'The Penitent Sweater' - trailer
^^^^ trailer 2 ^^^^
Screenplay written by Jared Waters and Bill Harrelson
Directed by Bill Harrelson
Starring:
Chris Houldsworth - Zebulon Pike
Susannah Richardson - Lucy Pike
Music by John Metcalf and Mark Duncan
"The Penitent Sweater" is a production which truly exemplifies the mythical Phoenix. It has twice arisen from the ashes of disaster to become something quite different. When I first read the script, it was a short piece about some redneck mobsters and a comatose woman--two story lines that seemed to be unrelated. However, the story unfolded in a way that I found brilliantly funny and original. I sent my compliments--and a few criticsms--to the author, Jared Waters.
Jared took my complaints well, and started to work on a new version of the story. By the time he was finished, he had connected the two story lines and turned the short script into a feature length script. He then proceded to produce and direct the film, but luck was not with him, and the project soon foundered. The film he had retitled "Rutherford County Mafia" had fallen into the abyss. I was so fond of the original short script, however, that I couldn't leave it in ruins, so I talked Jared into letting me make the film at Guerilla Pictures with my partner Mark Duncan. Mark and I set to work right away, and we were fortunate to find a great cast. Everyone did a fantastic job, and we got some great raw footage thanks to the talented cast and Mark's creative camera work. When we wrapped, I thought we had it nailed, but then I saw the first rough cut, and it just wasn't coming together the way I wanted. I felt like the project was plummeting once again back toward the pit from which it had so recently sprung.
Mark, however was as tenacious as he is talented, and he continued to work on the editing undaunted. When I finally saw his next cut I was ecstatic. He totally saved the film and made it much better than I had envisioned it. At last the cocoon had opened, and out burst "The Penitent Sweater" in all its splendor. But seriously, this has been a fun project, and I've learned a great deal as a filmmaker. I've learned to trust and rely upon the talents and ideas of others more than I ever have in the past, and "The Penitent Sweater" is the beneficiary of that collaborative effort.
- Bill Harrelson
^^^^ trailer 2 ^^^^
Screenplay written by Jared Waters and Bill Harrelson
Directed by Bill Harrelson
Starring:
Chris Houldsworth - Zebulon Pike
Susannah Richardson - Lucy Pike
Music by John Metcalf and Mark Duncan
"The Penitent Sweater" is a production which truly exemplifies the mythical Phoenix. It has twice arisen from the ashes of disaster to become something quite different. When I first read the script, it was a short piece about some redneck mobsters and a comatose woman--two story lines that seemed to be unrelated. However, the story unfolded in a way that I found brilliantly funny and original. I sent my compliments--and a few criticsms--to the author, Jared Waters.
Jared took my complaints well, and started to work on a new version of the story. By the time he was finished, he had connected the two story lines and turned the short script into a feature length script. He then proceded to produce and direct the film, but luck was not with him, and the project soon foundered. The film he had retitled "Rutherford County Mafia" had fallen into the abyss. I was so fond of the original short script, however, that I couldn't leave it in ruins, so I talked Jared into letting me make the film at Guerilla Pictures with my partner Mark Duncan. Mark and I set to work right away, and we were fortunate to find a great cast. Everyone did a fantastic job, and we got some great raw footage thanks to the talented cast and Mark's creative camera work. When we wrapped, I thought we had it nailed, but then I saw the first rough cut, and it just wasn't coming together the way I wanted. I felt like the project was plummeting once again back toward the pit from which it had so recently sprung.
Mark, however was as tenacious as he is talented, and he continued to work on the editing undaunted. When I finally saw his next cut I was ecstatic. He totally saved the film and made it much better than I had envisioned it. At last the cocoon had opened, and out burst "The Penitent Sweater" in all its splendor. But seriously, this has been a fun project, and I've learned a great deal as a filmmaker. I've learned to trust and rely upon the talents and ideas of others more than I ever have in the past, and "The Penitent Sweater" is the beneficiary of that collaborative effort.
- Bill Harrelson