BACKGAMMON (The Movie) Comes to the NoHo Arts District

North Hollywood, March 9, 2016 (Newswire.com) - “Psycho-sexual warfare…” — Indiewire

“…an excellently cast thriller....” — Playback: STL

"I was drawn to Bloody Baudelaire (the original novella on which Backgammon is based) because of the way Raymond Russell creates a claustrophobic and ominous atmosphere full of mystery — and does so with just a few characters in close quarters."

Francisco Orvañanos , Director

The NoHo Arts District is an ARTS community. More and more film is coming to the district. This weekend, sit back and enjoy, Backgammon,  the debut feature film from Mexican filmmaker Francisco Orvañanos premiering March 11, 2016 at Laemmle's Noho 7, with Q&As with the filmmaker and lead actors. Based on R.B. Russell’s novella Bloody Baudelaire, the script was writen by R.B Russell, Todd Niemi, and Francisco Orvañanos. In film stars Brittany Allen (“All My Children”), Noah Silver (“Tyrant,” “The Borgias”), Alex Beh, Olivia Crocicchia (“Rescue Me”) and Christian Alexander (“General Hospital”). Backgammon is being released March 11th theatrically by 3:1 Cinema and digitally by Gravitas Ventures and will open in cities and digital outlets nationwide. The film premiered to critical acclaim at a number of film festivals including the Sarasota Film Festival, Denver Film Festival and the St. Louis International Film Festival.

WHEN: Friday, March 11 and Saturday, March 12

Friday, March 11: Q & A with director/co-writer Francisco Orvañanos and lead actor Noah Silver and Alex Beh after the 7:40 screening and introducing the 10:15 screening.

Saturday, March 12: Q & A with director/co-writer Francisco Orvañanos after the 7:40 screening and introducing the 10:15 screening.

WHERE: Laemmle’s NoHo 7

5240 Lankershim Blvd.

North Hollywood, 91601

Part psychological sexual thriller and part classic mystery, Backgammon is about a young man, Lucian, who gets drawn into the web of two slightly older bohemians, with disastrous results. The story opens when Andrew invites Lucian and his girlfriend Elizabeth for a weekend getaway. Miranda (Andrew’s older sister) is at the mansion, however they didn’t expect her Baudelaire-obsessed boyfriend Gerald to show up as well. Overwhelmed by Gerald’s antics and the constant irritating horseplay with Miranda, Andrew and Elizabeth split. Lucian, however, decides to stay, as a simmering, sexual tension develops between him and the flighty, flirtatious Miranda. When Gerald explodes after losing everything during an alcohol-fueled poker game with Lucian, Miranda finally gives him the boot. But as she and Lucian begin to dance around each other, their surroundings show threatening signs that Gerald may never have left.

Orvañanos explains his goals for the film: “I was drawn to Bloody Baudelaire (the original novella on which Backgammon is based) because of the way Raymond Russell creates a claustrophobic and ominous atmosphere full of mystery — and does so with just a few characters in close quarters. In creating this film, I wanted to build on this dynamic, heightening the sense of mystery and intimating the danger and violence rather than overtly depict them. We are so used to seeing movies with violence graphically portrayed, so it was refreshing to create a film that focuses more on the potential for violence rather than violence itself. With Backgammon, we chose to highlight the flawed characters and the friction between them, friction that could lead to violence.”

The film was written, directed and produced by Orvañanos and produced by Colin Stanfield, Miguel Boccaloni and Chris Moore. R.B. Russell is an English author who has had three collections of short stories published Putting the Pieces in Place and Literary Remains and Leave Your Sleep. Orvañanos has directed two award-winning short films, “Ya No Estamos Juntos (We Are No Longer Together)” and “No Pasó Nada (Nothing Happened)” which collectively screened at over 30 international film festivals.

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