-About-

Dawning News:

W I N N E R of the ‘Audience’ Award for the 2009 Solstice Film Festival has been announced and “Dawning” has WON with a total of almost 700 votes! Thanks to everyone who voted.

W I N N E R of the ‘Best Screenplay’ Award for the 2009 Solstice Film Festival has been announced and Gregg Holtgrewe and Matt Wilkins (writers of “Dawning”) brought home the prize. We are now in competition for the Audience Award. To vote go to www.solsticefilmfest.org and click on the poll.

“DAWNING”  has been accepted into the 2009 ‘Dead By Dawn’ Film Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. We are very excited to have “Dawning” screen in front of  a European audience. The film screens May 3rd at 7:15pm. Here are some things said about “Dawning” by ‘Dead By Dawn’ viewers:

• “’DAWNING’ was really good, I loved the uncertainty of everything. Amazing achievement on such a small budget.”

• “’DAWNING’ was spectacularly successful in building its sense of dread, minute on minute.”

• “I don’t know what it was about ‘DAWNING’ but it just had me riveted from start to finish. It seemed incredibly well directed and acted for something on such a low budget. Pretty inspirational really.”

• “…reminded me a lot of an old X-Files episode, but won’t ruin it by saying which one it is. I liked the idea of what ‘evil’ was in this film, and the acting and tension made it work.”

• “’DAWNING’ is compelling and avoids many of the clichés you’d expect…pretty unsettling in places.”

We have also been accepted into the 2009 Solstice Film Festival and we will be screening on Friday, June 19th at 8:00PM.

“Filled with tension wrought by the chaotic and unknown, “Dawning” invokes a cerebral degree of horror your average hack-and-slash film just doesn’t provide. When “Dawning” begins, get ready to pay attention.”

-David Oppegaard (author, The Suicide Collectors)

“I loved Holtgrewe’s mastery of suspense technique. From the opening road-to-the-woods shots, to the claustrophobia of the cabin, to the fear of the dark in the outdoors, holding some shots a few beats too long, cutting others abruptly…Holtgrewe gave the piece a skin-crawly feeling just through solid craftsmanship. I liked the lack of music,and the atmosphere of uncertainty throughout the piece. I thought the acting was generally strong. The way each major character succumbed to stress according to his/her individual weakness was intriguing.”

-Colin Covert, critic Minneapolis Star-Tribune

“…really liked it. Holtgrewe did a great job. Very well shot and performances were excellent.”

-Drew Dowdle, producer “Quarantine” and upcoming M. Night Shyamalan project

“I am a fan…it’s a joy to see real suspense on screen.”

-Adele Hartley, Director of Programming, “Dead By Dawn” Film Festival

“Creepy, moody and worthy of discussion for long after…and pretty much (shot in) one location.”

-Chris Grap, Minnesota Film and TV Board

“Whilst the film may wear its budget on its sleeve, it’s certainly no barrier to its effectiveness. Watching the film, I was reminded of a famous quote attributed to Mario Bava; “What interests me is the fear experienced by a person alone in their room” – one gets the feeling that Bava may have enjoyed ‘Dawning’, a film which manages the remarkable feat of keeping not only its antagonist, but also pretty much every major incident, off-screen but still maintaining a vice-like grip on the audience. An object lesson in how to create a lot by using very little, the film’s success is based around a group of strong performances, & a firm grasp of an irrational fear of the unknown lurking in the dark. A creepy & atmospheric gem, the film is rife with ambiguity & whilst I wouldn’t make any claims for it being a modern masterpiece, it is a remarkable achievement & one well worth seeking out.“

-Review by Horror Review

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Currently:

*Wholecrue Productions, along with Brendan Reynolds, are currently in discussions with Intrinsic Value Films regarding the script “Snowblind”…a story about two couples trapped in a half-buried car during a massive blizzard. As the reality of their situation sets in, something more terrifying enters their lives, creating a film filled with claustrophobia, tension and creating a new mythology. Written by Gregg Holtgrewe and McKnight Screenwriting Fellowship winner, Zach Hammill. Directed by Gregg Holtgrewe.

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“The pilot episode holds its own against any programming found on the Food Network.”

-Jessica Armbruster (Minneapolis City Pages)

*The pilot episode of Rhymes with Vegan, a vegan cooking show created and hosted by my sister Meagan, has officially been put on-line. A review in the Minneapolis City Pages can be found here. The Pilot episode along with the Thanksgiving and upcoming episode #3 were shot and directed by Gregg Holtgrewe.

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Gregg Holtgrewe started his filmmaking career in 1990 and has since gone on to produce, direct and shoot over 25 Shorts, 2 Featurettes and 2 Feature films. This dedication to the pursuit of a life in filmmaking led him to collaborate extensively over the years, searching for others with a like-minded drive and passion, eventually forming WholeCrue Productions.

 

Gregg’s IMDB credits: http://imdb.com/name/nm1899433/

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