July Concert To Raise Funds for Locally Produced Christmas-themed Movie

By TERESA WINCHESTER
RICHFIELD SPRINGS

Christmas is coming early to the Cooperstown area this year—in July, as a matter of fact. The film production company A Cooperstown Christmas Movie, Inc. will host a concert on Sunday, July 7 at the Lake House Restaurant & Lodge in Richfield Springs. Musical entertainment will be offered by King Konye, Kathook the Band, and Dan Toth & Audio Riot. Doors will open at 2 p.m., with performances ongoing from 3-7:30 p.m. The event will take place outside, rain or shine. Food and drinks will be available inside the Lake House for all ages, but alcoholic beverages will not be sold to those under 21. Leatherstocking Trolley will provide a free shuttle from Cooperstown’s Doubleday Field at 1:30 p.m. and 2:30 p.m., and from Spring Park in Richfield Springs at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. Starting at 7:30 p.m., the trolley will begin shuttling everyone back to their cars.

The purpose of the event is to raise money for a movie-in-progress, “A Cooperstown Christmas,” a romantic comedy about a holiday family drama. It deals with a successful New York City publicity executive (Cait) approaching 30 years of age who is dumped by her long-distance boyfriend via text message just before her youngest sister’s holiday wedding. She is thus forced to take her boss and their assistant—two extremely loyal friends—as replacement guests, and she must subsequently grapple with the small-town drama of her hometown, her family, and her newly broken-off engagement.

The two owners of A Cooperstown Christmas Movie, Inc.—Cheyenne Phillips and Greg Klein—also act in the movie. Phillips, who plays Cait, is an actor, model, writer, and producer born and raised in Los Angeles. She has appeared in 11 films, including “Outlaws and Angels” and “The Waystation,” both released in 2016. Phillips’ mother, a talent agent, has relocated from Australia to Oneonta, thus Phillips now considers Oneonta as her East Coast home.

Klein, born in Syracuse, grew up just outside the beltway in Montgomery County, Maryland. He now resides in the Town of Otsego. He is a published author of three books, “The King of New Orleans,” “The Paper Tigers” and “Sunset Painting & The Sun, Two Plays by Greg Klein.” He studied acting in New York City and appeared as a henchman during one season of the television series “24,” which starred Kiefer Sutherland. Klein is currently the film commissioner for Otsego County.

Phillips and Klein connected professionally in 2021 when the film commission, formerly known as Film COOP but now going by Film Otsego, held a “Women in Film” tour. At the same event, Klein met Bronx resident Lauren Sowa, co-president of Pano Network. Sowa was to become the film’s director.

In 2022, Phillips worked in Otsego County, starring in Otsego Media’s “Ouija Witch.” Her makeup artist later introduced Phillips to Eva Minemar. Subsequently, Minemar and her producing partner, Delores Diaz at Mulberry Queens Films in New York City, signed on to “A Cooperstown Christmas” along with Phillips and Klein.

In an e-mail correspondence, Klein described the intensive process of the film’s development.

“The two producers and director gave us extensive notes. I think we ripped up 80 percent of the original script and rewrote to what Lauren called the ‘Hallmark nine-act structure.’ We kept the characters, the title, the logo, and the premise, and we basically had to fill in the rest according to the proper form. It was rough. I was so proud when we got through the first round of notes, five pages, uncollated, from three different people. Our reward was five more pages of notes. The third go-through we got like two sentences of notes. I have never been so happy,” Klein wrote.

Since developing the script, Klein and his partners have been fundraising, polishing and sending out queries to studios and talent agents. Klein said “a couple of pledges” have been procured. Also, a film financing company has expressed interest in matching funds, provided 35-40 percent of the budget has been secured and there is a plan in place to raise the final 20-30 percent from tax credits and soft equity, which includes filming locations, sponsored meals, donations, and discounts.

The “Christmas in July Concert and Fundraiser” is part of the effort to meet those demands.

“The Lake House is written into the script for a ‘Save Our Santa’ fundraising concert, which leads to a pivotal moment in the plot. So, a fundraising concert on the lake is a perfect way to raise money for the movie,” Klein said.

The film’s budget is $390,000.00 for a Screen Actors’ Guild mini-shoot, a category of film for which SAG allows a certain amount of leeway in some contract matters regarding pay rates and the number of union actors to be hired.

“My understanding is that is about what a holiday film costs to make in non-union Canada. As part of Film Otsego, we obviously want to demonstrate that we can make films here for as little or less. Still, it would be the biggest budget film we have made here in the commission’s era,” Klein said.

Klein is counting on significant local support to get “A Cooperstown Christmas” to the screen.

“We know plenty of people who are not ‘qualified investors,’ but who want to help out by buying a concert ticket or a T-shirt or making a small donation,” Klein said.

The July 7 concert will also present an opportunity for aspiring actors—or those who just want to enjoy being in a locally-filmed production—to be “extras” in the movie. Those wishing to land such a role are encouraged to wear costumes corresponding to the theme of “Christmas in July.”

“I have set up a Google Form and a QR code people can get at the concert so they can sign up and e-mail me headshots. When we shoot, we will use that list to call people and cast background actors. We’ll also let other Otsego County productions use it, too, so the registration is good for at least a year,” Klein said, noting that various movie scenes will require numerous extras, including two weddings, an outdoor concert and a festival.

“There are also a couple of plum spots in the movie for featured extras. The ‘best costumes’ winners will get those roles, along with some great exposure,” Klein added.

Concert tickets are limited and may be purchased at christmasinjulymoviefundraiser.ticketleap.com/christmas-in-july-concert-at-the-lake-house/.

For more information on “A Cooperstown Christmas,” contact Klein at JYDBook@gmail.com.