FILMED IN FORT WORTH, “SEARCHING FOR SONNY” IS STYLISH COMEDY WITH
TEXAS ROOTS
Glint Advertising President, Craig Lloyd, is thrilled by the news. To have the opportunity to be involved in a project like this is both exciting and intriguing. The premise of the film, directed by Andrew Disney, in addition to the quality that Red Productions brings to the table is what made me get involved in the early stages. We'll be popping the champagne in Austin as we celebrate the news with cast and crew.
Red Productions is proud to announce the world premiere of “Searching for Sonny,” a stylish mystery comedy written and directed by Andrew Disney. The film tells the story of reunited friends who find themselves the chief suspects of a murder mystery that seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school. The film premieres at the Austin Film Festival Oct. 20-27.
The film stars Minka Kelly (“Friday Night Lights,” “Charlie’s Angels,” “The Roommate”), Emmy and Golden Globe nominee Masi Oka (“Heroes,” “Get Smart”) Jason Dohring (“Veronica Mars”), Michael Hogan (“Battlestar Galactica”), and Clarke Peters (“The Wire”, “Treme”). The film also features web comedy celebrities Brian McElhaney and Nick Kocher, known online as BriTANick. The duo has a dedicated online fan base and more than 12 million views on YouTube.
“I’ve become such a TV junkie over the last five years, and naturally I went after my favorite actors from all my favorite cult shows,” Disney said. “And then I fell in love with the idea of mixing Hollywood stars with Internet stars. Brian and Nick were a perfect fit.” Disney began writing the film while studying filmmaking at NYU. He completed the script after moving back to Texas and teaming up with producers Red Sanders and Greg Beauchamp, who were drawn to the film’s comedy and style.
“Our team was determined to make a film that felt big on a very small indie budget. It took a lot of luck, several miracles, and tons of sweat. I remember sitting on a tarmac next to a plane someone graciously let us use, right before we're about to shoot a guy off a scooter, and thinking to myself, 'How on earth are we pulling this off?” Disney said. “We made a ride film; a fun mystery comedy movie that feels like “The Big Lebowski” and “Rushmore” had a baby. And that baby’s on crack.”
Kelly, whose new show “Charlie’s Angels” debuts Sept. 22, enjoyed the change of pace from network television to indie film.
"We shared one big trailer, and I think that was a really good thing for us because we were forced to spend almost 24 hours a day together,” Kelly said. “We bonded and luckily we all really enjoyed each other's company."
Oka,who plays the missing title character Sonny, enjoyed working with passionate people on the indie project.
"It was fantastic. The crew was definitely working overtime and my heart goes out to them,” Oka said. “It's a testament to everybody. People really want to work on this and they're paying by blood, not by working for a paycheck."
Disney is excited the film will premiere at the Austin festival. “I love the AFF because it truly is a festival full of people who love film," Disney said. “This is an incredibly accessible event where professionals, amateurs, and film-lovers come together and marvel at the silver screen. We’ll kickoff “Searching for Sonny” with a Texas-sized premiere.”
According to the festival’s website, “The Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of film making by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story.”
The festival will announce screening times for “Searching for Sonny” on Sept. 22. Details will be available on the festival website, www.AustinFilmFestival.com.
“Searching for Sonny” was filmed in 2010 in Fort Worth, Texas. The film has not yet been rated.
“Searching for Sonny” is a film that tells the story of Calvin, Elliot and Gary who attend their high school reunion to discover that their old buddy, Sonny, is missing under mysterious circumstances. After run-ins with the law, an ex-girlfriend and the corpse of the high school quarterback, the mystery turns meta when they realize that everything happening seems eerily similar to a play they performed in high school — a play Sonny wrote. To learn more, visit www.searchingforsonny.com.
The Austin Film Festival furthers the art and craft of filmmaking by inspiring and championing the work of screenwriters, filmmakers, and all artists who use the language of film to tell a story. Founded in 1994, the Austin Film Festival (AFF) was the first organization of its kind to focus onthe writers’ creative contribution to film. To learn more, visit www.AustinFilmFestival.com.