THE PRINCESS MAY HAVE LANDED THE LEAD ROLE IN NEW FILM!

You may remember my earlier post about “The Christmas Star” (click here).

Well, to recap, Torry Martin and friends have been looking for a “Princess” to star in their next movie called “The Christmas Star”, which centers around a small-town theater, coincidentally named “The Princess”.

The group heard about our Princess through Muse Watson, who never misses a chance to spread the Princess gospel wherever he goes, about “the dream” and Roane County.

Here is just a taste of the “The Christmas Star” story treatment:

“Harriman, Tennessee had everything a small Southern town should have: a good diner... friendly neighbors... and big news the whole town could gossip about. At the center of the buzz was The Princess Theater... a gilded Lady whose velvet curtains hid a silver screen - and a world of dreams. For decades, The Princess was the heart of Harriman's social life, but somewhere along the way the world passed The Princess by. Finally, her bright lights dimmed, and she closed her doors for good. That is, until the day Grady Garrett came back home." 

ABOUT THE WRITERS: 

Marshal Younger has written more than 100 episodes of Focus on the Family’s audio drama “Adventures in Odyssey”. He is also the author of the children’s book series, Kidsboro. He has written two produced screenplays, “A Greater Yes”, and “Meant to Be”, both from PureFlix Entertainment. He currently lives in Spring Hill, Tennessee, with his wife and four children. 

Sandy Brownlee is a writer, actress, and transmedia advisor. Sandy has written for radio, stage, television and film. She helped develop and was primary writer for the original children’s character “Discovery Jones” on the Inspirational Network, as well as for INSPs “Cheyenne Country.” She’s created seven full length radio dramas; eight full-length stage productions; and eight original sketch comedy dinner theaters. She’s also written MOPS Int’l, The Jeremiah People, Jefferson Productions, Bruce Wilkinson, and several national conferences. 

Torry Martin is an actor and comedian who has written for “Adventures in Odyssey” where he created the character of Wooton Basset. He is the author of eight comedy sketchbooks for Lillenas Drama Publishers. Torry is a two-time Gospel Music Association Grand Prize Winner for both his acting and writing abilities and he has a regularly featured humor column in two national periodicals called “On Course” and “Club House”. He makes his home in Sparta, Tennessee. You can visit his website at www.torrymartin.com.

This film is just in its first draft, and several more drafts are anticipated before the script satisfies its writers. Movies sometime take years, so it’s going to take a lot of prayer and finger crossing to push this to fruition ahead of the normal schedule.

It will be so good for our community area. It will get our “dream” out there for others to know and maybe encourage them to help us along. “The Dream”, as Muse and Gary began it, will (sort of) be incorporated into the story line.

On July 2nd, Torry, brought singer Erica Lane and filmmaker Kyle Saylors to visit the Princess. Megan Anderson guided them through the newly restored theater, giving them a bit of a history lesson.

Eric Lane Saylors is a (Beautiful! A personal editorial comment!) talented singer and had a new music video come out a month ago that is already up to almost 2 million hits on YouTube. She's creating a stir in Nashville and is recording a new contemporary music CD at the moment. To see her newest video "The Ballad of Sgt Hack", just click on the link! 

Kyle Saylors, is Erica's husband and he owns a production company with his brother Kenny called Saylors Entertainment. Their company has recently had a new series for red Bull picked up that features interviews with several top NFL players and will be airing on FOX Sports on Saturday nights all through football season. They also produced the award-winning documentary "Kimjongilia" that was featured on Fox News and was a hit at Sundance.

To learn more about the Saylors Brothers (click to visit the website). 

The group loved the Princess and think that it would not only be perfect for the film but that it would also be perfect for hosting a variety of concerts and events. (Maybe even an Erica Lane concert perhaps?) Hmmmm.

The group saw our Princess as a great asset, and wished us well in the first months of getting things grounded and moving forward.

Today (July 5th), Torry (right) came back for a follow up meeting, with cowriter Marshal Younger (blue t-shirt), who frequently collaborates with Torry on film scripts and radio drama ideas, and the possible director of the new film, Andrew Walkington (left), founder of the British Youth Film Academy and a well-known director with many credits to his name. 

Gary Baker and I met with the group and enjoyed watching Andrew eat his first American country cooking at the Cracker Barrel. He loved his dumplings, greens, and pinto beans with cornbread. I told him that’s what we all eat around here!

Under the shelter of a small tree in the parking lot, Torry spoke with Muse Watson, who may have a starring role in “The Christmas Star”. Watson has recently leaned toward faith based movies, like last year’s “A Christmas Story”, which he took to the stage in Branson, MO during the Christmas season.

The group seems well formed for success, and is now off to do more writing, planning, talking, networking, and praying about their project. I told them that the Princess Foundation, and the whole Harriman area, is behind this project, and that we (you and I) will do all we can to make it happen here.

They will be looking for downtown shooting locations, talking to many of you, and hoping some of you, and/or your vintage cars, might like to be in their movie. Please offer them your best hospitality!

For now, let’s keep a good thought, and “dream” about the possibly of this movie coming here to film!

Hurry back soon guys!