dana left behind.
"When we began work on "Issues", I had an idea on how to work the CRPF into the story and I hope for their blessing on some level. And there is a major plot point that we are building towards, when "Issues" returns for the rest of season 1," the director said. "The tags are a symbol of hope and a reminder that even in the time when we feel like we can't push on...we have to look inside, find the will and go forward."
"My junior thesis in communication was about the media coverage of stem cell research, my first radio project was a five minute promo and interview with members of the CRPF. With "Issues", I hope to take it further. If all goes well, if fans donate to us, we'd like to donate to the Foundation," Nap said. "We're a small budget production and we rely on the proverbial kindness of strangers, but we hope to give back. Christopher Reeve made us believe a man could fly and then inspired us to believe a man could walk again. We'll get there someday, and the cast and crew of "Issues" are ready to believe.
-Director Scott Napolitano and the "Issues" cast and crew would like to thank the Christopher and Dana Reeve Paralysis Foundation for their assistance. For more information about the Foundation, if you are interested in purchasing your own 'Go Forward' tage and to learn how you can help, visit their official website at www.christopherreeve.org.
