Drama spotlight: Perfume

By THOMAS MCLEAN

It's hard to figure out what's more harrowing: making it in the cut-throat fashion industry or making a low-budget improvised film about the fashion industry.

But if anyone's qualified to answer that head-scratcher, it's Michael Rymer, director-and co-writer of "Perfume," a new drama from Lions Gate screening at the American Film Market.

Working from a detailed outline by Rymer and L.M. Kit Carson, 80 actors played out five storylines in a 20-day shoot in New York. Rymer, who just wrapped shooting on Anne Rice's "Queen of the Damned" for Warner Bros., focused this guerrilla-style indie on people who work in the trenches of the fashion world, all of whom are finding success elusive.

The project required the actors to improvise their own dialogue, an opportunity that attracted top-rate talent to the project. Among them are exec producer and star Jeff Goldblum, Carmen Electra, Rita Wilson and Harry Hamlin. Also featured in the large cast are Sonia Braga, Omar Epps, Michelle Forbes, Jared Harris, Mariel Hemingway, Kyle MacLachlan, Chris Sarandon, Paul Sorvino and Michelle Williams.