The 14th annual Long Island International Film Expo (LIIFE) has selected "Strings," an independent feature film by writer/director Mark Dennis and producer/director Ben Foster, as one of the festival’s official selections for 2011.
It will have its East Coast premiere at the historic Bellmore Movies on Sunday, July 10, at 7 p.m.
"Strings" tells the story of a troubled musician who seeks out an experimental therapist to turn his life around. When the therapist calls for him to leave everything behind and take on a new identity, the musician realizes his new life isn't what it seems and his therapist is manipulating patients to commit vigilante crimes.
Writer Mark Dennis experienced the death of a loved one due to a car accident in 2005. When writing "Strings" in 2007, he heard the song "Limousine" by Long Island band Brand New, which chronicled the true-life story of a 7-year-old girl, killed by a drunk driver. The lyrics paralleled much of the grief he was feeling, inspiring his writing of "Strings."
Several elements of that story made their way into "Strings," such as the alcoholism and the death of a daughter due to irresponsibility and drinking. As serendipity would have it, "Strings" has its East Coast debut in Long Island.
Shot in Austin, San Antonio, and Long Island, New York, the cast includes Billy Harvey, Chris Potter, Elle LaMont, Karl Anderson, Jack Lee, Olivia Draguicevich, Daniel Dascent and Gary Chason.
Central to the film is the song “The Greatest Escape” written/performed by actor/musician/producer Billy Harvey (Charlie Mars, Slaid Cleeves, Bob Schneider).
In addition to “Strings," Foster and Dennis have collaborated on several short films, most notably “The Alternate” and “Billy The Squid.”
"Strings" - Official selection: 2011 White Sands International Film Festival, Long Island International Film Expo, Ventura Film Festival. Winner: Breckenridge Festival Of Film Audience Award, “Best Song”, Billy Harvey “The Greatest Escape”. “Best Ensemble” San Francisco Best Actors Film Festival, May 2011.
