Hamme Productions is proud to be a part of the Media Theatre's Ten Nights in June 2011 film festival! Join us for a screening of the award-winning, feel-good short film for all ages, A TURN OF THE BLINDS.
John Rim, a former Archmere Academy football coach is Joseph Aruffo. He never acted a day in life, but when his daughter, Brookhaven local, Mary Beth Rim asked him if he would star in her next film, he was positively delighted. Admittedly nervous at fist, Mary Beth, along with her producing partner Sara Painter were amazed at how well John was in front of the camera. A natural! Mary Beth and Painter were both 2000 graduates of West Chester University and formed Hamme Productions in 2010. In June, they shot the short film A Turn of the Blinds in Delaware County.
A Turn of the Blinds was shot in the summer of 2010 with a cast and crew made up of entirely local talent and Drexel University film graduates. "This short film reflects the wonderful essence of the area: the native dialect, the local business ethic and general hard-working attitude of the salt-of-the earth people who live here. It's a story about finding love at any age." - Mary Beth Rim, Writer & Director
Starring John Rim and Marcia Hepps, and featuring The Wire's Brian Anthony Wilson, Michael Broussard, Sara Painter and "Billy V from Fox TV" Bill Vargus, this fifteen-minute short shot under a professional Screen Actors Guild agreement. The film's outstanding crew features cinematographer Zac Rubino, makeup design by Julie Desiderio and wardrobe by Gina Scarnati. Music by Kevin Smith and Harry Bakow.
"My vision was to make it simple," says Mary Beth Rim, writer and director, "tell a story focusing on heart, honesty and a timeless magic. Some storytelling has a habit of getting lost in today's ‘innovative' filmmaking movie magic tricks. I did not want A Turn of the Blinds to fall into this category. This story needed to be told simply and well, we need to feel as if these characters and their issues could exist in any town, in any time. Inspiration came from The Godfather, Moonstruck, and believe it or not Lady and The Tramp. A Turn of the Blinds is the little movie with great big heart!"
Mary Beth and Sara Painter (Executive Producer) are currently submitting the film to festivals all over the world in hopes of securing funding for the full-length version of this film, and the production of their next one, already in pre-production in Delaware County.
A TURN OF THE BLINDS Synopsis: It is the holiday season in a 'timeless' town outside Philadelphia, and we meet a sweet 60 year-old local accountant with many friends, but no family. He is happy by himself, but something is missing. When he interviews for a secretary position, three odd ball characters show up at the interviews and Joe is left feeling more alone than ever. Will he find the right person? A feel-good film for all ages, A Turn of the Blinds is a short film that captures the belief that good things happen to good people. If, they are patient enough and have faith.
CAST:
John Rim (Joseph): A lifelong Delaware county resident, Rim sings with numerous choirs, and is on the most-wanted list to sing at weddings and funerals. He performs locally and regionally as a pianist and vocalist in many venues. A Turn of The Blinds is John's first film.
Marcia Hepps (Betty Drinker): Marcia Hepps has acted from The Sundance Institute in Utah to Bread and Puppet Theatre in Vermont. She has studied at the Royal Academy of Arts in London and has a BFA from Barnard College, Columbia University and an MFA from Brandeis University. She is currently teaching at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Notable roles include Sheila in Joe Egg, Sonya in Uncle Vanya, Bananas in House of Blue Leaves and Beatrice in Much Ado About Nothing.
Michael Broussard (Benny) : Michael Broussard began his performing career back in 2003, when he wrote, directed and starred in the hit Philadelphia Fringe Festival show, Altar Boy: The Musical. After studying with Jose Aviles and Heather Krause at the Walnut Street Theatre, he decided to make this performing thing his full time job. Notable film roles include the crazed stalker in the horror short Dixie, the Nerdy School Photographer in the MTV hit music video "Bang Pop" by the band Free Energy, and Benny Filbert in A Turn of the Blinds. Onstage Michael was in the play Insurance at the Freedom Theater, Domestic Relations at the Adrienne, and in Altar Boy. In addition to his work as an actor, Michael also fronts a 50s-style rock n' roll, blues, swing and country band, Crazy Man Crazy, and he hosts and produces "The Five Minute Follies."
