His movies normally debut on big screens in the United States or on TV networks like HBO and Showtime but independent filmmaker David Heavener's new movie will have its world premiere right here in Belize on the big screen at the Princess Cinema tomorrow night. Heavener wrote, directed, produced, and starred in "Angel Blade" which also stars Marc Singer and Margot Kidder. The many-talented Heavener, who has written and starred in over 30 independent films, has guest starred in TV shows such as Days of our Lives, and still finds time to be a rock musician, sat down with Keith Swift today to talk about the new movie "Angel Blade" and the chances for Belize to become an future film-making capital.
Keith Swift Reporting,
Drugs…sex…murder…. And you get all that in just the first few minutes of Angel Blade which Heavener describes as an erotic thriller based on a true story. It was shot on location entirely in Las Vegas but will have its world premiere in Belize.
David Heavener, Director & Actor
"Angel Blade is what I would call an erotic thriller. It is about the underground sex clubs of Las Vegas, it is a true story. I researched this police officer that went underground to find a serial killer called the 'Angel Killer.' And the story was real intriguing so I ended up writing the script and a movie about it."
Keith Swift,
Why have you chosen to world premiere this movie in Belize?
David Heavener,
"Well I have a second home in Belize so I visit here a lot and I formed a company here in Belize to actually do my international distribution. So everything is going to be funneled starting from Belize and going out to all of the rest of the world as opposed to starting in America and going out. So it's going to be a place to launch pictures and also to test them to see if they do well. So if you don't come to the theater tonight then that means the movie won't do well anywhere else."
And in a bigger sense, tomorrow's launch could also be the springboard for a local movie industry. Sure, we still need the infrastructure, an enabling environment and skilled labour to start rolling out independent films like this one but Heavener says Belize is a ripe location for independent filmmakers. That's why he has set up his distribution company, Sun Coast films here.
David Heavener,
"Well this could mean a couple things, I could build up my distribution system which could mean a few more jobs but more important than that it could put Belize on the map as an international film community which is what I kind of have in mind but its going to take a period of years, things don't happen overnight. After the distribution system comes into place, people are going to come over here wanting to know why and I believe more movies will come here and more producers will start shooting here."
Keith Swift,
So Belize could get a name for itself as a location for independent films?
David Heavener,
"It could. It could because it's weird: Cannes Film Festival happened in France. Why France? I think Belize is set up for some good stuff like that because its English speaking and there's a lot of talent."
Keith Swift,
There is a lot of talent and a lot of stories to be told. Do you plan to help Belizeans tell those stories with scripts and maybe movies?
David Heavener,
"Well I would like to think I could but its not going to happen tomorrow. I would have to, excuse the honesty, help myself get platform so people in America won't look at me and say what's this crazy guy doing in this little country called Belize. Once I get that platform built, then I am able to help other people and Belize but first we've got to get the notoriety, we have to get Belize high up on the chain of notoriety."
Notoriety which Heavener has, and which he now wants to earn for Belize.
Angel Blade's world premiere is tomorrow night at 8:30 at the Princess Cinema. The movie is not rated however Heavener warns it does contain adult content and he strongly suggests parental discretion.
And while Angel Blade is already on screen, Heavener just wrapped up shooting on his next project "Curse of the Maya" which is a movie about a Mayan family that moves to LA the movie stars "Different Strokes" alum, Todd Bridges and was shot partly on location in Belize. It should be released next year. For more on David Heavener log on to his website.