KOA NewsRadio’s Ed Greene leads a filmmaker Q&A following the private screening of “Remembering Us” at Denver Film Society’s Sie Film Center. (Photo by Glenn Asawaka)
More than 180 people packed the Sie Film Center this weekend for a private cast-and-crew screening of the 35-minute short film “Remembering Us.” The entire lead cast flew in from Los Angeles and New Mexico for the screening to join their other cast members, crew, media, film dignitaries, agents, representatives from SAG-AFTRA, producers, and family and friends.
“Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow,” said Donna Baldwin Agency’s Rhonda Barnheisel. “I’m blown away by this film. I am so proud of the story that Lori and Scott were able to tell. It’s very brave of them to open up their lives about a painful time, so audiences can learn and grow. Very powerful storytelling.”
“This is just spectacular filmmaking,” said Rocky Mountain PBS’s Jennifer Ross-Castor. “I can’t wait to do a feature segment that highlights these directors and this film on our show.”
The cast and directors laugh after lead actor Nev Scharrel tells a story about her time filming “Remembering Us.” (photo by Glenn Asakawa)
KOA NewsRadio’s Ed Greene moderated an emotional filmmaker Q&A following the screening. The panel included both Wine Dog directors and the lead cast: Mike Ostroski, Dani Payne and Nev Scharrel. Highlights from the Q&A included:
Scharrel saying that she was more excited about this premiere than when she walked the red carpet with Steve Carrell and Kristen Wiig for “Despicable Me 3.”
Payne talking about how she shot the Summer scenes with a freshly broken ankle and was still hobbling months later when they shot Autumn. To hide her cast and limping, the filmmakers shot her scenes from the waist-up and let her sit in a bar chair during her standing scenes.
Allred explaining how she and Takeda are still raising funds for the festival and marketing phase of the film.
And Takeda explaining how traumatic brain injuries are far more common than cancer. The film’s goal is to start the conversation about TBI’s so hopefully one day, people won’t be afraid to talk about them.
(L to R) Lead actor Nev Scharrel, co-director Lori Kay Allred, lead actor Mike Ostroski, lead actor Dani Payne, and co-director Scott Takeda in the Henderson-Withey Lounge of Denver Film Society’s Sie Film Center. (photo by Glenn Asakawa)
“Such an exciting evening. And we are so grateful that everyone turned out,” said producer Annie Schlax. “We are very thankful for our partnership with Denver Film Society They allowed us to hold our private screening in their signature theater at the Sie Film Center, which made our event feel special.”
After 22 months of production, Allred and Takeda now turn their focus onto the film’s festival run. They are aiming to have a festival premiere of the film sometime in the late summer or fall of 2019.