Mad Possum Pictures announces the release of their latest short film, THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER. The film, based on the 1926 classic short story by D.H.Lawrence, follows the production company’s recent wins at the Regional Emmy Awards in St. Louis for their work on STEP INTO: THE KING OPERA HOUSE. (Best Director/Devon Parks; Best Short Format Program/Devon Parks and Chuck King)
“We went into production for Rocking Horse immediately following Christmas last year,” says King, Producer for Mad Possum and who assumes a role in the film. “We needed to secure a strong leading lady, and we felt we got one of the area’s best when Missy Gipson agreed to appear.”
Gipson is the executive director of Fort Smith’s Young Actor’s Guild which exists to foster a love of the arts and inspire creativity in young people in the River Valley through no-fee, high quality theatre production opportunities and workshops led by professional theatre artists. The organization is the oldest youth theatre in Arkansas and they have won 15 National Youth Arts awards.
Says King, “A fund-raiser benefitting YAG is our way of honoring Missy for her contribution, and it will be a great way to showcase her talent for YAG patrons and students. We hope that the film will inspire young people to explore all aspects of film production-including acting and beyond.”
King refers to 14 year old David Harper, a student at Northridge Middle School, and the son of Dr. Jon and Gena Harper of Van Buren. Harper carries the leading role in the film.
Director Devon Parks, says of Harper, “He came to us with absolutely no previous acting experience at all and turned out a convincing performance in a very demanding role.” THE ROCKING HORSE WINNER, a psychological drama relates the desperate and foredoomed efforts of a young boy to win his mother’s love by seeking the luck she bitterly maintains that she does not possess. After discovering that he can predict the winners of races while riding his rocking horse, the boy falls deeper and deeper into his obsession.
The Movie Lounge of Fort Smith will host the event. The film is 30 minutes in length and is appropriate for ages 10 and up. Following each screening, the Director, Producer, and various members of the cast and crew will be available for a question and answer session monitored by Rham Cunningham.
DETAILS
FILM PREMIERE: The Rocking Horse Winner Mad Possum Pictures/Directed by Devon Parks
WHERE: The Movie Lounge, 7601 Rogers Avenue Fort Smith AR.
SHOWTIMES: 6pm 7pm 8pm
TICKETS $12 (with a portion of ticket sales benefitting the Young Actor’s Guild)
Tickets are available at the following branches of 1st National Bank Fort Smith: Old Greenwood Road, US-71, Grand Avenue and Central Mall.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
Chuck King 479-629-5646
[email protected]
