FILMMAKER MAGAZINE | Spring 1997: PRODUCTION UPDATE

PRODUCTION UPDATE

In Shawn Alex Thompson's first feature, the wacky Christmas fantasy Dinner at Fred's, Gil Bellows (Shawshank Redemption) stars as Richard, an affable young exec whose life spins out of control when his car breaks down en route to his boss' country estate. Heading for a Christmas fete where he'd planned to propose to the titan's daughter, the penniless Richard hikes to a nearby town and enters its talent contest with his childhood magic act in hopes of a cash prize. Kids in the Hall's Kevin McDonald plays Fred, a local who buys Richard's act and brings him home to meet his unhinged father (Christopher Lloyd) and winning sister Celia (Parker Posey) and work some Christmas magic on the family's wild turkey curse. The magic, of course, turns out to be between Bellows and Posey. "Fred's is about restimulating the wholehearted faith we have as children," says Thompson.

Thompson, 35, was a professional magician at 18 and ran away to join the circus before moving on to theater with groups like Second City. He got noticed working both sides of the camera for the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation series It's Only Rock and Roll and We Don't Knock, and John Waters cast him in Hairspray as Corny Collins. His recent credits include writing "Outer Limits" episodes, making shorts for "The Newz" and starring in Bram Stoker's Shadowbuilder.

Fred's spent several years under option to Universal before getting made by HandMade films, the British indie company Beatle George Harrison founded that's best known for '80s cult hits like Withnail and I and Time Bandits. Canadian giant Paragon Entertainment bought HandMade's library and revived its production unit two years ago; the first slate of new HandMade films includes the Brit-noir comedy Intimate Relations, which Fox Searchlight bought at last year's AFM and releases here this spring. Fred's was made on a tight 24-day Toronto shoot for "several million dollars" according to executive producer Todd Harris. All rights are available.

Cast: Gil Bellows, Parker Posey, Christopher Lloyd, Kevin McDonald, John Neville, Kristen Lehman. Crew: Producer, Jon Slan; Co-Producers, Alison Emilio, Janet E. Cuddy; Executive Producers, J. Todd Harris, Gareth Jones; Screenwriter/Director, Shawn Alex Thompson; Director of Photography, Robert New; Production Designer, Marian Wihak; Editor, Michael Pacek. Contact: Hilary Davis, HandMade Films, 15 Golden Square, First Floor, London, England W1R 3AG. Tel: 0171 434-3132.