Waterdog Films Announces Theatrical Release Of “16 To Life”

Aug. 31, 2010 - PRLog -- Waterdog Films announced today theater locations for the premiere of the feature film 16 to Life, written and directed by Emmy‐nominated director Becky Smith. The film is slated to open in the following cities: Elkader, Iowa (Elkader Cinema, September 3); Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin (Star Theater, September 3); Iowa City, Iowa (Bijou Theater, September 8); Cedar Rapids, Iowa (Collins Road, September 9); Sioux City, Iowa (Main Street-Promenade, September 9); Dubuque, Iowa (Mindframe Theaters, September 10); Des Moines, Iowa (Fleur Cinema, September 10); Davenport Quad Cities, Iowa (Rave Theater, September 10); Omaha, Nebraska (Rave Theater, September 10); Kansas City, Kansas (Glenwood Arts Theater, September 17) and Los Angeles, California (TBA). Additional dates are expected and can be found at www.16ToLifeTheMovie.org.

The award‐winning 16 to Life is a romantic comedy that puts a wry, witty and unpredictable ensemble cast in a small‐town locale reminiscent of a Capra comedy. Critics have often compared 16 to Life to the films Juno and Sixteen Candles. 16 to Life  follows Kate (Halle Hirsh), a teenager whose angst about her sexual inexperience fuels a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays. Kate is turning Sweet 16 – and has never been kissed. Before the clock strikes midnight, Kate will learn more about love, lust and life, than she could ever imagine!

Despite challenging fiscal roadblocks that face independent films today, Waterdog Films was able to produce this feature film through Iowa tax incentives. The Iowa incentives, currently on hold, were also used for the Sundance premiered Sugar, which won national attention and went on to a theatrical release. 16 to Life is the second film produced under the tax incentives.

Smith says, “I can say with certainty that we would not have been able to make this film on location, in Iowa, without the tax incentives. There is enormous talent in the Midwest, and great interest in filmmaking – so I hope that the program can be reinstated in some form.”

Executive producer Terry Trimpe addresses the challenges of getting independent films distributed. He says, “While it is difficult for independent film producers to get a film produced today, it’s more challenging to get it distributed. We feel quite fortunate to have been able to create the opportunities with Iowa, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Kansas and California theaters to show the film in its quest for national distribution.”

Smith also acknowledges the challenges of being a female director despite industry pioneers like Barbra Streisand and Oscar-winner Kathryn Bigelow.  "Women are still very much a minority in film and television directing," Smith says.  "16 to Life is unique in that a woman directed it and women held several other key positions, including Director of Photography, Production Designer and Editor."

The ensemble cast includes Halle Hirsh (ER, You’ve Got Mail), Mandy Musgrave (South of Nowhere) and film veteran Theresa Russell (Black Widow, Spiderman III). Rounding out the cast are Shiloh Fernandez (The Girl with the Red Riding Hood, United States of Tara), Nicholas Downs, an Iowa native, (Pearl Harbor), Jamie Gomez (Nash Bridges, Crimson Tide) and Will Rothhaar (Battle Los Angeles). Style guru and television personality Carson Kressley makes a cameo and is one of the movie’s producers.

Filmed entirely in Iowa (McGregor, Marquette and Stone City) the writer‐director’s native state, 16 to Life has won six “Best Feature” awards at film festivals internationally. Hirsh has received two “Best Actress” awards and Russell received one “Best Supporting Actress” award. This is the first feature length film from television director Smith. Smith says, “I’ve been working in film and television for more than 15 years, and this was the best experience I’ve had, working in a beautiful place on a story I believe in, with a very talented group of people.”

Becky Smith is an Emmy‐nominated director (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy). She received her Masters Degree in film from Stanford University and is an alumna of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women. The Okoboji, Iowa native is a faculty member at the UCLA Film School and resides in Los Angeles.

For more information about 16 to Life, log onto www.16ToLifeTheMovie.org. To arrange a media interview with Becky Smith, contact Haasan Morse at Morse Code PR – 917‐576‐0130 or Haasan@MorseCodePR.com

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