Ruby in Paradise
(1993)
115 mins | Drama | 15 October 1993
Cast:
Ashley Judd, Todd Field, Bentley Mitchum [ More ]Director:
Victor NunezWriter:
Victor NunezCinematographer:
Alex VlacosEditor:
Victor NunezProduction Designer:
John IacovelliProduction Companies:
Full Crew, Say Yea ProductionsAccording to production notes in AMPAS library files, filmmaker and Florida native Victor Nunez struggled to sell his screenplay for Ruby in Paradise to potential financiers after receiving feedback that his story was “too familiar,” “too European,” or not “hip enough” for contemporary audiences. Around this time, however, Nunez received a small trust fund following the death of his relative, Susie B. Hodnett, and used the inheritance as collateral for a loan that helped propel production.
In the Nov 1993 issue of Pulse! magazine, Nunez stated that he considered three actresses for the role of “Ruby Lee Gissing” before agreeing to meet with Sisters (NBC, 11 May 1991—4 May 1996) star Ashley Judd, who was out of town at the time of initial auditions.
A 6 Mar 1992 Screen International brief announced that principal photography was expected to begin the following week on location in Florida. Actress Susan Lucci was named among the cast, but she is not credited onscreen. Production was reportedly completed for less than $1 million, which the 19 Oct 1993 Village Voice claimed had been achieved through the use of Super-16mm film and the minimization of lighting, which allowed the actors the freedom to improvise blocking.
The film was well received at festivals in Cannes, New York City, and Toronto, Canada. On 26 Feb 1993, DV announced that Ruby in Paradise had tied with Public Access (1993) for the Grand Jury Prize at the Jan 1993 Sundance Film Festival. Although several companies vied for the property, October Films acquired North American distribution rights and planned a $1 ...
According to production notes in AMPAS library files, filmmaker and Florida native Victor Nunez struggled to sell his screenplay for Ruby in Paradise to potential financiers after receiving feedback that his story was “too familiar,” “too European,” or not “hip enough” for contemporary audiences. Around this time, however, Nunez received a small trust fund following the death of his relative, Susie B. Hodnett, and used the inheritance as collateral for a loan that helped propel production.
In the Nov 1993 issue of Pulse! magazine, Nunez stated that he considered three actresses for the role of “Ruby Lee Gissing” before agreeing to meet with Sisters (NBC, 11 May 1991—4 May 1996) star Ashley Judd, who was out of town at the time of initial auditions.
A 6 Mar 1992 Screen International brief announced that principal photography was expected to begin the following week on location in Florida. Actress Susan Lucci was named among the cast, but she is not credited onscreen. Production was reportedly completed for less than $1 million, which the 19 Oct 1993 Village Voice claimed had been achieved through the use of Super-16mm film and the minimization of lighting, which allowed the actors the freedom to improvise blocking.
The film was well received at festivals in Cannes, New York City, and Toronto, Canada. On 26 Feb 1993, DV announced that Ruby in Paradise had tied with Public Access (1993) for the Grand Jury Prize at the Jan 1993 Sundance Film Festival. Although several companies vied for the property, October Films acquired North American distribution rights and planned a $1 million print and advertising campaign with press junkets in twenty-four Southern U.S. markets, including Atlanta, GA; Baton Rouge, LA; Knoxville, TN; and Melbourne and Panama City, FL.
A 14 Oct 1993 DV news item reported a Directors Guild of America screening had earned $4,000 for Children of the Night, an organization supporting teenage runaways.
Ashley Judd’s performance earned her an Independent Spirit Award for Lead Actress, while the film received Independent Spirit nominations in the following categories: Supporting Actor (Todd Field), Director, Screenplay, Cinematography, and Film.
End credits include “Special Thanks” to the following: Irwin Young; Susie B. Hodnett; Jim Stark; Peter Wentworth; Virgil Mirano; Glenn Sharron; Gil Dennis; Andy Malcolm; John & Kay Foltz, Field’s Sun & Sea; Allen Fore, Kiska Court; John Pilcher, White Western Cabin; Bud & Ferne Floyd, Domestic Laundry; Sylvia Calo, Osceola Gardens & Pottery; Sally Tuttle & Tom Sparks, Edgewater Beach Resort; Pat Bell & Jim Ramsey, Dock at J.R.’s/Eat at Joe’s; Dave Treace, Spinnakers; Buddy Wilkes, Miracle Strip Amusement Park; The Gals of Field’s Sun & Sea; Rocky Yates & Donna Seltzer, Sharky’s Beach Bar; Joan DeLoach, Dairy Twist; Mel Hellett, Beach Bakery & Diner; Larson Bland, Dean, Florida State U.-Panama City Camps; Kim Duke, Panama City Mall; Gary Parker, Mall Security; Rooster Johnston, Booger’s Beach Bar; Richard McKinney, Regency 6 Theatre; B. Dalton’s; Sears; Camelot Music; Casual Corner; Thunderbird’s; Show ‘n’ Tail; Porter’s Court; Land’s End; Pappy’s Restaurant & Oyster Bar; JPs Restaurant; The Hardaway Company; Florida Dept. of Transportation; LaModa; J. Michael’s; Bay Point Marriott Resort; Gulf Beach Baptist Church; Dave Clementson, Digidesign; Alan Singer, Florida Film Commission; William Payne, Bay Arts Alliance; Joanna Mayer, Bay County Chamber of Commerce; Marcia Bush, Panama City Beach Visitors Bureau; John Baxter, City Manager, Panama City Beach; Jerry Smithwick, WJHG-TV; Bay County Sheriff’s Dept.; Panama City Beach Police Dept.; City of Panama City; City of Panama City Beach; Seltzer Management Group; City of Tampa; Patricia Hoyt, Tampa Film Commission; Cha Cha Coconuts, Tampa Convention Center; John Rosenberg, AMC Trade Shows; Shelly Gordon, Shelly Gordon Sales, Inc.; Joe Rodriquez, Edward Rodriquez & Co.; Ian Baxter, Wyndham Harbor Island Hotel; Susan Benson, Cosmopolitan Magazine; Woodrow Houston, Mountain Home; Bruno Chiarttini, Behind the Scenes Travel; Linda Fischer, Sun Commercial Bank; Ann, Nancy, Nan, Holiday Lodge; Skipper Turk, Centel Cellular; Dean Hammond, Hammond, Inc. Weather Map; Dr. Janet Speer; J. Sethuraman & Family; ‘Cherokee’ Donna Brown; Kenny Crofford; Bill Whaley; Lin DeMartino; Christine Stringer; Al Gardner; Bill Moseley; Michael Bibby; Jack Keel; Gerald Ake; Cheri Allen; Bob Coyne; John Schilb; Todd Engstrom; and the many citizens and guests of Panama City Beach and Panama City, Florida, without whose help this film could not have been made.”
To escape the stifling influence of her father, Ruby Lee Gissing leaves Manning, Tennessee, for the resort town of Panama City, Florida. Shortly after her arrival, she gets a job at Mildred Chambers’s beachwear and souvenir shop and befriends her part-time co-worker, a business student named Rochelle Bridges. One morning, Ruby walks in on Mrs. Chambers arguing with her arrogant son, Ricky, about his risky stock market ventures. Ricky gazes at Ruby as he walks out, but Mrs. Chambers warns her to stay away from him, especially since he will be managing the shop while she is on vacation. As she settles in, Ruby moves into a small house and begins writing in a journal to better understand her motivations for running away. Ricky eventually convinces Ruby to go out with him on a date, and they return to his apartment to have sex. The next morning, Ricky tells Ruby he enjoyed their date and gives her a CD player as a gift. After their second night together, Ruby notices Ricky has a drawer filled with pre-wrapped CD players, which he gives to all his romantic partners. When Mrs. Chambers returns from vacation, Ruby ends her relationship with Ricky and soon begins dating Mike McCaslin, an employee at the local nursery. As a descendant of one of Panama City’s founders, Mike shows Ruby several of the area’s hidden beaches and lakeside docks, but laments the increasing destruction of the natural landscape. Over the next few months, Rochelle encourages Ruby to enroll in college, but Mike cynically discourages the idea in favor of simplifying her life. The night after they first make love, Ruby admires his large collection of books ...
To escape the stifling influence of her father, Ruby Lee Gissing leaves Manning, Tennessee, for the resort town of Panama City, Florida. Shortly after her arrival, she gets a job at Mildred Chambers’s beachwear and souvenir shop and befriends her part-time co-worker, a business student named Rochelle Bridges. One morning, Ruby walks in on Mrs. Chambers arguing with her arrogant son, Ricky, about his risky stock market ventures. Ricky gazes at Ruby as he walks out, but Mrs. Chambers warns her to stay away from him, especially since he will be managing the shop while she is on vacation. As she settles in, Ruby moves into a small house and begins writing in a journal to better understand her motivations for running away. Ricky eventually convinces Ruby to go out with him on a date, and they return to his apartment to have sex. The next morning, Ricky tells Ruby he enjoyed their date and gives her a CD player as a gift. After their second night together, Ruby notices Ricky has a drawer filled with pre-wrapped CD players, which he gives to all his romantic partners. When Mrs. Chambers returns from vacation, Ruby ends her relationship with Ricky and soon begins dating Mike McCaslin, an employee at the local nursery. As a descendant of one of Panama City’s founders, Mike shows Ruby several of the area’s hidden beaches and lakeside docks, but laments the increasing destruction of the natural landscape. Over the next few months, Rochelle encourages Ruby to enroll in college, but Mike cynically discourages the idea in favor of simplifying her life. The night after they first make love, Ruby admires his large collection of books and begins to read from Jane Austen’s Northanger Abbey, which Mike suggests she borrow. Although she enjoys the novel, she does not engage in Mike’s attempts to have an intellectual discussion about its themes, and he later walks out of a lowbrow action movie she enjoys. As winter approaches, Ricky begs Ruby to renew their relationship. Instead of telling him she has been seeing someone else, she promises to consider seeing him after the holidays. While helping Mike at the nursery, Ruby watches a happy family and wonders about the sacrifices many women make to achieve a sense of security in their lives. On Christmas, she objects to Mike watching a Christian evangelist program on television, remembering how her family’s strict religious practices caused her shame. Just before Valentine’s Day, Ruby accompanies Mrs. Chambers to a small business expo to sell items and pick out new inventory for the store. She returns home to find Ricky standing outside her house with chocolates as demonstration of his lingering affection. She asks him to leave, but Ricky forces himself on her. When Ruby breaks free of his grasp, he tells her not to come back to work. Unable to find a job at any local stores or restaurants, she is tempted to apply at a strip club, but changes her mind after walking inside. Although Mike offers her financial support, Ruby abhors the idea of a man taking care of her. She finally secures a job at a commercial Laundromat, but the work exhausts her and leaves her disheartened. One evening, Mrs. Chambers stops by Ruby’s house after learning the truth about her relationship with Ricky. She explains that her son led her to believe Ruby had suddenly left town. The older woman recognizes Ruby’s potential and invites her back to serve as assistant manager. Ruby agrees, and the store flourishes as college students flock to the town for spring break. Although Ruby is pleased with her increased responsibility, Mike looks down on her for being content with such a menial job. Ruby criticizes his condescending attitude, and he apologizes. They keep in touch, but remain at a distance and eventually go their separate ways. Ricky returns to the store to apologize for his past behavior and announce that he has begun counseling. One morning, Ruby is awakened by an Indian girl singing near her window. She follows her to a nearby house and introduces herself, and the girl invites her to stay for tea. Later, Ruby walks through the neighborhood and reflects on her loneliness, but accepts the modest life she has now built for herself.
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