It’s hard to believe it has been a year since Stonegate began ramping up for principal photography. I remember when Dan Groom, the writer of the story, told me that Tewksbury State Hospital got back to him after about a year and was ready to discuss his film. After I accompanied him on a site visit, the wheels were quickly set in motion to initiate the pre-production process. Four months later, Stonegate wrapped. 

Last Sunday, the cast, crew, family, and friends gathered at Showcase Cinemas in Foxborough, MA, for the world premiere of Stonegate. We had all been anticipating this day for months. In the filmmaking world, there is nothing quite like a world premiere. The first unveiling of a work that so many helped to create is a moment that encompasses nearly every emotion. From excitement to nervousness, so much rides on the debut of a film.

When my mother and I arrived, it didn’t take long to see those I hadn’t seen in months. All of us were in good spirits, making it a fantastic reunion of talent on both sides of the camera. While I can’t speak for the others, I suddenly began to remember the scenes I was in and wondered how they turned out. Yes, those of us in this industry are a bit insecure!

You know you’re at a premiere when you see a “step and repeat” or its more popular designation “the red carpet.” That setup signifies that today is the day we are going to see something special. Every film project has an image that represents the brand of the film. In the case of Stonegate, it’s the facade of Tewksbury State Hospital. When I first saw this building over a year ago, I just knew the project had a visual winner. It ticked all the marketing and public relations boxes.

After Dan made a few welcoming announcements, Stonegate premiered on the silver screen. We all read the script and contributed to the process of bringing it to life, but until you see the final result unfold, you can’t know what to expect. The film immediately drew me into the story, and I quickly forgot that I was involved in it. Instead, I found myself simply watching and enjoying it. Even when I appeared on screen, I almost forgot it was me and just stayed immersed in the story. 

When the film ended, the applause was enthusiastic and authentic. By authentic, I mean exactly that; we weren’t applauding to boost our own egos, but rather to celebrate the film’s excellence and how well it worked on every level as a story. I’ll admit, I didn’t anticipate how it would end (and I’m a screenwriter), but Dan wrapped it up in a way I didn’t see coming. It was a brilliant conclusion to an engaging and mysterious original story that paid tribute to the thriller and horror genres. In my view, one of Stonegate’s distinctive achievements was the creation of a new genre—one that has yet to be aptly named.

It was no surprise to me that after the screening, Dan announced that the film had already started to receive some awards. The New York-based Best Actor and Director Awards presented a Best Ensemble award, while the Sweden Film Awards honored Patrick McAvoy with Best Actor for his portrayal of Dr. Marshall Handler—a win that was richly deserved!

For those in the area, the next public screening of Stonegate will take place on June 14 at the West Newton Cinema.