The West Coast Premiere
At Laemmle Music Hall – Beverly Hills, California.
On Thursday, November 7 a dream came true. My first feature film Justice Is Mind was having its West Coast Premiere in Beverly Hills, California! When I boarded the plane to Los Angeles in Boston on early Wednesday morning I was reflecting on the last days I lived in the city back in late 2007. A hopeful screenwriter with a dream of someday producing a feature film.
(l-r) Lee Simonds, Vernon Aldershoff, Jessica Killam, Mark Lund, Michele Mortesen and Arnold Peter at The Peter Law Group.
The celebrations started at Logan (Boston) with one of our supporters. Anne Conlon was celebrating her 50th birthday party by flying out to LAX to see Justice Is Mind. It was great sharing our mutual enthusiasm for the film from two very different perspectives. When I arrived at LAX I was greeted by Dev Bajaj of Peter Law Group. After checking into the hotel we went to their office where I met Roop Sumal. I have been working with Dev and Roop for months on both our law school screening tour and this screening. After talking with Arnold Peter for a bit by phone, we tested the film at the theatre. It looked and sounded amazing. The manager of the building shared a horror story about a recent screening that had to stop because of a bad DVD/Blu-Ray burn (So note to filmmakers, make sure your DVDs are professionally produced!) I settled into the hotel and met my friend Jeffrey Vance, a film historian for drinks.
Mark Lund with Alianna Huffman (Stargate, Supernatural and Smallville).
The next day was Thursday. The big day. RSVP’s were still coming in and last minute organization and planning was well underway. Justice Is Mind’s star Vernon Aldershoff arrived the day before with co-star Michele Mortesen having arrived a day earlier. Then the word came in—we were suddenly over capacity and tickets would only be sold if there were some last minute cancellations. Imagine my elation that during this very busy time in Los Angeles with both AFM and AFI we were going to fill a theatre! During the day, I had a great conversation with Vivian Matito who was going to be doing live blogging from the event.
Producer Arnold Peter with Bollywood Star Chacko Vadaketh.
We started with a meet and greet reception at Peter Law Group. It was great seeing Arnold Peter again. It had been five plus years too long. This is an industry of relationships. Of working with people you like and more importantly trust. Arnold is more than a colleague, he’s a friend. A friend who has supported my endeavors for many years. Seeing some of the Justice Is Mind family at his firm along with our entire operations team that made this event possible, was just thrilling. But the real thrill was about to begin.
Mark Lund with model JJ Dubon and Angelina Spicer.
We walked, yes walked in LA, from his office to the theatre (just two min.!) and there it was—our Red Carpet, with photographers and a crowd. I saw Justice Is Mind on the marquee on Wednesday, but seeing it in lights at night was something else. As we approached the theatre, it didn’t take long to see friends I hadn’t seen in years—Anthony ,Bryan, JJ and Andrew. But seeing Angelina Spicer again was a real treat. She starred in first film First World. That reunion was very special to me. Soon the introductions and the pictures began. From Hollywood and Bollywood stars, to industry executives, the night began to take on a special magic.
Arnold Peter with judge William Sheffield and daughter Emily Sheffield.
When I walked into the theatre and saw it at near capacity (we did have a few cancellations) that dream was now a reality. Dev introduced Arnold and me and we presented the film. As the film screened I was just remembering all the days that led up to this moment. The endless writing and rewriting, the pitches to production companies, the continuous talking about this project to those that would listen. Although my executive producers Mary Wenninger and Stefan Knieling weren’t present, they were certainly there in spirit. For if it was not for them, none of us would have been in this room.
After Justice screened, there was a brief Q&A led by Arnold who asked me various questions about the film and my motivations behind writing Justice Is Mind. When I set out to write Justice I had no idea the impact it would start to have. New questions about a process that will someday be in our courtrooms.
Arnold Peter asking Mark Lund questions about Justice Is Mind after the screening.
The evening ended with a terrific reception at Chakra which also involved on-camera interviews with the attendees and actors. With drinks flowing and related accolades it was a fitting end to wonderful evening. The pictures on this post are from our wonderful blogger and some personal cell-phone pics. Look for our professional pictures later on this week.
Actress and former IP attorney Denise Grayson talks about Justice Is Mind.
My thanks to Arnold, Dev, Roop, Vivian and the entire team at Peter Law Group for one of the most memorable events of my career. And thank you Vernon, Michele and Lee for being there and sharing in the experience. And to Mary and Stefan for believing in me and Justice Is Mind.
Live the dream.
A great end to the evening. On camera Q&A about the making of Justice Is Mind.
Next Stop Los Angeles
On the marquee at The Tiny Theatre.
On Thursday, November 7 at Laemmle Music Hall in Beverly Hills, CA at 6:30 PM Justice Is Mind will have its west coast premiere. For me, it will be a combination of a reunion and a return to a city I lived in for three years from late 2005 through early 2008.
The word reunion has been in my orbit the last couple of days. While Justice Is Mind was having its Vermont premiere at The Tiny Theatre in Poultney, VT last night, my best friend, and Justice executive producer, Mary Wenninger and I attended our 30th high school reunion. Organized by Sheila Mandeville, who also played the jury forewoman in Justice, it was surreal visiting with classmates I haven’t seen in thirty years. We graduated in 1983. Who would have thought that all those years ago, we would be involved in a feature film!
Mary Wenninger and Mark Lund leaving for their 30th HS reunion.
Moving towards the present, on Thursday there will be another reunion of sorts with my entertainment attorney and friend Arnold Peter, Angelina Spicer, who starred in my first film First World, along with a variety of friends I haven’t seen since I left the city. Social media keeps us electronically connected, but there’s nothing like a real life visit to properly catch up.
While the next few days will be filled with confirmations, last minute emails, phone calls and general preparation for what will, no doubt, be a grand evening on Thursday, there is certainly a class reunion atmosphere that has enveloped around Justice. With most of our screenings, there has been some “class” presence. Last night in VT it was Ken Holmes and Tom Pomfret (the contractors) that played host. At our reunion, Sheila brought a projector and screen that played Justice in the background. Like so many of us, my interest in the industry started in the high school drama club. My dream then to produce a feature film was finally realized.
Starring Vernon Aldershoff as Henri Miller. Co-starring Michele Mortensen as Maria Miller.
Being excited about our screening in Los Angeles would be an understatement. I’m glad Vernon Aldershoff (Henri Miller) and Michele Mortensen (Maria Miller) will be joining in the festivities and sharing the experience. Sure, there will be many familiar faces in the audience, but it will be good to know there are those that have shared in the journey since the beginning.
Developing, producing and distributing a feature film is a journey in and of itself. Having read another article this week from a “Hollywood star” about the difficulties and challenges of getting a feature film made, with Justice completed I intend to enjoy the ride for as long as possible.
If I researched it right, it was Theodore Roosevelt that said, “Nothing in the world is worth having or worth doing unless it means effort, pain, difficulty… I have never in my life envied a human being who led an easy life. I have envied a great many people who led difficult lives and led them well.”
So while Justice Is Mind is playing Thursday night in a theatre in the entertainment capital of the world, I will reflect on my senior year in high school standing on a stage dreaming that someday, somehow, I was going to make a feature film.
Passion.
The Ashton Times 