Stars are born, thanks to Fallbrook Film Factory

July 11 was a thrilling night for several Fallbrook residents when they walked up the red carpet at the Temeku Theater in Temecula for the sold-out première of the locally produced movie “My Necklace, Myself.” After a long black limousine pulled up to the curb, the young actors in the movie emerged to take their stroll down the red carpet. Among them were the film’s stars, Julia Witschger, Christiana Minga and Derek Majewski. All three are from Fallbrook.

In supporting roles were Norman Black, Deanna Lynn Walsh and Samantha Valencia. Then there were the extras – a lot of them – more than one hundred. The production crew numbered about twenty-four.

The Fallbrook Film Factory, in association with Bryan Caron of Divine Trinity Films, transformed Caron’s script into a 41-minute feature film. Ronald Shattuck and Donna Walden were the producers and Jim Witschger fulfilled the role of executive producer. The film conveys a marvelous message of how important it is to be comfortable with who you are.

At the onset of the film the cameras zoomed into the bedroom of fifteen-year-old Lacie (Witschger), who is preparing for her first date with the help of best friend, Serrin (Minga). Lacie’s mother walks in with a family heirloom – a heart-shaped necklace. Lacie quickly finds out that this piece of jewelry has one important magical attribute -- the power to whisk her away to experience life as any person she desires. After brief experiences as a princess, then as a rock band drummer and finally as an actress, Lacie ends up finding her true self.

Time travel sequences are always a bit difficult to keep fresh, and authors have utilized various methods of transportation to other worlds, such as C.S. Lewis’ wardrobe time portal or the famous DeLorean time machine in “Back to the Future.” Caron does it seamlessly with a simple necklace.

When Lacie touches the necklace and says, “I wish I were a princess” -- with a whoosh and flashing lights she and Serrin find themselves wearing floor-length dresses in an unfamiliar room. After surveying the clothes and surroundings Serrin remarks, “I think you got your wish – you’re a princess, babe.”

Fallbrook residents might recognize the Grand Tradition in the “ballroom scene” during Lacie’s brief passage into the royal world. In this scene Princess Lacie dances a graceful waltz with Jeremy (Majewski). The two glide about the room, which is as elegant as any European castle ballroom. A cast of about forty extras nod in deference to the princess as she seemingly floats across the dance floor in her flowing satin gown.

Princess Lacie decides that the royal life is not for her after she discovers that she is betrothed to a man she just met. Lacie then wishes herself back to her own bedroom.

Serrin aggressively takes the lead and wishes to enjoy fame as a rock star. She and Lacie are whooshed again, this time to where Serrin is onstage, animated and singing fiercely, to a screaming audience. Lacie is playing the drums for the girls’ hard rock band and looking a bit forlorn. With shrieking fans tearing at them, Lacie finally wishes herself back home.

In the film, there is even a fight scene between Lacie and Serrin. Rich Minga, who served as stunt coordinator, worked his magic to make the tussling and scuffling take on a realistic quality. In reality no actors were harmed, although it looked like it! (Minga works as a Hollywood stuntman and his latest effort is the film “Get Smart.”)

According to Christiana Minga, the two girls practiced the fight scene. During this session they “went over all the stunts and were taught how to roll around.” The actors then rehearsed the moves once more at the filming location before the final shooting.

“It was weird and awkward at first, but as the takes when on it became more natural, but it was still strange fighting with my co-star,” Christiana noted. “The door didn’t really slam on my head, it just looked like it!”

During the film’s concluding scenes Lacie’s mother notices that her daughter is not wearing the necklace. “It just wasn’t me,” Lacie tells her mother.

Both girls enjoyed making the film. “It was very exciting and a wonderful experience,” Witschger noted, “Bryan is a wonderful director.”

At the conclusion of most films the credits are viewed and that’s the end of it. Not so for this movie. Caron cleverly inserted a music video that runs during the credits.

The video features Witschger’s strong voice singing Kyle McNeill’s song “How to Be” and can definitely stand alone, with or without the film.

After all of their hard work, the cast and crew of “My Necklace, Myself” can indeed be proud of their first full-length feature film.

For further information, or to obtain a DVD of the film, visit http://www.fallbrookfilmfactory.com. Information is also listed at the Web site http://www.imdb.com.

To comment on this article online, visit http://www.thevillagenews.com.