The Knockturnal was on the scene for the World Premiere of “Christmas Eve” at ArcLight Hollywood.
From the film: Patrick Stewart, Cheryl Hines, Jon Heder, James Roday, Julianna Guill, Jaclyn Hales, Roxanne Cook, Clara Perez, Parker Davis, co-writer/director Mitch Davis, producers Larry King & Shawn King (also in the cast) and Ken Brailsford were in attendance.
Film Synopsis: When a power outage traps six different groups of New Yorkers inside elevators on Christmas Eve, they find that laughter, romance, and a little holiday magic will get them through – and change their lives in unexpected ways. A heartless real estate tycoon (Patrick Stewart) clings to life in a precarious construction elevator hundreds of feet off the ground. Unexpected relationships bloom for a musician (Cheryl Hines) stuck with her dysfunctional orchestra mates, as well as an aspiring fashion photographer (James Roday) confined with the introverted paralegal in his apartment building (Julianna Guill). A crass HR manager (Max Casella) trapped with an employee he just fired (Jon Heder) and a cynical doctor (Gary Cole) transporting his terminal patient are forced to reconsider the way they think about others in this all-star ensemble comedy that proves that in a city of eight million, you never know who you might get stuck with.
Read our exclusive interviews below:
Christian Davis – Composer
Q: What was the inspiration for the sound of the score? Did you use the usual Christmas instruments we would normally hear in a Christmas movie?
A: The film started off as Indie-Dramedy, not taking place at Christmas until right before they went to shoot it. The premise is still the same; they get stuck in elevators with these strangers, but what if we have it happen on Christmas Eve and heighten the drama of it, so I thought we would go Glockenspiels, Sleigh Bells, big orchestra, and then when I saw the movie I instantly knew that was wrong, that I had to go back to an indie smaller score. The film itself, you’re stuck in elevators it’s not horses riding through the pastures type of movie; it’s a small intimate movie. It’s almost like a stage play of sorts. There are a couple big scenes and the Silent Night arrangement is the biggest scene in the whole movie where they’re getting out of the elevators in a montage sequence. So my thought was ‘how can I make this a hip indie score with a tinge of Christmas?’ so instead of using sleigh bells and glockenspiels I use some bell like synths, guitars, pianos, so it’s a hint of Christmas with indie dramedy.
Q: What was it like working with your father Mitch as the director?
A: First time working with him, actually. I’ve grown up seeing my dad make movies and never was at a place before where I was ready to do a movie and he finally said ‘I think you’re ready to do one of my movies’ so it was fun.
Clara Perez – Amelia
Q: What initially attracted you to this story?
A: I read the script and it was one of those scripts that I just got through really, really quickly and I always think that that’s a really good sign and the next day I just remembered it and had a really warm feeling about it. So I felt it was going to be a really good film.
Q: What were some challenges you faced while shooting?
A: I’m trying to think if there were any challenges! (Laughs) It was kind of one of those dreamy jobs. We shot in Bulgaria and it’s always that awkward thing not knowing the language and not knowing where things are but people were incredibly helpful.
Q: Did you enjoy your time in Bulgaria?
A: It was really, really beautiful and interesting and unlike anywhere I’ve been before.
Q: Have you ever been there before or was this the first time?
A: Yea first time, I loved it.
Q: What was it like on set?
A: I play the wife of the person who’s responsible for turning all the elevators off, so we were in an outdoor area and the only couple that aren’t actually in the elevators but it was still an amazing set, the production values were amazing.
Q: What do you hope the audience takes away from the story?
A: I just hope that its one of those Christmas movies that people see again and again and that they really just have a warm Christmas-y feeling tt gets them ready for the holiday season.
Q: Any specific plans for the holidays?
A: I live in London so I’m going to spend it with my family there.
Q: Not going to spend it here where it’s warm?
A: I would love to, but my family is over there and holidays with the family are the best.
Larry King – Producer and Shawn King – Nurse Byrnes
Q: This was your first time producing a film, is that right?
Larry: And the last. (Laughs) Or not, I don’t know, I’m not a film buff. I was happy to have participated, my wife’s in it, great cast, I’m very happy with the result, I think it’s a terrific movie and I hope it does well and I’m proud to be affiliated in some way. And I’m proud for Shawn.
Q: What are you most excited about with this film?
Larry: The very fact that it got made (laughs) it was a hell of a book called Stuck, great idea. The directing was terrific it came out so well with the music and the story is great, the idea of people stuck in elevators just works.
Q: I heard the original script was not a Christmas time story, how did it differ from the final product?
Q: I hear it was originally written not at Christmas time and closer to shooting they decided to make it a Christmas time story, How much does it differ from the original screenplay?
Shawn: It doesn’t differ a lot except it just kind of upped the ante to be stuck on Christmas Eve, I mean everyone has to go somewhere and do something on Christmas Day. I think it was a really smart change.
Q: So you were stuck in one of the elevators, what was it like being in that small space for so long with everybody?
Shawn: Well, I actually have elevator claustrophobia but I knew I was going to have three walls, not four and that I wasn’t really going to be stuck, and I’m an actor so I was okay with it (laughs)
Q: What was it like filming in Bulgaria?
Shawn: I love Bulgaria! It was wonderful.
Q: Did you get to explore the surrounding areas when you weren’t filming?
Shawn: A little bit, yea. Mitch and his wife took me to dinner and I went around and saw some of the old, old churches, it was great.
Q: Have you ever been there before?
Shawn: I hadn’t. I’ve been to areas close by in years past but not right in Sofia.
Q: How much involvement did Larry have as the producer?
Shawn: He did as much as he wanted to do (laughs). Overall it was fun. There are always going to be stressful moments but we seem to be through them now.
Q: Have you seen a cut of the film yet?
Shawn: I have seen it, but I haven’t seen the final version.
Q: And what do you hope everyone takes away from the story and the characters?
Shawn: I hope everyone comes away feeling very, very happy.
Additional celebrity guests spotted included Dick Cook, Christopher Gorham, Arden Myrin, Kate Flannery, Laura James, Kato Kaelin, and You Tube’s Andrew Hales. Following the screening, guests made their way over to Wood & Vine for cocktails and canapes.
-Andrew Akler