SLO: "Tommy Benjamin" Film to be shown at SLO-IFF on 3/9/2014 at 1pm

3/9/2014: After seeing Tommy Benjamin in Paso at the SLO International Film Festival, we sojourned at Norm and Connie's beautiful home in Atascadero to have a wonderful Italian buffet dinner. Johnee and Co. put together these 2 wonderful photos of the group. In the meantime, 5 adults (including me) were asked to come forward and perform an improv skit for the crowd - yeah, I can do that. Johnee says he videoed it, so maybe it'll see the light of day sometime. Until then, I can hope that it won't!

3/9/2014: Tommy Benjamin, starring  James Waag as Tommy Benjamin / Valentine, and Ted Levine as Duke Kline of D. Kline productions (get it?), showed at the SLO International Film Festival in Paso Robles on 3/9. It was well-attended, and Adventure Club SLO movie editor Norm P. and his wife Connie hosted a wonderful after-event party at their home in Atascadero. Some of the movie stars that came out for the event (below):

Update: Tommy Benjamin will be playing at the SLO International Film Festival on Sunday, March 9, 2014 at 1pm at Park Cinema in Paso Robles. 

Above: Ted Levine and James Waag in "Tommy Benjamin"

Message from Director Johnee Gange: we are excited to have our new AC film - TOMMY BENJAMIN - selected to be screened at the SLO International Film Festival this year. Hopefully our movie will continue to get the recognition it deserves. 

Also, our amazing editor and friend Norm Pillsbury and his lovely wife Connie have invited all the AC film making gang to their Atascadero home for an after party. They will provide food, drink and dessert. We will have a fun afternoon there. More details to come, but please RSVP to Norm (email CC'd above) so they can plan the amount of food to prepare. Italian dinner will be served. Yummy!

Some links related to Tommy Benjamin:

Watch the amazing re-edited trailer for the movie, feature Ted and James:

http://vimeo.com/86001452

Get tickets in advance for the 3/9/2014 1pm showing of the movie:

http://slofilmfest.org/tickets-passes/how-ticketing-works/

More information about Ted Levine and the movie:

http://forums.usanetwork.com/index.php?showtopic=470517

Watch the full movie in HD by clicking here (the original music in this movie is wonderful!):

http://www.imdb.com/video/wab/vi446868249/

This is screening is a SLO IFF event, so Adventure Club SLO members, donors, actors and crew have to pay full price to see the film. Also SLO IFF handles all the ticket sales.You can get them at the door but if you want to see other films in the festival it makes more sense (and saves you $) to buy a pass. We will  have more DVDs available for a donation if you desire. 

"I hope all fans of Ted Levine have the opportunity to see "Tommy Benjamin"! You'll laugh, you'll cry, you'll shake your head ... most of all: you will be amazed by the wonderful people who made this movie." --quote from Tami (facebook Ted Levine fan page).

Above: Official Movie Poster, starring (left to right) - Levi, Ted, James!

Above: Movie frame of Levi, Ted Levine and James that became the image used in the movie poster, after it was converted to black and white. The object in Ted Levine's left hand (resting on James' left shoulder) is a cigar that is still in its original plastic wrapper. Ted used the cigar as a signature prop of his throughout the entire movie.

Update 1/25/2014: On Saturday, 1/25/2014, "Tommy Benjamin" starring James Waag (and others!) premiered at the Palm Theatre in SLO. It was met with sold-out showings at 7pm and 9pm, and movie goers gave it rave reviews. Thanks to all those who came out to support Adventure Club SLO, a group that provides services to adults with Special Needs. Our son James has been in the program for almost 7 years now, under the leadership of Johne Gange. 

James Waag now in imdb (International Movie Data Base), and you can see his listing by clicking here. The movie itself, Tommie Benjamin, is also in the imdb, and you can see the movie listing by clicking here. Tommy Benjamin is also listed under Ted Levine's imdb listing, which you can see by clicking here.

A few photos below from the World Premier:

Above: Marquee at Palm Theatre in San Luis Obispo. Please support this theatre - thanks to   owner Jim Dee for all his support of Adventure Club SLO.

Above: (left to right) Film Editor Norm Pillsbury, San Luis Obispo Mayor Jan Marx, and Adventure Club SLO Director Johnee Gange.

Above (left to right): Stars James Waag (as Tommy Benjamin) and Levi (as Proteus).

Update 12/10/2013: Mark your calendars now!  Created through improvisation and performed by members and collaborators of Adventure Club SLO. Special guest star Ted Levine (and James Waag). Premiere Screenings Jan 25 2013, Palm Cinema SLO. Show times,  pre-sale tickets and more details coming soon...To learn more about this film and Adventure Club SLO, please click here.

Above: actor James Waag at left, opposite Levi at right.

Update 8/25/2013: Support the huge FX hit The Bridge starring Ted Levine, showing Wednesdays at 10pm. Photos of James below with actor of the hit FX series, the Bridge. They are on the Adventure Club SLO movie set, where Mr. Levine puts his money where his mouth is and supports disabled adults who are trying to better themselves. 

Read more about Adventure Club SLO and help support their mission, as described on their website:

"We offer an alternative to traditional Day Programs for people with  special needs, such as  autism, head injuries, and ADD. Adventure Club Guides mindfully lead participants though nature focused adventure experiences as a path to exploring social relationships and to foster greater community and recreational awareness. Creativity is also a major part of our services. Through this process, flexible thinking is clearly emphasized."

Photos by the Adventure Club crew below, with more to follow.

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