Ten Inch Hero is an independent film completed in
2007. The film was directed by David Mackay and written by
Betsy Morris. It stars
Elisabeth Harnois,
Clea DuVall,
Sean Patrick Flanery,
Jensen Ackles,
Danneel Harris,
Alice Krige and
John Doe.
[1] Plot synopsisTen Inch Hero centers around a group of friends working at a sandwich shop in
Santa Cruz:
Piper (Harnois), Jen (DuVall), Tish (Harris), and Priestly (Ackles).
The shop is owned by aging hippie surfer Trucker (Doe), who is in love
with Zo (Krige), the manager of the crystal shop across the street.
Piper, an accomplished artist, comes to town in search of the child
she gave up for adoption. But she finds much more–and less–than she
expected.
Tish is a knockout–and a nymphomaniac. Early in life, she learned
it's a lot safer to use than to be used, to be Marilyn instead of Norma
Jean. Fiercely loyal to her friends, she just can't trust the world
enough to risk falling in love.
The irreverent and horny Priestly dispenses free-wheeling comic
advice to everyone, but how long can he hide his own feelings? And what
secrets is he hiding under that mohawk?
Shy Jen watches life pass by, afraid to reach out, except through
her e-mail romance with a mysterious stranger. Who could be a guy. Or a
girl. Or Charles Manson with a laptop.
Trucker, a surfer child of the 60s, knows about life. He owns the
sub shop, after all. So why does he need his young staff to help him
approach the love of his life?
ThemeTen Inch Hero explores the themes of honesty--both to others and to
yourself--and the flaw of judging by appearances. Everyone in this
movie is hiding something: from Jen hiding behind her computer, to
Trucker coving up a painful past, and even Priestly, uncomfortable in
his own skin.
Ten Inch Hero takes the old childhood lesson of "Don't judge a book
by its cover" one step further to: "Don't let others tell you what your
book's cover should look like." Each of the friends learns that you
can't be happy until you're willing to risk being yourself.
Release DatesTen Inch Hero has not yet been released. It is an independent film, made entirely from private investments.
It has been shown in a number of film festivals, including the
Newport Beach Film Festival as well as the
Phoenix Film Festival and the
Santa Cruz Film Festival.
[2][3]Ten Inch Hero won an award for Best Soundtrack in the Santa Cruz Film Festival.
There have been a few private screenings, including a large
screening hosted by Producer Mark Witsken and Director David Mackay in
LA in the summer of 07. Much of the cast and crew attended.
Demand to see this movie is great, especially from fans of actor
Jensen Ackles, the TV show
Supernatural (TV series) and musician John Doe of the punk band X.
Knowing how hard it is to secure wide release of an independent
movie, many fans around the world are petitioning to bring it out on
DVD and into cinemas worldwide. For example:
Fans in the UK shot a video during the Asylum convention titled "I
want Ten Inch Hero," urging distributors to bring the film to the UK.
[4]Fans shot a video after the Phoenix Film Festival, discussing how much
they enjoyed the film. This video uses a song from the soundtrack:
Feeling a Moment by Feeder. It is available on the TIH blog and
myspace. One fan recently arranged a screening during a
Supernatural (TV series) convention in Vancouver.
[5]. Others are currently trying to do the same around the world.
ProductionTen Inch Hero was shot in an aggressive three weeks. Although the
film is set in Santa Cruz, the realities of independent film required
much of it to be shot in southern California, including a sub shop in
San Pedro and a private beach.
However, the crew and the three lead actresses took Trucker's
"Cause-Mobile" (a VW bus covered in bumperstickers pronouncing
Trucker's various causes) on a road trip to northern California. There
they filmed exterior scenes in
Santa Cruz,
Big Sur, and
Morro Bay.
Danneel Harris (Tish) drove the Cause-Mobile, her first experience driving "three on the tree."
MusicThe soundtrack for Ten Inch Hero was written by
Don Davis (composer) best known for his work on
The Matrix. Actress and Musician
Bethany Joy Galeotti wrote three original songs for the soundtrack: The Long Way, Get Your Love, and the haunting ballad Something Familiar.
Other artists on the soundtrack include
Joshua Radin,
David Lichens,
Feeder,
Chris Holmes (musician), and
The Chalets.