Jon Polito joins By The Dashboard Light

Incredible news friends! Hollywood actor Jon Polito (The Big Lebowski, Millers Crossing, Always Sunny in Philadelphia) has joined the cast of "By the Dashboard Light!

Fundraising begins on Monday 4/20 at midnight. Please consider making a contribution and support independent cinema. For more information, or to make a donation please visit By the Dashboard Light - Official Webpage

"Dashboard" Trailer in Production Now!

Hello friends, Joe here, director of the upcoming feature film "By the Dashboard Light" and subsequently director of the Dashboard Light "Promotional Featurette" as well.

For three weeks now we've been hard at work shooting a trailer that will launch on our Kickstarter/Indiegogo pages in mid-August / early-September. We have one day of shooting left and things are looking great. 

Cinematographer Sergio Herrera has been shooting on Canon 7D's with a 14mm wide angle lens for our car interior two-shots. We've been using a mint 1976 Toyota Corolla, generously loaned from the Jeremias family. 

The car, as cool as it looks, has been quite a challenge to shoot with. Our interior shots require the car to be off and the windows rolled up for the best sound. The weather has been in the mid 90's and this car turns into an oven. The camera is overheating (along with the talent) and we have to take frequent breaks for cool-downs. In addition, sound-man Dave Willis-Lorenz is crammed into the back seat... leaving the only one for me to direct... the hatch-back trunk. Lol. 

The actors have been troopers. Keith Chandler who plays the part of main-character Roger, the driving instructor, has been spot on - take after take after take. Pair him up with acting veteran Joe Rose and the up-and-coming Blake Williams (who play two of Roger's students) and you have a powerhouse team of talent. 

This past weekend feature the uber-talented Aly Miller as the young angsty teen Shannon and newcomer Stevenn Beck as the creepy, straight-laced instructor Verne. The acting duo was spot-on and the scene was HILARIOUS. Verne currently has my favorite line in the whole movie and he nailed it. (Keep an eye out... It's the last line in the trailer.)

Finally we had a shoot that didn't take place in a car. (which was like a vacation from the ordinary) Brian Kerrigan plays the part of Mr. Engle, Roger's boss. He slurped up Chinese Lo-Mein noodles inbetween his lines and was absolutely hilarious. 

Next week, on our final day of shooting, we will be joined by Nora Hunmel (Orange is the New Black) and James Lyden (Boardwalk Empire & The Leftovers) as the bullied kid's parents

In all, things are moving along nicely. Were all looking forward to wrapping production next week and I personally am looking forward to watching all the footage as the trailer is cut. 

Thanks to everyone for their help and support. The trailer will premiere on our Facebook page (and possibly even as a trailer in a local movie theater...shhh) 

Stay tuned true believers! 

Cheers! 

Moving right along...

Hello friends! 

I've been so busy with making my casting selections. For those of you who are wondering if you made the cut, the following roles have been filled:

Roger

Shannon

Peter

Dr. Wellston

Felicia

Mrs. Corr

Andy

Phil

A number of other roles are in their final stages of selection. These include:

Janna

Kim

Penny

Mr. Engle

Verne

Mr. Corr

Eric

And a handful of other smaller parts. 

Actors for the above parts will be contacted this week and may be asked to attend callbacks or asked to fill smaller parts in the film. 

Stay tuned!!! More to come! Check our IMDB page for our casting decisions. 

http://m.imdb.com/title/tt3453328/

Thank you to everyone who came out and auditioned. You were all fantastic. This hasn't been an easy decision. 

First Round of Actors Selected!!!

Hello friends! 

After a long day of watching reels and audition-tapes, I'm pleased to announce that we've selected the actors to play the lead roles of Roger and Shannon in the film. 

I'm not going to list any names just yet, but the selected actors will be getting a call tomorrow afternoon (3/17) to discuss these parts and be officially offered the roles. 

In addition several other actors have been selected for the following roles:

Peter

Mrs. Corr

Felicia

Verne

Mr. Engle

Dr. Wellston

These actors will be contacted once our SAG paperwork has been processed and we can make official offers. Thank you to all who auditioned. If you were selected you will be contacted soon. We will not, however, be contacting those who were not selected.

There are still around 25-30 roles that still remain un-cast. To those who auditioned, you may be receiving an offer to play a part you didn't read for... So don't be discouraged if you don't get a call for a lead role. 

It's been a busy week but I can say it's paid off. The faces of our film have been selected and for the first time we can actually SEE the future of this movie in front of us. 

Exciting times are ahead friends. Stay tuned. 

PS: The first episode of our Behind the Scenes Video Blog, "The Audition", will be airing soon! Keep an eye out for it! 

Cheers! 

Joe Ronca

Producer/Director

Dashboard - Audition Dates Posted

Auditions for "By The Dashboard Light" will be held on March 1st (Sat.) and March 2nd (Sun.) from 10:00 am to 6:00 pm on both days. 

They will be held at:

1812 PRODUCTIONS

(Rehearsal space)

2329 S. 3rd St.

Philadelphia, PA. 19106

We will be auditioning scheduled talent and welcome walk-ins. However people who reserve time will get prioritized. 

Saturday we will be trying to audition mainly primary roles:

ROGER: Male, 25 

SHANNON: Female, 16-17

JANNA: Female, 21

PHIL: Male, 30's+

ANDY: Male, 16

PETER: Male, 65+

DR. WELLSTON: Female, 40's

MR. ENGLE: Male, 50's (Pref. Overweight)

Sundays auditions will be primarily secondary and minor roles:

ALICE: Female, 50's

KIM: Female, 21

PENNY: Female, 21

FELICIA: Female, 50's

ERIC: Male, 50's

VERNE: Male, 40's (Pref. Thin)

MR. CORR: Male, 50's

MRS. CORR: Female, 50's

There are also 28 minor roles to fill. So please, come out and audition - even if none of the above roles fit you. 

Please come prepared with a monologue. You may be asked to read from sides. Please (if available) bring a copy of your headshot to leave with us. 

For an advanced reservation please email info@keasbeymattison.com - and you will be added to the list.

Dashboard Light Casting

Hello friends, 

Our upcoming feature film, By The Dashboard Light is now casting and will be announcing audition dates soon. In the meantime we are accepting headshots, reels and resumes. 

We have 44 roles to fill - 10 or so are primary and secondary characters. (Paid gigs) 

Here is a quick breakdown:

Roger: Male, 25. 

Shannon: Female, 16

Janna: Female, 21

Phil: Male, 30's

Kim: Female, 21 (Sex scene - possible partial nudity)

Penny: Female, 21

Mr. Engle: Male, 50's (pref. overweight)

Verne: Male, 45-55 (pref. thin)

Dr. Wellston: Female, 40's

Andy: Male, 16 - Gets bullied. 

Peter: Male, 65-75

Alice: Female, 50's (Roger's Mother)

Felicia: Female, 50's (May have a brief nude flashback scene)

Eric: Male, 50-60 (Shannon's father)

Bully #1: Male, 16-18 (Thin)

Bully #2: Male, 16-18 (Stocky)

Bully #3: Male, 16-18 (Short)

There are more minor parts available too. 

Please send your headshots, reels and resumes to: info@keasbeymattison.com

Auditions will be held in mid March. Dates to be announced. All auditions will be by monologue and sides. 

The film will shoot on location in the Philadelphia area in August & September. 

Thank you and good luck.