Premiere: 'Ballast' bows

One of the first films to get a 'buy' at Sundance, "Ballast" premiered to a very receptive crowd at the Racquet Club Theatre.  The movie explores the effect one man's suicide has on the three people closest to him.

Director Lance Hammer and most of his cast and crew came onstage afterward for a Q&A session.  The first-time director talked about the biggest challenge he faced (writing and dealing with "the demons in your own head"), shooting time ("I don't know. We would film and I would rewrite...") and his decision to use local first-time actors in many of the main roles (He wanted them to use "their own idioms, expressions and dialogue.")

The crowd included some Mississippians who were more than proud to see their home state on the big screen.

"It's my first Sundance, and it was just great to see a local film.  And for it to have been done by all first-time actors was a great thing as well," said a female moviegoer from Mississippi.

One first-time actor, Michael J. Smith Jr., gained a lot of respect for the thespian profession after working on this film.

"It was hard going up and down emotionally, but it was fun."  He also expanded on his Sundance experience, calling it a lot "different" from Mississippi.

For more, check out my video interviews.

-- Jevon Phillips

Comments

[Sam]

Who bought it?

[sheigh]

Good one, Jevon. You were host, interviewer and cameraman.

Hi Sam, Jevon reported earlier that "Ballast" sold to Celluloid Dreams.

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/sundance/2008/01/ballast-going-w.html