Clown-N-Out in Valley Village a Good Time Crime Comedy Thriller
The indie neo-noir thriller Clown-N-Out in Valley Village will have two screenings in Downtown LA at filmjourn Studio 216 (216 W. 5th St.) on Sunday, March 8th and Sunday, March 15th at 1 PM. This is a gritty homage to the dark and neon drenched San Fernando Valley with a score by Vincent Jones worthy of your playlist. The screenings commemorate the film’s streaming on appleTV.
The micro-budget guerilla-style film was shot by director Mark Hensley, written by Mark Daponte and stars Joe Heck, Katy Mahard, Max E. Williams, Zachariah Axel and Monazia.
Mahard, Heck and Williams command the screen with performances that elevate the film to make the filmmaker look brilliant. A film so watchable and fun it is a testament to the talent involved that it thrives entirely on the strength of its performances.
Joe Heck
In Clown-N-Out in Valley VIllage, a down-on-his-luck clown, John, played masterfully by Joe Heck, gets caught up in a dangerous criminal LA underworld and must navigate a treacherous maze of lies, deceit, and violence to survive.
Katy Mahard
Katy Mahard is a compelling and magnetic screen presence as Elaine, an aspiring actress who on her darkest night finds the fuel to strike back against her oppressor.
Max E. Williams
Max E. Williams plays Frank, a repugnant film producer who hires a hapless hitman (Zachariah Axel) to do his dirty work.
Charlotte Simmons at The Treatment said that Clown-N-Out in Valley Village defines the criminal underbelly — and, subsequently, the entire fabric — of the American project while also observing the relevancy that intimate human interest has in it all.
Thanks to the score and acting, this film is better than the limits of its budget. The actors overcame limited resources with raw talent, intimacy, and character-driven performances. Film is a collaborative art form, anyone that’s made a movie knows you cannot do it alone. In independent filmmaking so much is asked of the entire team… you call in favors for locations, props, costumes and equipment.
Actors can stand in as crew members when necessary and even contribute to the budget when it falls short before and after it’s wrapped. A drive and passion for storytelling and character creation comes with a willingness to pivot and improvise so it makes the film better. How lucky to have such a talented ensemble cast that carries the weight and transcends the challenges of the production.
Clown-N-Out in Valley Village is an example of that spirit of collaborative effort, it is what makes the impossible possible. The reward is in the outcome here, a real blast of a film with twists, turns, beloved landmarks and a satisfying ending.
If you’re not in Los Angeles or can’t make the screenings, you can find the film on appleTV and may watch it HERE. Catch Katy Mahard and Max E. Williams in FOOL FOR LOVE at the Hollywood Fringe Festival this June. Joe Heck just wrapped the short film Pocket Aces that will be making the festival circuit later this year.
*Promotional images used with the permission of WhatTheHeck Films
