Hotspots of Waverly (Feature Film)

“We need love like food, water and air and we don’t know how to get it. And that’s our struggle.” -John Cassavetes

My name is Joe Frenna, and I am making a movie shot and set in Waverly Iowa, my home for the past 15 years. A transplant, originally from New York, small town life was a challenge for me, but I eventually grew roots in the area by way of my family, friends, colleagues, and collaborators.

A veteran stage actor and director, I am excited to produce my first feature, which will feature some of the best actors (and people) in the Cedar Valley.

The original screenplay took me four years to write, and I am in love with it. Its characters are beautifully flawed people trying to free themselves from the chains of their own self-defeating survival tactics.

Hotspots, a screwball comedy in the classic sense (think It Happened One Night meets Minnie and Moskowitz), features Sam, a woman with a wild streak who holds on too long and too hard to everything, and Mike, a sensitive, careful man who always lets go before things get painful, as their lives and psychoses collide and they find themselves accidentally on a blind date.

The unlikely pair explore the surprisingly rich beauty of Waverly and each other, working together to make the most of their serendipitous adventure as they each battle their individual trauma-induced fears that threaten to derail not only their date, but also their capacity to find happiness.

The characters’ foibles and eccentricities on full display, this story of unlikely lovers is as funny as it is poignant. Sam, Mike, and an array of fascinating characters they meet along the way will surprise, delight, and challenge a wide audience, and I hope you will consider helping me to bring them to life.

My dedicated company of volunteers will make the most of a limited budget to produce a quality story that we will all be proud of. The two expenses that I cannot afford to cover myself are the filming equipment and musicians. We need a camera, boom mic, light wands, and recording devices to shoot the film. We will also be hiring a 2-3 piece band to record the soundtrack (as well as the studio rental for the recording).

We need to raise a total of $2,000 in order to make the dream come true. If you are interested in donating but want to know more about the project, feel free to contact me; I’d love to discuss it with you!

Thanks,

Joe