The Watermelon

"The Watermelon" is an independent feature film [see www.thewatermelon.net] penned by Michael Hemmingson and directed by Brad Mays. It is produced by Lorenda Starfelt at LightSong Films in North Hollywood. [see IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0945521/]

"The Watermelon" has been called "a story without seeds" and "a film about how really weird things can happen." [from the DVD sleeve] It is about a fellow who receives a mysterious inheritance from his long lost alcoholic step-father: a ratty old trailer painted like a watermelon. This draws in a number of odd characters who bug him, including a romantic interest, a woman on the run from her psycho drug-addict criminal husband.

Still, it is a quirky love story...starring Will Beinbrink and Kiersten Morgan.

Mike Ivy, who plays Homer, is a regular on The Sarah Silverman Show. Bob Goulb, who plays Creon, has been seen in Goodfellas and Art School Confidential.

According to Michael Hemmingson, the impetus for the script was "for Liv Kellgren to act in, she was an unknown stage actress in San Diego whose biggest wish was to act in indie films. I wrote it to direct, for us both to use as a vehicle into the film industry. She betrayed my trust and lied to me and and nearly destroyed the project. I found LightSong Films, who optioned the script and made it, with the wonderful Brad Mays at the helm." [Q&A at San Diego Film Festival]

"The Watermelon" received its World Primere at the San Diego Film Festival 2008. [see http://sdff.bside.com/2008/films/thewatermelon_sdff2008]

This is Michael Hemmingson's first produced full-length screenplay.

Beach scenes were shot in Malibu, on the property of Tony Romano, executive producer of Catch Me If You Can and I, Robot. [see http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0738853/] "Hemmingson is one of the best screenwriters out there," Romano has stated, "only no one in this goddamn town knows it." [Hollywood Reporter]

Other scenes were shot in Pasadena,Beverly Hills, and North Hollywood, although the film is supposed to take place in an unnamed beach community in southern California, a cross between Encinitas and Ocean Beach in San Diego.

References