Feeling Randy Premiere in Los Angeles

The joy of watching a movie comes from many things – maybe how much it makes you laugh or cry, how scared you get, seeing your favorite actors or the costumes. But one thing that proves valuable to any movie plot is a life lesson. They are not always obvious, often subtle messages embedded in the storyline, but nonetheless, when you walk away from a movie learning something, that’s a testament to the team who made the film.

Feeling Randy, written and directed by Dean Lent, is loosely based on Lent’s life. Growing in the 1970’s as a closeted teen, Lent tried many things to “be straight.” During that era, it was not easy to openly be yourself. Lent had a wild road trip with his buddies, with the Mustang Ranch (a brothel) as their final destination. Well, sexual enlightenment may have been the intended final destination, but based on the movie it doesn’t seem any of the friends achieved that. But what Lent did discover on that wild ride (pun intended) was who he truly was, a gay man.

Feeling Randy follows 4 teen boys, Randy (Reid Miller), Sampson (Tyler Lawrence Gray), Mark (Oliver Hibbs Wyman) and Adam (Shane Almagor) who go on a quest to the Kitty Ranch to get laid. While most of the boys are just trying to live out a teen fantasy, Randy is trying to literally straighten himself out. What ensues as they try to find a ride to the ranch and make their journey there is a lot of funny hijinks, and some touching and difficult family moments. Reid Miller plays the role of Randy with heart and conviction. He embodies Randy so well you can sense his trepidation at being himself, and don’t see a true moment of pleasure on his face until he has a special encounter with his friend Sampson’s brother Luke (Blaine Kern III) in a hot tub. A revealing moment that joy is found when you let go and embrace who you are. And maybe when you do drugs. Kern is a hoot as Luke, really embracing the free spiritedness of the 70s.

The film also stars Jonathan Silverman as Randy’s overbearing and troubled father, and Marguerite Moreau as Randy’s mother who is trying to balance parenting while maintaining a relationship with her son. Richard Riehle, a well-known character actor, makes a small appearance as a swinging neighbor, and Courtney Danforth stars as Randy’s sister, always cheerleading, although not always for Randy.

Following the premiere in Los Angeles on November 1, the cast, along with Dean Lent and producer Salome Breziner did a Q&A for the premiere attendees. Lent shared that this project has been in the works for nearly 30 years, and while Miller has not been a part of the project for quite as long, he said it doesn’t make the project or its message any less important for him. While this is an independent film, shot with a budget of less than $300,000, it’s beautifully done. The cast all agreed it has a truly distinct feel and a beautiful color quality. Lent, who has been a DP for years knew exactly what he wanted and worked hard (and many hours) to achieve that. He also shot a lot of the B-roll footage on his own and took a walk down memory lane to his hometown and old haunts, and the Mustang Ranch to get that footage. He said it was actually very therapeutic to re-visit all those places – places that made him who he is today. And in Hitchcock fashion, Lent makes a cameo in the movie, crossing paths with Randy outside the Kitty Ranch.

Feeling Randy will make you laugh, it might make you cry, but most importantly it will certainly teach you a lesson. For more information about the film, its cast and crew and where you can watch it, visit feelingrandymovie.com.