Spring 2005

There's been a growing level of interest for "Usher" in the last few months: here are the highlights:

First of all, thanks to Doug Brunell for his sympathetic and delightfully positive review of "Usher" on FilmThreat.com, the preeminent independent film website. The review was posted on 1/17/05, (read it here), and calls it, among other things, "a rare gem that goes above and beyond its cinematic duty. A subtle film that works surprisingly well."

Well!

Since the review's appeared, we've had over a dozen offers from small distribution companies and film festivals asking to see a copy. We hope to find a good match between the film's potential, and a company's appreciation and ability to exploit the film to the right market.

We also had a review appear online on MicroCinemaScene.com's online site February 16th (read it here). Reviewer Miguel Coyula says "Usher" is "effectively executed. A rare piece, that flirts with genres but almost never falls into them." (Exactly our intent!) "Four stars."

Our cast-and-crew screening at the Orinda in November was well-received and brought over 100 new fans to the fold. It was fascinating hearing how people who hadn't seen the film before responded. It was a lot funnier than I'd anticipated, but already I want to cut another 4-6 minutes out of it! (That'll have to wait.)

Seeing the film in the theatre in which it was shot, with the actual theatre up there on the screen, can only be described as uncanny.

Another local screening (probably in San Jose) is being arranged as I write. We've also been hearing back from a number of small DVD distributors asking about screeners. We're holding out for a domestic deal before we place the film overseas. There's an order to these things. "The Spirit Hunter," another film that played at Telluride, recently received a distribution deal through Red Films (look for it on Amazon.com). The market is out there.

Thomas's performance as Ash gained recognition in December, by winning "Best Lead Actor" from Sub Rosa's Cinema Edge Awards (see press release here). He was recently seen in the Jan. 26th, 2005 episode of "Alias," on ABC. (He's a Russian expert talking in the back of a cab, in a scene that lasts probably all of 30 seconds!)

If you want to be on the email list to receive updates, please contact me at "roger@ushermovie.com" and send me a line.