University of Oklahoma | School of Art | Independent Film Project at OU

Press Release: The Round and Round For further information contact:
Carmen Hill
Tel. (405) 325-4670
carmenhill@ou.edu

NORMAN--The Independent Film Project in the University of Oklahoma School of Art begins its 2003 Independent Film Maker Series with the screening, with cast and crew, of The Round and Round , produced by the Maquire Production Company, with Executive Producer Mac J. Maquire, Director Rod Slane and Producer Jill Noonan (Dreams Beyond Productions), and Screenwriter Kent F. Frates. The cast includes Oklahoma actors Robert Knott (Pollock, Shades of Blue) , Robert Peters, Rex Linn, Gaylord Sartain, and Becky Love, as well as Wilford Brimley (The Firm, Cocoon) , Alex Meneses (The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas) , and Hunter Von Leer ( Dallas, The History of the World Part II) . The film was shot in Oklahoma City, Tulsa, and Sand Springs.

Rod Slane has been a Director/Director of Photography for over 20 years. He is the winner of numerous national awards for his documentaries, commercials and television programs. Prior to entering the film business, Slane began his professional career as a Music Producer/Engineer for artists such as The Gap Band, Brewer and Shipley, Vanilla Ice, Steve Smith (Journey) and many other recording artists. He composed and produced the Musipak Production Music Library, which is used widely throughout the film and television industry. Slane has been a Director, Producer or Composer for more than 30 feature films.

Producer Jill Noonan started her film production career as an actress. She has appeared in numerous television commercials and feature films. As owner of Tulsa's Dreams Beyond Productions, she has produced many national commercials and television programs. The Round and Round is her debut as a feature film producer.

Screenwriter Kent F. Frates is a practicing attorney in Oklahoma City and has been a member and Minority Leader of the Oklahoma House of Representatives. Frates is a published poet and writer, as well as publisher and editor of political and sports themes.

Based on true events, the Round and Round exposes the pecking order in the Oklahoma State Legislature when a proposed law to ban the controversial sport of cockfighting causes battle lines to be drawn and loyalties to be tested. Oklahoma State Senator Michael Turner (Robert Knott) finds himself thrust in the middle of a power struggle within the political system after one of his constituents involved with the brutal sport is murdered. Turner summons his ex-girlfriend, Becky Lord (Alex Meneses), a relentless FBI agent, to investigate the crime, which appears to be tied to political corruption. It soon becomes apparent that the "good ole boys" in Oklahoma want the feathers he's ruffling left untouched and will go to any length to see that they are. The key to uncovering the corruption lies with one prominent cockfighter, Martin Bradley (Hunter von Leer), who may be the only one who realizes the bloodsport of politics is much more dangerous than his own sport. Not even the Governor of Oklahoma (Wilford Brimley) is beyond suspicion as small town actions take on big time consequences. The dead pool gets deeper as more murders occur and Turner's political naiveté leads him down a dead end road as politics, bribes, murder, and shady legislation abound in The Round and Round .

The Independent Film Maker Series "is open to regional filmmakers seeking to screen their productions. Some films will be shown as a finished product, others as a rough cut, or as works in progress," said Producer/Director and Filmmaker in Residence, Shawnee Brittan. In addition to Oklahoma, the Independent Film Maker Series will include the four surrounding states of New Mexico, Texas, Arkansas, and Kansas. Screenings with cast and crew will be held twice or more per semester. "To attend one of these is an adventure," Brittan said. "The audience can mingle with actors and filmmakers related to the film, can offer ideas on different endings, with questionnaire cards like Hollywood films and screenings in San Bernardino. We will be doing the same thing here."

"I see it as a way to offer support to independent filmmakers by providing a venue for showing works in progress and a forum for initial showing of their work," said the former Director of the School of Art, Dr. Andrew Phelan. "The Independent Film Maker Series is the only place in Oklahoma doing this."

The Independent Film Maker Series gives students and those interested in independent films an opportunity to meet real world, real life filmmakers. "These films are low budget and it is a way for our students to learn how a low budget movie is made," Brittan said, "and in many cases they will learn what to do, and, in other cases what not to do."