Tag: Creed Bratton

First Photos From SAVING LINCOLN

Films about the Great Emancipator have seemingly become all the rage as of late. The R rated ABRAHAM LINCOLN: VAMPIRE HUNTER hit theaters in June to a dismal box office reception, Steven Spielberg’s LINCOLN will be released November 9 with Daniel Day-Lewis playing the 16th President and Terrence Malick’s film about Lincoln, THE GREEN BLADE RISES, was recently announced.

Not to be lost in the fray, check out these new photos from the upcoming movie SAVING LINCOLN. Directed by Salvador Litvak and starring Tom Amandes, Lea Coco, Penelope Ann Miller, and Bruce Davison, SAVING LINCOLN tells a unique tale in a unique way: using actual Civil War era photographs as locations, the film explores Lincoln’s fiery trial as Commander-in-Chief through the eyes of his closest friend and protector – U.S. Marshal Ward Hill Lamon. Production on the film wrapped July 12th.

In the process, SAVING LINCOLN officially introduces a new cinematic style to the industry: CineCollage. Developed by director Salvador Litvak, the new filmmaking technique allowed a sprawling period piece to be made on an indie budget (a full description of CineCollage is included below). While various types of layered images have been used in other films, this is the first time CineCollage, or “cinematic collage,” will be employed for every scene in a feature film, and the first time that the technique has been branded in an official capacity.

About the production process, Litvak said: “We had a huge story to tell, and we were determined to tell it. During our research, we dug into the enormous trove of Civil War photography in the Library of Congress, and I visualized scenes taking place in those locations. In the wake of movies like ‘Sin City’ and ‘300,’ I realized we could use the photos to replace physical sets. Of course, the process was far more complex and time-consuming than I imagined, but thanks to an extremely creative and passionate team, we were able to make SAVING LINCOLN a reality. Further possibilities for CineCollage are unlimited, particularly for subjects that can exploit well-photographed periods and locations.”

Based on detailed research by Litvak and writing partner Nina Davidovich Litvak, SAVING LINCOLN follows Abraham Lincoln’s journey from country lawyer to conflicted Commander-in-Chief, as recounted by his self-appointed bodyguard, Marshal Lamon. Lamon halted many attempts on President Lincoln’s life, but he was not present at Ford’s Theater the night Lincoln was shot. To understand why, one must hear his tale. SAVING LINCOLN stars Tom Amandes (as President Lincoln), Lea Coco (as Ward Hill Lamon), Penelope Ann Miller (as Mary Todd Lincoln), Creed Bratton (as Senator Charles Sumner), Saidah Arrika Ekulona (as Elizabeth Keckly), and Bruce Davison (as William H. Seward).

CineCollage, by definition, uses existing images as a backdrop to create a cinematic collage. The process combines off-the-shelf visual effects tools with techniques borrowed from theater, animation, and photography. A typical scene contains live-action elements – including principal actors, tiled layers of extras, furniture and props – all shot on a green screen stage, as well as multiple layers of location and architectural elements culled from period photography. The layers are composited together to create a stylized look that works hand in hand with the story’s narrative structure: in this case, Marshal Lamon’s very personal recollection of his friend, Abraham Lincoln.

SAVING LINCOLN is directed by Salvador Litvak, written by Nina Davidovich Litvak and Salvador Litvak, produced by Reuben Lim, and executive produced by Horatio C. Kemeny. The film stars Tom Amandes, Lea Coco, Penelope Ann Miller, Creed Bratton, Saidah Arrika Ekulona, and Bruce Davison, with songs performed by American roots-rocker Dave Alvin.

Film’s official site: http://www.savinglincoln.com/

“Like” on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SavingLincoln

Follow the stories of US Marshal Ward Hill Lamon at twitter.com/savinglincoln

TERRI – The Review

I believe the only people who truly enjoyed high school are those who breezed through the experience. For the rest of us, those four (or more) years of high school falls somewhere on a sliding scale of misery ranging from an annoying itch to a torturous punishment inflicted by the worst kind of mad scientist.

Stereotypes are common in films about teenagers, especially when set against the backdrop of high school. The truth is, teenagers and stereotypes go hand-in-hand. Without teenagers, there would be no stereotypes, but the burnouts, jocks and preppies of the ‘80s no longer apply in the new millennium. No, the typical characters of the John Hughes era have evolved along a parallel plane into some not better or worse, but different.

Director Azazel Jacobs (MOMMA’S MAN, THE GOOD TIMES KIDS) delves into the strange world of the high school outsider with TERRI, written by first-timer Patrick Dewitt. TERRI is a film that captures the beautiful agony that is so often the syllabus of secondary education. Those who say whatever doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger is probably either delusional or a high school counselor, but there is actually some ironic truth to the statement, despite its overuse.

Jacob Wysocki (of the TV Series “HUGE”) plays Terri, an overweight teenager struggling to understand the world around him, while mistakenly accepting himself as the “monster” others perceive him to be. Terri is lonely, bored and picked on in school, but when Principal Fitzgerald (played by John C. Reilly) takes a special interest in Terri, his life slowly begins to turn around.

Terri lives with and cares for his Uncle James, played by Creed Bratton (THE OFFICE), a man suffering from some form of unnamed illness resembling dementia. It is clear that Terri feels burdened by his uncle, but that burden is overshadowed by his admiration for the man, who falls in and out of clarity. Creed’s performance is surprisingly textured and sincere, portraying a man who must have led a well-read, wise and musically inspired life prior to his illness. There are touching moments of veiled philosophy when Terri and his uncle are together, an epiphany Terri does not acquire without the help of a girl named Heather Miles, played by Olivia Crocicchia (of the TV series RESCUE ME).

John C. Reilly, an actor who has proven his comedic chops, opens up and delivers a quirky but caring role model for Terri. Reilly maintains his trademark humor on a subdued scale; developing a vulnerable adult who can relate with Terri and does his best to befriend the young man he fears is on the precipice of falling victim to a troubled life. Wysocki is engaging, often reflecting Reilly’s charisma as he navigates a series of ambiguous revelations, most vividly characterized when his uncle tasks him his trapping mice in the attic and the events that follow.

With TERRI, Azazel Jacobs has created The Breakfast Club for a new generation. In place of the burnout, the jock and the preppie princess we have Terri the fat, misunderstood loner and Heather, the insecure hot girl with low self-esteem. The weird and eclectic Ally Sheedy character is replaced by the equally weird and eclectic Chad, played by Bridger Zadina. The three outcasts form a bond through Terri’s metamorphosis of self-image that culminates in an open-ended but satisfyingly quirky friendship.

Azazel Jacobs employs mostly hand-held camerawork, giving TERRI a sense of spontaneity. A rich amber aura runs through the film, courtesy of cinematographer Tobias Datum (PEEP WORLD). The underlying warmth of color allows the audience to remain hopeful about the otherwise cold and harsh reality of Terri’s daily life.

The strongest element of TERRI is in the screenplay, carefully written and then respected by the producers of BLUE VALENTINE and HALF NELSON, clearly proving they have keen eyes for great stories. TERRI is a film with heart and low-key humor, but is daring enough to make the audience uncomfortable when necessary without losing integrity.

TERRI opens in St. Louis on Friday, July 29th, 2011 at Landmark’s Tivoli Theatre.

Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars