‘Change for a Dollar’ Creates Good Vibes Among Osawatomie Filmgoers

By Doug Carder

The award-winning short film “Change for a Dollar” made a warm impression on Jessi Beets and her friends during a screening Sunday at City Auditorium.

Area residents of all ages turned out to catch the first glimpse of the 10-minute film which was made in Osawatomie in March.

The film was shot in one day at various locations throughout the community. It’s a story about a homeless man who affects several individuals’ lives for the better, with just change from $1.

Filmmaker Sharon Wright, a former Osawatomie resident, was pleased to be able to show the film to the community.

“I think the people in Osawatomie will see the film a little differently than most, because they will identify with every location in the film,” Wright said.

Beets and a group of seventh-graders said they enjoyed the film.

“I liked the message. I thought it was heartwarming,” Beets said. “It nearly made me shed tears.”

Wright said Beets’ reaction was exactly the response she had hoped for.

“When a film evokes an emotional response, you know you’ve done a good job,” said Wright, who wrote, directed and co-produced the film.

The short has already garnered praise from critics.

“Change for a Dollar” was nominated for a Sirroco Award – given to films with a positive message – at the AOF International Film Festival in Pasadena, Calif. And first-time director Wright was nominated for Best Female Filmmaker.

The short won the Audience Choice Award at the Moonlight Film Festival in Leesburg, Va.

The film’s next showing will be in mid-October at the Gig Harbor Film Festival in Gig Harbor, Wash.

Also an actress, Wright has been working on several films since “Change for a Dollar” was shot. But in three weeks, the filmmaker plans to begin work on her second project, which is untitled at present.

“This one is going to be a psychological drama, shot in Kansas City,” Wright said

“Change for a Dollar” will be available for purchase in the coming months.

“We are going to let it play the film festival circuit,” she said, “and then we’ll offer it for sale on Amazon in a few months.”

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Posted by Doug on Sep 29 2010. Filed under News and Updates. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry