Travel Documentary as Feature Film
Last Stop for Paul is Worldwide Journey

We all know someone who has been everywhere and done everything. This person, be it a friend or a relative, is a treasure trove of great stories that range from the sublime to the bizarre and each one begins with a promise: "I swear, this is true." How does one begin to tell a story that encompasses all these experiences? Director Neil Mandt manages just that in an around-the-world expedition called Last Stop for Paul, a funny, touching, and breath-taking movie that is a cross between a travelogue and a feature film.

Last Stop for Paul
Director Neil Mandt and Lilla Zuckerman in Egypt in the film Last Stop for Paul. (Mandt Bros Productions, 2006)
Directed by: Neil Mandt
Written by: Neil Mandt
Starring: Neil Mandt, Marc Carter, Heather Petrone, Lilla Zuckerman, Ron Carlson, Greg Poppen, and Eric Wing

Rated Not Rated
Running time: 80 min.

FilmGuru's Rating : 9 out of 10.

Filmed on location in twenty countries, Last Stop for Paul tells of two co-workers Charlie (Mandt) and Cliff (Marc Carter) who travel around the world in a quest to drop a friend's ashes across the globe. Along the way, they meet people, get into a little trouble, and find romance before finally ending up at the Full Moon Party in Thailand.

The encounters range from comedic to romantic, but many of the episodes have a "travel hell" quality about them. Cliff gets robbed, Charlie gets sick, they drive down a mountain in a van with no brakes, and they even get thrown in a Vietnamese jail. Although the incidents turn out alright for the characters, Murphy's Law seems to be the running motif.

The adventures experienced by Charlie and Cliff are based on true events that happened to Mandt. The film itself is unscripted. Using locals and feeding characters their lines, Mandt recreates his encounters with other cultures in foreign lands. The film utilizes shots from twenty different countries, including Russia, Chile, Egypt, Jamaica, Germany, Japan, Vietnam, Thailand, and Easter Island.

In an interview, Mandt said, "The entire movie was shot on the fly... No dialogue had been written down before hand and no location had been scouted. Additionally, most of the actors are people I had never met before I said 'action' on their scene."

This is an amazing film, and not only because it is based on true stories. Shot using a Panasonic DVX 100A, the film looks beautiful. Mandt captures the jaw-dropping awe of other lands and never overlooks the chance to use a postcard-perfect backdrop for a scene in the film. Because there was no crew other than the actors in each scene, they took turns holding the camera or asked a stranger on the street to hold it.

With outstanding cinematography, Last Stop for Paul takes the audience on a world-wide trip, enjoying beautiful settings, meeting real people, and experiencing the wonder of different cultures. This film is a must see for anyone who enjoys the excitement of visiting other countries, yet it is also a humorous and engaging story.

Although no theatrical distribution deal has yet been reached, Last Stop for Paul is being considered as a 13-part Internet series. It is also currently available on DVD. For more information, visit: www.laststopforpaul.com