Since the 8th grade, writer/director David James has been passionate about two things: poker and filmmaking. He wrote the screenplay for “The Big Blind” Ó over a two-year period, in between poker hands. A skilled high limit player himself, he began to focus on winning enough to bankroll production of his script.
In late 1998, his script completed, he had enough of a shoestring budget pulled together to go “all in” on making his dream come true. Inspired by the likes of Kevin Smith and Edward Burns, David began assembling a team of both dreamers, just like himself, and professionals. Wanting poker star power, he contacted Scotty Nguyen, winner of the 1998 World Series of Poker held at Binion’s Casino in Las Vegas.
Scotty loved the idea of playing the role of “Scotty” in the movie, and signed on.
Also, being acquaintances with Jennifer Harman Traniello, one of the top professional money players residing in Las Vegas, David contacted her, and she was equally enthusiastic to sign on to play the role of Kathy.
With the poker celebrity star power locked in, pre-production started in early 1999, and on March 6 principal photography began, wrapping on May 5.
The movie was shot entirely on Kodak super 16mm color film, using an Aaton camera with Canon lenses. The budget allowed for 3 days rental of a Stedicam, which was used to the max, and captured some of the film’s most engaging scenes.
The movie was shot almost entirely in Lake Elsinore, CA at the Lake Elsinore Hotel & Casino, utilizing every square inch, from the back parking lot, to the hotel rooms, to the main casino floor. A jail cell was constructed from a walk-in cooler in a separate building no longer in use. Amazingly, while the cameras were rolling on the casino floor, the casino was in full operation. Nearly all of the “Extras” playing cards at tables in the background are real live poker players in live games.
With the exception of Sly’s house and Bob Scott’s office, which were both in the neighboring community of Temecula, all of the locations away from the casino were filmed within a one-mile proximity to the casino. Locations included vacant lots, downtown public walkways, a liquor store, a check-cashing store, a Greyhound Bus stop, the lake itself and many others. When the use of a house, previously agreed to by the owner, was suddenly unavailable at the last minute, the crew set up in front of an abandoned, vacant house and “stole the shot” before anybody was the wiser.
A number of actors in the movie were recruited right out of the casino. Michael Christian, a successful construction contractor and long time card player, who had known David from casino tournaments, was enlisted to play the role of “The Railbird”. During the course of production a strong relationship was forged between David James and Michael Christian. Following the production he became David’s partner and co-executive producer, and was instrumental in helping to see the film through to the end.
Many other actors were professionals cast out of Los Angeles, and several have continued to reach new highs in their craft. Matt Corboy (“Lane”) has a recurring role as a police officer on FX’s “The Shield”. Reggie Lee (“Roger”) has done several other films, most notably playing one of the motorcycle gang members in Universal Studios’ “The Fast and the Furious”. In addition, some of you may recognize Gretchen Palmer (“Liquor Store Clerk”) as one of Ray Charles’ Uh Huh Girls from his infamous Pepsi commercial campaign.
The movie was edited on an Avid Film Composer, and between 1999 and 2003 went through more than 10 major changes. In the fall of 2000 David, Michael and producer John Andreasen took the film as a “work in progress” to the International Feature Film Market, sponsored by IFP and held each year in New York City. The 18-minute work in progress was well received, the trio was encouraged and the process continued.
In the fall of 2003, the film finally completed, “The Big Blind” Ó debuted publicly for the first time at the Temecula Valley International Film and Music Festival. With so much word of mouth and anticipation, the film screened 3 times, and on the last day, folding chairs had to be set up in the aisles to accommodate all the patrons.
After more than 5 years in the making, David James and Michael Christian accomplished a rare achievement – the completion of an independent feature film. In June of 2004, the film became available to purchase on DVD.
