Bettendorf Teens host the premiere of their 2 movies

By Elaine Barreca / QUAD-CITY TIMES / November 23, 2002

Two nights ago, Scott Beck has a bad dream: nobody showed up at the premiere of the latest Bluebox Limited independent films "Prism" and "Remembering November."

But like the main character in the Hitchcock-like "Prism" comes to understand, when you wake up, you could see things differently.

About 200 people attended the premiere Friday night at North Scott High School.

"A year ago, who would have thought that people would actually want to see our movies on the big screen?" Beck humbly told the crowd before the show began.

"This is awesome," said Bryan Woods, Beck's partner in Bluebox Limited.

Woods and Beck, seniors at Bettendorf High School, are the founders of the production studio located in their parents' homes. "Yearbook," their film about teenage drinking and driving, has won three awards.

At North Scott, the mix of teenagers, parents and other well-wishers chatted in the lobby before the premiere, many making free-will donations to the company.

"They're trying to make their dreams come true," said Maggie Miller, whose son is involved in drama at North Scott. "It's a big endeavour, but go for it," she said.

The school's drama club, Lancer Productions, sponsored the premiere, which allowed the students to use the auditorium at no charge.

"When you have no-budget movies like Bluebox does, you have to take all the freebies you can get," Beck said.

The suspense-thriller "Prism" revolved around the lonely character, William Kennedy, whose wife recently was murdered. Woods directed "Prism" with a budget of $50. It was filmed at St. John's United Methodist Church in Davenport, Terracon Consultants, Inc., Bettendorf, and in his parent's home.

"Remembering November," directed and written by Beck, boasts a larger budget at $467. It was shot in the Abbey Hotel, and Novel Cafe in Bettendorf, Augustana College, LeClaire Park, Terracon Consultants, Inc., and at the side of a highway in McCausland, Iowa. The main character, Jeff Collins, is a college student who comes across a new corporation, Winston Technologies, which is offering internships. Once accepted, he soon finds himself in a situation deeper than he could have imagined.

Both digital films will be submitted to various film festivals.

You can learn more about both of the movies, future productions, and the studio at www.blueboxlimited.com.