THEGOODNIGHTSHOWPRESSNOTESTRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL

GO OUT WITH A BANG.

2018

THE STORY

SYNOPSIS

The year is 1978 and an unstoppable asteroid is soaring directly for earth. As a family eats their last meal, a news program playing in the background confirms their inevitable and impending doom. For most, there isn’t much to do except sit and wait for the end. In paltry hero Samuel’s case, however, this is his last chance to prove to himself - and everyone else - that he’s not a loser.

With that in mind, Samuel goes out into the night and embarks on a journey to lose his virginity while he still can. This quest takes him to an end-of-the-world-party, a dingy strip club and, finally, to where he should have been all along. This is a story full of heartbreak, embarrassment, compassion and psychedelic riffs.

At its core, The Goodnight Show is just about a kid trying to figure out who he is and what really matters on his last night alive.

SYNOPSIS

2

THEPROJECT

BACKGROUND INFO

HOW THE FILM CAME TO BE

The Goodnight Show is a short film developed and produced in Austin, Texas. A Thesis project for The University of Texas at Austin’s Radio-Television-Film program, The Goodnight Show features a cast and crew made up almost entirely of UT Austin film students. Austin natives Charlie Schwan (Director), Spencer Flynn (Lead Actor), and Will Conant (Producer), having grown up together and shared in their passion for film through the years, seized the opportunity to collaborate together on what has become the quick-witted and thrilling short film it is today.

THE MUSIC

Music plays a pivotal role in The Goodnight Show. Nearly every song used in the film is from Al Staehely, who played with the band Spirit in the 1970s. As a family friend of the director, Al offered the production over 40 songs to contribute to the film that were previously unreleased. The film is lucky to have a handful of those songs make up the soundtrack of The Goodnight Show. Furthermore, the theme song of the film was written and recorded by Al’s son, Christian.

3

THEDIRECTOR

Charlie Schwan was born in Austin, Tx, where he was raised by parents who were both involved in the Film Industry. From a very early age, Schwan would visit his Dad on set and see how a film set operates. Though overwhelming and intimidating, it immediately pulled him in: The whole magical essence that is captured on camera is felt, to a degree, on set and even as a kid, that magic stuck with him. From these early days, it was always clear that Schwan would follow in his parent’s footsteps to work in the industry. Not long after this realization, he concluded that not only did he want to work on productions, but he wanted to be the driving creative force behind them - to build the worlds and develop the characters. Ever since that day, Schwan has been making movies. Throughout high school he studied film and made shorts here and there, having a few premieres at festivals such as the Austin Film Festival and The Texas Revolution Festival.

After high school, Schwan was admitted into the Radio-Television-Film program at The University of Texas at Austin (UT), where he grew the most as a filmmaker. This program challenged him to think critically of film and simultaneously allow his own voice to emerge in projects. After three and a half years of film classes and small projects, Schwan was accepted into a Thesis class at UT, which resulted in the creation of The Goodnight Show. Currently, he is writing features and directing music videos. In the near future, Schwan plans to move to Los Angeles to pursue writing and directing.

BIOGRAPHY

4

MAINCAST& CREW

MAIN CAST/CREW

5

WILL CONANTProducer

WYATT MILLERCo-Writer

SARAH SCHNEIDERProducer

HENRY DAVISDirector of Photography

ELLIE DUBIN“Bella”

SPENCER FLYNN“Samuel”

FULLCAST& CREW

CAST Samuel Spencer Flynn Bella Ellie DubinJessica Josie SchwanChad Chase BakerMom Lucinda HintonDad David KaufmanJosie Deya WilliamsNews Anchor 1 Jenny FrameNews Anchor 2 Danny MoiserDancer Shannon HolguinRadio DJ Austin KleinStrip Club Announcer Wyatt Miller Extras Ana Lopez, Michael Saenz, Will Conant, Divine Ntomchuckwu, Kate Grobowski, Austin Azar, Austin Klein, Skylar Bush, Quinlan Sweeney, Wali Hassan, Claire Jackson, Dalton Jackson, Hunter Jacob, Matt Sherwood, Ricardo Flores, Camille Clement, Kelsi Hernandez, Ariana Garcia, and Alice Reed

CREW

Director Charlie SchwanProducers Sarah Schneider Will ConantWriters Charlie Schwan Wyatt Miller Associate Producer Adrian Siordia Executive Producers Michael Adams Cindy TerryEditor Jackson AlexanderDirector of Photography Henry Davis1st Assistant Director Jackson Duneier2nd Assistant Director Sullivan Rauzi Script Supervisor Dakota JonesVisual Effects JP Jaramillo Colorist Alex WinkerGaffer Jason GarzaProduction Designer Arri CavinessSet Dresser Caitlin Ward1st Assistant Camera Nick Carl2nd Assistant Camera David BlinnKey Grip Derrick DixonKey Grip Tony Tafares Grip Eric JohnsonGrip Noble WalkerSound Mixer/Re-Recorder Will HarrellRe-Recorder Cabel AdkinsRe-Recorder Korey PereiraRe-Recordist Morgan Honaker Hair/Makeup Maiya EvansWardrobe Lindsey ButlerStunt Coordinator Josh Vinyard Production Assistant Austin AzarProduction Assistant Tori McGrawProduction Assistant Ethan Salinas

FULL PRODUCTION CREDITS(as they appear at the end of the film)

6

FROMTHE CREW

“The initial idea for The Goodnight Show first emerged around the image of two teens kissing in a station wagon as the world ended behind them. I found something so intriguing and beautiful about being so near death yet finding comfort and passion within those last moments. It’s such a complex emotion and this movie was really built around that. I knew right away it had to take place in 1970s or 80s, that was never a question. I had the unique opportunity to pull from an authentic music library no one else has had access to and that music is what I brainstormed to, wrote to and eventually edited to. For me, music is such a crucial element to a good movie and can make or break moments. Listening to this music helped me articulate what story I wanted to tell. It eventually led me to Samuel -- a teenager who is an outcast and clearly not considered “cool”, but still wants to find a way to fit in before time runs out. To Samuel, the end of the world is his last opportunity to be somebody else. My hope is that The Goodnight Show allows audience members to relate to and enjoy the journey Samuel takes as he tries to find his place before the world ends.”

- CHARLIE SCHWAN Director

“With this project, Charlie and I aimed to create an involving coming of age story that also pushed the boundaries of scale for a short film on a modest budget. The result is what you see before you. Crafting this tale with Charlie was a hell of a lot of fun and I hope you have a hell of a good time watching it. The curtain has opened, welcome to The Goodnight Show.”

- WYATT MILLERCo-Writer

TESTIMONIALS

7

“The Goodnight Show has absolutely been one of the most pivotal experiences of my creative career. Since joining the Production Team, I have had the absolute pleasure of helping secure the immersive world of the film. The energy and passion that has been dedicated to this film by its makers, cast, and crew is completely telling of the story’s growth and ingenuity. To create a genuine and alternate world is challenging; but it is with overwhelming commitment and creativity that comes with an empowering story that allows for such a feat. I am grateful to have helped realize this vivid and visually striking story and am overjoyed that it will be World Premiering at Tribeca. Enjoy the ride!”

- SARAH SCHNEIDERProducer

“The Goodnight Show is a very special project for me, because Charlie was the person who originally encouraged me to pursue filmmaking at UT, back when I was just a junior in high school. When Charlie was a freshman at UT and I was still in high school, he included me in his film projects and ultimately helped get me the experience I needed to get into UT’s film program. During his senior year at UT, when Charlie approached me about making The Goodnight Show, it was a no-brainer to help out. It’s a great feeling that this film will be screened to the audience at Tribeca, because it’s got so much heart and passion behind it. It’s a film we all worked really hard on and are proud of.”

- WILL CONANTProducer

“Since I started working with Charlie on this film, we discussed the film having a unique visual style that went with the somewhat overplayed theme of the world ending. The film is a comedy, but the story isn’t necessarily funny. So my goal, and what Charlie and I discussed, was to have the cinematography be a bit more playful to contrast the serious environment.”

- HENRY DAVISDirector of Photography

TESTIMONIALS

STILLS

GOODNIGHT.