 | http://pennlive.com/news/expresstimes/pa/index.ssf?/base/news-14/110604274
858130.xml
Valley movie to debut at Sundance Film Festival
Tuesday, January 18, 2005
By KAT MAIN
The Express-Times
Zeke Zelker says "sticking to your roots" has yielded rewards far beyond what
he could have ever imagined.
For the first time, the Allentown filmmaker's production company, Independent
Dream Machine, has co-produced a movie that will be shown at the prestigious
2005 Sundance Film Festival, which runs Thursday to Jan. 30 in Park City, Utah.
"People pretty much think I'm nuts," he says of his devotion to making movies
in the Lehigh Valley. "They ask, 'Why aren't you in L.A. or New York?'"
Keeping his company planted firmly in the Lehigh Valley hasn't been the easiest
path to movie- making recognition, he says, but he won't move.
"I refuse to quit," he says.
He says now that his persistence has brought an accolade, folks may see more
and more film crews sprinkled throughout the Lehigh Valley. And the No. 1
attraction to this area is that great film crews can be found at half the price
a filmmaker would pay in New York or Los Angeles, he says.
Gill Holland, co-owner of LaSalleHolland Productions in New York City and
Zelker's partner producing this film, agrees with his friend, saying these were
the reasons for his journey into the Lehigh Valley.
Holland says he found great post-production equipment in the Lehigh Valley and
saved money in the process.
"We're talking about shooting something there (Lehigh Valley) in May. You're so
close to New York, but you don't have to deal with Manhattan," he says.
The two began working together on the movie "Loggerheads" early last year after
a phone conversation.
Holland told Zelker about a script that the Lehigh Valley filmmaker describes
as "awesome."
"He asked me to read the script, and I immediately jumped on board," says
Zelker.
Zelker says he was taken by the quality of the writing and the story's content.
"Loggerheads" is a story based in North Carolina and follows three plot lines,
all dealing with issues concerning adoption.
Written by Tim Kirkman, the plot is based on a true story. According to
Holland, Kirkman heard the story four years ago and it started percolating in
his mind.
Holland says he read the first draft of the script more than 2( years ago but
couldn't get enough money together to bring Kirkman's ideas to life.
But after the January 2004 merger of Lasalle Management Group and cinéBLAST,
Holland finally mustered up the funds to film the story.
"Loggerheads" is the company's first production.
"It's been like our baby," he says. "It's all downhill from here."
Holland was first alerted that his "baby" would premiere at the Sundance Film
Festival on the Monday before Thanksgiving. He says he was in the middle of a
business meeting at the time so he couldn't "be stupid," but he was brimming
with excitement on the inside.
From there, he called the writer then Zelker. "I was quite ecstatic and proud
at the same time," Holland says.
Chosen from among 800 to 900 other films in the U.S. Dramatic Feature Film
category, "Loggerheads" is one of 16 such films to premiere at the festival
this month.
Trevor Groth, senior programmer for the Sundance Film Festival's Los Angeles
office, says the movie was chosen for its originality.
"I loved the film. It's a really special film that resounds with a lot of
truth," he says.
Groth says the film had "terrific acting by great actors." Kip Pardue, Tess
Harper and Bonnie Hunt give the best performances of their careers, he says.
Actors Chris Sarandon, Michael Kelly, Michael Learned, Robin Weigert and Ann
Owens-Pierce round out the movie's cast.
Another reason for "Loggerheads" selection is the craftsmanship of the film,
says Groth.
"It's really high caliber," he says. The film's cinematographer, Oliver
Bokelberg (''Station Agent''), really captured the region where it was filmed,
Groth says.
In his online review of "Loggerheads," Groth writes:
"Exquisitely shot and dramatically restrained, 'Loggerheads' is that rare film
that touches our hearts and stimulates our minds. It's about the politics of
adoption rights and the longing for connection. The performances are inspired
and suffused with melancholy by the topnotch cast. Skillfully meshing the
different stories into a film of poignant grace, Kirkman creates a compelling
vision distinguished by images and landscapes, both physical and emotional,
that are absolutely unforgettable."
None of these reasons surprises either Zelker or Holland; they knew they had a
hit.
"It's a really well-done film. It looks and sounds beautiful, and the acting is
amazing. It's a really quality film," says Zelker.
The production team says audiences should look for more of the same from them.
"We're very proud, and this is just the beginning. This will put us on the
map," predicts Zelker.
( "Loggerheads" will be screened at the festival on Jan. 26. For information
visit http://festival.sundance.org/2005/
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
|
|
