Under the lights : Fallbrook Film Factory produces first feature, plans film festival

It could have been the wedding of a princess as a beautiful girl escorted by a handsome young man floated down the stairs at the Grand Tradition and slowly made her way through a bowing crowd of admirers.

However, this wasn’t the wedding of a princess but a scene from Fallbrook Film Factory’s first feature, “My Necklace, Myself.” A large cast of forty-five extras contributed to the electric atmosphere of what has been dubbed “The Ballroom Scene.”

“My Necklace, Myself” is now being filmed at various locations in Fallbrook and environs. At completion, the feature will be approximately forty-five minutes long.

Have you a desire to be involved in filmmaking? The Factory is still looking for additional crew (no experience necessary) to help in various areas.

This movie, which would carry a “G” rating if it were rated, was written and directed by Bryan Caron of Divine Trinity Films.

Caron has many other films to his credit, one of which, “The Rose,” was shown on San Diego’s Channel 4 as part of a new show called “So You Made a Movie.”

The main actors in the production are Julia Witschger (as Lacie), Christiana Minga (Serrin) and Derek Majewski (Jeremy).

Others involved in the production are TDI, Inc. of Bonsall, a company which serves as executive producer. Also involved are Producer/Director of Photography Ronald Shattuck, Producer Donna Walden and Production Manager Heidi Schneider, among others.

“My Necklace, Myself” is a film about a fifteen-year-old named Lacie who is presented a magic necklace, by her mother, on the occasion of her first date. So, with her best friend Serrin along for the ride, Lacie magically becomes a princess, a rock star and an actress before she realizes that the only thing she truly wants to be is herself. The production includes a musical number, “What I Want to Be.”

The film is now listed as “in production” on the Hollywood Reporter Web site. After production the piece will be entered into various film festivals, explained Walden.

“The idea behind the Fallbrook Film Factory is not necessarily to go mainstream, it is to provide opportunities for people of all backgrounds to make films,” explained Walden. “We have found some incredible talent in Fallbrook.”

The majority of the talent base is comprised of volunteers. That is not to denigrate their roles, as the crew, including the makeup artists and hairstylists, are quite skillful and competent.

Several are professionals and enjoy their own careers in Hollywood, including Rich Minga, who is serving as the film’s stunt coordinator. Minga is a stuntman whose film credits go back as far as the 1994 television series “Baywatch” to the soon-to-be-released feature film “Get Smart” (Warner Bros.).

A shooting schedule for “My Necklace, Myself” is set through February with postproduction through April. Upon the film’s completion there will be a local première, but the producers are not sure that it will be completed before the upcoming Fallbrook Film Festival.

With a heavy emphasis on the art of filmmaking, Fallbrook’s first film festival will be held April 25-27 at various venues in downtown Fallbrook. The festival has already received more than 100 entries not only from the US but other countries as well.

A juried festival, the films will be carefully chosen by a panel of qualified judges. Statuettes and other awards will be presented to the winners during a special ceremony.

Festival Director Brigitte Schlemmer and her crew are already hard at work preparing for the event. Director of Programs Linda Mandrayar of Bonsall is adding her talents to the mix as well.

Mandrayar and her company Dharlin Entertainment produced the independent film “White Rainbow,” which won several awards and is now available on DVD.

“Our festival strives to encourage and promote emerging independent filmmakers by providing venues to screen their work and workshops to foster their talents,” Mandrayar commented.

The Mission Theatre will be the main venue, with other events and screenings at the Art Campus, Art Center, Village Square, J.J. “Purdy” Landers Irish Pub and Café des Artistes.

“The goal is to make it an event for all of Fallbrook which will also benefit the merchants,” explained Walden. “We want all of the coffee shops and restaurants to be open.”

Walden went on to explain that for the first year it will be “small and intimate, but a good quality film festival.”

“One of the ways we are unique is that we will be focusing on behind-the-scenes and honoring cinematographers and others who are not often on the red carpet,” continued Walden.

Festival organizers are seeking entries before the February 29 deadline. To learn more about the festival rules or to submit a film visit http://www.withoutabox.com. For other details contact Schlemmer at [email protected] or access the Web site http://www.fallbrookfilmfactory.com.