Movie filmed in McGregor & Marquette- "16 to Life"

www.16tolifethemovie.org

 

Dear Friends of 16 to Life

Thank you for signing up for news of our comedy!

Our first two theaters opens Sept 3rd. You can see a complete list on the link below

Full Theaterical Release Schedule

 

16 to Life will stay in theaters only if we fill the seats! Please let your friends know

about our openings, and how important a first weekend attendance is.

Please spread the word through Facebook, Youtube, and Twitter

 

There are other ways to push 16 to Life into more theaters

Please see those ideas below

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

IOWA

NEBRASKA

 

Des Moines - Fleur Cinema (Sept 10)

Omaha - Rave Theaters Westroads (Sept 10)

 

Iowa City - Bijou Theater (Sept 8)

 
 

Cedar Rapids - Collins Road Theater (Sept 9)

KANSAS

 

Dubuque - Mindframe Theaters (Sept 10)

Kansas City - Glenwood Arts Theatre (Sept 17)

 

Okoboji - CineMagic Theaters (Sept 9)

 
 

Elkader - Elkader Cinema (Sept 3)

WISCONSIN

 

Davenport - Rave Motion Pictures (Sept 10)

Prarie du Chien - Star Theater (Sept 3)

 

Waterloo - Marcus Theaters (Sept 9)

 
 

LOS ANGELES

 

TBA

 

 

Visit 16 to Life IMDB page and Vote! Vote and let fans and industry professionals

know this is the kind of movie you like Click Here

 

Tells us about your FIRST KISS on our Youtube Channel.

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and up to the minute news & photos

 

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The Hash for the film is #16toLife

 

ASK FOR OUR FILM TO PLAY AT YOUR LOCAL THEATER

And request that the Actors and Director Appear!

 

Thank You So Much!

Terry Trimpe, Exec Prod. & Becky Smith, Director

 

www.16tolifethemovie.org

 

 

 

 

 

 

Hallee Hirsh, star of “16 to Life,” arrives at the Elkader Opera House in style with Tom Chandler of Elkader at the wheel for the film’s Northeast Iowa premiere. “16 to Life” was filmed on location in McGregor in the fall of 2007. The Thursday night screening was nearly sold out and received an enthusiastic response from the crowd.   (Photo by Trudy Balcom)
 
Fred Petrie and Melanie San Fillippo, far left, join Jim and Linda Boeke in 19th century costume at the red carpet event outside the Opera House. Iowa actors Rachel Salowitz, Brendan Dunphy, Gabrielle McNally and Samuel White. Little Ian Paul is seen at the center, and Hollywood actresses Emily Foxler and Hallee Hirsh round out the group.       (Photo by Trudy Balcom)
Swedish-born Emily Foxler, left, and star Hallee Hirsh strike a pose for a photo op outside the Opera House in Elkader. In the film, the two play co-workers in a small town ice cream stand. Foxler's character is a Russian immigrant. (Photo by Trudy Balcom)
 

Below, executive producer Terry Trimpe, explains to the crowd at the Opera House how he almost didn't get involved with "16 to Life," but decided to take a chance. Trimpe, who has a weekend home in McGregor, insisted the film be made there. At Trimpe's left are director Becky Smith, who is an Okoboji, Iowa, native, and star Hallee Hirsh. Actors and staff from the film thanked the community for their support during a question-and-answer session after the film. (Photo by Trudy Balcom)

"16 to Life" director Becky Smith signs the back of her canvas before beginning to paint  a Jackson Pollock-style picture at the "Hollywood Comes to McGregor" benefit for the McGregor-Marquette Arts Center. The benefit was held Wednesday, September, 2, at the McGregor Landing Event Center. Smith and the Iowa actors in the film, including Luana's Gabrielle McNally, each painted an abstract work, which were then offered in a silent auction. The silent auction generated $600 in donations for the Arts Center. (Photo by Trudy Balcom)
 

 

Director of
“16 to Life” not afraid of a challenge

By Trudy Balcom

Creating and promoting an independent film on a budget is not a job for wimps. Nobody knows this better than “16 to Life” director Becky Smith.

As the film continues to make the rounds of national and international film festivals, Smith knows that she will have to work tirelessly promote her film.

The economic downturn has made major Hollywood studios wary of picking up distribution of independent films, and more reliant on big-money blockbusters.

“This is a very challenging time for indie films right now,” Smith said in a telephone interview.

“I was quite disappointed at the realities of the distribution climate. I thought I had a good shot at being ‘the little indie that could’,” Smith said in an e-mail. “I’m more realistic about the climate for indie films now, and learning a lot about alternative distribution,” Smith explained.

But Smith has a history of personal tenacity and garnering industry acclaim for the quality of her work that just might win broader recognition for “16 to Life.”

Smith is not a newcomer to the film industry. She has directed and written for television, film and stage since her graduation from Stanford University film school in 1984. At first she directed small projects like public service announcements for T.V., and videos for clothing corporations like Levis and Espirit.

“I was really fortunate to be able to move right into directing,” she notes.

She received grants for screen writing from the California Arts Council, and worked in television.

Her break came in 1999 when she was captivated by the athletes on the Stanford University women’s basketball team. She knew they had a story worth telling, so she convinced the coach to allow her to follow the team for a documentary.

The result was the PBS Frontline television documentary, “In the Game,” which followed the Stanford women to the national championship. It aired in 2004.

The film won broad acclaim and brought Smith new directing opportunities in television. and teaching. She was hired as a professor at the University of California-Los Angeles undergraduate Film School not long afterward, and has a dual career directing and teaching ever since. She has worked on several well-known cable TV shows, and garnered an Emmy nomination for her work on “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” in 2004.

She has made these accomplishments in an industry where five percent or fewer of all directors are women.

With all of her experience, “16 to Life” is is a different kind of project for Smith. It is her debut for writing and directing her own independent film.

It took her a year to complete work on the script. She said she envisioned the story as taking place in Iowa. The story revolves around small town teenage girl, Kate, who has yet to fall in love, and is dealing with her angst about her sexual inexperience.

“I’ve had some wonderful and unique opportunities, but there is a pure joy when every character comes out of your head,”

In September, “Sixteen to Life” screened at the Kansas International Film Festival and at the Napa-Sonoma Wine Country Festival. Through the fall and winter the film will also screen in Pennsylvania, as well as Istanbul, Turkey, and in the Chinese city of Macau.

Smith is working on deals with multiplex owners for limited theatrical release of the film in several Midwest cities next spring. Cities under consideration include Cedar Rapids, Iowa City and Des Moines as well as Madison, Wis., and Kansas City.

“We have received an offer for TV and DVD , but we have not committed to anyone yet,” Smith said. “The theatrical exposure serves to create an awareness of the film and enhances DVD sales,” She explained. The film is expected to go to DVD distribution after next spring’s movie theatre release.

 

 

 

Click the links below to learn more about McGregor's movie debut!

Iowa Public Television Broadcast

Cedar Rapids Gazette

KCRG TV Broadcast

Visit Internet Movies Database for more info on 16 to Life


 

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