Press Release June 4, 2005
For immediate release
Contact: Robert
Battaile 707-965-1455
www.santaandsons.com/santa.html
battaile@calexas.com
SANTA'S ELVES HEADING TO JAPAN TO SING AT WORLD EXPO OPENING
The singing and dancing elves featured
in the recently produced local movie "SANTA AND SONS & daughter!"
are heading to Japan to sing in the opening ceremonies of the 2005 World
Exposition on June 20th in Nagoya. The elves, also known as VOENA (Voices
of Eve and Angels) are a choral group made up of young people throughout
the California North Bay area.
Instead of rehearsing in Napa one Tuesday
evening in March of 2004, the entire group and their "elf moms"
went to audition for "SANTA AND SONS & daughter!" a movie
musical that introduces Santa's family, teleportation devices, a talking
Anti-gravity sleigh and 9 original songs.
In fact one of the VOENA moms, Linda
Fischer was cast as Mrs. Claus. Linda is a fashion models who is regularly
on the runways in Los Angeles and New York. Her daughter, Lilly is a
blue-skinned elf in the show. "I never knew helping someone learn
a song in Japanese was going to be so hard," mom says.
This dedication to a higher standard
is just part of the norm for Annabelle Cruz, their fearless director.
Annabelle, formerly a member of Dan Hicks & the Hot Licks, also
appears in the movie leading some of the singers during Mrs. Claus'
Pep Rally for the Elves. The scene was shot in Daryl Sattui's magnificent
castle, Villa Amarosa. "We are thrilled to represent the
United States on this day and to add our voices to the world harmony,"
adds Cruz.
"That
first audition was a magical event. About half the eventual cast was
there along with an incredible group of kids, and some talented parents,"
says Robert Battaile, who Directed and Produced. Battaile is President
of Calexas, Inc., a video production company in Napa Valley and San
Francisco.
"These
kids are hard workers and amazing singers. Japan is in for a treat." One elf in particular, Holly Stell sang an operatic piece and hypnotized the audition crowd. "I was so taken that I re-wrote one scene to include her as an angelic sprite singing part of a tender lullaby." Stell sang with Andrea Bocelli on his NBC Christmas Special last year. She has just finished recording her own cd that includes some of her fellow Voenans.
Another Voena elf to win a major role
was Michael Caldwell who was cast as Silvin, named after Battaile's
8-year old son when the show was originally written nearly twenty-five
years ago. "Michael did a great job in a tough part under difficult
conditions." In the movie, Michael plays Silvin, the son of Zwerkin,
a single dad who invents a Teleportation Device that helps Santa get
into houses without chimneys, a Tele-Santa Game and just happens to
fall in love with Santa's daughter, Sandy.
In 2004, the real life Silvin Morgan
did an outstanding job as the Santa movie's Director of Photography.
He is also a partner in Calexas, Inc. and a grad of the Art Academy
in San Francisco.
"SANTA
AND SONS & daughter!" is an independent movie musical shot
in the Napa Valley. The cast came from as far away as Sacramento, San
Francisco, Benicia and Pope Valley. A genuine community effort, in addition
to receiving part of their normal retail rates, cast and crew, including
two non-profit arts groups, and local vendors earned equity in the show.
"If the revenues create a small endowment that helps music and
theater arts, then I think it's great for everyone," says Battaile.
For movie clips, songs and photo galleries, please visit www.santaandsons.com
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