Announcing 180! 180 is a feature film staring Survivor’s Benjamin “Coach” Wade and written by William A. Price III & Nathan Pope. It tells the story of rock and roll stardom and redemption. 180 is being co-produced by William A. Price III and Easy Water Films’s Christopher Johnson. Nathan Pope is slated to direct while Christopher Johnson will also be the Cinematographer on the film. Scheduled to shoot June 15 – 30th in Springfield, MO 180 is well into pre-production. Watch here for more 180 news. Also check out the blog section for updates as well as the film’s official site.

Synopsis: Benjamin “Coach” Wade (Survivor’s Dragonslayer) blazes onto the screen as Rock-god Gavin Larson. Gavin’s band, The Zebras, is on top, living every rock and roll fantasy. That is until Gavin’s band mates perish in a fiery plane crash.

Tormented by the memory of his band and the fading of his once bright star, Gavin begins a downward spiral of denial, delusion, and self-medication. His only chance at redemption rests in the people he’s screwed and the bridges he’s burned. Gavin’s plan? To form a new band and rule the world.

Here’s “Coach” offering the first public notice of his participation in the film

Website: http://www.180film.com and Facebook and Twitter
Starring: Benjamin “Coach” Wade
Screenplay By: William A. Price III & Nathan Pope
Directed By: Nathan Pope
Director of Photography: Christopher Johnson
Produced By: William A. Price III & Christopher Johnson

We’ll have more on the film and the individuals involved as things progress. Especially since Cinematographer Christopher Johnson, like us, is a fan of Red camera as he notes on his blog. We’re sorry he wasn’t available to participate in the demonstration last night but look forward to hearing from him and learning more about the film.

Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughn / SMPSP

What: Casting Call – Summer of the Spy
When: Saturday February 20th, 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
Where: Strong Hall, Room 150
Missouri State University campus

Note that Children auditions will run from 11:00-2:00 PM and adult auditions will run from 3:00-7:00 PM.

We are looking for:

JOSH: he needs to be a male child actor (7-12) who is eager to be on set and has some experience in acting. This part is the lead role, it is a child who is highly interested in becoming a spy, is bored of daily routines, somewhat inquisitive, full of life, and full of mischief.

NADINE: this is our strongest supporting role we are looking for women from (20-80) years of age. Originally, this part was written to be a “grandma” but to help expand the potential acting pool this character can be altered to fit a younger actress into an “aunt.” In the story, this character is the main guide for Josh, she loves simple things, baking pies, and being the independent woman she is. If you have any training in stunts, you may want to consider this part; if you do not have training in stunts I would highly encourage you to still tryout for this role.

CALLISTO: the mother of Josh who will need to be in the age range of (25-40s): an eccentric, somewhat spacey mother who contrasts the role of her husband.

FRANK: the father of Josh who will need to be in the age range of (25-40s): a straight laced, pay the bills, stay practical kind of father.

ELDERLY WOMAN: this part may be altered to fit an actor who shows an understanding of humor, timing, and delivery. Originally this is written for an “elderly woman.” This character is derived from a backwards rural type of setting where electricity has no place.

SPIES: we are in need of around 6 SPIES who are trained/experienced in stunts whether parkour, kickboxing, combat, etc. If anyone knows of any local bouncers that may be interested, please send them the word as well.

We’re hoping for a nice turnout this upcoming weekend. If you would like to audition for a part please visit this website to sign-up

Please remember to go through e-mail confirmation to complete your audition setup time.

If there are any additional questions please call (816)-868-5619 for Mike Rogers.

Thank you so much for your time.

Photo Credit: Stephen Vaughn / SMPSP

What: Casting Call
Where: Craig Hall 203, Missouri State University
When: 12:00 – 3:30 pm Saturday 2/13/2010
for auditions….

We are looking for:
A male (20s-40s) with a strong voice that is somewhat athletic to play the part of a spy. This character will also come in during the rest of production for voice over work. This part is somewhat comedic.

A female (20s-40s) with an athletic presence as another spy. This has no speaking parts, but is equally as vital.

And lastly, we need someone (20s-80s) to play the part of a guard who will be searching the perimeter for the male spy.

If there are any questions please call (816)-868-5619 for Mike Rogers.

This feature length film has a little of everything, drama, darkness, comedy, Gods, zombies, cheerleaders and a host of mishap and mayhem, leaving the fate of the world in the wrong hands. It’s our intentions to market this to a distributor, who will circulate the theaters like any other movie. In addition, we intend to hold early premieres locally, unless contract issues come up. We’ve already begun the pre-production phase and added a lot of local talent, many with big league experience. As a team we’ll make a memorable movie that will shake the world in 2011, so be on the look out for exciting things to come.

Like most everyone else working the local film scene, Derral has a job that pays the bills and funds his projects. He holds a Master’s Degree out of CSU in technology management and works for a very large technology firm. More often than not his job and the hours he works are very demanding, but he still finds time to pursue his passion of writing and movie making. Many moons ago in another life, he began working in the film industry while living in Los Angeles California. Now located in Missouri, he has worked locally on several film projects. On these projects, he has filled various positions ranging from lighting through lead actor. On nearly every project, he has also supplied his equipment free of charge in his quest to help others with their projects and expand the local industry. The local projects he’s been involved with range from no budget shorts to major SAG features. He eagerly looks forward to continued work with the wonderful people in local industry and promoting our projects as a group effort.

Imagine, for a second, your favorite scene in your favorite movie. Now, look past the actors to what’s behind them. Are they inside or outside? Are they in a big city or a small town? Maybe they’re in the middle of space, or the middle of an ocean.

Wherever they are, somebody had to track down that location. Kokayi Ampah, who has worked as location manager on films from The Color Purple to The Shawshank Redemption, is one of those somebodies. And he’s worked on his share of movies in which the location is more than just a scene-setter.

Catch the story, including the full audio, here.

When: May 1st and 2nd
Where: MSU Campus, Strong Hall R135
Time: 12pm — 5pm

Roles: Christian, Sara, Aaron, Lisa, Jan

If you need to make an appointment time, please feel free to contact Brendan Schmidt at info@dreemor.com or (314)6037596.

Synopsis
DREEMOR tells the story of Christian Luff, a decorated space captain whose inner torment begins when his ship’s artificial intelligence reunites him with his dead wife and daughter. Upon seeing them, his mind swells with doubt over his controversial mission: deliver a planet bomb to the enemy’s home world.

ABOARD the spaceship ISAC (Interstellar Ship Automated System), Christian is confronted with questions of loyalty and virtue. Entering a virtual reality, known as the JAN Protocol, Christian must cipher through the relics of his subconscious and learn to become self-aware. His guide is none other than Jan, a picture perfect psychiatrist, whose directive is to ensure the commanders psychological welfare.

DREEMOR is a fantastic journey through the consciousness of a common man. Vivid colors and breathtaking imagery prepare THE DREEMOR to be an astonishing independent film.

Searching for “Winters Bone movie” will take you to this blog right now, where a story posted last year ranks in the top 3 on Google at the moment. We’ll post production updates as they become available over the next 10 weeks. If you’d like to learn more about the story, there are a number of resources available. According to an NPR story, Woodrell’s novel follows a 16-year-old heroine named Ree as she hunts for her drug-dealing father, while trying to keep her family intact. The book, set in Missouri’s Ozarks region, earned comparisons to True Grit.

“Winter’s Bone” was featured in 2007 as a selection for “Read More Missouri” and the Reader’s Guide is still available for download.

There’s even a Flickr group that grew up around that effort. If you have an account, or just want to see photos as envisioned by a range of photographers, check it out here.

And to wrap it up, here’s an interview with the author from NPR circa August 2006.

If you’re an extra, or landed a speaking role, let us know!

Oh, and here’s a short description and excerpt from the book, again from the NPR website:

REE DOLLY stood at break of day on her cold front steps and smelled coming flurries and saw meat. Meat hung from trees across the creek. The carcasses hung pale of flesh with a fatty gleam from low limbs of saplings in the side yards. Three halt haggard houses formed a kneeling rank on the far creekside and each had two or more skinned torsos dangling by rope from sagged limbs, venison left to the weather for two nights and three days so the early blossoming of decay might round the flavor, sweeten that meat to the bone.

Snow clouds had replaced the horizon, capped the valley darkly, and chafing wind blew so the hung meat twirled from jigging branches. Ree, brunette and sixteen, with milk skin and abrupt green eyes, stood bare-armed in a fluttering yellowed dress, face to the wind, her cheeks reddening as if smacked and smacked again. She stood tall in combat boots, scarce at the waist but plenty through the arms and shoulders, a body made for loping after needs. She smelled the frosty wet in the looming clouds, thought of her shadowed kitchen and lean cupboard, looked to the scant woodpile, shuddered. The coming weather meant wash hung outside would freeze into planks, so she’d have to stretch clothesline across the kitchen above the woodstove, and the puny stack of wood split for the potbelly would not last long enough to dry much except Mom’s underthings and maybe a few T-shirts for the boys. Ree knew there was no gas for the chain saw, so she’d be swinging the ax out back while winter blew into the valley and fell around her.

Jessup, her father, had not set by a fat woodpile nor split what there was for the potbelly before he went down the steep yard to his blue Capri and bounced away on the rut road. He had not set food by nor money, but promised he’d be back soon as he could with a paper sack of cash and a trunkload of delights. Jessup was a broken-faced, furtive man given to uttering quick pleading promises that made it easier for him to walk out the door and be gone, or come back inside and be forgiven.

Walnuts were still falling when Ree saw him last. Walnuts were thumping to ground in the night like stalking footsteps of some large thing that never quite came into view, and Jessup had paced on this porch in a worried slouch, dented nose snuffling, lantern jaw smoked by beard, eyes uncertain and alarmed by each walnut thump. The darkness and those thumps out in the darkness seemed to keep him jumpy. He paced until a decision popped into his head, then started down the steps, going fast into the night before his mind could change. He said, “Start lookin’ for me soon as you see my face. ‘Til then, don’t even wonder.”

She heard the door behind her squeak and Harold, age eight, dark and slight, stood in pale long johns, holding the knob, fidgeting from foot to foot. He raised his chin, gestured toward the meat trees across the creek.

“Maybe tonight Blond Milton’ll bring us by one to eat.”

“That could be.”

“Don’t kin ought to?”

“That’s what is always said.”

“Could be we should ask.”

She looked at Harold, with his easy smile, black hair riffling in the wind, then snatched his nearest ear and twisted until his jaw fell loose and he raised his hand to swat at hers. She twisted until he bore up under the pain and stopped swatting.

“Never. Never ask for what ought to be offered.”

“I’m cold,” he said. He rubbed his smarting ear. “Is grits all we got?”

“Butter ‘em more. There’s still a tat of butter.”

He held the door and they both stepped inside.

“No, there ain’t.”

Copyright © 2006 by Daniel Woodrell

As Esquire noted last year, No. 63: The Voice of the Ozarks – Don’t wait for writer Daniel Woodrell’s books, Winter’s Bone and Give Us a Kiss, to make it to the big screen. Read them now.