Tehachapi News

larger view

Michael Damian, accompanied by his wife Janeen, visited Tehachapi last weekend to attend the special screening of Michael's first directing effort of their collaborative writing skills, Moondance Alexander, starring veteran actor Don Johnson, Lori Laughlin and Kay Panabaker, as Moondance.

Michael's sisters, Theresa Moller (aka Tracy Barns) and Maria Weir Werth, and proud parents Maria and Larry Weir, all of Tehachapi, also were on hand to lend family support.

The delightful family movie is based on the true story of Janeen Damian's experience as a teenager with her horse Checkers, and it's easy to see why it received so many film awards, including the coveted Dove Award. If audience response during the movie and applause at the conclusion of the movie were any indication, the Damians have a hit on their hands.

“Hollywood is a little confused these days,” Damian explained to the near full house after completion of the movie. “If we want more family movies, then everyone needs to support them, and not just my movie, but all family movies, by seeing them in the theater or buying the DVDs. That's the way Hollywood gets the message of what kinds of movies to make.”

Theater space and even the behind-the-counter help for the event were donated by Will Viner, owner of The Hitching Post Theatre.

“We couldn't have done it without Will's help and we'd like to thank him very much,” Moller expressed.

Moondance Alexander (which is expected to be released on DVD by 20th Century Fox on April 29) is the first of what is hoped to be many family movies directed and produced by the Damians. Damians' second family movie, Christmas at Castlebury Hall, is expected to start filming this fall, and will be ready for release for Christmas 2009, Damian said.