FilmDayton Festival update & the 'Ana' Connection

Just a quick blast to say it's been a fast & furious trip to the old stomping grounds so far. The FilmDayton Festival is in full swing and I'm having fun reconnecting with Family & Friends from days of yore and making new friends. The Dayton film fest organizers are working extremely hard in this, the 3rd year of the event, and it's been great to be a part of this growing effort to develop a full-fledged film industry in the Miami Valley. I've met with serious players here in the community whose sole interest is to create and sustain a vibrant environment for filmmakers to bring their projects to Dayton - and I'm enthused by the level of interest in the possibility of bringing one or more of my film projects to the area. I still have a soft spot in my heart for the town I grew up in, so we'll see where that road leads...

I met with an absolute killer blues-rock artist - Ana Popovic - yesterday in Columbus and am working to sign her to co-star with Danielle & Jay in the BN prequel, "Serenade". Ana nearly was cast in the role of 'Candy' for the current film, but the logistics didn't work out - which turned out just fine because I went on from there to find and cast the incredible Kimber Cleveland - and the rest is history. There's a time and a place for everything...so it looks like this year is the time and Sarasota is the place for Ana to join the cast of "Serenade". Danielle and I will be meeting with Ana soon to discuss the details, so hopefully we'll have another casting announcement in the near future. For more info on this fantastic talent who is extremely well-known on the European music festival circuit and who is blazing a trail for herself in the USA - check out http://www.anapopovic.com/. The pivotal supporting role I have in mind for Ana in "Serenade" could become a breakout event for her and a tremendous boost for the BN Franchise overall, as the foreign box office potential expands greatly having her on the Team.

The "Beautiful Noise" Dayton premiere happens this afternoon - and Kimber, who is in town with me for the screening, performs her solo concert tonight at the legendary Gilly's nightclub in downtown Dayton. I'll report back in later and let you know if the Dayton crowds' enthusiasm for our film matches the Sarasota response. It's certainly going to be a 'teachable moment' for me.

ST