Producer Jeff Grace speaks about his latest film The Scenesters (2010) directed by Todd Berger starring Sherilyn Fenn (Twin Peaks), Blaise Miller, Kevin M. Brennan, Suzanne May and Jeff Grace himself. 

me: "Jeff, can you tell us what you'd like international audiences to know about your film The Scenesters?"

Jeff: "We want to make sophisticated comedies that make the audience think a bit too. Not every joke is sold with a heavy punchline. Some of our favorite films are Swingers, Election and Dazed and Confused. Todd, writer/director of The Scenesters, is also a big fan of dark comedies like Clue and The Hudsucker Proxy. With the indie film market in financial collapse, our goal is to keep our budgets low enough that we can afford to make micro-budget films and recoup investment for our investors. Our last film was under $500K, our next one will likely try to get under $50K. The Scenesters makes a bit of fun of the whole 'Mumblecore' (a clip from The Scenesters - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ywmPfwn4rQI) movement, but we actually really admire the 'just make a movie' ethic of that movement that kind of make you refocus on a great script, solid acting and a lot of elbow grease. I just saw Cyrus by the Duplass Brothers...one of the funnier and more daring comedies of the Summer, but they pulled it off because they had a few reps under their belt and a really clear shooting philosophy to their films. If we can replicate their sucess, we will be very happy filmmakers." :-))

me: "Im really excited for you guys and this film. Swingers was a classic and Im sure this will become one too. By the way, since you loved Clue, see my in depth interview on the blog with Clue legendary director Jonathan Lynn (http://www.fest21.com/en/blog/vanessa_mcmahon/wild_target_an_interview_with_jonathan_lynn). So, Jeff, what are you working on next?"

Jeff: "The four guys in The Vacationeers have just started pitching a TV Pilot to networks this week. We are also planning to shoot our 2nd Film this Fall called The Cover Versions about a band to play their biggest gig ever at Coachella and end up with a few dead groupies on their hands. It has some very innovative non-linear story telling elements that deal with character perspective. We also plan to tour with The Scenesters this fall to art house theater and colleges and doing some live comedy along the way. People can request or "demand" or movie at www.TheScenestersMovie.com.

"Some PRESS RECAPS: The Scenesters won Slamdance's 2010 'Most Interesting Film' and Hollywood Film Festivals 'Best Comedy Feature Film' and has since gone on to play over 25 festivals, picking up "Best Director" and "Best Screenplay" honors as well, along the way. It is the first movie from The Vacationeers, a comedy group with 6+ million viewers at youtube.com/TheVacationeers. The film has been well reviewed by the likes of The Onion, USA Today (Pop Candy), IndieWire, The Austin Cronicle and FearNet.com. 'The Scenesters is the movie I keep telling my friends about. It's funny, inventive and unlike anything I've seen in long time.' says --USA TODAY; 'The Scenesters is destined to become a cult classic that actually also deserves to be seen,' writes--FearNet.com. '(5 Stars) It’s very funny, and I think that this one definitely has cult classic potential.' --The Oxford Film Freak. 'A genuinely suspenseful whodunit...The Scenesters is definitely, if dryly, funny.' --The Onion A.V. Club

Jeff cont: "We are having our Los Angeles theatrical release on August 20th and we are close to closing the deal on a theatrical distribution plan that will take our film to over 28 cities & 90 college campuses for a one week theatrical release in each market. After the fall theatrical release, we will release the film on DVD, VOD and BluRay through various partners."

me: "Thanks Jeff. Look forward to seeing this film take the cult classic underground by storm!" :-))

** DONT FORGET!!! Each night of the run, there will be bands from the Scenesters soundtrack playing in the lobby after the movie. It should make for a really cool night. Great movie and great bands for just $10 in Los Angeles run at The Downtown Independent.

(note: The Cover Versions is also written by Todd Berger.)

Interview by Vanessa McMahon July 19, 2010
 

The Scenester posters.