Smile
Gold is found by a gunslinger who was hired to watch the comings and goings of the bustling town.
“Smile” is a Western story at its core. However, the events and what has happened to the characters in the past are things rarely or never discussed in a Western. So it keeps the audience paying attention and on their toes.
“Smile” has been an Official Selection a number of times….has had 9 nominations..3 Finalists…won 4 awards involving the writing, the acting, an Audience Choice Award, and also Best Western from the Los Angeles Film Awards and Finalists at the Indie Shorts FF in LA for Best Western, Directing, and Writing.
From being at the showings I can attest that “Smile” is a definite crowd-pleaser. I wrote the script and while showing, the full audiences have reacted with laughs, gasps, chuckles, and wow’s in all the right places – followed by boisterous applause at the end of the story and again at the end of the credits (and at the awards nights).
“Smile” is an homage to the film Rashomon. In a feature film you normally have to spell everything out during the story. In a film short you can devise a story that will cause the viewer to think about the film for some time after viewing. In “Smile”, the more you ponder the more you realize the clues were there but like in Rashomon you saw a different reality.
With a small well fit cast and a tight script, “Smile” is more a psychological thriller play as were films like “Wait Until Dark”.
Please view “Smile” with these things in mind. Much appreciated!
Jay Pennington
Author, co-director, and actor of “Smile”.
At the age of 6 I began my passion for great film. Changing channels on a portable black and white TV, I came across PBS showing La Strada. Every Friday night the PBS station would show such films as M, The Cabinet of Dr Calagari, the 400 Blows, and La Belle et La Bette. The power of a great film deeply affected me at the age of 6. As early as elementary school through college I was in speech, drama, and/or film studies. I’ve served as writer, director, and producer over the years with 40 IMDB credits in acting.
I have teamed up with Gerry Olert to make great films. In the film “Smile” I had written a psychological thriller Western short story. Gerry and I co-directed “Smile” and I have a major role in the film. Gerry is a master cinematographer…sound…and editing and we work like a great team of brothers.
“Smile” has been a great success – awards and a big crowd-pleaser. So Gerry and I have begun our next film. I have written the screenplay. It is cast and its locations chosen. It is a feel good comedy. A Western but like “Smile” a non-traditional Western. It also highlights our woman’s lead role as hero with great intelligence and skills.
“Smile” is an homage to the film Rashomon. In a feature film you normally have to spell everything out during the story. In a film short you can devise a story that will cause the viewer to think about the film for some time after viewing. In “Smile”, the more you ponder the more you realize the clues were there but like in Rashomon you saw a different reality.
“Smile” has been a huge crowd-pleaser. For several showings at different film festivals I’ve sat in the full theaters. There are different moments through the film when the whole audience laughs, gasps, and Wow/cheers all in all the right places. With large applause at the end of the story then a second large applause at the end of the credits. Followed by great discussions after the showing and many compliments. At the Billy The Kid Film Festival our film “Smile” won the Audience Choice Award. At the Los Angeles Film Awards it won Best Western.
I do hope that you will give “Smile” a serious look.
So far “Smile” has been widely praised. It has no flaws like many short film entries – it has a solid complex but tight script, professional acting, professional camera/sound/editing/soundtrack with no wasted space in the film. Perfect crowd reactions throughout the film, a big emotional applause at the end then a second large applause at the end of the credits.
“Smile” has had multiple Official Selections, 11 nominations, and 4 awards so far including Best Western, Audience Choice, for writing, and acting.