Highline Public Schools Superintendent John Welch shows off his mad air guitar skillz during filming of "The Day My Parents Became Cool" in 2009.

Local filmmaker Steve Edmiston’s short film “The Day My Parents Became Cool,” which was shot in the Burien/Normandy Park area in 2009 (see our previous coverage here), will receive its broadcast world premiere on KCTS-9 at 10 p.m. this coming Monday, Jan. 2.

The film has a unique local pedigree – not only does it feature some 150 public high school students (both in front of and behind the camera) from seven high schools in the Highline and Federal Way school districts, it also showcased former Highline Schools Superintendent John Welch in the role he was meant to play: a rebellious punk rocker with spiked hair and a leather “Anarchy” jacket (see animated gif photo, right).

Edmiston, a local screenwriter, producer, entertainment attorney and now director, developed “The Day My Parents Became Cool” to provide professional arts experience to public high school students. Edmiston served as writer, producer, and director.

The film premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival and was an official selection of the 2009 Seattle International Film Festival. It also won Best Short Comedy at the International Family Film Festival that year.

Edmiston’s other projects include “Farewell to Harry” (2002, writer), “A Relative Thing” (2005, writer and producer), and “Crimes of the Past” (2009, writer and producer). He has two features currently in post-production, scheduled for release in 2012.

Here’s a synopsis of the film from the KCTS website:

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” is a modern costume-comedy – and every teenager’s worst nightmare. When the 1,000-year comet crosses the night sky, a brave new world is created where adults instantly adopt every teen trend in attire and body image. Emo, Goth, Skater, Jock, Metal — tattoos, piercings, thongs, and sagging jeans. On every adult, everywhere, planet-wide. “The Day My Parents Became Cool” tells the comic story of how one small group of teenagers fight back when every outward manifestation of their individuality is co-opted by the enemy.

Here’s Edmiston’s Filmmaker’s Statement:

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” has been an astonishing project for me for many reasons. Perhaps the first is that I’m just happy to have had the opportunity – in a very, very personal sense – to make this film. I was just in remission from Hodgkin’s lymphoma and had yet to be rediagnosed with a recurrence of the same cancer. With a sincerity that literally goes to my “marrow,” I can tell you that showing up on that film set, with over a 100 high school kids and a phenomenal crew, was truly special. (I am pleased to share that after a stem-cell transplant, I am currently cancer-free!)

I also was amazed at the community support that enveloped the making of this film. We had two Washington State school districts, five schools, two cities, one county, a Rotary Club, dozens of small businesses, local politicians, our beloved “become cool” campaign private donors, hundreds of “sweat-equity” supporters, and, of course, all those kids, literally enveloping our project in a “can do” and “can’t fail” environment.

Finally, we somehow discovered a group of special actors led by Megan Joy, who managed, in a very short format, to take characters through a comic fantasy and somehow bring a poignancy to the journey. As you will imagine, after seeing the film, they were truly funny, fun to work with, and of course, amazingly “cool.”

Here’s a trailer of the film:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here’s our video story about the premiere screening:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Viewers can watch the film in its entirety for free by tuning into KCTS Channel 9 at 10 p.m. Monday night.

We’ve been covering this local creation since before it went into production (see original 2008 post here) – from local lawyer/filmmaker Steve Edmiston comes news that his locally-shot 2009 short “The Day My Parents Became Cool” will be released on DVD by Seattle-based distributor IndieFlix on May 25th.

“Father’s Day is a perfect release event for this film,” said writer/director Edmiston. “Everyone has a story about a time when their Mom or Dad horribly embarrassed them by some misguided attempt to be cool. This film both celebrates and grossly exaggerates those stories.”

As we first reported way back in June 2008 from the set at Highline High School, “The Day My Parents Became Cool” is a 16-minute comedy about a group of teenagers who wake up one morning to find that adults have co-opted teen fashion, complete with tattoos, body piercings and sagging jeans.

Highline Public Schools Superintendent John Welch shows off his mad air guitar skillz during filming.

The film world-premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival, was named “Best Short Comedy” at the Los Angeles International Family Film Festival, and toured the Northwest to enthusiastic response at the Seattle International Film Festival, Bumbershoot One Reel Film Festival, Port Townsend Film Festival, Tacoma Film Festival, and Lakedance Film Festival, and even played in Burien last summer.

The film has a unique local pedigree – not only does it feature nearly 150 public high school students (both in front and behind the camera) from seven high schools in Highline and Federal Way school districts, it also showcased HSD Superintendent John Welch in the role he was meant to play: a rebellious punk rocker with spiked hair and a leather “Anarchy” jacket (see photo, right).

“We wanted to bring an arts experience to students who are suffering the loss of their access to art at school,” said Edmiston. “What we never anticipated is the degree to which the community would jump on board the project– we had two cities, arts commissions, county officials, private businesses and individuals – all saying ‘yes’ to nearly whatever we needed to bring this project to the kids.”

No word yet on it the DVD will be available at local Redboxes, but keep your eyes peeled to The B-Town Blog, as we’ll surely let you know when and where you can buy one! In the meantime, here’s the trailer:

Click here to view the embedded video.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• UPDATE: “The Day My Parents Became Cool” LA Screening
• VIDEO:”The Day My Parents Became Cool” Trailer + News
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Sneak Peeks
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Production Update
• Report & Photos From Highline High Movie Set
• Your Chance To Be In A Movie This Saturday

Burien-area filmmaker Steve Edmiston (Writer/Director of “The Day My Parents Became Cool“) has doubled up with two films premiering at the prestigious Seattle International Film Festival, including his latest work “The Spy and the Sparrow,” which will premiere at 9pm tonight (Wed. June 10th).

Edmiston’s short comedy (and his directorial bow), “The Day My Parents Became Cool,” made its Northwest premiere at SIFF on Sunday, May 31st, at the SIFF Cinema (Nesholm Family Lecture Hall. Then, SIFF hosts the world premiere of “The Spy and the Sparrow,” a feature length spy thriller with an A-list Hollywood cast that Edmiston wrote and co-produced, tonight (Wed. 6/10) at 9pm (SIFF Cinema), as well as on Saturday, June 13th at 11am at the Egyptian (801 East Pine Street, Seattle).

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” is a 17-minute comedy about a group of teenagers who wake up one morning to find that adults have co-opted teen fashion, complete with tattoos, body piercings and sagging jeans. The film was named “Best Short Comedy” at the recent International Family Film Festival in Los Angeles, world premiered at the Sedona International Film Festival, just screened at the Big Island Film Festival, and was selected to open the Prescott Film Festival. The film has a unique local pedigree – it features nearly 150 public high school students (both in front and behind the camera) from seven high schools in Highline and Federal Way school districts (see our previous, extensive coverage here).

“We wanted to bring an arts experience to students who are suffering the loss of their access to art at school. What we never anticipated is the degree to which the community would jump on board the project – we had two cities, arts commissions, county officials, private businesses and individuals – all saying ‘yes’ to nearly whatever we needed to bring this project to the kids,” said Edmiston. “Sharing the film at SIFF is a very big deal – most of the kids haven’t seen it yet and have no idea how wonderful they are in the film.”

The Spy and the Sparrow is directed by award-winning and Seattle-based Garrett Bennett. Edmiston scripted the character-driven thriller about the deep devotion and repressed love that reunites a retired CIA deep cover operative and his estranged daughter following two decades of separation. The film features perhaps the finest cast ever assembled for an independent film produced entirely in Seattle, including Academy Award Nominee Eric Roberts (The Dark Knight, Heroes), David Rasche (Burn After Reading, Flags of Our Fathers), Elisabeth Rohm (Law & Order, The Mentalist), and Chad Lindberg (CSI: NY, The Rookie, The Fast and the Furious).

The film is described as a “sly and surprising,” and is part of “unprecedented lineup of work by local filmmakers,” says SIFF Artistic Director Carl Spence. “These films are an important testament to the burgeoning Seattle filmmaking community and give Northwest audiences another way to find the unexpected in extraordinary films that enrich us all.”

Now in its 35th year, the Seattle International Film Festival is the largest and most highly-attended film festival in the United States, showcasing more than 400 films from over 60 countries to an audience of 150,000 attendees annually. Listed by Variety as one of the world’s “50 unmissable film festivals,” SIFF continues to be recognized as one of the top festivals in North America.

Here’s a scene from “The Spy and the Sparrow“:

We first reported on the locally-made short comedy film “The Day My Parents Became Cool” last June when we posted a call for extras needed for scenes being filmed at Highline High School.

We reported from the set, showcased photos of the action, produced a video on the first sneak peek screening, interviewed Writer/Director Steve Edmiston as well wrote about the film’s first showing in various festivals (can you tell we love to see creative success?), and heck – we even proclaimed it as the #10 Top Burien-area story for 2008!

Well now we’ve got more exciting news about this B-Town Baby, including the Burien-area premiere date, time and place:

WHAT: Outdoor screening and Burien “public” premiere at the “Music and Movies In The Park“

WHEN: Friday, August 21st starting around 8:30pm, just before the outdoor showing of “Freaky Friday“

WHERE: Lake Burien School Park

Here’s a letter from Writer/Director Steve Edmiston on what else has been going on with this film:

Friends!

So much exciting news to share!

After our debut in February/March at Sedona, and the “Best Comedy Short” award in LA at the International Family Film Festival, The Day My Parents Became Cool will finally be screening in Seattle! We are an official selection of the 35th Seattle International Film Festival! You can see us in the press release at http://www.seattlefilm.com/about/news/detail.aspx?NID=158&year=2009.

Specific dates and times are TBD, but we will be screening on weekend of May 29-31, 2009. We will screen in the new state-of-the-art SIFF Cinema at Seattle Center, where all formats are brilliantly projected.

SIFF is an Oscar-eligibility-nominating festival (winning films become eligible for Academy voting) – so hopefully we’ll fill the house with motivated Parents’ fans! SIFF is the largest and most well-attended film festival in the United States with 150,000 attendees expected in 2009. With extensive local, national and international media coverage, SIFF is frequently included among the top 10 film festivals in the world.

We will organize event(s) around our Seattle premier, and keep you posted! (Please contact me if you wish to help!)

But wait, there’s more…

Big Island Film Festival Festival dates: May 14-17, 2009 Parents screening date: Saturday, May 16
BIFF is one of MovieMaker Magazine’s “Twenty Film Festivals Worth the Entry Fee.” Please let me know if you might wish to attend this outdoor fest! We need a representative to talk up the film during Q&A! Doesn’t get any better than this – big screens and palm trees, tropical beaches and celebrities! http://www.bigislandfilmfestival.com/

Prescott Film Festival and Series Parents screening date: May 13, 2009
This is a brand new festival and film series (the festival directors saw us at Sedona), and we have been invited us to be the opening night short film (so, does that mean “we’re number one?”). http://www.prescottfilmfestival.com/

A very special treat – the Seattle True Independent Film Festival Festival dates: June 5-14, 2009
Parents screening dates: June 8, 2009
This festival is the ultimate in cool, eclecticism, and fun. Last year, Moby (yes, Moby) was the special guest. We love this fest. Check us out at http://stiff.bside.com/2009/films/thedaymyparentsbecamecool_stiff2009.

A truly big, truly outdoor screening – Burien Strawberry Festival Parents screening date: Friday, August 21, 2009
Once again, thank you Burien! We are a special screening before Freaky Friday.

Thanks for all of your support – our Parents team is phenomenal, and we’re about to have a bunch of fun – thanks!

- Steve

www.thedaymyparentsbecamecool.com

And, in case you haven’t seen it yet, the sharply-edited trailer:

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• UPDATE: “The Day My Parents Became Cool” LA Screening
• VIDEO:”The Day My Parents Became Cool” Trailer + News
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Sneak Peeks
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Production Update
• Report & Photos From Highline High Movie Set
• Your Chance To Be In A Movie This Saturday

Megan Joy, left, is Paige and Highline Schools' Superintendent John Welch is Principal Higgens in "The Day My Parents Became Cool."

Area lawyer-turned-filmmaker Steve Edmiston, the Writer/Director behind the locally-produced comedy short “The Day My Parents Became Cool” has sent us this update on how his film is screening in Hollywood this coming week:

Friends –

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” is screening this week in Hollywood!

In addition to our world premiere at the Sedona International Film Festival, we are delighted to be “double-booked” with an official acceptance and two screenings in Hollywood at the 14th International Family Film Festival!

“Our man in Hollywood” representing the film at the IFFF is none other than Peter Weinstein – our wonderful “Dad” in the film. Peter will be attending both LA screenings for Q&A and we thought that many of our cast, crew, and “cool” supporters may want to forward this message to their LA contacts if they want to “show off” our collective efforts!

Also – we will have the additional support on Sunday of being represented in LA by Victor Kepler of EKE Pictures (our “executive-executive producer?”); Victor is flying to LA from Seattle to attend events on Sunday.

The scoop on the screenings:

* Thursday, February 26, at 2:00 pm
* Sunday, March 1, at 2:00 pm

The festival is at the wonderful Raleigh Studios in Hollywood:

Raleigh Studios
5300 Melrose Avenue
Hollywood, CA 90038
Website: iffilmfest.org

A special thanks to Peter and Victor for “representing” at this event; and thanks, and a hearty congrats, to all on the successes so far.

-Steve

P.S. – if you haven’t already, check out the website and trailer at www.thedaymyparentsbecamecool.com. Very cool start! Updates to come.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• VIDEO:”The Day My Parents Became Cool” Trailer + News
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Sneak Peeks
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Production Update
• Report & Photos From Highline High Movie Set
• Your Chance To Be In A Movie This Saturday

Megan Joy, left, is Paige and Highline Schools' Superintendent John Welch is Principal Higgens in "The Day My Parents Became Cool."

We first broke the news about an original short comedy film being made in the area last June, then did reports from the set, at the sneak peek screening, and now we get official word that the world premiere for “The Day My Parents Became Cool” is set for the Sedona International Film Festival on Wednesday, February 25.

A second showing—on the festival’s biggest day—will be Saturday, February 28.

The film was written and directed by local filmmaker Steve Edmiston, a lawyer-turned-filmmaker, and here’s the well-produced trailer – see if you recognize any of the locations used:

The short has also been selected by the International Family Film Festival, and will play there on Thursday, Feb. 26th and Sunday March 1st in Hollywood.

“The Day My Parents Became Cool” is a comedic short about a group of teenagers who wake up one morning to find that adults have adopted teen fashion, complete with tattoos, body piercings, sagging jeans and lots of ‘tude. Edmiston describes the film as “Ferris Beuller’s Day Off meets Invasion of the Body Snatchers.”

Patrick Schweiss, Executive Director of the Sedona International Film Festival, says “I was HOWLING through it (especially having an 11-year-old and 7-year-old myself)…I could totally relate.”

Some other reviews of the film we found on the film’s website (including our very own…):

“… a slick-looking comedy that goes beyond image and explores how parents and their kids relate..”
- Richard Seven, The Seattle Times

“…a cute, family-safe comedy about high school students’ reactions when all grown-ups (including parents and teachers) suddenly change their looks and personalities to rival that of the most outrageously-dressed teen. Solidly acted and directed, with a fun script, great original music, all beautifully shot in HD…”
- Scott Schaefer, B-Town Blog

“… a bizarre world where all of the adults on the entire planet have literally “become cool” and desire to look and act just like their teenage kids, which provides both comedy and horror.”
- Steve Clare, Prost Amerika Film

“…the story of a cosmic catastrophe that causes all adults on the planet to become “cool,” adopting teen fashion and body image… high school students are more than just another brick in the wall.”
- Lynsi Burton, Seattle Post Intelligencer

More than 100 students from Highline, Mount Rainier, and Federal Way high schools were involved with the movie as extras, script consultants, and production assistants. A band formed by Federal Way high school students composed and recorded music for the movie’s soundtrack.

The movie was shot at Highline High School in Burien and a home in Normandy Park.

The Day My Parents Became Cool was made on an extremely low budget, funded by contributions from community members and grants from King County 4Culture, the City of Burien and the Federal Way Arts Commission.

“This film literally started out as an idea for a neighborhood home movie for my daughters, but the script quickly turned into a much larger idea,” says Edmiston.  “We couldn’t have stepped up to a project of this size without the support of the schools, the cities, and local arts community.”

Other films written by Steve Edmiston include The Spy and the Sparrow and A Relative Thing. For more information about The Day My Parents Became Cool, go to www.thedaymyparentsbecamecool.com.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Sneak Peeks
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Production Update
• Report & Photos From Highline High Movie Set
• Your Chance To Be In A Movie This Saturday

The festival, located in Sedona, Arizona will showcase 135 films in a range of categories on six screens, and will feature appearances by TCM’s Robert Osborne, Jane Seymour and others.

If you feel like heading on down to sunny AZ for this, you can get ticket info here.

More info on “The Day My Parents Became Cool,” including photos, available at its MySpace Page.

PREVIOUS COVERAGE:

• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Sneak Peeks
• “The Day My Parents Became Cool” Production Update
• Report & Photos From Highline High Movie Set
• Your Chance To Be In A Movie This Saturday

B-Town Blog video shot at the “sneak peek” on Dec. 7th:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Locally-shot and produced short film “The Day My Parents Became Cool,” which we first reported on during its filming at Highline High School in late June had a sneak preview on Sunday, Dec. 7th and the B-Town Blog was there, along with nearly 300 other invited guests (including cast members, parents, production crew and more):

Our review of the 16-minute film is positive – it’s a cute, family-safe comedy about high school students’ reactions when all grown-ups (including parents and teachers) suddenly change their looks and personalities to rival that of the most outrageously-dressed teen.

Solidly acted and directed, with a fun script, great original music, all beautifully shot in HD mostly in and around Highline High School and a home in Normandy Park, “The Day My Parents Became Cool” has the potential to not only make it to several short film festivals, but to possibly be optioned (and re-made) into a feature-length motion picture.

If you’re wondering when and where you can see it, be patient – the goal now is to get it into as many film festivals as possible, which means it can’t be shown locally until then. Rest assured, The B-Town Blog will keep you updated as to its progress in 2009, and we’re certain there will be a screening in the Burien area sometime soon.

Written and Directed by area resident Steve Edmiston, the film’s plot is (according to its website):

The Day My Parents Became Cool is a short comedy that arises from the battleground conflict between parents and their rebellious teenaged children everywhere — fashion and body image.

The Day My Parents Became Cool is a modern, comic, costume drama — and every teen’s worst nightmare — creating a brave new world where adults, for inexplicable, perhaps cosmic, reasons, simultaneously adopt every teen trend in attire and body image.

The Day My Parents Became Cool tells the story of what one small group of teenagers do when every outward manifestation of their “rebelliousness” has been co-opted by . . . the enemy.

High School student Paige and her middle-school sister Madison drift off to sleep one night after being chastised by their conservative parents for staying up late on a school night, completely mesmerized by the classic film, “The Day the Earth Stood Still.”

The next day, Paige discovers the horror: inexplicably, both her parents are dressing for the day in clothing identical to that she sees in school. Her mother has super-tight jeans, with a thong extending up over her hips; her father pulls his suit pants down below his butt, exposing his white boxers. What Paige thinks is a lame Dr. Phil reverse-psychology stunt turns out to be a much bigger problem. At school, every adult — every teacher, coach and even the principal are in full-on teenage apparel mode. Hip hop, Goth, Emo, Gangster, Preppy — tattoos, piercings, thongs, sagging jeans. And acting like nothing is out of the ordinary.

When Paige and her friends learn the problem is worldwide, they band together and begin to fight back. First they try their own brand of reverse psychology; then they try to lead the adults down a completely alternative path of “cool.” Nothing works.

When Paige learns the REAL reason that the adults have suddenly lost all sense of taste and conservatism, it becomes clear that there is only one course of action.

Abandon all forms of manifested rebelliousness and individuality to the adults.

And start anew.

In this animated photo shot during filming, Highline School District Superintendent John Welch shows off his air guitar skills while wearing punk attire.

“We’re about one week from being ready to begin the film festival submission process.  Of course, we (as everyone in this business is compelled to do, down to our DNA) will send the film to Sundance!  Of course, our festival strategy does not plan on Sundance, and we anticipate that in 2009 we will screen at as many as 30 festivals around the world.  In Washington, we will seek to share the film at terrific festivals in Port Townsend, Bainbridge Island, Tacoma, Olympia, and of course, the Seattle International Film Festival.

It’s cool!

We WILL be scheduling some free test screenings in the Burien/Des Moines/Federal Way areas.  I will keep YOU posted!

Now, you know that I’m biased, but I think the film turned out wonderfully!  One of the fun things (strangely) is the credit roll, because it is LONG – and what I mean by that, it reflects a huge outpouring of support from our local communities – including the City of Burien, Highline Public Schools, Highline High School, Federal Way Arts Commission, King County 4Culture, Des Moines Rotary, local businesses, 150 high school and middle school kids, parents, volunteers – it just goes on and on.”

As always, we’ll keep you posted on the progress of this locally-created and produced film, so stay tuned!

The film is sponsored by the City of Burien, 4culture, the City of Federal Way, and many others, and has been fully approved by the Highline School District as well as Highline High School.

On set, we saw:

• Several scenes being shot (and re-shot)
• Numerous extras in wild costumes from various high schools in the area
• Actual teachers and staff
• A few real, paid actors and actresses
• And in what is sure to be a massive career change, even Highline Schools Superintendent John Welch as a high school principal gone nutty:

All under the supervision of local Writer/Director Steve Edmiston, who’s doing a heckuva job.

If you’ve ever been on an active movie set, you know that the combined collaborative creativity makes it one of the most enjoyable “jobs” in the world. Being a show biz vet ourselves, we appreciate what it takes to get to the point that Steve and Co. are at this weekend – hours and hours of writing, re-writing, pre-production, fundraising, phone calls, meetings, making deals with School Superintendents, Teachers, managers, staff, students, hiring an entire film crew, getting props, costumes and more, as well as unpredictable variables like whether the weather will cooperate or not (BTW, today’s light overcast is ideal for film lighting so here’s one reason to hope the sun does not come out today).

Below are some photos we took as we silently lurked during actual production:

You can still help support this film by buying t-shirts and other swag here!