“April Showers” Filmmaker and Columbine Survivor Fights for Dream Follow-Up with Gary Paulsen’s “Dancing Carl”
LOS ANGELES-(Business Wire)-September 22, 2009 - As “April Showers,” 2009’s acclaimed feature based on writer-director Andrew Robinson’s experiences as a Columbine survivor, is about to undergo a second life in educational editions set for nationwide school release, the filmmaker is determined to see his dream project come to fruition—despite the volatile economy.
“Dancing Carl,” based on an ALA Best Book for Young Adults by three-time Newbery Award-Winning novelist Gary Paulsen, has been a favorite of Robinson’s since he was a youth in Nebraska. The inspirational tale of a mysterious World War II veteran discovered performing a strange dance by two young boys at a local ice rink, and the life-altering secrets and truths that his action gradually reveals, continues to speak to Robinson as the finest of art.
“When I read the novel for the first time,” explains Robinson, “my life was forever changed much like the protagonists in the story. It has always been my dream to translate what is, in my opinion, Paulsen’s masterpiece into film.”
It appears the filmmaker’s life has been defined by bucking the odds. A graphic designer by trade, Robinson shopped “April Showers” at 2007’s American Film Market, a yearly international trade show for buying and selling feature films. At the event, Robinson secured the funds necessary to finance his project through Joel Eisenberg and Timothy Owens' EMO Films.
“April Showers” was released theatrically in April of ’09 on a limited basis, with a portion of the proceeds being donated to charity. The film went on to become the all-time best-selling title for digital distributor IndieFlix, and continues to sell well-above expectations on other digital platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.com. TriCoast Worldwide is handling international distribution on the title.
One may think that a successful first effort would guarantee financing for a second. Not in this economy. “We have spoken to, and continue to speak to, our sources,” says Robinson. “The book has been a top-seller for years, and we’re encountering the expected obstacles. Somehow, though, we’ll see this one through. I am totally sold on the matter that everyone should encounter this magnificent, life-affirming story, especially from such legendary source material.”
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