News
SCREENPLAY DELIVERED TO HOLLYWOOD
Cathy Roszell (my film producing partner) and I spent most of last week (May 24-29) pitching the WHEN BUBBA MET BUDDHA script on Los Angeles. We made much progress. It was read by CAA agents (names concealed to protect the innocent). It was delivered to a great actor named Billy (awesome southern actor... you can guess the rest of his name) and one producer even called us over the weekend to say how much he "loved" the screenplay. It was a great week and we're looking forward to getting this movie made soon.
WHEN THE BUDDHA MET BUBBA OPTIONED
Concrete Dream is thrilled to announce that we've optioned the rights to make a movie of the terrific novel WHEN THE BUDDHA MET BUBBA. It's a grownup tale of a racist, sexist, Alabama redneck that realizes he's got to get his life "right". Written by best selling author John Lee (under the pen name Richard "Dixie" Hartwell) the novel is set to be released in September by Nashville based Turner Publishing. Check out the first few chapters here... http://www.whenthebuddhametbubba.com. It's a hoot.
John Lee, who has sold more than one-half million non-fiction works published by Random House, Bantam and HCI, says of his first novel, “I created an alter ego with my pen name, Richard ‘Dixie’ Hartwell, so I could finally write the kind of book I’ve always dreamed about.”
When The Buddha Met Bubba is a humorous romp through John Lee’s home state of Alabama, beginning in Scottsboro’s famous Unclaimed Baggage, on to the Tri-Cities and ending in Mentone. The novel is a whimsical fantasy that deals with the integrity and surrender that comes when a likeable redneck (Bubba) meets his magical mentor, Pu Tai (one of the many names for The Buddha), as they set off on an unusual journey. It has at its center a love story. Throw in the struggle to heal a father-son wound, old South prejudice and bigotry, then add a little humor and true Buddhist/Christian compassion, and you end up with a quirky novel that is not only different but just plain fun.
Concrete Dream Pictures is currently deep in the process of development and financing to get the feature film WHEN THE BUDDHA MET BUBBA made in Alabama.
Mystic Swirl Screening
Mystic Swirl has been selected to screen at the Indie Memphis Soul of the South Film Festival on Thursday October 25, 2007 at 5:55pm. More info at http://www.indiememphis.comMystic Swirl
Mystic Swirl - Concrete Dream Pictures' - latest short movie has wrapped principle photography and will now move into the editing and music creation phase of production now. Shot entirely on locations in northwest Alabama, Mystic Swirl is the dramatic story of a family recovering from the loss of a child to Cancer. The cast and crew were just fantastic and some production photos have been posted on the Mystic Swirl MySpace page. Much more to come.Big Cowboy Festival News
Our cosmic comedy BIG COWBOY is an OFFICIAL SELECTION for the George Lindsey Film Festival and has been added to the screening list. We'll be screening on Thursday March 1, 2007 at the KEYNOTE ROOM. Check it out if you get a chance.NEW PROJECT
Steve has announced his next short movie project. The working title for this short is MYSTIC SWIRL. It's the dramatic story of a family recovering from the loss of a child to Cancer. The project is currently in development...meaning Steve's putting the finishing touches on his script and locations are being scouted. Stay tuned.MOVIE MAKING WORKSHOP SOLD OUT
Film Commission of NW Alabama and Steve Richerson's MOVIE MAKING WORKSHOP IN THE SHOALS - Lighting for Film and Video - which is set for Saturday January 20th is completely SOLD OUT! We've obviously tapped a vein here. Film and moviemakers have signed up in droves to learn lighting from pros Robert Duke and Bill Schweikert. It's gonna be fun.Screenings at Sidewalk
According to the SIDEWALK MOVING PICTURE FESTIVAL web site, THE BURGLAR and BIG COWBOY are scheduled to screen at...11:00 am, Sat. 9/23 @ Carver Theatre in Birmingham, Alabama.
We're in a block of movies called ALABAMA SHORTS #1.
I won't be able to make it, because I'll be doing my magic show in Seattle, but if you get a chance pop on in to the screening and support Alabama Movie Making.
Thank you,
Steve Richerson - CONCRETE DREAM PICTURES :)
BIG COWBOY
Howdy Pardners,Just a reminder that "Big Cowboy" the latest short film from Steve Richerson (aka Steve Trash) and Concrete Dream Pictures will be premiering tomorrow night (Thurs. May 25) at 7:00pm at the Florence-Lauderdale Public Library. It stars Dan Beene, Terry Pace, Michael Green, Jeff Miller and Kyle Weir as well as a cast of thousands! Well, hundreds, um, dozens. Okay, okay ! A little under two dozen...
It's FREE and there will be a short "making of" documentary by Corey Hannah (who rocks) after the feature as well as cast and crew for Q & A.
BE THERE !!
SWEET HOME ALABAMA AWARD WINNER!
THE BURGLAR recently won the SWEET HOME ALABAMA - Honorable Mention Award - at the 2006 George Lindsey Film Festival. Producer, Writer, Director Steve Richerson was so surprised he was completely speechless when he reached the podium. This - for those of you that know him - is shocking! Most of the time he won't shut up. Congrats to cast and crew of THE BURGLAR.Great news!
THE BURGLAR - our comedy short - is in the TOP 20 RANKED shorts viewed on the INDEPENEDENT FILM CHANNELS - MEDIA LABS contest. If you haven't done so... Please go to the site. Watch THE BURGLAR and rate it. Here's a hint...10 is BEST! If we do well, we'll be broadcast on the Independent Film Channel.Also... On the strength of this great showing... THE BURGLAR has been offered a DISTRIBUTION CONTRACT! Woo Hoo.
We're now entering the festival season and hope to make a big splash. Please help us out by getting your friends, neighbors, dogs, small yet particularly intelligent hamsters to vote for us online.
It only takes a moment. You do have to sign in with your e-mail and create a password, but I've been on their list for months and have never gotten any junk mail from them. I think they just need the info to keep people from voting more than once.
By the way, we'll be showing THE BURGLAR at a really wonderful location this FRIDAY NIGHT February 3, 2006.
We'll be at the funky/cool - SHAOLIN COMPUTERS - thanks to Chris and Angela Webb. They're allowing us to show THE BURGLAR during the FIRST FRIDAYS IN FLORENCE event and then folks who've seen the movie can get on line and vote for us at http://medialab.ifc.com
Thanks for your support.
Steve Richerson - Writer Producer Director
More GOOD news!
Our six minute comedy film - THE BURGLAR - starring Kyle Wier and Morgan Ryan has been accepted - through a juried selection process - to the George Lindsey Film Festival which runs March 2-4, 2006 on the University of North Alabama Campus. http://www.lindseyfilmfest.comTHE BURGLAR - a comedy short film produced by Steve Richerson & his company CONCRETE DREAM PICTURES was shot on location in The Shoals, Alabama. A darkly comic tale of a loser, a hot chick, and a real magic wand, THE BURGLAR is creepy trip into magic realism. It utilizes both "state-of the art digital" and "practical" visual effects. Written by Steve Richerson and directorially shepherded by Jim Torres, THE BURGLAR showcases again that Alabama film-makers can generate national quality movies.