LANCASTER PREMIERE EVENING

We sat in the theatre and ran tests. Harvey Owen wanted to get it just right. “From the top!”, shouted Harvey. The film was digitally re-racked and we waited for our cues. Lit by the flickering of the first hundred frames of my latest film, the Ware center’s modern and purpose-filled acoustical structure looked like the inside of some giant space ark ready to take off. It made me wish that the intro to the film was the scrolling storyline of “A New Hope.” But I guess, you can’t recreate that sort of greatness. It was at rehearsal that I realized the gravity of what “The Chameleon Club” (A Documentary Film) was experiencing.

The Ware Center was originally built as the new home for the Lancaster Academy of Music but long story short, that didn’t work out for them. After a time in real estate limbo, Millersville University stepped in and added it to their already great school as a way to connect more deeply with Lancaster. And connect they did. On Jan 23, 2012 an array of classes started there. In addition to expanding their university’s reach they also seem to have a commitment to Lancaster and it’s arts. This is evident in their film series and the other things they are trying to bring to a still growing Lancaster Downtown.

As I was looking for a venue for the local premiere, I had a lot of considerations to be met. Price, accessibility, class… and after an introduction by Andrea Campbell of Natural Light Films, we were speaking with Harvey Owen about being the first of their upstart independent and foreign film series. All of our considerations were met fairly and we were off to promotion.

About a week before the event, we had sold every ticket. I tell people this was bittersweet. I knew it was only a one night event and while it’s a good feeling to have every seat filled, I was getting calls from close friends and associates who had not been able to purchase a ticket in time. As is the way with these types of events (and Rich Ruoff could tell you), some people didn’t show, and many from the enormous waiting list were able to attend by simply attending the free reception.

Photo by Lori Stahl

Among those attending were Jack Lewars and Katie Hyde Lewars of the upcoming film “Mount Joy”, the present and former owners of the Chameleon Club itself, Steve Murray, who is now one year into a miraculous recovery from a fire that destroyed his Lancaster shop Zap & Co. (now with immediate plans to rebuild!) and equally touching to me, a 2,500 mile journey by the original interior decorator of the Chameleon Club which was known for it’s themed artistic social segments, James Roland Snyder. There were standing ovations for the special people there, and before the film, a dedication by the Mayor of Lancaster, Rick Gray.

People were ready to start the film. I went up on stage as Harvey called me up. I looked around and explained how happy I was, how huge a moment it was for me in just a few words and said “Let’s just roll the film?” Behind my wife, John Flavin I believe said “That’s what I’m talking’ about! Yeah!” When she told me this I smiled.

Throughout the film there was laughter, happy and reminiscent tears, and even the occasional shout. This is a cool feeling as a film maker to be able to see so many people react positively and directly to your film as it is played largely on a state-of-the-art system in a world class room. I got to feel the emotion coming off the crowd which you don’t get from selling to the masses. It was wonderful.

All in all, this night reinforced what I knew all along about the Chameleon Club and about Lancaster. There is a sense of family and togetherness in the accomplishments of our citizens. In the creativity of our next-door neighbor. From the filmmaker to the interior decorator to the fine artist and the music venue establisher or operator. We are proud of each other and we seek to support that and celebrate it whenever possible.

Days later, the entire studio here at Postage, Inc. was still walking on air. We exchanged several excited calls with Rich, the founder and we were just in awe of the night and how perfect it was. Thanks to all who helped make the film, the premiere and the Chameleon Club possible. We were honored to tell the story and to be the first of what I’m sure will be an amazing and long running film series, changing the entertainment dynamic of Downtown Lancaster indefinitely.

Photo by Theresa @ PA Music Scene

RECENT CHAMELEON CLUB DOCUMENTARY NEWS:

On November 20, we had a festival screening at the Souther Screen Festival in Lafayette, LA.
We were unfortunately turned down by SXSW but we continue on! We will be submitting to film festivals through July of this year.
The LanCast Podcast will be airing an episodic interview with me about the film and the next documentary project on Monday, January 30th.
There will be an article in the February 5th edition of the Lancaster Sunday News.
The film will be playing at 7:30pm for 13 days on LCTV-66 on Comcast Cable in the Lancaster area.