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American Morning

After Bitter Breakup and Custody Battle, Dworman Turns Pain into Musical Comedy

Aired May 02, 2002 - 09:46   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
PAULA ZAHN, CNN ANCHOR: Divorce isn't pretty, but apparently, it is funny, at least to some people. Just ask filmmaker Steven Dworman. After a bitter breakup and a custody battle that led to the total estrangement from his teenage daughter, Dworman turned his pain and suffering into a musical comedy. "Divorce, The Musical" isn't really autobiographical, but it is close enough. And that is leading some people to ask, with this, is he trying to rekindle his relationship with his daughter.

Well, the independent film is Dworman's unique take on how divorce affects the children caught in the middle.

Here's the clip.

(MUSIC)

ZAHN: And the man behind "Divorce, The Musical," his first film, by the way, writer, director, actor and producer, Steven Dworman, who joins us now from Los Angeles.

Good morning.

STEVEN DWORMAN, "DIVORCE, THE MUSICAL": Good morning.

ZAHN: And we will solicit some phone calls now Steven about whether you think a musical about divorce is about appropriate entertainment. That toll free number is 866-853-1100.

So, Steven, we've already gotten some e-mails in, and here's some of the mixed reaction to what you try to pull off here from Lisa. She writes, "Have some respect from yourself and learn to walk away. We're not in high school anymore, where we trash someone's car or locker. Forgot about the ex. Move on."

Have you moved on?

DWORMAN: Oh, I've absolutely moved on. And one thing I should probably clarify, Paula, Is that, you know, everybody suffers from a divorce, and this film is in a way a love letter to my daughter, and I think the whole point of the film is that despite how difficult going through something like this is, it's important to keep an open heart.

ZAHN: Has your daughter seen the film yet? DWORMAN: Not that I know of.

ZAHN: You want her to, though, right?

DWORMAN: I would love for her to see it some time.

ZAHN: We will play a small part of the film now that really does pertain to your daughter. Let's both listen in right now.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DWORMAN: In my late 20s, I met Tonya, and I was just so happy to find someone who liked me, I overlooked some obvious faults.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Get out. Don't ever come back.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ZAHN: Ouch! Why the lizard face on the ex-wife?

DWORMAN: Well, I think any spouse that's going through this, after going through a couple of years of battles, has a tendency to see their spouse in a colored way, wouldn't you say?

ZAHN: I don't know. I never been divorced, and I hope I'm not, so I don't have to view my husband as a lizard-faced kind of guy. Do you think your daughter is going to feel like she's been exploited in any way by this film?

DWORMAN: I don't think so. I started working on the film when we were seeing each other all of the time, and she actually read part of the film and we discussed it quite a bit, so the only semblance of reality in this is the fact that I did go through a lot of problems with visitation and custody, and we used it as a springboard for talking about the issue in a really funny, entertaining way that I think will give families an opportunity to discuss it in a way they haven't been able to before.

ZAHN: We have Gene on the phone from New Hampshire, who has some feedback for you.

Good morning, Jean (ph).

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Good morning, Paula. I think it's very appropriate. I think divorce is totally tragic, and it has its funny moments, and I think he's right on target.

ZAHN: There you go, someone who will pay $8 or $10 to see your film down the road.

And Stefan sent us an e-mail, but he writes "Anybody who has a problem with a comedy about divorce should get a sense of humor. Remember, laughter is the best treatment for an unhappy situation."

Who are you trying to market this film to? DWORMAN: Actually, basically everybody. I mean, there's a couple of words in there that are probably inappropriate for young children, but for the most part anybody 13 and up, and we've had kids that have come back over and over again, as well as adults that have been going through it, and it touches people at the end. People actually cry at the end amongst their laughter.

ZAHN: And why did you decide to do this as a musical?

DWORMAN: Why not, Paula?

ZAHN: I don't know. I don't have a good answer to that. There are tons of different way to approach a film. Did you think that musically that you could...

DWORMAN: I actually -- I got an inspiration. I was actually with my daughter at a children's production of "Carousel." And all of a sudden I got blinded by this incredible light that said, "Think about a production about divorce put on by 20 kids who sing and dance, written by burnt out '70s songwriter who haven't been able to wrote a note since wife walked out on him 25 years ago, and that was the thread that all it came from.

ZAHN: We got a phone call for you. Is it, Peter? Good morning, Peter, from New York?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes, how are you today?

ZAHN: Fine, thanks.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I just wanted to say what a great idea for a film. I've been through a horrible divorce and a custody battle. I've got reams of material. I would have done it myself had I thought of it. What a wonderful great idea.

DWORMAN: Thank you.

ZAHN: And guess what? Guess who is standing by on the phone. Peter's ex-wife, is this right?

DWORMAN: That's actually not her on the phone. One more phone call now. Who is this from?

We're trying to patch through one more phone call for you, Steven. Hang on just one second.

DWORMAN: As soon as you said ex-wife, my throat just dried up.

ZAHN: And you were thinking lizard and all that other stuff.

DWORMAN: You got it.

ZAHN: How does she feel about your doing this film. I know you say it's not completely autobiographical, but it hits pretty darn close to home, doesn't it? DWORMAN: I think anybody that's gone through it, it hits close to him. And I don't know, I haven't actually spoken with her about it.

ZAHN: Have you heard from anybody who is close to her about how she feels about -- this is her portrayal?

DWORMAN: No, when we send letters it has to go through a series of 25 people before it reaches me, and it's -- I think there's something on the way from two years ago.

ZAHN: Wow! Keep on waiting, Steven. The name of the film is "Divorce, The Musical." When do people get to see it. I know you're still trying to get some funding together here.

DWORMAN: Well, I mean, the film is all done, and we ran it for a two-week engagement in Los Angeles, and now we're hoping to get picked up by somebody who can roll it out across the country.

ZAHN: Well, based on the amount of phone calls we got that, that, unfortunately, we weren't able to take, people do think this is a subject ripe to take on in musical form.

Steve Dworman, thanks for joining us this morning. Good luck to you.

DWORMAN: Thanks you so much.

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