When Cheryl Allison makes a film, there is an ever-ready undertow of support and love that will carry that film from theater to theater and festival to festival and ultimately from home to home. That is simply the energy she has around her and therefore she is buoyed by an incredible wave of good will as she makes the films and then when all of those people an finally see what she has accomplished, they cross days off the calendar because they will be there in force.
In other words, Cheryl Allison box office. Bottom line.
And so it was, on Wednesday, March 2 at Dallas’ Angelika Theater, she filled the largest house they could offer. Standing Room Only to watch her latest documentary, HONK, about the relationship that grew between the filmmaker and a goose who had been abandoned in a local park. Allison’s videos of their encounters caught the imagination of people around the world, the press couldn’t get enough of progress reports and updates on Honk’s journey thanks to Allison’s publicizing his plight. So, prior to the film’s official film festival debut, Bart Weiss’ Dallas Video Fest hosted a special sneak preview screening.
The love fest started on the red carpet that night and continued through the screening and the Q&A afterward. Another big night for Cheryl Allison’s cinema fans.
Of course, Cheryl Allison was doing the social media thing before she stepped onto the red carpet. (Photo by John Strange)
Cheryl Allison with her goose (poster). (Photo by John Strange)
The woman of the evening. HONK director Cheryl Allison (Photo by Steve Duffy)
The dynamic duo: Producer/Cinematographer Natalie Murray and Director Cheryl Allison (Photo by John Strange)
Natalie Murray and Cheryl Allison (Photo by Steve Duffy)
Producer Allison Smith, Director Cheryl Allison, Producer/DP Natalie Murray (Photo by John Strange)
Cheryl Allison being interviewed. (Photo by John Strange)
Cheryl Allison with one of the film’s subjects, Kathy Rogers. (Photo by Steve Duffy)
Subjects from the film: Rusty Gragsone, Kathy Rogers, Mary Beth Purdy (Photo by John Strange)
Cheryl Allison joins HONK’s co-stars from the film. (Photo by John Strange)
Narrator Angie Bolling (Photo by Steve Duffy)
Executive Producers on HONK: Teresa Bond, Lee Oakley, Sharon Shero (Photo by John Strange)
From the Bath House Cultural Center Board: Teresa Bond, Lee Oakley, and Sharon Shero (Photo by Steve Duffy)
Angie Bolling being interviewed. (Photo by John Strange)
A lot of HONK fans: FOX 4’s Lauren Przybyl with Landry, Beck, and Dr. Shane Miller join Cheryl Allison (Photo by John Strange)
FOX 4’s Lauren Przybyl being interviewed. (Photo by John Strange)
Rocking the boa: Associate Producer Marty Van Kleeck (Photo by John Strange)
The gang’s all here! Natalie Murray, Cheryl Allison, Marty Van Kleeck, Mary Beth Purdy, Rusty Gragsone, Kathy Rogers (Photo by John Strange)
Producer Allison Smith, Dallas Video Fest’s Bart Weiss, Director Cheryl Allison, Producer/DP Natalie Murray (Photo by John Strange)
Dallas Video Fest’s Bart Weiss, Cheryl Allison, and publicist Kelly Kitchens (Photo by John Strange)
The kids love HONK…and Cheryl. (Photo by John Strange)
Mutual admiration society: Actor of actors Morgana Shaw made it just in time to see Cheryl’s film (and they finally get to meet each other in person) (Photo by Wildman)
A full house ready for the preview of Cheryl Alison’s documentary, HONK. (Photo by Dev Shapiro)
