Three guys, a RV named Jolene, and a movie script make Hollywood to Dollywood an exciting adventure for everyone. Add a major windstorm, tornados and floods along the 2,500 mile journey and you’ve got a great story. And that’s exactly what screenwriters Gary Lane and his identical twin brother, Larry Lane, did.
All that just to meet Dolly Parton?
Not at all.
Director John Lavin (Bloodrush Films) masterfully takes viewers on a 79-minute adventure with Hollywood to Dollywood. The unscripted film was produced by the Lane brothers and Mike Bowen. It’s a 79-minute adventure that takes viewers on a monumental journey of personal discovery. It’s funny. It’s witty. It’s serious. It’s loaded with the many of the greatest Dolly Parton hits. And, most of all, it has a message that will hit home with every single person watching it. And, of course, it’s just fun!
Gary and Larry wrote a screenplay with a starring role for Dolly Parton. Their quest to hand her a copy of the mammoth script begins under the giant Hollywood sign and ends five days later in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee at the gates to Dollywood theme park.
Along the way, the Lane twins and Bowen share personal stories of growth and understanding. They question the attitudes of the deep South where they grew up and confront personal inner battles along the way. They see first-hand the deeply religious bias of the South, yet meet people of all walks of life who share their personal stories of triumph. It didn’t start out to be a story about the human condition, but all that changed with a meaningful prayer circle in a remote highway rest stop.
Hollywood to Dollywood has been showcased at 13 film festivals around the United States thus far – earning a distinguished list of honors:
Director’s Choice – Sacramento Film & Music Festival
Audience Award – Sacramento Film & Music Festival
Jury Award – Outflix Film Festival Memphis
Best Documentary – Out on Film Atlanta
Bless Their Heart – Secret City Film Festival
With 24 more festivals currently scheduled in upcoming months, they are now ready to take their project across the Atlantic.
The film makes its British debut at Glasgay! Film Festival at The Saltire Centre of Glasgow Caledonian University on Oct. 20 at 7 p.m. It will be followed by a question & answer session with the producers.
The Big Debate, challenges the Lane twins to confront Scottish students to compare the fight for equality in the United States and United Kingdom.
“We’re looking forward to it,” Gary Lane said. “We’re really excited to be going to Scotland!”
LGBT Youth Scotland and university students will participate in the debate and attend the single-engagement viewing of the film.
“We never thought the film would put us on the level to talk to so many young people,” Gary said.
The film also features appearances by Chad Allen, Beth Grant, Ann Walker, Manouschka Guerrier, Cody Reneger, Dustin Lane Black and Leslie Jordan.
For more information about the film festival, visit www.glasgay.com.
To watch a trailer of the movie, visit www.hollywoodtodollywood.com.