September 13, 2018 500 AM
FAR WEST TEXAS – Buttercup Productions will screen “Blanche,” a romantic comedy starring 16 West Texans who play nonfictional representations of themselves, in Marfa, Alpine and Marathon this weekend.
The film – set, shot in and portraying characterizations of Far West Texas – is written by Fort Stockton native and historical author Sam L. Pfiester in collaboration with Steve Davis and is directed by singer/songwriter Twilia LaBar, whose extensive back – ground in sound in combination with a spirited passion for storytelling led her also to compose and develop the film’s original soundtrack.
The film is a “heartwarming and hu – morous” story of how a seemingly lu – dicrous bet, “ultimately showed two lifelong friends that there are second chances at life and love.” The narra – tive is based on true events and stems from a bet made by an old World War II fighter pilot, Bill Hargus, who for years ran the airport at Fort Stockton and wagered on whose chicken could fly the farthest.
Blanche reunites three old and dear friends through experiences of their own relative doses of heartache and loss, and takes them on an uproarious adventure which seeks to prove that “when the chips are down, there’s a good chance that lighter and love can heal a broken heart.”
“We created ‘Blanche’ to bring a wholesome, fun story to movie audiences. It’s no secret that Hollywood is a mess right now. ‘Blanche’ is an uplifting affirmation for the power of love,” said director LaBar
“This film is about long-term relationships and small-town friendships,” said Sam Pfiester, scriptwriter and executive producer. “I chose to tell this story of love and friendship because I am a believer that open hearts truly can find second chances.”
Blanche pivots around the relationship between three primary movers, Tommy and Carolyn Mangrem and Clifford Hardwick. Other West Texas appearances and influences include Liz Rogers, Theresa Chambers Stolte, Suzanne O’Bryan, Jim O’Bryan, Rick Ruiz, and Liz Sibley.
“Aiming to bring some wholesome-ness back into the film industry,”said Chase Conner, “Blanche” is ultimately an anec – dotal homage to hope, as the tale’s mes – sage is one of discovering one’s way in the aftermath of loss or when the road of life’s whim has taken one to rather unexpected places.
The genesis, of a lightened persuasion, was a re – sponse to “a typical West Texas reason: why not?”
The film was shot in two weeks on what Pfiester pro – claims as a “shoestring budget” and produced by West Texas natives, Ed Pfiester, Liz Rogers and Sam Pfiester himself.
The decision to shoot Blanche on an 8,000-acre ranch in West Texas outside of Alpine was an obvious one, according to producers, as the rugged piece of land holds its own as a quite a critical character. In July and August, when the movie was in production, the landscape was bursting with color on a high plateau in the Chihuahua Desert with the Davis Mountains to north and the Chisos Mountains to the South. “We wanted the film to show the contrasting beauty and ancient jagged volcanic rock along the rim of the mountains to reflect Tommy’s grit and rugged independent nature. He’s right at home in this wild outdoors and the lifestyle fits him just fine.”
Blanche premiered on July 28th in Austin and is set to screen this weekend in Marfa, Alpine and Marathon.
The Marfa screening will be held at the Crowley Theater at 7pm on Friday, September 14th and is sold out. Proceeds of this screening will benefit Marfa Public Radio.
The Rangra Theater in Alpine will host two screenings on Saturday September 15th at 6:15 and 6:45pm, benefiting Sunshine House and Alpine Public Library. One of the two shows is sold out, and tickets must be purchased online at www.blanchethemovie.com.
Finally, on Sunday, September 16th at 5pm, as a benefit for the Marathon Public Library, a screening will be held at Ritchey Brothers Building in Marathon. Tickets are a $15 donation and can be purchased on the film’s website at www.blanchethemovie.com.
