Questions
5 Mar
Hi there.
I’m totally blown away by the interest in the movie! Since we debuted the trailer less than 48 hours ago, we’re already up to over 1,000 friends on Facebook and about 3,000 views of the trailer on youtube.
And that’s only one of four places it’s available! So thanks to all of you for checking it out.
There has been a flood of questions, so let me try to answer a few of them the best I can – click “more” to read!
1) When can we see it?
Well, right now we’re prepping for our world premiere, scheduled for March 14.
We’ve been chosen for the South By Southwest film festival — aka SXSW, a huge film and music fest in Austin, Texas. We fly out in little more than a week.
We will be playing more festivals, but nothing definite yet. The film is a completely independent production and we do not have distribution yet. That’s what we’re shooting for — a theatrical release followed by the usual TV and DVD releases. But that is at best several months away.
I’m so glad you all want to see the movie and I want to show it to you! Hopefully one day we will be playing places like the Annville theater. We’d love to show it there! Please be a bit patient, and we’ll keep you posted on any future release. Keep checking the site for news! We’ll update the screening page with future screening dates…
2) Why Lebanon, Pa.? Did you shoot it in Lebanon?
My dad was born and raised in Lebanon, so I’ve been going there regularly since I can remember. The film’s about a Philadelphia ad man who goes to Lebanon when his dad dies. It’s a fictional story – a family drama about a specific group of characters, some of whom live on the edge of town, and is not meant to be a statement on the town, but the town is the backdrop for a large portion of the story. It’s called Lebanon, Pa. because it is about the complicated journey our character (played by Josh Hopkins) takes when he goes there. It made sense to have this story take place in the real world rather than a made-up town. And Lebanon is a town that I have known throughout my life, although I have never lived there.
3) Do they say the name of town right?
They pronounce it Leb-a-nin. Not Leb-a-nahn.
4) Is there bologna in the movie?
Sadly, there is *not* a featured role for Lebanon bologna. Had to save *something* for the sequel…
5) Yes — but did you shoot it there?!
Yes. The story takes place in Philadelphia and Lebanon, Pa. and we shot in both places. Some Lebanon locations where we shot: Millbach Church, Cedar Crest High, along Route 72, and farmland out on Route 419. We — with stars Samantha Mathis and Josh Hopkins — shot in the summer of 2008. All of the five lead actors were in both Lebanon and Philly.
Thanks again for your interest in the movie! We look forward to showing it to you. We’ll be sending updates from Austin… this site and our FB page are your first source for news on the flick.
Thanks!
- Ben H. (Director – Lebanon, Pa.)
I’m glad they pronounce Leba”nin” right
I’m so blown away by the fact that there is a movie bout our town….I’m so excited to see it!
if you ever lived in lebanon, you would not make a movie about it/in it.
Can you please tell me when it will be available to see in lebanon pa. It seems like a pretty good movie, one that i think my wife would enjoy
It is so awesome that a small town is getting something like this about it!!! I wish you all the best of luck and as an LVC student, I know we would def. love to see it come to Annville!!!
Congratulations! Getting into SXSW is a real leg-up. I was glad to hear your film wasn’t another Scotland, PA where they shot in Canada and picked the title out of a hat.
I really couldn’t believe that it at first. I mean, c’mon, a movie about little ol’ Lebanon, PA? My hometown? But this is pretty amazing! I really want to see it! Good luck to you!
I wish I would have known you all filmed here. Why was nothing mentioned in the local media? Samantha Mathis is one of my favorite actresses. Can’t wait to see the movie.
Having been born, raised, and living in Lebanon, I find it interesting that this town would be picked out to have a movie shot in it, much less have it named after it. I hope it plays a theatre around here. I think the Allen Theatre in Annville would be the perfect place.
I live in Lebanon, PA…and I love how, even though this town is so small, nobody had a clue there was a film being shot here. I also think it’s so awesome that you filmed some of it in my high school, Cedar Crest…how did we not know about this? haha
Actually, if you grew up in Lebanon, you would pronounce it Lebnin…omitting the a altogether.
I’m just saying…
But, I think it’s cool we’ll have a movie that takes place in and around the old stomping grounds!
Good luck with your film Ben H! As someone born and raised in
good old Lebanon, PA (although I no longer live there) I am filled with much interest and anticipation to see your film. I hope you land a nice distribution deal and the film can be shown at a theater such as the Allen in Annville or maybe even the Mid-Town Cinema in Harrisburg. The movie sounds like a perfect fit for either venue.
Best of luck and thanks for using my hometown.
I grew up in Lebanon and now my sister and I live in Austin. We are definitely going o make an effort to see this film!
Well…I for one am already intrigued by the characters. They seem to be real people, with real issues just like the rest of us. People that the viewer can identify with. Best of luck, break a leg, and I hope you will come to the Allen Theater in
Annville, it would be a blast!
Congratuations on the SXSW gig! That’s wonderful. Is it coming to the Pacific NW?
well first first off let me congrats you on a movie about lebanon but i lived there since 2000 and i never seen that buliding where church street is so plz make the movie right
The director definitely got the saying correct…Leba’nin’. Sorry Susie…but the A was NOT omitted and yes I was born and raised here. It will be interesting to see the movie. I don’t think anyone knew it was being filmed back in 2008. I travel home everyday on the section of 72 that was on the trailer. It would be awesome to have a premiere at the theater in the Mall…BEFORE having it at the Allen or anywhere else. After all…its a movie about LEBANON.
It’s cool that it’s set in Lebanon, But it’s not ABOUT Lebanon. And I’ve always lived in Lebanon, go to Cedar Crest, and have never, ever, said Leb-nin. That being said, I would definitely see this movie even if it wasn’t set in Lebanon.
This is too funny to me…”Lebnin” vs. “Lebanahhn”; having lived in Las Vegas Nevada for 38 yrs. and having worked for George Maloof (of Lebanese descent) for the past 3 yrs., I’m inclined to use the 3 syllable version.
HOPE YOU ARE HAVING THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE—DREAMS BECOME REALITIES. LOVEYOU BUNCHES
Ben-I, too, live in Lebanon, Pa. I am just making a start as a fiction writer and independent filmmaker so I wanted to leave you a note to wish you great good luck with getting your film out. I read the story about your movie in the Lebanon Daily News and was very excited to learn about your film and inspired by what you had done. So, again, all the best.
So I want to know is this movie going to be in theatres and when?
For the record, its pronounced “Lebnin” by the natives.
Susie Snyder Deck,you are correct.
Susie, are you related to Linda (Ulrich)Deck, I went to high school with Linda.
How do i order a poster?
Congratuations on the SXSW gig! That’s wonderful. Is it coming to the Pacific NW?
Ben-I, too, live in Lebanon, Pa. I am just making a start as a fiction writer and independent filmmaker so I wanted to leave you a note to wish you great good luck with getting your film out. I read the story about your movie in the Lebanon Daily News and was very excited to learn about your film and inspired by what you had done. So, again, all the best.