Arris Productions

I’m Gonna Knock You Out…

What a freakin’ fantastic start to filming! We’ve been on schedule and on point since principal photography started last week- and anyone familiar with independent filmmaking knows that’s a feat in and of itself. But we’re doing it and we owe a lot of our success to our stellar cast and their unwavering commitment to this project. Good job guys, you’re killing it!

So with all the buzzing around I’ve been doing lately I haven’t had time to sit down and continue my interviews with the youth who comprise State of Delinquency, that is until now. Are you ready? I thought so. It’s time to meet Cynthia Quach, a tiny girl with a powerful punch who happens to know a thing or two about self defense!

Chelsea Anders: What type of acting experience do you bring to the table?

Cynthia Quach: I did a few school plays in the back, but I’ve always wanted to be famous. I mean that is my lifelong goal and so when this project came around I knew it was a great opportunity for me.

CA: Absolutely! This movie is going places I promise you. So you want to be famous- you want to be an actor?

CQ: Yes!

CA: Okay cool- how old are you Cynthia?

CQ: I’m sixteen years old.

CA: Sixteen years old with great goals and dreams. Good for you. What high school do you go to?

CQ: I go to Reynoldsburg High School.

CA: Reynoldsburg. I’m familiar with Reynoldsburg. (Insert ex-girlfriend kind of cringe, at the name Reynoldsburg) Are they the Pirates?

CQ: What?

CA: You know their mascot- isn’t it a good for nothing Pirate? (Still bitter)

CQ: Close. We’re the Raiders.

CA: RAIDERS! My bad. Completely different type of person. I shouldn’t be judgmental though, my mascot was a Demon. Alright back to the interview. You said you were in productions at school, but tell us what you do for fun?

CQ: I usually hang out with my friends. I’m a boxer so that takes up all my time.

CA: Wait. What?! You’re a boxer? (Looks tiny girl up and down) A kick boxer or just a punch em’ till they drop type of boxer?

CQ: A regular boxer. I haven’t started kick yet.

CA: Holy shit how long have you been a boxer?

CQ: Almost a year now.

CA: Have you done any bouts or anything?

CQ: I’ve tried to fight, but they can never find someone as small as me.

CA: Can’t imagine why. So really that sucks though. Or wait does it? You could go undefeated that way! Either way you’re  pretty amazing. You’re in a fight scene in this film. Does your adversary know you’re a boxer?

CQ: Yeah. I think she knows, but she’s a lot bigger than me. Originally Tony (Bumgarner) wanted me in the movie because he wanted a smaller person to stand up to a bigger person. I mean that’s going to look amazing on screen.

CA: Absolutely. Your character is definitely feisty- not sure if that’s a good or bad thing.  Alright Cynthia last question. It’s my go to question that now seems a little silly, but I’ll ask anyway to keep the momentum going. Your face is going to be up on the big screen and they’ll be tons of guys who’ll develop crushes on you. So I feel it is my duty to ask- Are you dating anyone?

CQ: Actually yes. Me and my boyfriend have been dating for almost five years—

CA: FIVE YEARS?!!!!! That’s like a lifetime commitment. She is definitely not available. But she is a great character to watch so be on the look out!

Anonymous asked: Can you do effects on like videos that you can post to YouTube. If you can, can you please help me on how to do it.

Sure can what do you need to know?

The Role of the Dedicatee

I’m not sure what could possibly be harder than playing the role for whom the film is dedicated- unless of course, you add that it happens to be director Tony Bumgarner’s deceased cousin and inspiration for the film State of Delinquency. But Johnluke Kersey couldn’t be more convincing as the laid back and often impossible Gary Hendrickson. Seriously, Gary is the guy you want in your corner even if it is just to smack him. A smartass with an unfiltered mouth who loves you in his own weird demented get you in fight kind of way. So in my opinion Johnluke couldn’t have been more right for the part. Maybe it’s his warped sense of humor (a trait that is near and dear to my heart) or his uncanny ability to turn it on at just the right moment that makes me smile every time I see him rehearse. Whatever the case, I’m pretty sure he is going to make the Hendrickson’s and Mr. Bumgarner proud with his unwavering commitment to Gary.

So when it was Johnluke’s turn on my couch (head out of gutter please) I was bursting with anticipation over his take on the ever endearing Gary. Bursting with anticipation hehehehe. I was excited though and rightfully so; he reminds me of my brother back in the 70s, who liked to be ornery and hang out with his friends, drinking and making mischief. Maybe it’s the hair and the ever present baseball cap. Who knows? Whatever the case I like him!

Chelsea Anders: So what drew you to this project Johnluke? (Jean Luc Picard- what I really want to call him)

Johnluke Kersey: Well I’ve always had a thing for performing plus a bunch of people I knew were going to be in it so I wanted to be in it.

CA: Did you have to audition?

JK: Technically yes. I had to send in my picture and tell him a paragraph about me. I originally was trying out for Keith, but Tony told me to go for Gary.

CA: That’s a huge compliment.

JK: Yeah it is.

CA: Tell everyone why that is.

JK: Gary is based off of Tony Bumgarner’s real cousin Gary who died. Tony wants me to act and have the mannerisms of his cousin because it will really touch Gary’s family. And make it more real to him and them.

CA: No easy feat for sure. Tell us about Gary.

JK: Gary… he’s a really laid back guy most of the time, until you start something with him. Then he doesn’t take anything from anybody. He doesn’t let people mess with him or his friends that are close to him including his cousin Trey.

CA: He’s not necessarily a bully, but he will stand up for himself correct?

JK: Right. He’s very protective. he gets very angry about certain things. Like he doesn’t pick on people or necessarily do things like that. But he will joke around with you and maybe hurt your feelings on accident, but he’s not bullying you.

CA: That’s a really good definition of your character. So Johnluke tell us about your acting experience.

JK: Actually in high school I’d done a lot of backstage work. I was the crew guy. I was the techie, for all of high school. Then my senior year I had a small part as a frat boy in the Legally Blonde musical. I did a dance scene and then I was left stage manager. Before that I did a lot of drama things with the church I was in. But that was a long time ago like when I was 7.

CA: Did you play Jesus? Because you have that Jesus look going on.

JK: No, but I did get the main role. The play was called The First Leon. It was about a kid trying out for a play who gets a small part, and in the middle of it he decides to improve a song. It was a really good play and I did not expect to get the lead.

CA: That’s awesome- you should have tried out for more roles in high school! Or was that just not you’re thing?

JK: I was going to, but then they changed the show. We were going to do Peter Pan and I was going to try out for a role in that, but then they changed it to Legally Blonde which needs a lot less guys.

CA: Boooo! That sucks. Well not really there are a lot of girls on this set who were in that I think. Okay tell us how old you are.

JK: I’m eighteen.

CA: You already graduated right? When did you graduate?

JK: About a year ago.

CA: Did you graduate early?

JK: No. I have a summer birthday. I’ll be nineteen in June.

CA: Gotcha. So what about any future plans?

JK: I liked to go to college, but if I can’t get enough grants or loans I’ll probably end up going to the Air Force for a little bit. And then going to college for Theatre.

CA: For acting or production? Because there are a lot of sides to theatre.

JK: I might try to do both. You know take classes for both, but mostly I like to do the behind the scenes stuff.

CA: Stage managers make good money. They get abused a lot and work a lot, but they do make some cash.

JK: Backstage you do not get a lot of credit, but you do way more work.

CA: Yeah you do.

JK: Well I guess that’s a matter of opinion.

CA: No it’s pretty much true. Alright any words about this film that you want people to know?

JK: It’s going to be a really good movie. Especially with all the work Tony has put in and yours and Angela’s input it’s going to be a really good movie.

CA: You bet you’re schweet ass it is. Okay last question. And this is for all the ladies out there who will be dying to know. Are you single?

JK: Yes.

CA: That would be an affirmative! Thanks for your time Johnluke- now go make us proud!

 

 

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That Is What She Said

Time to introduce the girls, or rather a girl, but a great girl none the less. Ariel Kelber is feisty and fun and a little on the blonde side, but so perfect for her part. Well let me rephrase that- she’s nothing like her character Ashley which makes her performance all the more impressive. Especially considering she plays the ‘get around’ girl with a penchant for fighting. Awwww let’s chant shall we? Fight, fight, fight, fight…it truly is a Mary Poppins meets Lindsay Lohan kind of marriage.

Chelsea Anders: Hello Ariel. Thanks for sitting down with me and chatting about your life. I’ll start with an easy one and ask you about your acting experience.

Ariel Kelber: I’ve been in previous musicals for my school. In fact, Isaiah and I were in the musical Grease last year. He played Danny and I was Sandy.

CA: Isaiah for those of you who don’t know is also part of the cast of State of Delinquency. So that’s pretty cool that you two have acted together in Grease. Is he a good kisser?

AK: Whoa no! I’m mean we didn’t kiss.

CA: What the hell kind of production of Grease were you in?

AK: I faked kissed him on the check.

CA: Cause you’re in high school. I get it, but when you’re in college it’s all or nothing in the theatre. What high school do you go to anyway?

AK: I go to GroveportMadisonHighSchool.

CA: Wow you just like spit that out in one syllable. What grade?

AK: I’m in eleventh grade.

CA: And how old are you?

AK: I’m sixteen.

CA: Sixteen years old. Any ambitions for after high school?

AK: I want to be an actress-that’s what I really want to do. But I want to do something that has me traveling and auditioning in several different places. So hopefully I can join my uncle traveling with his company. He goes to places like Argentina and—

CA: So wait your uncle’s with like a traveling actor’s troupe? (I’m picturing Hamlet, but reality is this—)

AK: —Kind of, he used to be with Disney on Ice. He said it’s a really good thing to do. I don’t know who he’s with now. He’s a stage manager for something.

CA: That’s actually a really good position to have so good for him and good for you for being ambitious. What do you do for fun Ariel?

AK: I like to play Black Ops.

CA: Perfect in every way. Okay Ariel time to talk about your character Ashley and how she enjoys the boys. Are you anything…I mean do you like to…(awkward are you a whore too kind of question). Let me just ask if you have anyone special in your life right now?

AK: No , I mean I’ve never really had a boyfriend. Except once for three weeks and he cheated on me. Guys don’t really like me.

CA: Uhhhhhhh (puts violin away) I doubt that’s true. In fact, once this film is released they’ll be plenty of guys waiting in line to treat you right. It is pretty funny that you get to kiss two of the gents in this film. Practice makes perfect so enjoy!

We Have A New Title

We pondered long and hard for quite a few days over how to represent our film through titling and though we all liked FRiEND we agreed it was too common and therefore would not set us apart. So we milled over name after name until this one sort of crept into consciousness. OR someone threw it out there a we jumped on it… Whatever the case we knew it was perfect.
“State of Delinquency”
It fits because our youth are in a state of being that has been influenced by their environments and home lives. A state that has the power to define them if they fail to hope. A state parents and society help create by looking the other way. A state that can be remedied if they are strong enough to take a stand. And that’s what this film is about- hope, opening our eyes, and taking a stand for our future…

Making a Movie that is Close to His Heart

Shawn Jackson has one of the hardest roles to play when he steps on screen as the severely abused and depressed teenager Jonah. But his determination to tackle this persona is something that just seemed the right fit. When I sat down with Shawn his revelations only reiterated the need for such a project. Hope will found through our film.

Chelsea Anders: Shawn how did you hear about this project?

Shawn Jackson: I heard about it when my theatre director Mr. Weaver gave us cards of Tony’s and told us about the project. I’ve always wanted to be an actor but I started out as crew in theatre and I just thought I really want to do this. My PM said you really should do this, you’re going to love it. And I was like okay I’m going to do it. Then Tony showed up at my school and said he really wanted us to do it so I said I’m doing it!

CA: So I take it you really wanted to do it. It of course being the role of Jonah. Were you immediately attracted to this role?

SJ: I wanted the role of Jonah because he’s so different from me. I mean he’s really sad and depressed and I’m so upbeat that I really wanted to tap into this because I’ve been where he’s been.

CA: Jonah gets bullied and has a really bad home life. I mean your character is the one everyone is going to be rooting for, because he has it so bad. Tell us more about him because he certainly has a lot going on.

SJ: Jonah is this boy who’s in high school who gets picked on a lot and he doesn’t have a lot of friends. Then he meets this really cool guy named Trey. Trey and Jonah becomes friends and then some crazy stuff happens to them both.

CA: Way to not reveal too much- but I feel ya. So you said you’re not like Jonah at all except that you have been bullied so you know what it’s like.

SJ: Yeah I have been bullied

CA: That’s important because we want this character, well all of the characters to be relatable. So switching gears you said you’ve never acted before is this correct?

SJ: No I was in a production of Fairly Modern Millie. I was part of the male ensemble.

CA: Was that a musical?

SJ: Yes

CA: So you sing as well. There’s a lot of you on this project who can sing as well as act. Nice! Tell me Shawn, what do you want to do with the rest of your life?

SJ: I think I really want to stick with acting because it’s such a passion. I want to be an actor because they have such interesting lives. It would be a lot of fun.

CA: It is a lot of fun, but it’s also a lot of hard work. You haven’t been on set yet. It’s a lot of hard work, but well worth the effort. Okay Shawn tell me how old you are.

SJ: I’m fourteen.

CA: Geesh. So young, so lucky.

SJ: I’ll turn fifteen while we’re filming.

CA: So you’re a Gemini? The evil twin- you must be proud.

SJ: (nervous laugh)

CA: I don’t know why I have all this animosity towards Gemini’s- must be the psycho ones I’ve dated. Anyway… what would you tell people about this film to make them go see it?

SJ: That it’s really good and it might bring you to tears, but it will change your whole world.

CA: Change your perspective on things for sure.

SJ: Definitely.

CA: It’s for sure going to change how we view the bully in general. With more attention brought to the lifestyles and environments they grow up in.

SJ: Exactly.

CA: Okay time for the million dollar question- are you dating anyone? Because you have the role that will make girls want to cuddle you.

SJ: No, but I do like my prom date a lot.

CA: Wait you have a prom date at fourteen?

SJ: Yeah she’s sixteen and she’s really pretty. Her name is Renee. I asked to her prom- I sang to her and was like “Will you go to prom with me?” And she was like “YEAH!”

CA: Very cool.

Why So Serious…..?!

Yep that would be Dakota Shepard’s motto if it wasn’t already taken up by one of the most ingenious villains of all time. Not that Dakota is evil, he isn’t I assure you, but he NEVER stops smiling. I can not imagine being his mother and trying to punish that sweet smiling face- maybe he’s onto something! But I digress and am losing focus trying to make an intro that will entice you all to read this awesome kids tale of taking on one of the bully’s in our project- Bryce. I knew it would work- keep reading.

Chelsea Anders: So you play Bryce. What’s your take on Bryce?

Dakota Shepard: He’s kind of like me, but not really. I mean I’m not a bully. I’ll stand up for myself, but I won’t start anything with anyone.

CA: So you’re not an instigator. That’s good. How did you get the part of Bryce? Or I should ask what experience have you had with acting?

DS: None what so ever.

CA: You’re kidding me? So how did you get attached to this project?

DS: My step dad saw it on Facebook and decided to try out.

CA: So you have your stepdad to thank. Nice. How old are you Dakota?

DS: I am sixteen.

CA: What school do go to in Columbus, OH?

DS:I go to West High School. Right there on the Hilltop.

CA: So do you think you might do some theatre there after this acting experience?

DS: Yes, we have a thing where we pick our extra curricular activities next year and I signed up for intro to theatre.

CA: Perfect, a blossoming actor. That was cheesy sorry. How does Bryce get a long with his pal Timmy?

DS: We get along well. I thought Jansen (Timmy) looked like Justin Bieber when I first met him., but he pretty cool.

CA: He does have that a little bit. But it’s good you two get along since your scenes are always together. Let me switch gears. What do you do for fun?

DS: Hang out with my friends, play video games. and walk around..

CA: Walk around?

DS: Walk around and talk.

CA: I bet that’s all you do.

DS: (BIG SMILE)

CA: Million dollar question- the question millions of teenage girls are going to want to know. Do you have a girlfriend.

     «Writer’s note: Brace yourselves!»

DS: No. Well not anymore. Me and my girlfriend just broke up.

CA: Uh oh. How are you handling that?

DS: It’s um…I’m working through it. I really like her though.

CA: Ahhhh you’re killing me. Somebody give this kid a hug. Nevermind I’ll do it!!

Show him some love people, show him some love.