210SA - San Antonio's entertainment, culture and events publication - Low-budget flick filmed in S.A. in line for big-time award

Low-budget flick filmed in S.A. in line for big-time award

Wednesday, 05 December 2007

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Filmed in San Antonio and Gonzales in 2005 by Chris Eska, ‘August Evening' is nominated for a 2008 Film Independent Spirit Award.

The calls started coming early in the morning. It was 8 a.m. by the time Chris Eska had absorbed the news that his feature film debut had been honored with one of the most prestigious awards given to independent films.

THE RUNDOWN

‘August Evening'

The independent film “August Evening,” written, directed and edited by Chris Eska, was shot in San Antonio and Gonzales in 2005. It features several scenes San Antonians will recognize, Eska said, including downtown shots and highway scenes.

The movie, filmed in Spanish with English subtitles, tells the story of an undocumented migrant worker and his widowed daughter-in-law as the two undergo abrupt changes in their lives. The cast is made up of many newcomers and non-actors, which Eska said gave the movie its authenticity and humanity.

The film is set to make its theatrical debut in 2008, and San Antonio will be among the cities where it will screen. For more on “August Evening,” go to augustevening.com.

Watch a trailer from the movie

“August Evening,” filmed in San Antonio and Gonzales in 2005, is up for a 2008 Film Independent Spirit Award, nominated for the John Cassavetes Award that recognizes feature films made for less than $500,000.

“To be nominated is really something great,” Eska said by phone from Los Angeles, where the Spirit Award nominations were announced Nov. 27.

Eska, a 31-year-old Texas native, directed, wrote and edited “August Evening,” which tells the story of an undocumented migrant worker (played by San Antonio resident Pedro Castaneda) and his young widowed daughter-in-law Lupe (Veronica Loren) as their lives undergo inevitable changes.

The Spanish-language film with English subtitles has picked up three awards at two festival competitions, including the Best Film and Best Ensemble Acting awards at the Los Angeles Film Festival, where the movie made its premiere. Shortly after its debut screening in July, Maya Entertainment bought the film for theatrical release next year.

Eska, a Rice University graduate whose short films have screened on PBS and at film festivals across the country, said he was equally excited about the nomination his lead actor received as he was about his own Spirit Award nod.

Castaneda, a non-actor from San Antonio who helps his neighbor run a towing business here, was nominated in the best male lead category, competing against Oscar-winner Philip Seymour Hoffman (“The Savages”) and Oscar nominee Don Cheadle (“Talk to Me”). Other nominees in the category are Frank Langella (“Starting Out in the Evening”) and Tony Leung (“Lust, Caution”).

Eska met Castaneda at a local art event in 2005 and, struck by his full head of white hair and everyman look, urged Castaneda to read for the lead part in his film.

“His performance is so quiet, sort of elegant,” Eska said of Castaneda.

“August Evening” likely will make its theatrical debut in March or April, Eska said. A gala premiere of the movie is planned in San Antonio, he said.

The Spirit Awards will be presented Feb. 23 in Santa Monica and aired on the Independent Film Channel and American Movie Classics.

Melissa Rentería | 210SA Contributor

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