'Simple Things' this weekend at California Independent Film Festival

Hello fellow members, "Simple Things" will be screening as part of the California Independent Film Festival on Friday, April 20, 2007 at 7:00pm. We would like to extend an invitation to all the members of this group that may be available to join us in Livermore, CA.

Details on the film are as follows, to secure your ticket please contact us at the number below.

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Media Advisory
April 16, 2007

SIMPLE THINGS Nominated for SIX Awards
at California Independent Film Festival

Hollywood, CA (04/16/2007) - The multi-award winning family film "Simple Things" has been nominated for six awards at California's prestigious Independent Film Festival. Among the award nominations are: "Best Picture", "Best Cinematography", "Best Score", "Best Actor in a Leading Role" (Cameron Bancroft), "Best Actress in a Leading Role" (Bellamy Young) and "Best Director" (Andrew C. Erin).

Inspired by the experiences of renowned pediatrician, Dr. Olson Huff (Recipient of North Carolina's distinguished Order of the Long Leaf Pine and The National Child Labor Committee's Lewis Hine Award) and touted as, "... a movie that every pediatric resident in America should see before they set foot into practice." Set in the breathtakingly beautiful mountains of North Carolina, this award winning film provides a deep message about healing, both emotionally and physically.

A heartwarming family drama about a pediatrician, his son and a community. Dr. Evan Gibbs loses his wife to cancer and in his grief, distances himself from his nine-year-old son who also is struggling with the loss of his mother. From their familiar location and the father’s demanding practice and driving ambition, they are guided to a small town where simple things lead both of them to a deeper appreciation of life and for those with whom they share it.

Written and directed by Best Director Nominee, Andrew C. Erin "Simple Things" stars Cameron Bancroft ("24"), Bellamy Young ("Mission Impossible 3"), Aidan Mitchell (FX's "The Riches"), Mickey Jones ("Sling Blade"), Joshua Leonard ("Blair Witch"), Amber Benson ("Buffy"), Melissa Fitzgerald ("West Wing") and Edie McClurg ("Ferris Buehler's Day Off") and was executive produced by North Carolina's own, David Huff of Back 40 Films (www.back40films.com) in association with Los Angeles-based producer Tosca Musk of Musk Entertainment (www.muskentertainment.com).

For more information on "Simple Things" and to buy your advance copy, please go to www.simplethingsthemovie.com and for information and/or tickets to the California Independent Film Festival, please go to www.caindiefest.com.

For all media inquiries, please contact PPMG, (310) 860-7774; (310) 600-0575 or email: [email protected]

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READ THE LATEST REVIEW IN FROM BETTY JO TUCKER
REEL TALK REVIEWS

http://www.reeltalkreviews.com/browse/viewitem.asp?type=review&id=2132

Magic in the Mountains
by Betty Jo Tucker

What a lovely film! That was my first -- and still lingering -- reaction after watching Simple Things, a heartwarming drama about a recently widowed Chicago pediatrician who takes his ten-year-old son with him to the North Carolina mountains. Charged with setting up a clinic there to test his readiness for promotion at the hospital where he works, the doctor tells the boy, “It’s just for the summer,” and really believes this to be true. But “mountain time” works its magic on father and son. Both learn to appreciate the special pace of their new surroundings as well as their own feelings for each other while gaining new friends and learning the value of -- yes -- “simple things.”

Used to the hectic life of the big city and mourning the recent death of his wife, Dr. Evan Gibbs (Cameron Bancroft) finds adjustment to his new location quite challenging. He gets off on the wrong foot with lovely Mayor Terry Hudson (Bellamy Young), humiliates himself at a town meeting, and can’t figure out the strange handyman (wonderfully played by Mickey Jones) who’s assigned “to fix things that need fixing” at the rundown clinic -- which means practically everything. Evan must undergo a massive attitude adjustment in order to make the clinic a success. Fortunately, he’s nudged along by the no-nonsense Terry, who knows and loves the community and its inhabitants.

Nate (Aidan Mitchell), Evan’s shy and lonely son, fares somewhat better. Although left to fend for himself, he soon meets the mayor’s daughter (Channing Nichols), an imaginative girl about his own age, and her quiet sidekick (Zachary Gardner). During sequences showing these youngsters becoming pals -- as they go on walks in the woods, share childhood adventures and encounter bullies -- the film is reminiscent of To Kill a Mockingbird. A high compliment indeed, for that just happens to be one of my all-time favorite movies!

Simple Things offers a refreshing and uplifting movie experience, especially after seeing so many special-effects-driven films emphasizing violence, action and car chases. The performances couldn’t be better. Bancroft (Mystery, Alaska) and Young (We Were Soldiers) play off each other delightfully in their roles of a doctor and mayor who don’t see eye-to-eye but come to respect, even admire, each other. Mitchell (The TV Set) tugs your heartstrings as Nate comes to grips with his beloved mother’s death. No wonder he was named Best Supporting Child Actor at the 2007 International Family Film Festival, where the movie itself earned a well-deserved “Spirit” Award. Bravo!

(Released by Back 40 Films; not rated by MPAA. For more information about Simple Things, go to www.simplethingsthemovie.com.)