L.A. film producer and agent Richie Walls to speak at 'The Backlot': A Place for Filmmakers at Heritage House on Monday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
As partner/producer/manager with Whitener Entertainment Group, Mr. Walls will introduce the evening's festivities by telling about some of the major film and television projects on their way to the Volunteer State next year.
Tennesseans may remember one of Mr. Walls' most recent roles, as producer on the feature film Dog Years, featuring Burt Reynolds and Ariel Winter, which filmed in Knoxville in the summer of last year.
Mr. Walls' presentation will be followed by filmmaker Les Blank's acclaimed documentary on the making of one of the most notorious motion pictures ever committed to celluloid -- Werner Herzog's Fitzcarraldo.
Fitzcarraldo tells the story of a European rubber magnate (Klaus Kinski) who decides to try to bring opera and modern water transportation to the natives of the Amazon basin just after the turn of the century. The latter involves literally pulling a large steamboat over the crest of a mountain, a task which nearly killed the cast and crew at more than one juncture. What follows in the narrative is a literal and figurative journey into Joseph Conrad's heart of darkness for both the director and his production company. The film runs 1 hour and 35 minutes; watch the trailer
here.
Doors open at 6:15 p.m. Guest presentations begin at 7 p.m., and are followed by a Q&A and usually run an hour and a half or so.
Admission is free, however, as food is potluck, it is strongly suggested that attendees bring a simple side, "mock-tail" beverage or snack to share.
"Plenty of relationship-building time is made available both before and after the main event, therefore attendees are encouraged to bring business cards and/or headshots (in the case of talent) in order to exchange information for future collaboration opportunities," officials said.
Heritage House Arts & Civic Center is the large neo-Georgian mansion located in the heart of Jack Benson Heritage Park and is accessible via E. Brainerd Road (East) and Jenkins Road.
Get directions and additional information by calling 423-855-9474 or emailing cholley@chattanooga.gov.