Indie Teen Romantic Comedy "16 to Life" premieres at MethodFest, Sat. March 28

March 23, 2009 - PRLog -- "16 to Life" chosen as premiere film at MethodFest 2009.

Press Contact:   admin@16tolifethemovie.org
Trailer, Links:  http://www.16tolifethemovie.org

Emmy nominated television director Becky Smith's first feature film "16 to Life" has been chosen by MethodFest as the premiere film for its Sat. March 28 premiere in Calabasas/Agoura Hills, CA.  The film stars Hallee Hirsh, Mandy Musgrave, veteran screen actress Theresa Russell, Jaime Gomez, Queer Eye's Carson Kressley, Shiloh Fernandez and Will Rothhaar.

"16 to Life" is a Capra-esque romantic comedy of small town misfits. Kate, a rural American teen, is turning 16 and has never been kissed. Kate is obsessed with books on eclectic subjects, currently the Cultural Revolution in China.  Kate's angst about sexual inexperience and guilt will drive a comic quest for love and understanding on a birthday to end all birthdays.  Before the clock strikes midnight, Kate and her best friend Darby will discover more about love than most 16 year-olds can imagine.  And Kate will learn what a 16-year old American girl has in common with a 16-year-old Chinese girl half a world, and a cultural revolution away.

“16 to Life” was filmed entirely on location on the Mississippi River.  Smith says, "We ordered 25 authentic uniforms from the Cultural Revolution. When they arrived at US Customs from Shanghai, Customs would not release them.  We were forced to hire a lawyer and send our Production Manager on a six hour drive to Chicago to clarify that we weren’t terrorists."  

"16 to Life" premiere's Saturday, March 28 at Regency Theater, Agoura
Hills, 29045 Agoura Hills Road, Agoura Hills, CA  91301  tel) 818-707-9987
Schedule for the evening:
6:30pm - Red Carpet Walk with the Stars of "16 to Life"
7:00pm - Screening of the film
8:30pm - Q&A with writer/director Becky Smith and stars of "16 to Life"
9:00pm - MethodFest's Mercedes Benz of Calabasas After-Pary for Festival Pass Holders
Tickets for the premiere can be purchased at the website: http://www.16tolifethemovie.org

About Becky Smith:  Smith was nominated in 2004 for an Emmy in directing (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), the same year the show won an Emmy, and has directed numerous series and pilots for networks including MTV, MTV2, NBC, Fox, Disney Channel, PBS, Fuse and ABC Family. Her documentary onTitle IX, “In the Game,” received numerous awards, including Best Television Documentary of the Year from Women in Radio and Television.

Smith is a Professor in the UCLA School of Theatre, Film & Digital Media. She received her Masters degree in film from Stanford University. She is an alumna of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.  Smith produces under the moniker Waterdog Films .

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About Waterdog Films: Waterdog Films is the production moniker of writer/director Becky Smith. Smith was nominated in 2004 for an Emmy in directing (Queer Eye for the Straight Guy), the same year the show won an Emmy, and has directed numerous series and pilots for networks including MTV, MTV2, NBC, Fox, Disney Channel, PBS, Fuse and ABC Family. Her documentary onTitle IX, “In the Game,” received numerous awards, including Best Television Documentary of the Year from Women in Radio and Television.

Smith is a Professor in the UCLA School of Theatre, Film & Digital Media. She received her Masters degree in film from Stanford University. She is an alumna of the American Film Institute's Directing Workshop for Women.