Director Samantha Kurtzman-Counter first read ONE SUNG HERO just days after it had been written.   Writer Lara Spotts immediately faxed Sam the 15 page script because after having seen Sam's student film, DELISH, in which a claymation lipstick bursts into song, Lara knew there was no better person to direct this musical comedy.

"What I loved most about the script is what I love most about life: no matter what pain or difficulty you face, you can always find a twinkle, an absurdity, an irony worth living for."   Sam recalls, "I knew that I simply had to make this movie."

That was 10 years ago.

Over the course of the next decade, Sam and Lara worked in documentary and reality television - often times together - honing their skills and making connections.   Every so often ONE SUNG HERO would come up: they had every intention of producing it but with their documentary career momentum rising, something in the timing was always amiss.  

Then, in the fall of 2004, after serving as the Supervising Producer on the VH1 series YOU ROCK WITH... Sam had a moment of epiphany.   "I thought to myself, 'here I am again, at the end of a project, with another project on the table, but what I really want to do is what I've wanted to do since 1995... make ONE SUNG HERO!'"  

With its mix of documentary and fiction it seemed like the perfect segue back to narrative.   Lara and Sam decided it was finally time.

Drawing on the invaluable connections they had made with producers, shooters, and sound people, Sam and Lara were able to assemble a highly experienced, enthusiastic team quite quickly.

"I'd worked with Sam before," says Co-Producer Rita Doumar, "and knew that anything she was at the helm of would be something that I'd want to be a part of."

The first stroke of luck on the production was how the incredible cast fell into place.   Calling in favors with Casting Directors Brett Greenstein and Natasha Cuba, Sam told them of her dream cast.   "For the Bartender I want a type like Tenacious D's Kyle Gass," expressed director Kurtzman-Counter.   A week later Natasha called and said, 'How about Kyle Gass himself?'"   Sam was stunned and wanted to know how Natasha had been able to score such talent.

Kyle Gass explains, "Who doesn't love karaoke? I took one look at the script and saw that my character was to sing the Wilson Phillips classic 'Hold On.'   I knew I could sing the shit out of that song."

Another few days passed and Natasha Cuba called again, "What do you think of Donna Pescow for the role of Karen?" The producers were in disbelief, " The Donna Pescow? Of ANGIE and SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER fame? How did she even get the script?"

Natasha Cuba had been reading Donna Pescow for another movie that she was casting.   Natasha continues, "Donna was great, giving a terrific performance but I couldn't stop thinking about how perfect she'd be for ONE SUNG HERO so on her way out of the audition I slipped her the script.   And she loved it!"  

The producers couldn't believe what an amazing cast was being assembled.   The only problem left was who could play the lead, Sara Sparrow.   It had to be someone attractive but not intimidating so, someone comedic but with a deeper sorrow, and most importantly someone who could sing... but not too well.

An offer went out to MAD TV's brilliant comedienne Nicole Sullivan for the lead, but she was intrigued by the sharp-tongued newscaster, Nancy Nosenchuck.

Of course the producers were thrilled and Nicole Sullivan was cast.   Now they were days away from shooting and still without a lead.   "We were getting so desperate that Sam threatened to make me play Sara," laughs Writer / Producer Lara Spotts .   "Let me just say we would definitely not be at Sundance if that had been the way things turned out."

Instead, GOOD GIRLS DON'T... star Joy Gohring stepped into Sara Sparrow's plain - and certainly orthopedic - shoes.   "I am drawn to characters who are unfulfilled and strive to make more of their existence," explains Joy.   "I loved that Sara was a hero who, despite being uncomfortable in her skin, wakes up every morning believing she can change the world.   Somebody's got to do it."

Once Sam and Lara saw Joy in the role they couldn't imagine anyone else.   "Something about Joy's physicality," offers Lara.   "She really got inside Sara's skin.   In rehearsal she would try out these little details with her hips or her hands that would have us in stitches.   But there was also a real sorrow and depth behind her eyes.   Joy was just perfect."

With the necessary parts in place, it was time to shoot.   "It was a bit of a conundrum deciding what format to use," confesses Sam.   "I love the look of film and wanted the movie to look as good as possible, but I'm also always excited to experiment with new technology.   Also, in order to stay true to the film's conceit that it is footage being shot by a local news crew, we felt like it should ultimately have a TV feel."

Cinematographer Jason Blount decided to shoot DVCPro50 in 24P advanced mode, using the Panasonic SDX-900 and then transfer to 35mm.   To further the authenticity of the newscast feel, they chose to keep the television ration of 4:3.  

Jason explains, "The technology is quite new - everyone has a different idea about how it should be done, especially when it comes to film transfer.  We stayed digital the whole way - we never went out to tape - just delivered digital files to Efilm.  We were happy with the result."

ONE SUNG HERO was shot on location for four days throughout Southern California.   Using two handheld cameras it was filmed in a fresh, innovative way.   "We shot choreographed masters that were more traditional to narrative film," explains Lara.   "But Sam also directed takes in which the cameramen got inside the scene and followed the characters around the way we would if shooting a documentary."  

This blending of conventions is what gives ONE SUNG HERO a real, live, in-the-moment feel, very much like raw news footage.   "Sam's experience in film school learning the tools of narrative and her years of working in documentary equipped her with a unique skill set to direct this movie."   States Co-Producer Rita Doumar.

Sam adds, "I feel like I understand character in such an authentic way, having followed real people for so many years.   In docs, you have to know your characters so well that you can predict what they're going to do, then get in position to capture the action in the most beautiful way possible."

"The interesting thing is," concludes Sam, "if we had made this film 10 years ago when we'd first wanted to, it wouldn't have turned out like this.   The amount that Lara and I learned in that time, the connections we made, and the confidence we earned allowed us to realize ONE SUNG HERO the way we always dreamed."