FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Thursday, June 18, 2009
RE: Former Houston 1970s TV personality Warner Roberts "fired" from film "I'm Frightened Julie Andrews, I'm Frightened"
"I would like to say it was creative differences. However, about 10 minutes after we completed shooting the film, Warner said she was unaware of the direction of the script and had she known ..."
"She said this in front of the cast. I could not find words. I thought later that she was speaking the lines, she had read the script ... what part of it didn't she understand?" queries Brian, the writer, producer and director. "I've worked with Coleen Gray, Dawn Wells to Lillian Gish and this has never happened before. It boggles my mind!"
Brian's public relations manager indicates "It might have been the Texas heat. Warner is quite elderly and perhaps should retire gracefully."
"The film is superb. It was instantly re-scripted and better than before." smiles Brian.
"It's actually a love story and tribute to our beloved men and women, Moms and Dads, brothers and sisters, Aunts and Uncles, friends and neighbours, nieces and nephews ... all our true American Heroes ... our soldiers who are fighting and dying for freedom ..." sighs Brian. "These are actually part of the lines Warner objected to. She said them on camera and then a few minutes later ... it really saddens me."
"I'm not sure if Warner is anti-American soldiers or what." continues Brian. "I am honestly confused. They are lines in a movie and she said she was an actress. I guess since her last major role was over 30 years ago, perhaps she forgot."
"There is wisdom, true wisdom in knowing what you can and cannot do. When to stay and when to gracefully bow out. I hope when I get that old, I remember these words."
Brian smiles and added, "Otherwise, shoot me!"
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - Friday, June 19, 2009
RE: Dallas Hill Quits Movie "I'm Frightened Julie Andrews, I'm Frightened"
"After hearing Warner Roberts was fired ... Dallas Hill quit!"
"It was for the best." begins Brian. "They both had to use cue cards. They both cared about how they looked rather than the content of the film." begins Brian.
"I still believe it was highly odd that Warner said she didn't know the direction of the film. As I said, the first shoot had to be canceled because the cue cards I made were too small. The 2nd shoot was June 16th. The cards were LARGER and well, it ended as stated before. Warner insisted she didn't know where the film was headed. She could read the cards, but I guess she really didn't understand them. I mean - they were in English. And it was basically the same script we shot before and the same one she received in the mail. I guess she just didn't understand ... That's all I can think." says Brian.
"I definitely want to be shot when I get to be their age ... having to rely on cue cards and then not remembering what they said right after you said them." Brian goes on. "The film is complete with both of them. We even did a public service spot where say they, Hello, I'm Warner Roberts and I'm Dallas Hill, but somehow they got cold feet."
Prior to "firing" Roberts, Brian sent out snippets of the film to his movie critic friends in NYC. After getting word of what happened, some went on to say: "They weren't living in New York on 9/11. They weren't here. We were. Brian was here. He is a New Yorker. Unless you saw and witnessed America under attack, you don't love or care for America or really understand what was happening. Maybe that's what this Dallas and Warner are all about. Maybe they just don't care."
"I'm glad it worked this way." one critic said. "I saw them in 15 minutes of footage. Brian needs professional actresses, not community theatre players of 40 years ago. The script is too good. They were awful. Brian was seeing them through the eyes of love. If he had released it with them, his vision would have been destroyed with them in the lead. I would have roasted them alive!"
"I'm not saying they are un-American, anti-American soldiers or anti-Constitution, but I cannot help but wonder." sighs Brian. "I'm at peace though. The film on every level is superb. I almost threw out the baby with the bath water. Thankfully, I had friends who reminded me just to throw out the dirty liquid." smiles Brian.
Join the CHAIN REACTION
I'm Frightened Julie Andrews, I'm Frightened
Coming Christmas, 2009
See www.rarefilmclassics.com
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