Filmmaker Frank Ladner announces release of his latest feature, Max Peril

Tuesday, May 31, 2016 marks the long awaited release of Mississippi filmmaker Frank Ladner’s award winning feature Max Peril. The full length Southern comedy mockumentary has made the rounds of film festivals since its debut May 15 of last year and will finally be available for purchase.

Most recently, Max Peril served as the finale film for the 2016 Magnolia Independent Film Festival, where it won Best Homegrown. The Magnolia is Mississippi’s oldest film festival, founded in 1997 by the late filmmaker Ron Tibbett. It operates under the auspices of the Starkville Area Arts Council.

In October, 2015 the film won Best Feature at both the Sun and Sand Film Festival in Gulfport, MS and Rails to Reels in Meridian, MS. The film took Best Feature and Ladner won Best Actor at the 2015 (and inaugural) Festival South Film Expo in Hattiesburg, MS. Max Peril and his exploits earnedAudience Favorite honors at the Knoxville Film Festival, Knoxville, TN. Other awards include aDirector’s Award from North Carolina Film Award.

Other festivals which selected Max Peril to screen include Heart of the Pines, South Texas Underground Film, Lake Charles Film Festival, Big Muddy Film Festival, Y’Allywood Film Festival, Salt Lake International Film Festival, Virginia Film Festival, AMFM Fest and Boomtown Film and Music Festival. The film always ran as the finale breakout session for Southern GeekFest in April.

The release party takes place at Dimples Fried Chicken, 1113 S. Main St., Poplarville, MS, 5-8 p.m. The restaurant has a special connection for Ladner since it served as one of the locations for the film.

Following the release party, copies of the film may be ordered through Frank Ladner, as well as Amazon.com.

Originally appeared 05/12/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/filmmaker-frank-ladner-announces-release-of-his-latest-feature-max-peril

2016 PRCC film expo delights attendees with myriad of subjects

On Saturday, April 23, PRCC’s Digital Media Coordinator/Museum Director and film production instructor Ronn Hague welcomed participants and guests to an evening of independent short films as he kicked off the first annual Pearl River Community College Independent Short Film Expo. The event, held at PRCC’s Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts, featured eight short films. Seven of those films had roots in the south Mississippi/Louisiana area.

Two of the films were led by female filmmakers. “Scylla,” a horror film by Irene Gracie of Teaghleagh Films, screened in the first half of the program. Jessy Hughes’ “Sam” aired in the second portion, with its supernatural suspense overtones.

Hague and the film production department headed two, both featuring children dealing with un-childlike problems. “The Hole” dealt with a turnabout situation between a bully and his victim and opened the first half. “Hard Choice” portrayed three young people discussing a difficult problem dealing with potential terrorism and the ramifications of various courses of action.

“Almost Mine” by PRCC alumnus and award-winning filmmaker Frank Ladner shared a post-apocalypse love story set in a hardscrabble world. The short aired third in the first half of the program.

Rounding out the first half, “Road to State” followed a Louisiana high school soccer team as they defended their state championship in 2015. Brooks McMahon created the sports documentary, which shared the story of the St. Paul’s High School Wolves in pursuit of a second title.

A half-hour break allowed guests to meet and talk with the people involved in the movies shown in the first half of the program.

The second half opened with Neil Brimelow’s “Mr. Dr. Pepper Sniffer,” a comedic look at a feisty young girl behind the counter of a small diner.

“Hard Choice” followed and Jessy Hughe’s “Sam” led to the biggest event of the evening.

For only the second cinematic airing in the United States, “Black Angel” by two-time Academy Award winner Roger Christian showed on the big screen of the Brownstone center. The movie opened for “Star Wars Episode Five: The Empire Strike Back” in Australia and Europe during the film’s initial release. Lost for decades, the negative was found and restored. Hague negotiated for the opportunity to screen the film as part of the Expo.

A second meet and greet capped the evening, as a community college and Hollywood South offered the world a sample of what a filmmaking class can spark.

Originally appeared 04/24/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/2016-prcc-film-expo-delights-attendees-with-myriad-of-subjects

One-man show on C.S. Lewis transports audience to 1963 England

Entering the theater for the performance of An Evening with C.S. Lewis, the attendees found an empty arm chair next to an end table on the stage. On the table rested a cup and saucer and a glowing lamp. Other than those props, the stage at Pearl River Community College’s Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts was empty on February 11, 2016.

When British actor David Payne took the stage, the few props transformed into the living room of literary legend C.S. Lewis in 1963. The audience became a group of American writers visiting Lewis at The Kilns, his home outside Oxford. Payne began an extended monologue which entranced his listeners and carried them into the world of the man who brought Narnia to the world.

Lewis, known as Jack to his family and friends, led an amazing, often difficult life. Payne shared retrospective of that life as Lewis approaches the end of his road. The one-man play includes memories of Lewis’ childhood and young adulthood, his professional relationships, his marriage and his faith journey.

Early in the play, the viewers heard of the literary rivalry between Lewis and T.S. Eliot. Their friendship endured their mutual disdain for each other’s genre.

A passion for Norse mythology, ignited by a reading of a Longfellow poem, provided common ground for a friendship with J.R.R. Tolkien. Payne took the audience through their relationship, speaking of critique sessions and encouragement.

Tolkien and Hugo Dyson influenced Lewis in his decision to abandon his stand as an atheist and return to faith. Payne described the events with his well-modulated British cadence, showing the passion in his language rather than the volume of his voice.

The play included discussion of Lewis’ service in World War I and how it interrupted his college education.

Through the story of meeting of Joy Gresham, her move to England, their marriage of convenience followed by a true marriage, to her death just eight years after their first meeting, Payne displayed a depth of emotion tempered with hope. Lewis based his book The Shadowlands on his relationship with Gresham.

Payne auditioned for a bit part in the play based on The Shadowlands in 1996. He won the lead, which began his deep affection for the author’s work and led to his writing of this play and other works based on the life and works of C.S. Lewis.

With his measured British accent and liberal use of wit, Payne enthralled the audience at the Brownstone. A brief question-and-answer session following the play allowed them to get to know him better. He spoke of how much he enjoyed the theater in the small Mississippi town. Payne joked about Poplarville’s single traffic signal.

Any fan of C.S. Lewis’ writings will find the evening well spent. Students of twentieth century history will enjoy the insights into the period. Theater fans in general can lose themselves in the magic of an arm chair, a table, a lamp and a talented British actor recreating a bygone author’s twilight. Look for An Evening with C.S. Lewis.

Originally appeared 02/12/2016 at http://www.examiner.com/article/one-man-show-on-c-s-lewis-transports-audience-to-1963-england

Max Peril debut promises Southern mockumentary fun from filmmaker Frank Ladner

Independent Mississippi movie maker Frank Ladner premieres his latest film, Max Peril, on Friday, May 15 at 7:30 p.m. The event takes place at the impressive Brownstone Center for the Arts on the campus of Pearl River Community College in Poplarville, Miss.

In the tradition of his award-winning 2012 film, Hickory Never Bleeds, Ladner casts local talent to play the roles in his independent Southern mockumentary film and sets the scenes in and around his community. Some familiar faces return including Ladner, his wife Janna, Mark Forte, Mary Etta Moody, James “Sonny” Howard, Sherri Marengo and Bobby Smith, along with several new actors.

Max Peril tells the story of Riley Young, an aspiring filmmaker who has promised himself to complete a movie by his thirtieth birthday. Now 29 years old, he commits to finishing his latest project. Within Young’s story exists the story he is filming, that of a shadowy figure with big tales of undercover operations. Here’s Ladner’s official synopsis: In an effort to finish a film before turning thirty, and in hopes of winning his county’s first annual film festival, Riley Young documents and re-creates the increasingly far-fetched stories of a retired secret agent using only local talent, a VHS camcorder, and every low-budget filmmaking trick he knows.

The official trailer shares hints of the adventure to come.

Ladner’s approach to storytelling results in winning films, as acknowledged by his 2013 Tupelo Film Festival award in the Feature Film category for Hickory Never Bleeds. As he prepares to share Max Peril with audiences for the first time, Ladner announced that the film has been accepted into the 2015 FestivalSouth Competition set for June 6-20.

Here’s Parental Guidance information from the filmmaker:

No profanity, gore, or adult situations.
Stylized comedic action.
Some gun use.
Minor euphemisms ("dang", "crap", "heck".)
Brief testicular humor.
Brief near-kissing scene.

Tickets to the premiere are priced at $5.00 and must be purchased at the door. Proceeds benefit the PRCC Film Production Class. Look for The Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts on the PRCC campus located on Highway 11 just north of Highway 26 in Poplarville.

Originally appeared 04/25/2015 at http://www.examiner.com/article/max-peril-debut-promises-southern-mockumentary-fun-from-filmmaker-frank-ladner

Free video available for fans of Mississippi's Frank Ladner

Fans of Mississippi filmmaker Frank Ladner have a surprise treat waiting for them in his release of a short subject on YouTube. His new film, “Almost Mine,” offers a change from his previous Southern mock-umentaries with a tightly scripted plot and cast of two. The more cinematic approach Ladner takes with this new project shows another aspect of the young man’s talent.

Jessy Hughes and Matthew McCoy play a couple living in a post-apocalyptic world in Colorado, struggling to make a living as gemstone miners. Although their lives are difficult, they share a special bond.

Shot entirely on location in Poplarville, the film follows the appealing couple through their routine as they search for and process the lapis lazuli they sell to support themselves in a gritty, hard knocks world. The two stars bring a warm humanity to what could have been a situation beyond the understanding of viewers. Demonstrating a deft comedic touch with a romance in the ruins of civilization, the pair remain beautiful under their tattered exteriors.

As an independent filmmaker, Ladner understands the need for new approaches and creative content. His films bring both, laced with wit and a family-friendly attitude. Viewers of all ages can enjoy his work from the start and appreciate new layers in it with each additional viewing.

Trailers for Ladner’s earlier films, “Hickory Never Bleeds” and “Max Peril,” appeared on YouTube, but “Almost Mine” runs in its entirety, a free gift for viewers to cherish. The award winning filmmaker has maintained his quirky, offbeat perspective for the short subject, offering a fresh look at relationships and survival. The little film carries the potential to introduce a whole new audience to his earlier works. While “Hickory Never Bleeds” is available for purchase on DVD, “Max Peril” is still screening at film festivals across the country and will be available for purchase sometime in 2016.

Look for “Almost Mine” and the trailers to Ladner’s full-length works at YouTube. Visit his website for additional short subjects which showcase the film making talents of Poplarville’s Frank Ladner.

Originally appeared 12/26/2015 at http://www.examiner.com/article/free-video-available-for-fans-of-mississippi-s-frank-ladner

Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts shines on college campus

Art has a new home in south Mississippi. With the grand opening of the new Ethel Holden Brownstone Center for the Arts on the Poplarville campus of Pearl River Community College, a world class performance venue sits ready to accommodate nearly any program. With seating for around 900 patrons, the Smith Auditorium welcomes visitors with soft neutral earth tones accented with beautiful wood. Comfortable seats fill the hall with both floor level and balcony seats available.

The Brownstone Bequest

Funded in part by a bequest from the estate of Brownstone, the building provides an eye-catching elevation on the campus. It was designed with the guidance of professional theater and acoustic experts to meet high standards for a performance venue. It fills the gap left by loss of the former facility in Moody Hall in Hurricane Katrina and goes far beyond that former hall in quality.

The Smith Auditorium

The plaque on the exterior of the auditorium tells of the impact of its namesakes Martin and Dolores Smith. Their commitment to the college over decades has earned them the honor of a hall named for them. They are Patron Sponsors for the Arts at the college and were guests of honor at the Inaugural Concert.

Art in-house

Outside the auditorium, the rest of the building displays details of design that make this a premiere location for the arts. A display of photos dresses the lobby area. A portrait of Lucien and Ethel Holden Brownstone hangs on an exterior wall. Another of the Smiths hangs nearby. Elsewhere, photographs of iconic images from the campuses of the college adorn the walls.

The Inaugural season

Under the watchful eye of Archie Rawls, Chairman of the Department of Fine Arts and Communication, the building will host a number of events in its premiere season, with more added as appropriate. A sold-out crowd enjoyed the auditorium’s exemplary acoustics at the inaugural concert by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra on Sept. 24. 

A mixed program of music, lectures and theater include appearances by theoretical physicist and author Dr. Michio Kaku¸ Leslie McCurdy in a one-woman show based on Harriet Tubman and the Count Basie Orchestra as well as various PRCC musical groups. Many of the performances offer complimentary admission.

South Mississippi can look forward to many fine arts events in the future, with a venue like the Brownstone to attract and house them.

Originally appeared 09/25/2013 at http://www.examiner.com/article/ethel-holden-brownstone-center-for-the-arts-shines-on-college-campus