Steve Balderson's The Casserole Club--A Review By William Butler

The Synopsis:

Steve Balderson’s new film, “The Casserole Club” focuses on a group of mod 1960’s era suburban housewives. Close-knit and neighborly, they are all bent on one-upping each other, trying to prove that each is “the hostess with the mostess.” They begin a recipe club, and hold dinner parties, testing out their new casseroles. But when the gatherings become increasingly focused on boozy flirtation, and more than recipes start getting swapped, the story moves swiftly from stylized and campy to a drama about irresponsibility, selfishness, and damaged people.

The Casserole Club--IMDB Page

The Trailer:

The Review:

The Casserole Club by Steve Balderson is one dish you can't stop eating. You will savor each bite as if it were your last. What leads from a quaint get together of friends and neighbors, turns into an exploration of dark inner feelings and desires. Steve Balderson brings you into the lives of five couples: Sugar (Susan Traylor) and Conrad (Kevin Richardson), Kitty (Starina Johnson) and Sterling (Garrett Swann), Jerome (Daniela Sea) and Leslie (Mark Booker), Marybelle (Jennifer Grace) and Max (Michael Maize), and finally Florene (Pleasant Gehman) and Burt (Hunter Bodine).

Sugar (Traylor) suggests that the women make a casserole dish and bring it to a little get together and let their husbands judge who made the best dish. The winner gets a T-shirt that says "Queen Casserole". This is only the beginning of what lies beneath the happy exterior of these home makers. The Casserole Club starts off as a comedy but quickly changes directions into a drama from this point on.

After the first party turns into a wife swap, the women feel awkward and the men seem to move on. It was interesting to see how the two sexes deal with the situation of that night. You also start to discover the issues lying underneath each character. Everything from cutting, self-loathing and sadness, homosexuality to questioning ones own desires in love and marriage. The way people tend to deceive themselves to make their lives better.

Set to the backdrop of the 1969 moon landing, as well as some major moments in history, which I might add are placed well within the film to set the mood of the scenes. The music goes very well with the current mood of the scenes as well. Another theme in the movie are the colors. I have to say that Steve Balderson knows how to weave visuals and sound together like a master chef. His direction is on point with what he is trying to portray to the audience. The actors bring each character to life and make you feel sympathy for them. You become connected with the characters and their issues. You can actually say to yourself that you know someone like this.

Overall, The Casserole Club is an excellent film that serves up a tasty dish that will tantalize ones taste buds. I highly recommend this movie to join anyone's DVD library. It's one movie you can watch over and over again, only to discover something you missed the first time around.

Check out The Casserole Club on it's official page at Dikenga.com: The Casserole Club

Bang vs. Steve Balderson

I would like to introduce again my second interview with Director Steve Balderson.I was looking over his resume as I pieced together this interview and I have to say I feel like I have gone on an extraordinary journey. I feel like I walked through different lives as I watched the trailers for his movies. All truly a work of art and extraordinary film making. Please welcome Steve Balderson to Bang Noir...Please check out his movies and if you haven't seen a Balderson film yet, then what are you waiting for...

Steve Balderson First Interview

Stuck! DVD Review

STEVE BALDERSON – BIO 2011 

In a review of Steve’s fifth feature film THE CASSEROLE CLUB, critic MJ Simpson in England writes the film is: “Magnificent, another tour-de-force by the best kept secret in American cinema.” 

THE CASSEROLE CLUB stars Susan Traylor, Daniela Sea, and former Backstreet Boy Kevin Richardson in his film debut. The film premiered in New York City at Visionfest`11 in June collecting 9 Independent Vision Award nominations and winning 5: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor for Kevin Richardson, Best Actress for Susan Traylor, and Best Production Design. 

Steve’s fourth feature was STUCK! (which starred Karen Black, Susan Traylor, Jane Wiedlin, and Mink Stole). The film premiered in October, 2009, at the Raindance Film Festival in London. It then screened as an official selection at Skeive Filmer in Norway, the Seattle LGBT Film Festival, the Southwest LGBT Film Festival, Reeling – Chicago’s LGBT Film Festival, and others. In March, STUCK! screened at the Boston Underground Film Festival where Mink Stole was honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award.

Balderson’s third feature film, WATCH OUT, was highly praised by critics as “One of the great cult films of all time.” WATCH OUT also premiered at Raindance to sold-out crowds, where it was nominated for Best International Feature. 

Film Threat writes, Balderson “makes movies that are so gorgeous that it's not unreasonable to say that, cinematographically at least; he's the equal of an Argento or Kubrick in their prime. Some people have perfect vocal pitch, Steve has perfect visual composition.” 

WATCH OUT was released theatrically in 2008 to sold-out audiences in the roadshow “Stop Turning Me On” world tour. It was released on DVD in October 2008, where it debuted at #24 on Amazon.com’s Top 100. 

Roger Ebert gave Balderson's second film, the surrealist crime drama FIRECRACKER (starring Karen Black and Mike Patton) a special jury award on his list of 2005's Best Films. The breathtaking imagery in FIRECRACKER pushed through the limits of cinema, establishing Balderson as one of today’s finest visual storytellers. 

Balderson’s other work includes the critically-acclaimed PHONE SEX (featuring Margaret Cho, Ron Jeremy, Penn Jillette and Lloyd Kaufman), PEP SQUAD (the satire that predicted American school violence), UNDERBELLY (a year in the life of dancer Princess Farhana) and the award-winning WAMEGO documentary series about DIY Filmmaking. If you are unfamiliar with Balderson's movies, you can rent or purchase them almost anywhere in the world. 

Steve is also the subject of a book by author Joe Schaefer. In it, the author writes, “Having a dream and actually sitting down and hashing out how one will achieve it are two different things. Steve Balderson longed to be a filmmaker, so he made it happen. This writer/director/producer just may be the personification of the new American dream.” More information about Steve Balderson can be found on his website Dikenga.com or by searching his name on the internet. 

Awards for Steve Balderson 

* 2011 Visionfest - Winner Best Director Independent Vision Awards (The Casserole Club) 

* 2011 Visionfest - Winner Best Picture Independent Vision Awards (The Casserole Club) 

* 2011 Visionfest - Winner Production Design Independent Vision Awards (The Casserole Club) 

* 2011 Visionfest - Nominee The Abe Schrager Award for Cinematography (The Casserole Club) 

* 2008 Raindance Film Festival - Nominee Best International Feature (Watch Out) 

* 2005 Visionfest - Winner Domani Vision Award (Firecracker) 

* 2005 Visionfest - Winner Best Film (Firecracker) 

* 2005 Visionfest - Winner Best Cinematography (Firecracker) 

* 2005 Fantasporto - Nomination Best Film (Firecracker) 

* 2004 Raindance Film Festival - Jury Prize Nomination Best Film (Firecracker) 

* 2004 Fox Film Festival - Winner Best Film (Wamego: Making Movies Anywhere) 

* 2004 KAN Film Festival - Winner Independent Filmmaker Award (Wamego) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Winner Killer-B Award Best Screenplay (Pep Squad) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Nomination Killer-B Best Director (Pep Squad) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Nomination Killer-B Best Picture (Pep Squad) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Nomination Killer-B Best Cinematography (Pep Squad) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Nomination Killer-B Best Editing (Pep Squad) 

* 2000 B-Movie Film Festival - Nomination Killer-B Best Set Design (Pep Squad) 

* 1999 Great Plains Film Festival - Best Film Nomination (Pep Squad) 

* 1999 Fantasporto - Nomination Best Film (Pep Squad) 

* 1998 Cannes Film Festival - World Premiere Marché du Film (Pep Squad)

THE INTERVIEW:

WB: Congrats on your shoot for you new movie Culture Shock! I hope everything went well? Can you tell me about the movie?

SB: Culture Shock is about 4 American college grads going abroad for the first time, and getting caught up in an international crime ring.

WB: This is the second film Anthony Pedone has worked on with you. Can you tell me your experience with him? How did you meet?

SB: Anthony and I met after he directed his feature The Why. I gave him advice on marketing and getting it out there. I asked him to then document the making of Casserole Club, and we got along so well, I invited him to come to London to be an assistant cinematographer on Culture Shock. He's an incredibly hard worker, and we get along really well.

WB: I also need to congratulate you on The Casserole Club! I know it showed at Raindance and that is great. Did you think The Casserole Club was going to be as big as it is?

SB: yes. Lol

WB: How did you cast for the film Culture Shock? From my understanding you filmed it in Europe. What was that like?

SB: I cast carefully, just like I do any movie. It's important to me that people all fit the mold, so that at the end of the day we can come together over a meal and enjoy being around each other. There are over 50 actors in Culture Shock, most based in Europe. So Skype was essential throughout the casting an pre-production phase.

WB: Do you have any new projects in the works?

SB: yes, there are two films on the slate and I'm keeping them top secret.

WB: What influences you as a director?

SB: art, travel, and exploring different cultures influence me the most

WB: Do you generally write all your scripts or do you pick them out?

SB: I have written my own movies as well as teamed up with screenwriter Frankie Krainz.

WB: You have (to me and I'm sure with countless others) reinvented the way of making movies. I think it is catching on. How does that make you feel?

SB: hopeful. If more people made movies the way I do, there would be a lot more happiness and less stress out in the world.

WB: Would you call yourself a visionary? Why?

SB: sure. Anyone can be a visionary if they want to be. But it's hard to think differently for a lot of people, so many never get there emotionally. It's much easier to go with the flow and do what everyone else is expecting of you.

WB: If you could change something about the movie industry what would it be?

SB: taking some tips from what happened to the music industry.

WB: Where do you see movie making going? The way studios are making them with large budgets. This is the direction if this question. If you could elaborate a general idea about big budget films compared to smaller budget films that would be great.

SB: there's always a place for gargantuan blockbusters. But when I hear that a film is postponed because they can't figure out how to make it for less than 200million dollars, I laugh out loud.

Once again I would like to thank Mr. Balderson for the interview. I can't wait for his new movie CULTURE SHOCK to come out. I will be posting a review of Casserole Club and Culture Shock so be looking for them as well. Please feel free to leave any comments or questions for Steve. I will make sure he gets them and answers them for you. 

XO

'Backstreet Boy' Wins Best Actor in Debut Film Role

New York, NY --- Former “Backstreet Boy” Kevin Scott Richardson won the Independent Vision Award for Best Actor over the weekend, for his feature film debut in Steve Balderson’s THE CASSEROLE CLUB. As the centerpiece film of Visionfest`11, the film was nominated for 9 Independent Vision Awards and ended up winning 5: Best Picture, Best Director, Best Actor, Best Actress for Susan Traylor, and Best Production Design.

The film, a drama set in 1969, co-stars Daniela Sea (“The L Word”) with Balderson regulars Susan Traylor, Jane Wiedlin (“The Go-Go’s”), Pleasant Gehman, and Starina Johnson.“The Casserole Club” may be Richardson’s first major film role, but he is no stranger to acting.  He appeared on Broadway, and in London’s West End, in the musical “Chicago” as shady lawyer Billy Flynn.“I’ve worked with famous musicians as actors before,” says director Steve Balderson.  “They bring a freshness and natural quality to their roles. But, I’ve never been so excited as I was to be working with Kevin.  He is spectacular in this film.”

“The Casserole Club” focuses on a group of mod 1960’s era suburban housewives.  Close-knit and neighborly, they are all bent on one-upping each other, trying to prove that each is “the

hostess with the mostess.”  They begin a recipe club, and hold dinner parties, testing out their new casseroles.  But when the gatherings become increasingly focused on boozy flirtation, and more than recipes start getting swapped, the story moves swiftly from stylized and campy to a drama about irresponsibility, selfishness, and damaged people.“The Casserole Club” is an intricate landscape of desolation, unspoken desires, and empty lives laid bare.  Raw and uncompromising, it is evocative of classics like “Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and the more contemporary “American Beauty.”  Set in America during the NASA moonwalk, the moon, is a metaphor for the film's tragic heroines, who are filled with mystery, secrets and the untapped potential of people who exist without really living.

Critic MJ Simpson in England writes the film is “Magnificent, another tour-de-force by the best kept secret in American cinema.”

The official Trailer for Steve Balderson's "The Casserole Club"

A Review of Anthony Pedone's Documentary "Camp Casserole"

“CAMP CASSEROLE”

Anthony Pedone gives us an intimate look behind the scenes of a movie set. “Camp Casserole” is an entertaining joy ride into movie making, with Director Steve Balderson at the wheel. What kind of Camp is “Camp Casserole”, you ask? Is there a membership needed or can anyone join? Well before you can get started down the road on this journey, you have to ask yourself: What is family?

Family: is a group of individuals who co-exist with one another over an extended period, which is the basis of what Anthony Pedone’s documentary “Camp Casserole” shows us.  A group of actors, cameramen, grips, scriptwriters, etc are all assembled by Director Steve Balderson for his new movie “The Casserole Club”. Steve Balderson assembles only the best to join his family…the best meaning his instincts are sharp in making the family fit. While watching the documentary you will laugh, become excited and emotional as you follow this band of actors through their daily lives as they make a movie.  You feel yourself wanting to be a part of the high jinks and closeness each person has with one another. Anthony Pedone reveals to us that they all live together, cook for each other, and take care of one another. 

“Camp Casserole” takes you behind “The Casserole Club” telling you where the story came from, as screenwriter Frankie Krainz and actor Susan Traylor talk about the story and how it turned into the movie it is today.  You then have Jane Wiedlin, who is the fun loving prankster of the group. You are also taken on a special trip of “Gorilla filmmaking” which takes you out of town so they can record actor Starina Johnson screaming.  To round out the group you have Nic Roewert, Mark Booker, Pleasant Gehman, Garrett Swan, Michael Maize, Kevin Richardson and Daniela Sea, each of who share their feelings on what Steve Balderson is doing for the movie industry and their thoughts on the future. As “Camp Casserole” closes, you do not want it to end. You want the fun and the movie making to continue…and actually, you know deep down inside that, the ending was only the beginning.

“Camp Casserole” is an excellent documentary directed by Anthony Pedone.  His honest portrayal of the inner workings of making a movie tug and pull at you allowing you to form a bond with everyone in the documentary. I loved the documentary so much that I actually watched it three times.  You come away feeling—wishing that you were a part of this theatre family. And honestly, if you’ve seen it…then you are.

Interview with Steve Balderson for his movie "The Casserole Club" coming out 2011

I am proud to write this interview I had with Steve Balderson.  He, in my opinion, is a great director!  Please enjoy this interview and even leave comments.  Thank you...

WB:  What were some of the funniest moments during the filming of "The Casserole Club" or any of your other movies?

SB:  My sets are always a load of fun, from the first moments of the day to late at night.  We're all very serious when we're working, but there is nonstop laughter and everyone really enjoys themselves.  I try to create that kind of environment on purpose.  There's nothing more lame than a movie set where everyone is "soo serious" and cranky all the time.

WB:  Awesome, a fun working environment is always good and healthy.  No one likes a stick in the mud...Out of all the performances you've filmed, which one stuck out the most?

SB:  Starina Johnson.  She is a genius.  I remember the first time she went before the camera while we were filming "Stuck!"-- she blew everyone away.  I knew she was a great actress but I didn't know she was beyond great.  After filming her first take, I looked around and people on the crew were crying...it was incredible.

WB:  And it showed! I loved her performance in the movie.  "Stuck!" was a great movie and I recommend it to all my friends to check it out.  It blew me away.  Who were some of your favorite actors/actresses you have worked with?

SB:  I love everyone I've ever worked with.  The only exceptions were a couple of mean people, who I am no longer working with.  But everyone else is great.  We've built a company of sorts (like a theatre company) and I like using the same people over and over.  Once we have the team well connected, I'll bring in new people and see how it goes.  Luckily on "Casserole Club" the new people hit it off so well with the regulars that they became the new regulars!

WB:  What actors or actress would you like to work with in the future?

SB:  Anyone that is kind, serious about their work, but also fun and enjoyable to be around.  Famous or not.

WB:  When casting for a movie do you generally have an idea of who you want for a part?

SB:  Yes.  In "The Casserole Club" we wrote a few of the parts with actors in mind... I like to hand pick each player instead of doing traditional casting.  It's just as important to pick people who fit in with the group off the set, as it is to pick good actors.  Just because someone's a great actor doesn't mean they will fit in and get along with the others.  So it's a really sensitive process and I have to be really careful.  On "The Casserole Club" I nailed it.  Everyone fit together perfectly on the set and off.

WB:  I understand what you are talking about.  Its that chemistry that you have to maintain on and off screen. it's what creates the magic us viewers watch when your movies come out.  Thank you for that.  It reflects in your films and it builds a great reputation.  More people should do what you do and be proactive.  Do you write most of your scripts? Do you ever adapt them from books?

SB:  I work with screen writer Frankie Krainz usually but I have adapted before several times.  A few companies have hired me to do adaptations that I didn't direct, and I adapted Joseph Suglia's best-selling novel "Watch Out" for the screen, which I did direct.

WB: I've seen "Watch Out", it too was amazing.  Very daring!  "Firecracker" was based on true events, so where did you get the idea for "The Casserole Club"?

SB:  "The Casserole Club" was also based on actual events, although by the time we got down to actually writing the script and telling the story we through out the real story, so essentially it's pure fiction.  Even though it's historically accurate for the time period.

WB:  What was your budget for "The Casserole Club" and shooting schedule like?

SB:  If you count in all deferred payments, equipment, out of pocket expenses, marketing, etc., the budget for "The Casserole Club" was about $1 million.  We shot in September/October in Kansas and in California.

WB:  "The Casserole Club" sounds like it will be a fantastic romp of backstabbing and competition, what can we expect with the film?

SB:  It's a pretty heavy drama, but there are some really fun moments and the music, costumes, sets are also out of this world... I'm pretty sure we'll have a few people nominated.  There are some scene shooters in this one...

WB:  That's great news!! I hope so... I can't wait to see this movie.  Are you preparing for a new movie after this, I ask because I'm a huge fan of your work?

SB:  Yes, there are a few projects in line to do next.  Not sure which one will be ready first.

WB:  I'm excited to hear that.  I can't wait to read about them when you start production.  I'm sure you've been asked this a lot, but what influences your work?

SB: Travel and food, art, soaking up other cultures and seeing the world.  I just got back from a trip to Egypt and the Eastern Mediterranean.  It was incredibly inspiring.

WB:  I noticed in the synopsis you mention the movies "Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf?" and "American Beauty" both great movies I have to say.  I've watched "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" a ton of times.  I can't get enough of the lie the characters were living.  Elizabeth Taylor an icon.  "American Beauty" was about perception--the perception of each character as they enter act with each other--whether misleading or not, is this the direction you are heading with "The Casserole Club"?

SB:  It's really hard for me to verbally discuss the film because it's all there on screen.  And I'm still in the thick of making it.  Usually it takes me a few years after a film to be able to talk about it from totally outside it.  "The Casserole Club" is an accurate and historical story set in 1969... It's about what is going on then in relationships and inside suburban life...it's also about what happens to people who don't take responsibility for their actions, which is timeless.

WB:  I understand what you are saying.  When I was writing BANG it was hard to express what it was all about, because of so many elements in the story.  But now that it is finished and edited I can express those elements and share them.  So when you say that I completely understand.  I have to go back to your previous films for a second.  I have to say I discovered you when I saw that Karen Black was in your movie "Firecracker", I love her! What was it like working with her?

SB:  Working with Karen is a blast.  We had such a great time on "Firecracker" and on "Stuck!" and I cannot wait to work with her again.

WB:  I hope that means she will be in another one of your movies soon... : )...Sorry for asking about particular actors and actresses, because you have so many great talents in all your films.  I wanted to focus on Kevin Richardson.  He's building up a nice resume with making movies, what was it like working with him?

SB:  First of all, Kevin was incredibly professional and a really nice guy...He fir into the team perfectly.  As an actor he blew me away.  He's got a real gift and I'm working on a couple of future projects with him in mind.  There's a scene in "The Casserole Club" where he and Susan Traylor are fighting and...without giving anything away...it's just one of those incredible Oscar-worthy scenes.  When we were filming it everyone on the set had chills.  It's amazing.

WB:  Well this is great!! I can't wait to see his performance.  I wanted to thank you once again for this interview and for sharing with us.  It has been a pleasure.  I'm looking forward to watching "The Casserole Club" and I encourage everyone else to go out and see it when it's released.  Thank you Steve...

SB: Thank you, Will.

This concludes my interview with Steve Balderson...it was an amazing interview and I am so glad he agreed to  it.  Once again go out and watch his new movie "The Casserole Club" coming out 2011!!  Thank you.