I am very happy to report that CAKE: A Love Story --  the short film based on the award-winning romantic memoir my husband and I wrote under the pen names of Harry & Elizabeth Lawrence and titled It Had To Be Us -- is now in postproduction. Final shooting in New York wrapped up during late December. According to filmmakers Misha Zubarev and Vera Zubarev as well as all four cast members, it was a fun experience. Co-stars Debra Lord Cooke and Richard Vernon agree that it was “the most beautiful way of celebrating the end of year” they’ve ever had.

“The actors performed so well -- like they actually lived through the entire life of Harry and Elizabeth -- and this was the most memorable film project I have ever worked on,” Misha wrote in an e-mail to me.  

Vera echoes Misha’s reaction in her e-mail message, as follows. “It was an absolutely unforgettable shooting, very special in so many ways. Both lead actors were charmers, both did their best and both became our friends. The crew was magnificent, truly professional. George Bettinger and Nancy Lombardo, who play Elizabeth’s friends, were exceptional! I had to stay inside while they were shooting the scene on the balcony, but when late at night we saw the footage we couldn’t stop laughing!”

We feel so thankful to Misha and Vera for their dedication to this project as well as to Vadim Chariton for his valuable contributions to the filming process. Vadim will be doing the music. (In addition to Misha’s co-writing/directing, he wrote an incredible song for the movie, and Vera said that everyone, literally, sang it during the shooting. Vadim plans to use it as a leitmotif for the film).

We are also very pleased with the four terrific actors who came on board. Debra Lord Cooke has appeared in several movies including The Congressman and Café Society. Richard Vernon is a musician as well as an actor. George Bettinger and Nancy Lombardo are both noted radio hosts/actors/comedians.     

The postproduction activities for CAKE: A Love Story include editing, color correction, sound mixing and Foley work. We are keeping our fingers crossed for completion sometime during Spring or Summer of 2017.

(For more information about It Had To Be Us, click here.)