The feature film
”
First Dog
”
starring a canine once owned by former First Lady Nancy Reagan,
and a movie soundtrack with original songs by Dolly Parton, along
with Paula Nelson (daughter of Willie Nelson) opens at CineLux
Theater in Morgan Hill Friday.
The feature film “First Dog” starring a canine once owned by former First Lady Nancy Reagan, and a movie soundtrack with original songs by Dolly Parton, along with Paula Nelson (daughter of Willie Nelson) opens at CineLux Theater in Morgan Hill Friday. The film was shot in Morgan Hill (at the Votaw house at Main and Peak avenues, Laguna and Hale avenues in northwest Morgan Hill and the Aquatics Center) and Gilroy (the Black Bear Diner). And, about 50 Ann Sobrato High School students under the direction of teacher Gary Harmon, apprenticed in a unique mentorship program designed by Harmon and Bryan Michael Stoller. The students held positions in assistant make-up, props, lighting, sound, set design, and even helped construct a scale replica of the Oval Office which was built on the Sobrato Theatre stage in Morgan Hill.
The story is about Danny Milbright (John-Paul Howard), who discovers a lost dog, Teddy (Little Bear), who turns out to belong to the President of the United States (Academy Nominee Eric Roberts) – but no one believes him. So begins the young boy’s exciting American adventure across the vast country to return the canine to its rightful owner at the White House – “Because it’s the right thing to do!”
The film also stars, Golden-Globe winner, Paula Devicq (“Party of Five”), Tommy (Tiny) Lister (“Batman: The Dark Knight,” “Friday,” “The Fifth Element”), Bernie Kopell (“Get Smart,” “Love Boat”), Priscilla Barnes (“Three’s Company”), and a cameo by Dick Van Patten (“Eight is Enough”). Original songs are by Parton, and several by Nelson, who also appears in her on-screen feature film debut.
Little Bear, who stars in the film as the “First Dog” has an amazing survival story. When Patti Davis (Reagan) found him in the garbage with his litter, he was only a few days old, starving to death and had contracted Parvo, a most often fatal disease in dogs. Rushed to the vet, Little Bear was put on intravenous fluids and four days later woke up and was ready to play. Today, he is a humble movie star!
“First Dog” has fetched a myriad of film festival awards and invitations including, the International Family Film Festival, Sedona International Film Festival, the Heartland Film Festival, Hollywood Film Festival, Newport Beach Film Festival and an invitation to screen at the Clinton Presidential Library in Little Rock, Arkansas. Other awards the film has garnered include, The Dove Foundation seal, Parent’s Television Council Seal of Approval, Kids First! and the Film Advisory Board Award of Excellence.
Writer, Producer, Director and Editor, Stoller also authored the book, “Filmmaking for Dummies” (foreword by Jerry Lewis, cover endorsement by Dan Aykroyd). Stoller is a former American Film Institute Director Fellow. His credits include more than 70 productions including, comedy shorts entitled “Undershorts” that were weekly vignettes on NBC’s “TV Blooper’s and Practical Jokes” hosted by Dick Clark and Ed McMahon. Stoller’s “Tales from the Darkside” episode, “The Bitterest Pill” still runs in syndication. Stoller’s other features include, “Undercover Angel” with Yasmine Bleeth and James Earl Jones and “Miss Castaway aka Silly Movie 2” featuring the late pop-star Michael Jackson in a small role.
