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From Round Rock to Cannes
Amid all the hustle and bustle of Cannes, a little company from Round Rock is finally getting noticed.
Dana Glover and Michelle Carter of Midian Films have been pressing the flesh and meeting with movie production companies this week in an effort to get funding for the first feature film.
They have brought a short called “Shadows” to Cannes, using it as a teaser to get a full-fledged movie made. And “we’ve been getting lots of attention and had a meeting with a major movie company earlier in the day,” Glover said Monday.
Glover directs “Shadows,” which was shot at a home on Lake Austin. It stars Amy Staggs as a troubled young woman who takes refuge in a secluded home. But she begins to realize that she may not be alone, and her fears get the upper hand.
Glover, who describes the movie as a psychological thriller, directs. Business partner Carter is the cinematographer, and longtime Austin radio personality David Anderson wrote the script.
It’s the second year in a row for Midian Films to come to Cannes. Last year, the company brought a short called “Sub Urban Safari,” but they didn’t get nearly as much attention as they have received this year, Glover said.
Most of the shorts at the festival get here through the same process. They have to be submitted to a Cannes panel, and if they’re selected, then they’re shown in what’s known as the Short Film Corner in the Palais. Several small screens are set up there, and hundreds of aspiring filmmakers hang out in the area, hoping to get the attention of movie producers.
Midian also brought another short, the animated “Musicartunes,” but “Shadows” has been getting the most attention, Glover said.
Glover, a longtime composer for film projects and an alumni of the University of Southern California, first came to Texas in 1987 to work on “Robocop 2” in Houston. He ended up staying, working on “The Hot Spot” and eventually landing a job at Origin Systems, the video game firm run by Richard Garriott.
“Garriott wanted me to help with the cinematic music in his games,” Glover said, “so I decided to stay in the area.”
He later met Carter, an alumna of Cal State San Bernardino and a specialist in cinematography and editing.
“So we thought, hey, if we joined forces, we could start our own movie company,” Glover said. “She was the other piece to my puzzle.”
And so they did, in 1992.
It has been a long road to Cannes, but Glover and Carter think it might finally pay off.
“We’re meeting everyone this year, and I think we may get a deal,” Glover said.
Among the folks they’ve met: the Czechs, who have inexplicably adopted Glover and company. In fact, the crew from Round Rock spent Monday partying at the Czech pavilion.
And Anderson, the writer, was having lots of fun trying to persuade Czech festivalgoers that he was Tommy Lee Jones.
Permalink | Comments (6) | Categories: Cannes
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By Cindy
June 2, 2007 1:19 PM | Link to this
Congratulations Midian Films. From one who has seen the hard work and dedication put forth no one deserves it more. You are an example for all that dreams can come true. Fight on!!!!!!!!!
By J
May 30, 2007 5:02 PM | Link to this
RIGHT ON!
— Midian’s biggest fan in Tyler!
By lyn burgess
May 30, 2007 6:50 AM | Link to this
Dana and Michelle Hi!
Hope you have had a blast this year. sorry I was not able to meet up with you again. Best of Luck with your ventures!
Lyn Magic Key
By Amy Staggs
May 29, 2007 11:22 AM | Link to this
How exciting! Everyone with Midian Films worked very hard to make “Shadows” happen!
By Mike Borrero
May 28, 2007 2:06 PM | Link to this
I’ve known Dana for at least 10 or more years. I’m so proud of his hard work and it looks like it’s paying off. Whatever I can do to help him get to Hollywood Heaven, please count on me. Great stuff! Go Dana!
By Duane
May 23, 2007 11:56 AM | Link to this
Thanks Charles for the article on Midian Films; they truly deserve the attention!