Barbara Greenberg
DANVILLE - Independent film buffs won't have to travel outside the Danville area to see the premiere of a film with prize-winning potential. "SHOW" makes its public debut Friday and Saturday on the big screen at the Danville Public Library.
The library's audiovisual director Mike Boedicker wrote, directed, filmed and edited the hour-and-a-half-long movie he's worked on since 1990.
As his life changed over the years, so did his film.
"It started as a 30-minute short script when I was a graduate student in film and video," he said. "The setting was a college campus."
Budget concerns got in the way of production, and Boedicker shelved the project and moved on with his life.
Fast-forward to 2001.
By then, Boedicker and his wife, Leslie, had made Danville their home and become involved in the local arts community.
Advances in technology finally came to the rescue. Boedicker realized that with digital video, his production dreams could become a reality.
The film's length grew to a full 80 minutes. He switched the setting from a college to a community theater, but the basic characters and plot remained the same.
"I don't look at 'SHOW' as a film about community theater," he said. "The basic plot revolves around how things change for a group of people. Everyone has secrets, and the appearance of just one person can bring them all out. "
Almost all of the film's cast members have community theater experience. They see themselves in the film.
Ted Sant has appeared in local productions since the age of 8.
"My first thought when I read the script was, 'How did you know all of this about us?'" he said.
"There's more drama in this movie than in one (play or musical)," Sant said. "But as the saying goes, if you scratch a dog, you find fleas. The scenes are pretty accurate."
Fellow "SHOW" actor and community theater veteran Ed Devore agreed.
"In real life, these things are isolated incidents. The movie puts many things together to (dramatize) them," he said. "If you take them one by one, though, they're accurate."
Despite having insider secrets revealed, the troupe unanimously enjoyed working in a different medium than live performance.
Lee Dively welcomed the chance to act after a long hiatus. The time commitment that plays require became too demanding.
"I had to give up theater for a time," she said. "Film is far more convenient from a schedule perspective. But the downfall of making a movie is that there's no response from the audience like there is in live performance."
Sharon Tipsword advocates for the stage over film, even though she has worked professionally in both.
"There's more control in theater," she said. "You are in charge of your performance, of what the audience sees and hears."
Devore said, "A film takes more concentration and preparation. Scenes are shot out of sequence, so actors don't get a chance to build up to the end, to develop their character as they go along."
Jason Asaad, another community theater veteran who appears in "SHOW," added, "In theater, you have hours of rehearsal in preparation for a performance. In a film, it's instantaneous.
"You have to be that person now."
The switch from curtain to camera was made less taxing by Leslie Boedicker, who produced the show.
"She did makeup, hair and wardrobe for us," Tipsword said. "She was also our caterer."
"Add contortionist to that list," cast member Chuck Pundt said. "You wouldn't believe the positions she had to get into to hold light reflectors while Mike filmed."
Leslie, who acts and directs, said, "Onstage you always face the audience. Film adds another dimension. I worked on blocking to make it look natural."
Kenny Harden, Danville community theater backstage expert, built the set. He also handled the boom while Boedicker filmed.
"He was our calm presence," Tipsword said.
Although the Boedickers and the cast look forward to the film's premiere, they feel ready for their next project.
All agreed they'd do another film right away.
"We were all disappointed when the filming ended," said John Dowers, a cast member in "SHOW" and a Commercial-News employee. "I've done another film in Champaign since then, but I miss these people."
FYI
The public premiere of "SHOW" will be at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the community room of the Danville Public Library. Admission is free, but seating is limited. The film is suitable for adults only because of mature language.
