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During the Boys of Summerville premiere, Brooks Benjamin mentioned that they would post an eBay auction for the "Summerville Welcomes You" sign that was used in the movie. During the premiere, it was signed by the cast and crew in attendance, and now... it can be yours forever!

And best of all... 100% of the final price will go to the charity: A PLACE TO BARK, which is a no kill animal rescue center in Portland, TN.

This place works on donations and isn't government funded, and can definitely use your help! We were hoping to leave the charity portion blank so the buyer could choose which charity he or she wants, but alas... eBay says we cannot... So we found A PLACE TO BARK and Lee Loo, Brook's and Jackie's wonderful German Shepherd mix (who makes a cameo appearance in the movie) agreed... it will be the perfect charity!

So, go to the eBay listing and place your bid now! You'll get to own a piece of Summerville, a piece of indie movie history, and help out our little furry friends in the process!!! Happy bidding, and please forward this email to everyone you know!

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Creative. Visionary. Pansy.

These are just three of the words that have been used to describe child genius director, Brooks Benjamin. In this Knoxville Films exclusive, the former circus performer turned independent film mogul shares the secrets of his life growing up in small town Harrogate—as a girl.

We meet up with Brooks in Portafino, a small town outside of Milan on the Italian Riviera. Brooks and his new wife (they were married on the Internet earlier today) have just purchased their latest real estate gem, a 22,000 square foot "cottage" high in the cliffs of Portafino. Brooks has clearly made the most of his "modest income" earned from Point of Fear. Throughout the interview, Benjamin sips on Grappa as three young village boys take turns rubbing his enormous feet.

Knoxville Films Question #1: Tell us about your life growing up as a girl in Harriman and why you chose to become a man?

BB: One of my earliest memories as a little girl was watching the movie "Glen or Glenda" with my older sister, who later went on to become one of America's bravest firemen, and really felt myself connect with that "little guy inside me". Fifteen years and three surgeries later (one to remove the undeveloped symbiotic twin growing inside my bowels), that little man was removed and I was completely in debt. However I thought to myself... "I've come this far with it, why not go ahead and finish what I started.

KF Question #2: In their review of Point of Fear the New York times said that "Benjamin directs the cast with a light and gently touch like that of a mother cow suckling her calf". Do you think this gentle touch comes from your true feminine inner being?

BB: I remember reading that! It wasn't until I went to New York to do a book signing for "From Brook to Brooks, Adding a Letter and, Oh, So Much More" when I actually saw a mother cow sucking on a cafe (a cozy little bohemian place... Star... something or another). I thought the poor thing had latched onto the water spigot on the side of the building, but after I went over to inspect her, I found out she was, in fact, ingesting some milk that had been leaking through some cracks in the foundation. Clever girl, she was. But, to answer your question, I do feel like a cow, sometimes, leading my small children to graze at the craft services table. Only to call off lunch 25 minutes early to put them back out to work in the fields. It's the "little mother in me" (which makes me think I need to go have that checked again...).

KF Question #3: It is rumored that Point of fear was made for $22.87 and it went on to gross over $200 million worldwide. Do you intend to share any of the profits with the cast and crew?

BB: The $200 million it had grossed was virtually entirely in Canada, so I think after the exchange rate it actually ended up being more like 75 cents. However, I held up my end of the bargain and I made sure each cast member with a speaking role, red hair, 3 nipples, and previous military experience (in any country bordering Australia) got their share of the kitty.

KF Question #4: In Boys of Summerville, much of the plot centers on softball. Why is it called soft ball? Have you ever been hit on the head with a soft ball? They are not very soft…

BB: While collaborating with Rodriguez on the script we began to throw around the idea of really bringing in the history of the game... get down to the fun facts that the audience will really get a kick out of. We discovered that the word "soft" is actually derived from the French word "souffle", which is what the original game used when it began in France. A teammate would hold a souffle in his hand and hurl it at an opposing player, who would then try and eat as much of the dessert as he could. If he could finish the dish before the Pincher (later changed to pitcher when the game came to America) could run and tag the Eater's bottom, he would score a point. If he was pinched before he could finish it, the eater had to run around (bases were later added in) the court while the Pincher would chase him yelling (in French), "Pincez Votre Fond", which later translated to something we couldn't figure out. So I let Rodriguez get back to his chores and I finished the script that we began.

KF Question #5: Juggling a tight budget and a short production schedule is demanding and can tax even the most seasoned director. Briefs or boxers?

BB: Boxers. Which do allow me to more freely juggle my tight little budgets and short schedule.

Written by Knoxville Films' Celebrity Correspondent, Michael Samstag

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In a disturbing and exclusive interview with Knoxville Films, Brooks Benjamins' little brother details a pattern of abuse and violence between him and his big brother, Jason Benjamin. Is Brooks Benjamin really 'some kind of monster'? Warning this article is rated UV for Unusual Violence.

Knoxville Films' Movie Violence Correspondent, Michael Samstag reports:

Jason Benjamin is not just another pretty face. In fact, he's anything but pretty. Jason is best known for 'putting out fires' in Oak Ridge--whatever that means. It's also rumored that he's been a cop, ballet dancer, female impersonator, Chipendale dancer, and now it surfaces in the Knoxville News Sentinel Sunday paper--he fancies himself an ACTOR. Who is Jason Benjamin? Knoxville Films readers want to know.

In true Hollywood form, little brother and prominent filmmaker, Brooks Benjamin has cast his big brother in his upcoming summer blockbuster "The Boys of Summerville". Look out Baldwin's there's a new band of brothers in town. Now join Knoxville Films as we dare to take you where no other East Tennessee paper would go (for very well founded reasons)--into the locker room with Jason Benjamin!

Knoxville Films Question #1: In a recent Metro Pulse article your brother is quoted as saying that he "enjoyed beating you up for a change". What does that mean? Did he abuse you in any way?

Jason Benjamin: Most of the cast and crew never knew that every time Brooks got mad at someone he made me do push ups until I collapsed. Then, he would put on his wife's high heeled shoes and walk on the back of my legs. It was very painful and to this day I can't stand to hear a woman in high heeled shoes walking in gravel. Oh yeah, he made me do push ups in a gravel parking lot.

KF Question #2: Several actors have described the atmosphere on the set as "relaxed and laid back". Is that how you remember it? How would you characterize the overall mood ?


JB: I guess you weren't really writing down what I just said to you when you asked me that first question. Are you making a grocery list? I was terrified the whole time I was working on that movie.

KF Question #3: Who is your little brother more like--mild mannered Bruce banner or the green and gnarly Hulk?

JB: He is exactly like the green and gnarly Bruce Banner. Oh, with a little bit of Attila the Hun thrown in.

KF Question #4: According to IMDb, you were paid almost $750K for your role in BOS. Is there any resentment from the rest of the cast that was paid meager low-budget SAG rates?

JB: I don't think they knew how much I was paid. Of course, none of them had the director walking on the back of their legs in high heeled shoes whenever he got angry. His feet are so fat that his pinky toes hung out the side and touched my legs every time he took a step. It was awful. He should have paid me millions of dollars.

KF Question #5: Why is your name a registered trade mark? Was there some fear of your brother trying to steal your first name too?

JB: Yes. I had to get an attorney last year. I went to Brooks and asked him if I could have my name back. He didn't want to give it up. He actually made me trade him my birthday for it. Now he gets two cakes and two presents every year. At least I've got a name...I've got a name.

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This week we will be running a series of blogs about the "Boys of Summerville" in celebration of the Premiere this coming Thursday, April 17 at Regal Downtown West.

We kick off the series with an interview with Brooks in the Metro Pulse: Metro Pulse Q&A and an interview by Betsy Pickle on KnoxNews.com: Summerville on KnoxNews.com

Related Posts:
Boys of Summervile Premiere
Boys of Summerville Trailer
All BOS Posts

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Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 7pm

An Indie Comedy Feature filmed entirely in East Tennessee

Hot on the heels of his successful 2006 Film Festival circuit movie “Point of Fear”, a thriller, Writer/Director Brooks Benjamin of Harriman, Tennessee, began scribing “Boys of Summerville”, a comedy. “Comedies have always been my first love when it comes to movies” says Benjamin.

In late 2006, after the script had been completed, money was being raised, Keith McDaniel (Clinton 12, Secret City – The Story of Oak Ridge) was brought onboard as Executive Producer and actors began being interviewed for roles in the production. While all of that was going on; locations had to be scouted and secured, an experienced local crew had to found, and last, but not least, food services for the hungry talent and crew had to be located.

By early 2007, Benjamin had set June as the time-frame for the filming of “Boys of Summerville”. His actors and actresses set about doing rehearsals. And not just for their vocal utterances of the script. Many of the parts included physical prat-falls, playing softball against actual local softball teams (for real) and even jumping on a trampoline whilst holding onto a canned beverage. “Everybody seems to be having a great time with this picture” observed Keith McDaniel in May of ’07.

The first of 22 shoot days began on June 4th, 2007. High Definition was chosen as the format of the film. Over the next month, Benjamin and crew crisscrossed Middle-East Tennessee: Oak Ridge, Alcoa, Maryville, Kingston, Harriman, and Rockwood would be the towns and communities where hilarious scenes would be shot. The actors, actresses, ball fields, restaurants, a jet airplane, cars, houses, businesses and a host of other locations were used to bring a wonderfully funny script to life.

Throughout the shoot, Screen Actors Guild (SAG) talent came to and performed on the “Boys of Summerville” sets here in East Tennessee. Some of them very familiar names in our local communities: David Dwyer of Maryville, TN (October Sky, Remember the Titans, We Are Marshall, etc), David Keith of Knoxville, TN (An Officer and a Gentleman, Behind Enemy Lines, Daredevil, etc). The other SAG actors are Natalie Canerday (October Sky, Walk the Line, Slingblade), Catherine Campion (North Country, Sex and the City), Kevin Michael Walsh (My name is Earl, King of Queens), Wes Murphy of Maryville, TN (Heaven and Hell, The Work and the Glory III), and Eddie Nickerson (Batman & Robin, Heaven and Hell). Comedians Rodney Hood and Todd Justice made a stop to make a cameo appearance in the movie. Other out-of-town talent included Barry Battles and Griffin Hood.

“One of the characters in the movie Charles “Buddy” Davis, was based on my father, Charles Davis Benjamin, who passed away from cancer in 2000. I wanted to make a movie as a tribute to him, and since he loved comedies and softball so much, I thought this would be a perfect movie to make”

Additional information and advance tickets for the premiere may be purchased through www.boysofsummerville.com. Tickets may also be purchased on the night of the premiere, Thursday, April 17th, at the Regal’s Downtown West theater box office.

The movie will begin at 7:00PM.

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This is the official trailer for Boys of Summerville, Lycan Entertainment's newest feature film. Written and directed by Brooks Benjamin and starring Casey Payne, Allison Varnes, and Wesley Murphy. The film was shot entirely in East Tennessee using local crew and talent. There are memorable cameos by Natalie Canerday and Knoxville's own, David Keith.

Boys of Summerville

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Behind the scenes on Summerville, we catch a scene directed by Brooks Benjamin and choreographed by big brother Jason Benjamin. Does Knoxville have the next pair of Cohen brothers? Only time will tell!

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The film's logline is: Peter Davis (Casey Payne), a big city business man, begrudgingly goes back to his little hometown of Summerville to settle his late father's estate. When he gets there, he finds himself once again seduced by the pace of the small town life as well as caught up in the one thing Summerville prides itself on: Softball. While Peter renews his hometown friendships with Murr (Brad Bumgardner), Rocky (Wesley Murphy), as well as many other eccentric characters, he finds himself falling for Summerville all over again... and also for a new face in town, Samantha (Allison Varnes). As Peter is torn between his new life up north and his old one down south, he is forced to make a decision on what is more important to him: The security of what he has, or the memories of what he almost lost.

Brooks and 1st AD Jackie Barnes did an amazing job casting the film and bringing the town of Summerville to life. You can expect to see Boys of Summerville around the summer of 2008. You can find them online at www.summervillemovie.com or www.myspace.com/boysofsummerville.

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Written and directed by Brooks Benjamin

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