The Premiere is the ultimate showcase for a director’s worst nightmare with lots of humor in the newest film from filmmaker Jon Silver.

One Night Only: A Stupid Little Movie Screening. As soon as I saw the tagline, I knew this film was going to be loads of fun. I might think I have a good idea of what happens before a world premiere but apparently, I don’t. If you’ve ever wondered what happens beforehand, there’s now a film for you–for better or worse. If aspiring filmmakers take anything away, it’ll likely be having the film’s DCP file on them at all times. NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT.

When Jacob Sanders (Grant Kennedy Lewis) shows up to the historic Music Box Theatre for the premiere of Oedipus Lex, nobody knows who he is. It is the first bad omen in his day, only to get worse throughout the evening. Imagine being a filmmaker in Jacob’s shoes because it’s one nightmare after another. The pressure starts getting to him as delusional projections begin appearing on the screen. Whether its a nightmarish newscast or a pair of Siskel and Ebert-esque film critics portrayed with cinematic brilliance by Chicago improvisers Rob Grabowski and Mark Raterman (Cook County Social Club). The projections contain some of the biggest laughs in the film. Other notable improv names include Stranger with Candy‘s Greg Hollimon and The Second City Mainstage alumnus Adam Schreck. Schrck reunites with Silver for the third time.

Silver draws on his personal experience to display many filmmakers’ worst nightmares in The Premiere. Not that there’s anything wrong with that, of course. One person’s nightmares can be comedy fodder for others. While it’s possible that the film could be tweaked as it plays the festival circuit, I was laughing up a storm. Anything that can possibly go wrong is going wrong. If the stress is not enough, Jacob’s parents (Greg Hollimon and Natalie West) are arguing. Audience members are complaining–some are just waiting in line for popcorn while others are there for a horror movie. Making matters worse is that the popcorn machine breaks down. So much for happy customers, right? But if all of this is not enough of a nightmare, the projectionist cannot even get the movie file to work. Cue the ex-girlfriend, who no longer wants anything to do with Jacob!

If all of the above is not enough, Jacob learns through right-hand man Vernon (Adam Schreck) that Henry Gannon might show up. The famous actor’s arrival has everyone feeling the excitement. Oh yeah, they need to stall because he just might not arrive in time for the film’s start. I love how Silver plays up Gannon’s arrival, let alone their entire interaction. If you’ve ever been to any filmmaker Q&A, you’re going to have a good laugh. Trust me! If you know, you know!

The film’s script makes a good point about watching a film in a communal experience. As the industry changes, indie filmmakers are going to have to fight to be heard. Where they used to be the big film festival draw, studios are really beginning to take the attention away from them. The next time Sundance announces their lineup, pay attention to how many films already have distribution. Despite its production budget, The Premiere is the type of film that should be able to fit in with the big dogs. It’s unlikely that we’ll find it playing one of the big film festivals, only smaller film fests like the upcoming Lake County Film Festival.

I’ve been to a number of premieres through the years, mostly at film festivals. More often than not, they tend to go off without a hitch. They usually start late because the red carpet almost always goes late. This is not a film festival bug but a feature. Sanders does not have to worry about the red carpet in The Premiere because hardly any press is attending. The one journalist in attendance takes their job to the extreme. I’m sure there are journalists that are like the one in the film. However, I just go in, conduct the interview, and move onto the next thing. Behind the camera, Tony Scott-Green’s score plays up the percussion from what I could hear through the laughter.

Chicago cinephiles will love that the film also works as a love letter to the historic Music Box Theatre. Given that the main theater just changed out its seats, the film offers an opportunity to remember the theater as it was until recently. Minus all the nightmares on screen, of course. And no, you’re not losing it because they did not film in the actual Music Box Lounge. This was the one thing that kept throwing me off throughout the film. While The Premiere held its world premiere at another Chicago theater, it’ll get its moment in the Music Box sun on September 16–for tickets, click here.

The Premiere takes what audiences know about a film premiere and exaggerates it to no end for non-stop love and laughter.

DIRECTOR/SCREENWRITER: Jon Silver
CAST: Grant Kennedy Lewis, Adam Schreck, Alli Stark, Rick Hall, with Greg Hollimon and Natalie West

The Premiere premiered on August 27, 2024 and is currently playing the festival circuit. Grade: 4/5

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