John Schneider is Sam Doonby: Official Trailer

If you haven’t heard, there’s a lot of wonderful hype going around about a little independent film called Doonby. What’s it about? Who is Sam Doonby? 

The easy answer to that question is that Doonby is a film written and directed by Peter Mackenzie starring John Schneider as mysterious drifter Sam Doonby. The film also stars Jenn Gotzon who plays Laura Reaper, Sam’s love interest, and Ernie Hudson as Leroy Jackson, the owner of the local blues bar where the two meet. The film is described by "pre-screeners" as a sexy, action-packed, psychological thriller that makes you think and feel.  The acting debut of Norma McCorvey, otherwise known as the Jane Roe in Roe v. Wade, may add to the films controversy but hasn’t appeared to diminish its appeal.  This film seems to be about life and what we choose to do with it. When asked about the film's political nature on their Facebook page, filmmakers said, "There are messages in every movie, but the primary question is always 'is it entertaining?' We think Doonby is a great story that will definitely be entertaining." As a cinephile, I can honestly say that my main goal when seeing a film is just that—to be entertained. These filmmakers seem to get that.

The official trailer for the film, released yesterday, is both more coherent and mysterious  than previous incarnations. 

This new trailer promises a story that will take us, along with its small town, on a trip down the rabbit hole as we search for a truth, which isn't what we expect it to be.

I’ll admit that John Schneider, in any role, is more than enough to get me to the theater and hand over my $12.50. I have watched his career develop over the years and he’s finally grown from the platinum blond, boy driver into a mature, silver screen, leading man the likes of which don’t seem to grace films anymore (Don’t get me started on that subject.) John Schneider has shown that he can be a truly great actor and it's time to start taking him seriously. Doonby could be the start of something in his acting career that I could get used to—John get your paste wax ready.

The Doonby filmmakers have said on their FB page that they chose their cast by looking for the best actors to connect with the audience. The aforementioned sexy, blond duo of John Schneider and Jenn Gotzon, the handsome Ernie Hudson and other stars Robert Davi, Jennifer O’Neill, Joe Estevez and Will Wallace along with an exciting, thought-provoking script, seem to be what is needed to fit that bill.  I can honestly say that I can’t wait to see this film and find out who Sam Doonby really is.

John Schneider is Sam Doonby: New Trailer

Doonby from Doonby the Movie on Vimeo.

The Doonby RV Tour has begun! Spreading the word about the new movie, Doonby, starring John Schneider, Jenn Gotzon, Ernie Hudson & Robert Davi. Check out my blog page following the adventures of Jesse & Ryan of the Doonby marketing team as they spread the word about the film and don't forget to check out their first-hand account.

I've blogged about Doonby before, and just recently checked out the latest trailer that's been posted on Vimeo. Not only am I a passionate John Schneider fan (Duh!), but I also love movies and all the associated accouterments.  I love movie posters and standees, trailers, the smell of popcorn, a freezing theater and even those pitiful movie trivia questions they force you to sit through over and over before the film starts. I won't sit down to watch a film if one second of the opening credits have begun and I'm there until the last credit.  I knew I was going to marry my husband when we both chose the exact same seat when we went to see our first movie together. Okay, so I'm a big fan of cinema.

A movie poster can make or break your initial impression of a film. And I like Doonby's poster. It creates a mystery and begins to tell a story. Who is this guy? Where is he going? How do you catch a bus in the middle of no where?

Even more so, a trailer, within mere moments, can ignite or destroy your curiosity for a film influencing your decision of whether or not you will fork out the dough to see a it. I can honestly say that after viewing this trailer:  I want to see this film! This trailer is well edited, mysterious, sexy, gritty and exciting. Laura's longing gaze to find out more about this drifter feeds my own curiosity. And the drifter's, "My future is the next second, Laura. You see it? There it went." is a red flag for a relationship that seems destined for a Romeo & Juliet ending. A real train crash in the making, but I don't want look away from the wreckage. I hope the meal lives up to the appetizer.

Doonby the movie is set to be released this September 2011.

John Schneider is Sam Doonby.

Jonathan KentSmallville

John Schneider recently completed filming the finale of Smallville for what may be, to date, his most notable role - Jonathan Kent, the adoptive father of Superman. The Superman mythology is no stranger to most people, but Smallville finally shed light on the elusive Man of Steel mystique that makes Superman so irresistible to us all. How could someone so powerful be so good and so human, in the best sense of the word? The answer to that question is a much needed one in today’s world: good parenting, especially the parenting of one father, Jonathan Kent. 

Superman is who his parents raised him to be; moreover, the man his father raised him to be - a humble protector to those in need.  Smallville’s great writing and production are a spring board for what John Schneider feels is possibly the best father-son relationship that has ever been portrayed on television. After watching John Schneider and Tom Welling deliver incredible performances for 10 years, I have to say that I agree with him. However, the role of Jonathan Kent is just the tip of the iceberg in a career that has included over 100 acting, writing, producing or directing roles for well over 30 years. Not to mention a successful country music career that included 4 No. 1 hits.

Bo DukeThe Dukes of Hazzard

John Schneider’s character as the good looking, lead-footed and good-hearted Bo (Beauregard) Duke on the Dukes of Hazzard is the role that first catapulted him to stardom. The Dukes is still a favorite when it airs on CMT thanks to the family values at its core, an underrated cast of actors and incredible stunt performances that still take my breath away.

Daniel SimonDr. Quinn Medicine Woman

After the Dukes ended, John Schneider went on to many other roles, particularly: Daniel Simon on the last Seasons of Dr. Quinn Medicine Woman; a religious father raising a teen aged daughter, Marshal Bowman on The Secret Life of an American Teenager; a construction contractor who loses everything but finds love and trouble on a cross country road trip, Mick Jeremiah in The Gods of Circumstance and now Sam Doonby…

Mick JeremiahThe Gods of Circumstance
Winner, Best Actor,
British Film Festival

Who is Sam Doonby? That is the question. Sam Doonby is a mysterious drifter who steps off a Greyhound bus and into the spotlight of a sleepy, Texas town after becoming a small-town star at a local hot spot, Leroy's Country Blues Bar(Ernie Hudson is Leroy).  Sam’s handsome face, musical talent and seductive charm are irresistible to the attractive daughter of the town’s doctor, Laura Reaper (Jenn Gotzon).

Sam always seems to be in the right place at the right time to prevent disasters from befalling the town’s inhabitants but his good deeds eventually lead the townsfolk to look upon him with doubt and suspicion.  The townspeople soon realize that they never needed a ‘hero’ before Sam Doonby showed up and eventually he becomes an object of suspicion.  The film moves from us and Laura asking who Sam Doonby is to exploring a world where one never existed. Sam’s disappearance has chilling implications for Laura, her family and the entire town.

Director/screenwriter Peter Mackenzie’s basic scenario of the film has always been, “to make people think about the value of life and the effect we all have on each other.”

Doonby partial cast

This film described as a grittier, modern day It’s a Wonderful Life should give us all an opportunity to take a look at ourselves, Sam Doonby and another side of the actor, John Schneider.

Be sure to check back for my review of Doonby after its release September 2011. For more information please go to http://doonbythemovie.com/ and please like Doonby at http://www.facebook.com/doonbythemovie.