I have always had a strong fondness for films and stories where absurdity and reality cross paths.   Furthermore, I have an even deeper reverence for those instances where plot situations are extremely bizarre, but still (from the perspective of an audience) in the realm of the reasonable… Or at the very least, possible.  Consequently, proverbial equations like these can potentially yield an exciting opportunity for comedy to be born.   

In CIRCUS MAXIMUS, the protagonist/acclaimed filmmaker Cal Neros, finds himself forced to complete a feature-length screenplay within a weekend or to suffer harsh consequences.  Completing this daunting task in a timely fashion is no easy feat as he faces multiple obstacles and distractions.  Adding another layer of texture, CIRCUS MAXIMUS quickly becomes a film within a film as Cal’s characters come to life in their 3 respective stories.  To make matters worse, Cal is instructed to write these narratives with a quirky, crude flavor…  Something that Cal’s “upbeat, male-bonding” style is unaccustomed to creating.

As the film continues, Cal’s inner darkness is slowly revealed via a constant progression of ridiculous occurrences.  As art mirrors life, Cal does not spare his characters either, making them suffer through a plethora of outlandish events that they also must deal with.  As time passes and Cal retreats deeper into the the dark, creative abyss; his characters do likewise. 

 The relationship between them is symmetrical.   And their mutual journey persists until there is nowhere left turn.

From the script to the screen, the intention was always for the film to develop and maintain a deliberate raw tone that would transcend the vulgarity via comedy.  And in turn, for the comedy to perpetuate itself via outrageous situations that are still potentially believable.

In essence, CIRCUS MAXIMUS is the story of the common man… About anyone who has ever been pressed up against a hellish deadline  with dire consequences…  And the temporary solutions people create to hurdle those obstacles.  Or the permanent solutions they implement so they never happen again.