Sideways, The Hangover. Eat, Pray, Love. Noted producer Neil Mandt's global romp Last Stop For Paul exceeds them all. Mandt's TV and film credits, many with his brother Michael, include Million Dollar Arm, The Car Show, The Shed, Disney Parks Frozen Christmas Celebration, and Showtime's Next Stop For Charlie, which is based on Last Stop For Paul.

The travelogue's voice over, clever musical touches and orginality set it apart. Not only is Last Stop not formulaic, the energy is completely unique. Think of the irreverence of Office Space, or perhaps a grittier Anthony Bourdain on a shoestring budget. It's at once an inspiration to filmmakers and globetrotters. I met Mandt at the second annual Vero Beach Wine & Film Festival, and later spoke with him for JustLuxe.

How do you feel travel by Americans has changed since people can keyword search destinations, or watch cable TV shows about them?

​I think people live in fear of the unknown. The expansion of global travel content has shrunk the world in many ways. However, most notably it allows for the non-traveler to have knowledge of foreign lands; what the food is like, how people behave and even how to navigate the local subway can be easily answered in one YouTube search.  This goes a long way in allowing people to feel more confident in taking an international adventure.​ 

How much material did you edit down from?​

Since most of the scenes in the movie were essentially "stolen," as I was shooting illegally everywhere, we had to shoot fast.  Very few takes were allowed per scene.  I would estimate that my shooting ratio was three to one.​ 

Talk to me about presenting waivers or permits to people abroad to appear on "camera"

I wrote letters to the hotels used in the movie and told them that I had received permission from the Frommers brand to use their name and books in the movie as the ruse.  The hotels not only gave us free rooms, but agreed to give us their personnel to play as actors in the picture.  All other speaking characters were primarily people I picked up along the way and had them sign a release form.  No one was paid to be in the movie. No permits were secured for any location outside of a hotel.​ 

Where was language the largest barrier to communication, of the locales in the film?

I never had a language problem. I've been to 112 countries, language is not an issue.​

What are the production takeaways from Last Stop For Paul, for small or indie filmmakers?Y

You can do anything if you have the guts and the finesse. You need both. ​

Did major studios copycat you in any sense?

There are many samples of people using low rent, guerrilla techniques these days, but few like mine.  I would point to the movie Tangerine, which was shot on an iPhone and premiered in Sundance a couple of years ago. Also check out the sequence "Victor Takes a Trip" from the movie Laws of Attraction. ​  

Thanks for speaking with me for JustLuxe.