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“PUDDLEJUMPER” SCREENS AT DANCES WITH FILMS
24P Hi Def Comedic Short Marks Directorial Debut for Writer Dave West
LOS ANGELES, CA: Award winning director Dave West adds another stop to the film festival circuit with “Puddlejumper” which will top off DancesWithFilms’ first night. Marking its fifth year, DancesWithFilms will run July12th-18th, at Laemmle’s Santa Monica 4-Plex (1332 Second Street, Santa Monica). “Puddlejumper” will be shown on Friday, July 12th at 9:30pm.
“Puddlejumper” tells the story of an average guy caught in an international travel nightmare. Ed ventures to Mexico alone and wraps up his trip with a hearty shot of tequila that leads to a chaotic ride on a “puddlejumper.” While on this ride Ed meets his new love interest, Anna, a beautiful woman who does not speak any English. With language barriers aside, their innocent flirtation soon meets exuberant pain, as Ed gets the worst case of Montezuma’s revenge. It’s the story of when human nature meets Mother Nature.
Written by longtime friends Chris Marsall and Dave West, “Puddlejumper” stars Scott MacDonell (Ed) and Lorena Mena (Anna). The film is produced by Chris Marsall, edited by Michael Garber and composed by Ralph Carter. Mark Ritchie is the director of photography.
The comedic short was one of the first films to embrace a new alternative to traditional filmmaking, twenty four frame progressive (24P) high definition video. With a limited shooting schedule (three days), 24P was the obvious choice for the first-time filmmakers West and Marsall. West says, “A big advantage to shooting on Hi Def was the camera was so mobile.” Ritchie adds, “Hi Def gave us the opportunity to relocate much quicker than if we were shooting on film.” Ritchie’s recent experience with a Dreamworks Hi Def project contributed to the seamless shooting on “Puddlejumper.”
“Puddlejumper” won the heavily sought after “Best Comedy” award at the 11th Edition of the Arizona International Film Festival. After its premier at the Arizona International Film Festival, the short was screened at the Maui Film Festival and the Festival de Cine De Huesca in Huesca, Spain. “Puddlejumper” will be shown at several upcoming Film Festivals including the Long Island International Film Expo, Big Bear Lake Film Festival and the Malibu Film Festival.
Joining the mix of events for “Puddlejumper” will be the 6th annual LA Latino International Film Festival. The Eqyptian Theater in Hollywood will house this spectacular event beginning on the 19th of July and concluding on the 28th of July.
Commencing his career, West attended both Scottsdale Community College (SCC) and Northern Arizona University. It was his work in SCC’s highly reputable theatre program that earned him Best Actor of the 1990 American College Theater Festival.
West then headed East to New York’s American Academy of Dramatic Arts, where he worked in off-Broadway and off-off Broadway productions. West returned West to Los
Angeles and continued producing and directing theatrical productions, as well as working
on MOWs and the feature film “God’s Lonely Man.” He was cast in Academy Award-winning director Ernest Thompson’s “The Westside Waltz,” starring Liza Minelli and Shirley MacLaine.
DancesWithFilms was headed by a group of filmmakers who saw the drive for a festival which was targeted to and acknowledged the trials and tribulations of the number of talented filmmakers throughout the world.
The film’s official website is: www.puddlejumperhd.com.
The official website for DancesWithFilms Festival is: www.DancesWithFilms.com.
For more information contact: 323.993.5956.