Brad Thomas (Cam Bunker) - Brad plays Ben’s best friend and roommate, Cam Bunker. But Brad’s contribution was much larger than that. It was through Brad that I got to know Ben and Brad’s stories and recollections had a huge influence on the movie. In fact, there is a key moment in the movie when the guys find a dead body while on shrooms. This, in fact, actually happened to Brad!

Brad’s humor and positive attitude are contagious and he carries into whatever room he is in a smile and laughter. 

Brad is not an actor. At least he wasn’t before this movie! He did act in that commercial I made with Ben Banks a while ago but this was his first go round! And he’s great in the movie. He gets a bunch of laughs and he was totally believable as Ben’s stoner roomie! There are a ton of outtakes we’ll be using as DVD extras!

Brad’s involvement on this project started before I wrote the script and continues now. He has his fingerprints all over it! I’ll always be thankful for what he did for me and the project. Plus, he’s a good friend now and that’s even better…

-Bryce

OK - now that the movie has been submitted to Sundance and we’ve had the chance to shape their performances, I wanted to weigh in on our cast… this will be in no particular order!

MELORA HARDIN (Mary Andrews) - OK, we had Melora for the 1st day of shooting. Keep in mind this is my first feature and Ben Banks is not an actor. The scenes we shot had Ben and Brad Thomas (Cam Bunker) who is also not an actor. I was beyond nervous to begin with, then factor in Melora Hardin, who is so great as Jan on The Office, an accomplished actor and someone I’m a huge fan of, and, well, you can imagine the butterflies.

OK, I need to backup. The night before the 1st day of shooting, we had a little BBQ for the crew just to get everyone together and excited about the movie. I was stunned to see Melora show up! She did not have to do that, but it’s just who she is. She is so down to earth and friendly and generous. It was an amazing gift to me and Justin just to set the tone that we were really doing this. Just having her there gave us a sense of legitimacy. I’ll always remember that.

OK, so we’re on set, we shoot one scene with Brad and Ben and then Melora is there. First of all, there was no “hey, I need this and this and this” she was beyond easy to work with and everyone from cast to crew had a smile on their face when she was around. She also hung around with and joked with Brad and Ben, making them feel at ease and loosening them up. It was a wonderful gift to them, something Melora, as an actor, sensed they needed (and truth be told, it was a gift to me too as I was getting my feet wet as a director).

It almost goes without saying that Melora was great in her role. It’s a small part, but a key event in the movie towards the end and her presence there gives the scene that little extra, elevating beyond the script…

In the scene two of my kids, Spenser and Madison, played Melora’s kids and she was amazing with them. I know they’ll never forget it.

After we wrapped that day a bunch of neighbors came over and wanted autographs. My initial instinct was to move them away, but Melora would have none of it. She welcomed them all and made each of them feel special. It was fascinating to stand back and observe her generosity. It’s cheesy to say that about celebrities, but it’s so true. They’re in such a unique position to touch the lives of others if even for just 10 seconds and there were dozens of smiles on that street that night that would have otherwise not been there… not a big deal? To me it was huge.

Our production was so fortunate to have Melora involved. From her professionalism and talent to her generosity with everyone she came in contact with that day, I can never thank her enough. I wish that everyone could see what a wonderful human being she is. 

-Bryce

We submitted Ben Banks to the Sundance Film Festival today! Now we wait. Thank you to our post production team: Jason, Craig, Jake, Nolan, Rajiv, David, Braten, Jory, Nate, and … a man. named Hud.

Had the first audience screening of the movie tonight. We just finished editing at 8AM this morning so it was the first time Junior and I actually watched it all the way through. It’s amazing how much you learn watching the movie with others… got some amazing feedback. Overall positive, people enthusiastic, some good critiques. Got some work to do before we submit to Sundance Friday but I feel really good about where we’re at. For a super rough cut the movie is in good shape. That’s Junior’s talent at work there…

Something about this T-shirt and tag line created by Richard Grant Bennett makes me smile endlessly like a giddy schoolboy. 

Jason deVilliers (aka Junior) has been editing the movie and the sequence where this shot (shot by the amazing Chris Saul) is used is shaping up as something special.

OK - so I’ve tried to capture what I feel for all of those who have worked on our crew and have been a huge part of my life.

Thank you all so much. If there is anyone who I have failed to mention, I am so sorry. This has been a crazy time and if I did forget it was not intentional. I hope I’ve gotten you all! But just know that I have appreciated everyone who worked on this movie.

THANK YOU!

Note - I will be writing about our cast later… needless to say they are all amazing and I’ll be posting about them as I complete the edit and have a true sense of their contributions. Just know that I am blown away by all of them! 

OK… so my posts of gratitude are done!

I hereby turn this site back over to the producers!!!

-Bryce 
September 16, 2010 

Stephanie Clark - There is no way I could have made this movie without Steph. Beyond that, none of it would be meaningful without her. She’s been so supportive for many years. She believed in me and what I was trying to do. She allowed me to dream and stood by me when a lot of people thought it was time to give it up. I am a very, very lucky man.

I love her and this movie is for her…

Also, she played a polygamist’s wife in the movie!!! Amazing that she was still beautiful with the high hair and that dress!!!

Love you, Steph!

My Kids: Spenser, Madison, Parker, Olivia and Max - My kids have been great. It was very different having me gone for days at a time and they supported me. Spenser, Maddy and Parker acted in the movie!!! I hope they know that it’s all for them… love you guys!!!

My parents, Kim & Sue Clark - Other than Steph, my parents are the biggest reason I have been able to do this. Their love and support have sustained me since I wrote my first script. I hit the jackpot getting them as parents and I know it. 

To all of my brothers and sisters, Erin, Brian, Jon, Deb, Loaf, Rebekah, Ralph, Hannah, Julia, David, Jen, Phil… and then all of their kids, my nieces and nephews: I love you all and am so thankful for all of your support. I hope you all know how much I love and appreciate you all!

MARK DAY, Key Production Assistant - Mark was a great asset to the movie. Here’s all you need to know: Mark was the first to arrive and the last to leave. He gripped, PAed, Slated etc… I consider him a good friend now. Would work with him again in a second!

JON ANDREW, Production Assistant - We at Signal Films have decided that Jon needs to work with us on every movie we make! I feel like Jon was an integral part of our project. I feel like I couldn’t have made the movie without him. He became our go to slater and he was willing to work in whatever way we needed him. He can work with us whenever he wants! Thanks Jon!!!!!!

JASON HENDERSON, Production Assistant - A pro. Got it done and it was reassuring knowing he was on set. We knew we could count on Jason. He’s welcome on our projects anytime. Great guy. Loved working with him. 

CASEY LABORIANTE, Production Assistant - Casey is now a good friend. I was sad he couldn’t be there for the entire shoot. Casey did a lot and learned a lot. He even worked the boom! I love Casey, another guy I’m glad I met. See you soon man!!!

There were a lot of people who helped us out on our movie even though they couldn’t be there every day. I want to thank Tel Stewart, Chad Prince, Eric Ellis, Judea Runs Through, Brian Cheever, Danielle Wolverton, Derek Dowsett, and Christian Navarrete - they all helped out and we needed every hour they could give!!!

Hey Judea, keep me posted on your project!!!

Thank you all!!!

LOCATIONS - OK, a brief note here on our locations situation: We had over 30 locations on this movie! Justin took my wish list and went nuts (with help from Jake and his beard) locking down some great places. But as we shot we needed to have these locations set up before we showed up and Justin can’t be multiple places at once, though he does make you wonder sometimes but I can verify: He is human… so we needed people on locations to make everything run smooth and Jessica and Jon made that happen. 

JON DODART, Locations Manager and Local Casting Director - As you have read, we had the amazing Sobos do our main casting out of LA but because we were working under the SAG Ultra Low Budget Agreement, we could use non-SAG actors and decided to use local talent from St. George. We needed someone to help assist us and run some local casting sessions. We heard about this guy Jon Dodart and we thought he could assist us and just kind of help out.

Well… we meet Dodart and it’s clear right away that he’s got his stuff together and could be more than just a casting assistant. So… we end up turning local casting over to him and then as we get closer to production and we realize the asset Dodart is, we have him help with locations as well!!! Justin and Jake had set up a lot of the places we shot at but Jon stepped in and helped manage out relationships with these locations. He was great!

On local casting, we got some great options and along with Jessica (see below) Jon made our locations all work. He also found our extras and made sure we had enough (often more than enough) to fill out the scenes where they were needed. 

Dodart just gets it done. He talks a good game, but also backs it up. When he said he could deliver, he delivered. Expect more from this guy as his career progresses. 

JESSICA MERRILL, Assistant Locations Manager - Jessica came on to basically be Dodart’s assistant, but it became clear that she’d be much, much more. There were times when Jon couldn’t be there and Jessica did the job! She stepped up and was a HUGE factor in us being able to finish this movie on schedule and on budget. Jessica was great, she did a lot of the ground work on locations and was also just a great overall support and she did a lot that was very helpful to me personally and I won’t ever forget it. Her enthusiasm and commitment to our project was inspiring. Jessica would be welcome on any project we do…

TERRI SAUNDERS, Assistant Local Casting Director and Production Assistant - I met Terri at Dixie (hey, another Dixie connection) and knew of her passion for filmmaking and production. She let us know right away that we could count on her for any help we’d need. She came in and worked hard and helped Jon at our casting sessions and then getting our extras to set. When the casting was pretty much set up, Terri jumped in and helped out wherever she was needed on set. I’d look over and see Terri helping out craft or helping Lan with BTS work. Basically Terri was passionate, as I knew she would be, and helped make the movie tick. I’ll never forget Terri and what she did for us on the movie.