Flint Talent Takes The Spotlight In ‘Cocaine Stepdad’ Movie

Flint is well-represented in the Michigan independent film 'Cocaine Stepdad', which features some familiar local talent.

Cody LaRue, who hails from Dryden, and Flint native Dylan Grady not only star in the film but also wrote and directed it. LaRue plays Terry Miller, the stepdad, and Grady portrays Kyle Kulanski, the stepson.

Matt LaRocque, familiar to many music fans as a member of the Flint band Plethora, also appears in the film.

I caught up with Cody and Matt, and they were great about sharing some behind-the-scenes insight on 'Cocaine Stepdad'.

The conversation starts with Cody LaRue.

You and Dylan Grady not only act in 'Cocaine Stepdad' but you share co-writing and co-directing credits for the film. Did the two of you grow up together?

Dylan grew up in Flint and then moved to Swartz Creek (then back), and I grew up in Dryden (with about 50 other nice people) and then moved to Flint after high school to go to college.

We met about 12 years ago at the bar.

What else have you worked on together in the past?

For the past 10 years, Dylan, the Flint Rat Films crew, and I have been creating skits and short films.

We shot a short horror movie about a Killer Ice Cream Man (Bloody Sundae) and a comedy about a guy stoned out of his mind on edibles trying to walk home. High-class

How did the idea for Cocaine Stepdad come about?

It originally came from a lyric change we made in 'Baba O'Riley'; we started singing Cocaine Stepdad instead of Teenage Wasteland.

We then wanted to figure out what that character would be. We went to Goodwill and got some denim shorts, a Hawaiian shirt, and one of those broken foot boot braces, and we filmed a skit with the character.

We filmed most of the movie over three months, but ended up shooting way more footage than expected. Since it was our first feature-length film, we underestimated how much time post-production would take, it easily took us a year to sort through and edit everything.

You seem to be able to do it all, write, direct, and act - which of these roles you enjoy most?

I honestly like doing it all, but if we had the money, we would probably hire some actors so I don't need to be in EVERY scene.

We shot everything mockumentary style out in public places and sometimes around large groups of people.

One day, we were filming in downtown Flint, and Scott, one of the actors, was dressed up like an actual lunatic (in a hospital gown with a baby doll taped to a hockey stick).

While filming the scene, we noticed about ten concerned onlookers across the street. Since we were shooting through the car window, they had no clue we were making a movie. They had no idea what the hell was going on

It's got to be the wedding scene at the end. It's got a little of everything: action, romance, and a lot of mayonnaise.

Where was your favorite location to shoot?

The Masonic Temple in Flint. We needed a place to stand in for Prison Hallways, and the basement worked perfectly! It is a really cool building.

Is there anything else you would like to add?

Just that it's awesome to talk to you! I have listened to you on the radio for years. I love the Banana!

Now, let’s dive into my chat with Matt LaRocque.

How did you get involved with 'Cocaine Stepdad'?

Cody posted on Facebook about needing extras for their first full-length film, so I hit him up. We've previously worked together on some of each other's smaller short films and YouTube videos, which have always been a lot of fun.

It's been a while since I've been able to work on my film projects outside of the Plethora's music videos, so it was nice to get back to acting in another comedic project.

What character do you play, and how much screen time do you have?

My character is a prisoner from the opening sequence of Prison Break. He is one of the instigators of the brawl with the guards and steals the access card, allowing everyone to escape.

It's a non-speaking role with less than 5 minutes of screen time, but it was fun shooting various fight sequences in multiple locations.

What local spots in Flint did you film at?

Many sequences are shot in downtown Flint, various neighborhoods, and liquor stores in the area.

The prison break scene was shot in the basement of the Flint Masonic Temple as well as in a school.

What was it like working with Cody LaRue and Dylan Gradynd?

They are always a blast to work with. Both are very funny guys and great writers for comedic styles. Both are easy to work with on set locations and open to ideas that might benefit a scene. I'm looking forward to doing more projects with them.

Any moments from the set that stand out?

The wedding ceremony at the end of the film ends in a big shootout outside of a pretty fancy house, which I presume is a vacation home.

Many interior scenes were also filmed there. We captured some fun moments at a carnival, including shots on a Ferris wheel, offering a unique and cost-effective location.

I think what stands out most with this movie is how well a film could be made on a low budget, and working with what you have.

If you like movies with practical effects, comedies like the Trailer Park Boys, or mockumentary style filmmaking, I highly recommend 'Cocaine Stepdad'.

Thanks so much for your time, Cody and Matt!

You can stream 'Cocaine Stepdad' now on Amazon Prime and Tubi. DVDs and Blu-rays for sale on Flintrat.com

Check out the movie trailer below.