Arizona Film Director and Writer Lives His Work

(Jake's Corner, Arizona) - Local Scottsdale film director/writer Jeff Santo hasn't held back anything in preparing for Jake's Corner, his next film, slated for a fall 2006 shoot date here in Arizona. In fact, Santo has moved into a trailer at Jake's Corner (60 miles northeast of Phoenix), the film's actual location, as he makes final preparations for the film. "As a filmmaker I am very excited about this project, but as an Arizonan, this film holds a special place in my heart because the entire project will be shot here in Arizona," Santo said. "It will be a film made by Arizona people, about Arizona people for Arizona people." Earlier this year, Jake's Corner was one of the first films approved for the Arizona Motion Picture Production Tax Incentives Program by the Arizona Department of Commerce. Santo's film is the fictional story of ex- ASU and NFL football star, Johnny Dunn, who walked away from the game early in his career, after a tragic family accident. Dunn goes to live a relatively secluded life far from the spotlight in a small, high desert town he buys called Jake's Corner. Johnny's quiet life is altered dramatically when he is forced to care for his 8 year-old nephew, Spence, after the boy survives a fatal car accident where both of his parents are killed. Santo added, "Except for Johnny Dunn and a couple other roles, we hope to cast our movie with Arizona talent. I know that Arizona has an incredible number of highly talented actors and we hope to utilize that group as much as possible. We are very hopeful that we will be able to find a local boy to play the role of Spencer, Johnny's nephew." This drama is set in the real town of Jake's Corner, 20 miles southwest of Payson. In the film, as in real life, Jakes Corner is a friendly and entertaining rest stop for travelers making their way through the Arizona desert. But, for the people who live there, it's a rest stop for life. Johnny and the eclectic ensemble that live and work in the town occupy trailers behind the Corner Store and Jake's Corner Bar. Through the years, this cast of characters from all walks of life has become closer than most families, they are kin. When Spence arrives, he still believes his parents are recuperating in a hospital. The town bands together with Johnny and nurtures Spence with their humor and life experiences, while keeping the tragic fate of the boy's parents a secret. In a town where no children reside, the boy brings a long-lost innocence which changes "The Corner" forever. "I had been driving to the town of Jake's Corner two or three times a week to visit with the people and familiarize myself with the location," Santo said. "The people at Jake's are so wonderful; they really have made me feel like part of their family." So Santo decided to move in. "Mike Gauvin, who co-owns Jake's Corner Bar with Rick Heppler, found a trailer for me and I moved in two weeks ago. Since we are going to be shooting here for three of our five weeks of principal photography, and invading their home so to speak, I wanted to impress upon everyone at Jake's Corner how much we appreciate them and that they are part of our film making family as well." Santo's last film This Old Cub enjoyed a six month theatrical run in 2004 in several venues across the country including the Harkins Theaters Shea 14 in Phoenix. This Old Cub received 4 Stars from the Arizona Republic. and received rave reviews in such diverse periodicals as The LA Times, The SF Chronicle, The Chicago Sun-Times, The Rocky Mountain News, USA Today and Premiere Magazine (March 2005). This Old Cub also made its national television debut in July 2005. The DVD of the film is rapidly approaching the top 10 list of all-time documentary DVDs sold. Santo also wrote, directed and produced Liar's Poker, an independent feature that won Best Film at the Chicago Film Festival and was voted Best First Time Director at the 1999 Palm Springs Film Festival by the Desert Sun. Liar's Poker had a theatrical release in October 1999 in Los Angeles and received an exclusive Blockbuster Video deal in the summer of 2000. Santo plans to shoot Jake's Corner in September/October of this year. Former Phoenix Sun star Dan Majerle and A.J. Sulka (Majerle's partner in Majerle's Sports Grill in downtown Phoenix) are on board with Santo and his team and are currently taking meetings with prominent members of the Arizona business community to secure financing for Jake's Corner. For more information about the film, please visit www.jakescornerthemovie.com.