The
Woodcutter, (now
changed to "Missing in America") a powerful contemporary
drama starring Danny Glover, Linda Hamilton, David Strathairn,
Ron Perlman and introducing Zoe Weizenbaum, begins principal photography
November 17th (2003) in Vancouver, British Columbia.
A
co-production of Angel Devil Productions and Intrinsic Value,
the film marks the feature film directing debut of Gabrielle Savage
Dockterman, an award-winning producer, director and writer of
interactive video and television projects. Isen Robbins and Aimee
Schoof, partners in the New York-based production company, Intrinsic
Value, are the producers. The screenplay by Ken Miller & Gabrielle
Savage Dockterman & Nancy L. Babine is based on an original story
by Miller, shaped by events from Miller's experiences in the Vietnam
War and the internal struggle that followed.
Glover stars as Jake Neeley, a Vietnam veteran haunted
by memories of lives lost under his command, who has lived in
self-imposed exile in the rain forest of the Pacific Northwest
for more than thirty years. A former member of his platoon (David
Strathairn) mysteriously appears at his remote cabin, only to
vanish overnight, leaving behind his nine-year-old daughter.
Jake has no choice but to care for the child.
Linda Hamilton plays a feisty, widowed storekeeper who is the
woodcutter's sole contact with the outside world. Sparks fly when
she sees a new side of Jake as he is transformed by his
relationship with the child. Ron Perlman portrays a badly scarred,
deranged "bush vet" the little girl attempts to befriend.
Zoe Weizenbaum makes her screen debut as "Lenny", the spirited
Amerasian youngster whose presence unearths long-buried emotions
in Jake, leading him on an unexpected journey to healing.
Director
Gabrielle Savage Dockterman has spearheaded the use of interactive
media in projects for the Smithsonian Institution, the National
Science Foundation, the U.S. Department of Education and others.
"Rainforest Researchers," which took her to a jungle island off
the coast of Sumatra to document primitive remedies now being
used in cancer research, won the prestigious Codie Award, the
ITVA Golden Reel, the Technology and Learning Award of Excellence,
the NewMedia Invision Award and a Parents' Choice Award. "The
Great Solar System Rescue," an interactive video adventure, was
a New York Film Festival award winner, while her series, "Minds-On
Science" is on permanent display at the National Museum of American
History.
Producers Isen Robbins and Aimee Schoof have produced, co-produced
and/or packaged fourteen independent feature films through Intrinsic
Value including the Sundance Film Festival contenders, "XX/XY"
starring Mark Ruffalo and Kathleen Robertson (released by IFC
and MGM Home Video), "The Hebrew Hammer" (Strand Releasing and
the Comedy Channel), "Beyond the Ocean" and "Te Amo." Intrinsic
Value's "Death of a Dynasty" is a 2003 Tribeca Film Festival premiere,
while "Anything But Love," starring Andrew McCarthy, Isabel Rose,
Cameron Bancroft and Eartha Kitt will be released this month by
the Samuel Goldwyn Company. Recently completed are "Brother to
Brother" and "Satan's Little Helper" starring Amanda Plummer.
Ron
McLeod and Blake Corbet (of Canada's Anagram Pictures) are co-producers
of The Woodcutter. Ken Kelsch ASC ("Big Night," "Bad Lieutenant")
is the cinematographer and Katterina Keith ("Control," "Stealing
Sinatra") the production designer. Casting is by Adrienne Stern
(New York) with additional casting by Aikins/Cossey Casting (Vancouver)
and NewVoices/New Visions (Boston). Two-time Emmy nominee Sheldon
Mirowitz will compose the original musical score.
* * *
Official website for "Missing in America"
"Missing
in America" sweeps the boards at Monaco International Film
Festival
DVD Reviews
thetrades.com
- January 13, 2006
Blogcritics.org
- August 29, 2006
Order the
DVD at: Amazon.com
Trivia:
The
storyline for "Missing in America" was inspired
by the Lee Teter print "Reflections.'' The film's screenwriter,
retired U.S. Army Major Ken Miller, who served in Vietnam, saw
Teter's famous illustration in an art gallery and immediately
was filled with war-related emotions.
More
information on this incredible piece of artwork can be found at
:
http://www.militaryartshop.com/prints/teter/reflections.htm
http://www.vva.org/TheVeteran/2004_03/feature_teter.htm