IT'S LIKE CANNES, JUST WITHOUT THE SNAILS
by: Paul Braun

This week is the Naperville (Illinois) Independent Film Festival. Think of it as Cannes without the freaky starlets and fried snails. Or think of it as Sundance of the Midwest.

However you want to think about it, it's a weeklong celebration of the filmmaker's art held in various theatres in Naperville, Illinois.

If you've been paying attention, you'll remember that Jim Peterik got the film bug several months ago at the Saugatuck, Michigan film festival. So, he brainstormed with his videographer, Terry Becker, about doing something that could be brought to a festival.

The result of that is "When It Comes From The Heart," a long-form music video that chronicles the creation and birth of a song from the idea phase through songwriting and recording and culminating with a live performance.

When Peterik was approached to play the opening ceremonies of the festival, he offered to do it in exchange for premiering his new movie during the week.

That wish comes true Wednesday night, Sept. 23rd at 7pm. The venue is the Ogden 6 cinemas in Naperville.

But first, there was this past Saturday...

"It was great. We kicked things off at the Holiday Select. I was playing for the staff and crew as well as the mayor of Naperville. I started with the "Caught Up In You/Hold On Loosely medley, then into "The Search Is Over" on piano.

"After that, I proceeded to kick in a set of songs with movie tie-ins: "Heavy Metal," which Sammy Hagar and I wrote for the movie of the same name and "Vehicle" which was just featured in the new Jeremy Piven movie, 'The Goods', and of course I'm saving "Eye Of The Tiger" for the closing ceremonies," said Peterik.

The next step is the movie premier on Wednesday.

"There's been quite a bit of excitement about our little film," said Peterik. "A lot of people have seen the clip on the website and thought it looked pretty cool. Terry's a bit nervous about the whole thing, but everything is going to be great.

"After the showing, we are going to have a Q&A discussion featuring me, Terry, fellow Ide and recording engineer Larry Millas, Nick Colionne and Lisa McClowry, both of whom duetted on the song and co-starred in the film.

"It will be great to talk with the fans about this project, a project that is very different from what I've done in the past, both musically and creatively," explained Jim.

With tickets at $3 per event, it's a great way to see some films that won't make it to your normal multiplex. Even some of those fancy-schmancy foreign films that my wife likes so much.

Take a culture break this week. Don't worry about what's on tv. That's why God gave us Tivo.

See you Wednesday.