STARLIGHT RUNNER ENTERTAINMENT

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
January 3, 2000

CONTROVERSIAL “RED LIGHT AUGUST” TO AIR ON SAN FRANCISCO PBS AFFILIATE KQED

Red Light August, written and directed by Jeff Gomez, has been selected for airing Friday, January 14, 2000, at 10:00 PM on Independent View, the highly rated indie forum of the San Francisco PBS affiliate KQED-TV9. Program Director Scott Dwyer selected the film after learning about it from a web site. Gomez, a noted interactive content creator, has made use of the Internet to promote his film.

Produced by Jonathan Gray’s Bobo Pictures (formerly Simian Pictures), Andrew Sullivan's Zealous Pictures, and Gomez's own Starlight Runner Entertainment, Red Light August is a visually striking drama about the friendship between Boothe (Richard H. Blake) a young painter who’s bizarre midnight rituals belie his obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Eric (Adrian Johanssen), a homeless teen who is trying to kick his drug habit. Set against the New York City rave scene, the film explores the enigmatic link between artistry and the haunted mind.

Red Light August premiered at the SlamDunk ’99 Film Festival in Park City, Utah, but ran into controversy when screened for the psychiatric community at the Obsessive-Compulsive & Spectrum Disorders Association conference this past May. Some specialists feel that the film is an artful depiction of what it is like to suffer from the intrusive thoughts and unusual repetitive acts characterized by OCD. Others stated that the erotic content and intense atmosphere of the film fosters a distorted view of the disorder.

“Jeff Gomez has made a beautiful film that clearly depicts his vision of a character who is wrestling with symptoms of OCD,” responded producer Jonathan Gray. “It’s not a documentary, and not for children. We’re tremendously excited that KQED has chosen to recognize this work on its own merits and will be airing it uncensored.”

KQED TV9, the largest PBS affiliate, has a reach of over 12 million viewers. Created and produced in the heart of one of America's most vibrant independent film communities, the well-respected and highly influential Independent View program introduces viewers to the best and brightest work from the world of independent film, video and electronic media.

“Great visual style, interesting story and strong soundtrack...they all add up to a unique half hour drama,” said Program Director Scott Dwyer of Red Light August. Dwyer plans on airing the film uncut, preceded by a viewer discretion advisory, and has commenced a vigorous promotion of the film, including full coverage on the KQED web site with links to OCD online resources, an article in their monthly magazine (which boasts 2 million subscribers), commercials on the station, and recommendations to PBS affiliates in San Diego, Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago and New York.

Red Light August was photographed on location in New York City's Spanish Harlem, Lower East Side and Wetlands night club by Derek Wan, H.K.S.C., with production design by Cherish Magennis. The film also stars Darlene Dahl (All My Children, Company Man), David Titus (Nunsense, Mame), and Chelsea Lagos (One Life to Live, Law & Order). The riveting performance of Richard H. Blake (Broadway's Rent, Saturday Night Fever) as the tormented Boothe was fueled by the actor's studying the symptoms of OCD.

Jeff Gomez himself is one of over 5 million Americans who cope with obsessive-compulsive disorder on a daily basis. Despite the disorder, he has managed to earn a name for himself in the world of interactive entertainment. He created the storylines for the hugely popular Magic: The Gathering and Turok: Dinosaur Hunter video game franchises, and delivers his “Cosmic Streetcorner” inspirational seminar to young people at elementary and high schools, and at science fiction and comic book conventions across the country. Internet entrepreneur Dean Margolis, and Red Light August co-producers Kenneth Bell, Christopher Schlerf, Geoffrey Orthwein, and Chrysoula Artemis are currently helping Gomez to launch an ambitious new web based entertainment company.

Jeff Gomez is represented by Peter Levin and Ellen Goldsmith-Vein of Artists Management Group, the prestigious firm founded by Michael Ovitz with Rick Yorn and Julie Silverman Yorn. Gomez can be reached by e-mail at Carthalion@aol.com.

Visit the following web sites for more information on Red Light August and Jeff Gomez:

Official Site: http://www.redlightaugust.com
Directors Comments: http://hometown.aol.com/Rich50surf/RLA.html
OC Foundation Review: http://www.ocfoundation.org/ocf1500a.htm
Turok & Turok 2: http://www.turok.com
Magic: The Gathering: http://www.acclaim.net/games/magic/index.html
Independent View (KQED): http://www.kqed.com/tv/productions/inview/index.html