** Official Selection, Los Angeles International Short Film Festival, Oct. 2002**
** Official Selection, Blue Sky International Film Festival, Las Vegas, September 2003**
SYNOPSIS
Sherri is Joe's half-brother's stepdaughter. When "Uncle" Joe visits for the first time in years, Sherri has changed…as have her ideas about the special connection they've always shared.
An offbeat look at family, identity, and the search for purpose in our lives.
History of Going Somewhere Slow, the Short Film
It all started with a 10,000 mile road trip around North America in the summer of 2000, when actors Jennifer-Juniper Angeli and Peter Graham-Gaudreau hit the highway from Vancouver B.C. to renew their creative juices. In Taos, New Mexico, they met a couple writing and producing their own films…very happily so. And it just plain made sense. With 33 years of professional film, TV and theatre gigs between them, Jennifer and Peter were inspired to finally produce their own project. A short film seemed to be the natural place to start, and 3 months later, back in Vancouver, they began.
Peter had written a naturalistic stage play, Going Somewhere Slow, which he had intended to adapt for the screen. The script had received an honorable mention in a local playwriting contest, and was selected to, and developed through, a professional mentoring program, with award-winning playwright and screenwriter David King as mentor. Former Globe and Mail critic Chris Dafoe would later review it's 2001 premiere and call it "a funny, moving and sharply observed tale." (The Vancouver Sun, see Press, www.ku-alproductions.com). One particularly dynamic scene with two of the central characters stood out for Peter and Jennifer, and so they workshopped it and entered it in the Vancouver A.W.A. Scene Contest in Nov. 2000. Performing the piece before a full house and four prominent casting directors who judged the event, they were awarded first place and a $400.00 cash prize. Most importantly, they noted the positive visceral reaction from professionals and layfolk alike, regardless of age. Lots of laughs, plenty of personal recognition, performances bang on… it clearly worked. So now, how to make it work as a film?
Enter Robert New, award-winning cinematographer, personal friend, and real nice guy. Bob had worked professionally with Jennifer and Peter before, and was ready for his first directing assignment. Together they re-worked and workshopped the script, finally presenting it at the Alibi Unplugged Script Reading Series. Again, a very positive response and great suggestions from peers and industry pros that helped improve the piece. More improv, workshopping, and the script was at last ready. But what would they shoot on? 35mm was clearly the only answer for this fun and offbeat story, but the cost..? Maybe they could afford 16mm…
Ah, serendipity. Peter was cast in a supporting lead role in Universal's feature film Slapshot 2, where he met fellow actors and filmmakers Jonathon Scarfe and Suki Kaiser. They had just completed their own short, Speak, and had 5400 feet of brand new 35 mm Kodak film left over. Did Peter want it, free of charge?! Life is just wondrous sometimes, ain't it? NOW they could make the film they wanted to make. Professional athlete and actor/stuntman Dave Babych was also in SlapShot 2, and wanted to join the fun. He was just right for the small role of Rob, and suddenly everything was in place. They had a stunning location, top pro crew, and so went to camera at the end of spring with near perfect weather for the film's upbeat feel. Shot it in a day and a half of full-out fun. Then went to work with award-winning editor Roger Matuszi and award-winning sound designer Tony Gort, and a year and change(s) later…here it is!
And now the festival fun begins…
Contact us
info: 604.224.0032
email: kual@lynx.net
