Leading Ladies Blog

Wolfe Video has captured the domestic distribution rights to filmmakers Daniel Beahm and Erika Randall Beahm’s high-energy romantic musical comedy, Leading Ladies.

If this independently produced film was instead a studio-driven production, it would have had a major theatrical roll-out.  Instead, the filmmakers took the festival circuit approach beginning in April of last year –at small venues such as the Sonoma International Film Festival (where it captured the Showcase Award in its debut outing) and the Honolulu Rainbow Film Festival.

More festivals followed.  More awards.  Then a move to the international circuit, where Leading Ladies was also well-received.  Word spread.  Toes were tapping.  Audiences and critics were singing its praises and now Wolfe Video has a genuine early fall sleeper on its hands.

This early announcement for DVD, coupled with additional film festival exposure (the closing night film at this year’s San Francisco United Film Festival on June 27), gives Wolfe plenty of time to work the streets and build awareness.

In the competitive world of ballroom dancing –think: combat staging grounds for Dancing with the Stars, etc. –there is Sheri Campari (Melanie LaPatin –an actual dancer who handled the choreography and was featured as a dancer in such films as Dance With Me and The Thomas Crown Affair), a stage mom on a mission.  She is a force of nature.

She has two daughters in their early 20’s.  One is Anastasia (Shannon Lea Smith) –known to all as just “Tai –and the other is Antoinette (Laurel Vail –The Echo Game), the “ugly duckling” of the family who answer to Toni.  You can see early on where mom has her priorities, Tasi will be the star and Toni will be her support, even to the point of dressing the role as her partner in the seemingly endless practice sessions (the stand-in lead).

End of story, right?  If you believe that, then you’ve never seen a really good MGM musical from the golden days of such fare.  There will be twists and turns, elaborate dance numbers, wonderful (and original) music, love interests and a certain “leading lady” will shine.  This is a keeper.

Funny that there was no mention of Benji Schwimmer (season two winner of So You Think You Can Dance) or the fact that Melanie LaPatin is a regular choreographer on the show.  I guess that means the film can stand on it’s own merit!

Less than two years after starting pre-production on Leading Ladies, we are very happy to announce that the film will receive distribution in North America via Wolfe Video.

The film is slated for release via the typical outlets (Netflix, iTunes, Amazon, Blockbuster, Xfinity VOD, Time-Warner VOD, Official Website DVD, distributor direct DVD, etc.) in early September 2011!

Now begins the work on cover art, DVD extras, trailers, advertising, promotion, etc.

It never seems to end! [smile]

Blairwood Entertainment will be handling distribution sales for Leading Ladies in all territories outside of English speaking N. America.

The relationship was struck after Leading Ladies screened at the Palm Springs International Film Festival.

Blairwood will be presenting Leading Ladies at the Marche du Film at the Cannes International Film Festival as well as the American Film Market (November 2-9, 2011) and European Film Market in Berlin (February 9-17, 2012).

Yesterday we announced that Leading Ladies will be playing Palm Springs International Film Festival.  Not only that, but we are being featured as a Gala Event (Wednesday, January 12 at 7pm at the Annenberg Theater in the Palm Springs Art Museum)!  This is a boon for us (beyond just the cool factor of having a Gala Event!), as it usually means special mention when publications announce Palm Springs screenings and activities.

We are very excited to keep the energy and excitement going after a great festival year in 2010.  We hit 23 festivals in a little under 8 months and sold out a lot of those shows!  Not bad for a “little” dance musical about love and family.

We love our fans, and appreciate you guys SO MUCH.  Thanks for telling your friends about the film, and thanks for your enthusiasm for Leading Ladies.  We love it when people take “ownership” of our message of love.  The word is getting out, and the film is getting more and more attention and love –all great steps towards that “Big D,” DISTRIBUTION!

Let Love Lead!!!

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1118029415?refCatId=13

The festival will feature gala screenings of Peter Weir’s "The Way Back" and Max Winkler’s "Ceremony" and special presentations of Monte Hellman’s "Road to Nowhere," Ed Gass-Donnelly’s "Small Town Murder Songs," "Loose Cannons," "Leading Ladies" and "The Hedgehog."

http://entertainment.latimes.com/awards/2010/12/palm-springs-festival-announces-lineup.html

193 films from 68 countries including 59 premieres — nine world, 17 North American and 33 U.S.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/2010/12/22/palm_springs_locks_in_full_2011_slate

The festival will also feature two Gala screenings and four Special Presentations this year. Peter’s Weir’s “The Way Back” will screen as an Australian Gala, Max Winkler’s comedy “Ceremony” starring Uma Thurman will serve as the Mid-Festival Gala, while Ferzan Ozpetek’s farce “Loose Cannons” and Daniel Beahm’s musical “Leading Ladies” will each play as Gay!La (His) & (Hers) screenings.

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/catherine-deneuves-potiche-open-palm-65000

On tap for gala screenings are Peter Weir’s The Way Back, starring Colin Farrell and Ed Harris; Max Winkler’s Ceremony, starring Michael Angarano and Uma Thurman; Ferzan Ozpetek’s Italian farce Loose Cannons; and Daniel Beahm and Erika Randall Beahm’s Leading Ladies.

Here’s a little interview Erika and Daniel did during the Starz Denver Film Festival with a local media group called Nickel City Collective.

Enjoy!

http://nickelcitycollective.com/archives/234

Video from the Red Carpet:

•  The Huffington Post http://www.huffingtonpost.com/angora-holly-polo/red-carpet-royalty-starz-_b_780647.html

More pics:

• The Examiner http://www.examiner.com/movie-theater-in-denver/stars-and-directors-line-the-red-carpet-at-the-33rd-denver-film-festival
• Denver (about) http://denver.about.com/od/photogalleries/ig/33rd-Starz-Film-Festival-Photos/

From the Denver PBS program In Focus with Eden Lane.  The first part of the interview is with Starz Denver Film Festival Director Britta Erickson.  The interview with Daniel and Erika starts around 10:32.  Our scope/2:35 footage from the film looks a bit odd as it’s been “squeezed” to conform to the 16:9 aspect ratio, but the interview is fun and we love Eden!