FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Kristen Lucas
January 14, 2009 (774) 253-6045
Worcester, MA – After leading a succession of team efforts that resulted in four short movies - including the locally-produced “Third Date” - Worcester screenwriter and producer Kristen Lucas is now laying the groundwork for the filming of her own dream project, the full-length feature “Snowflake.”
Based on a script she wrote while a student in Emerson College’s Screenwriting Certificate Program in 2003, “Snowflake” is the story of Jesse Ashton, a 20-year-old white female rapper trying to transcend barriers of both race and gender as she competes in the gritty urban hip-hop scene.
“Snowflake” ended up taking a back seat to other projects that came Lucas’ way as she learned the ins and outs of film production. Under the banner of Goldilocks Productions, she organized teams to compete twice in the Providence leg of the 48-Hour Film Challenge and once in the National Film Challenge, resulting in two awards. More importantly, Lucas began forging a network of actors, writers, technicians, and crew members that she could draw on for future projects.
“I was lucky to have been able to pull together a great crew and talent on our first 48-Hour film, “Let It All Out,” Lucas explains, “so that when we moved on to other projects I was could call on people like actors Billy Smith [of Showtime’s “Brotherhood”] and Martha Cary [of Comedy Central’s “L’il Bush”], director Jeff Craddock, and a group of very talented writers.”
Many of these team members were called back into action when, thanks to the word-of-mouth generated by her first two 48-Hour films, Worcester native Tom Henrickson enlisted Lucas to help make a shortened 30-minute version of his full-length comedy “Third Date” in the summer of 2007. The resulting film premiered to two packed theaters at the Worcester Showcase North Cinemas and made its Los Angeles debut at the LA Shorts Film Festival in 2008.
While helming all these projects, however, Lucas had one thing in the back of her mind: seeing “Snowflake” on the big screen. Thanks to the network she nurtured and connections made in the local film community, the feature is now set to go in production by the summer and will be shot in and around Worcester. Among the locations scouted to date are the Lucky Dog Music Hall and REHAB Nightclub. Initial casting sessions were held in November at Viewfinder Productions in Boston and Kay Studios in Providence with more to be held soon in Worcester.
True to form, Lucas has begun to assemble another team of dedicated volunteers, friends, and professionals to bring “Snowflake” to life beginning with Worcester natives Amy Devlin, co-producer, and Dan Rosario, program director for The Affected Program and owner of 256 Media, who will be director of photography.
Atlanta actress and breakdancer Katherine “Kat” Slatery, who was most recently seen throughout the world performing in music videos for Soulja Boy and David Archuleta, is slated to take on the title role, while internationally-renowned music video director Dale “Rage” Resteghini is in discussions to direct and/or executive produce the project.
To keep the music authentic, Brooklyn rapper BYATA, best known for her appearance on VH1’s Miss Rap Supreme, is helping to write some of the main character’s lyrics and noted local hip-hop producer Keith “Klep” Napier is the film’s music director overseeing the soundtrack with the help of artists from Worcester and Boston. Actor and writer Kyle Perzanoski, a Goldilocks veteran since “Let It All Out,” will be assisting with the inevitable rewrites as the script nears production.
To help get the project launched, Goldilocks Productions is holding a fundraiser at 7 p.m. on Saturday, January 24, at the OurTvSpace headquarters at 559 Main Street in Sturbridge. The evening will give a good preview of what to expect from the “Snowflake” crew with a live DJ spinning throughout the evening, performances by the groups on the soundtrack including the live debut of “Follow Me” performed by Kat, meet-and-greets with the cast and crew, and a raffle featuring prizes ranging from your own photo shoot to autographed film posters.
In addition, local actors will be able to vie for parts in the film at the audition booth from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tickets are $25 and information on both the film and fundraiser can be found at www.snowflake-movie.com
(This is not an RIFC Production)