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Posted 02.18.2009

Boulder company premieres feature film

Jesse Ventura stars in 42 Productions' first script-to-screen flick

By Patricia Kaowthumrong

42 Productions celebrated a series of firsts as it rolled out the red carpet for the world premiere of its feature film “Woodshop,” starring former Minnesota governor and pro wrestler Jesse Ventura, at the University of Colorado ATLAS Institute in Boulder on Feb. 15.

“This production was the best collaboration of my career if not my life,” said Pete Coggan, the film’s writer, director and producer, as well as the founder of Boulder-based 42 Productions, a full-service film and video production company.

“Woodshop” is 42 Productions’ first script-to-screen feature. The film is also among the first shot in a new format called digital cinema. The state-of-the-art production facility filmed the entire movie in Boulder last spring.

“I’ve worked for some of the largest film companies in Hollywood, but I can tell you that working with Pete was one of the most fun and professional experiences that I’ve ever had,” said Ventura, who has appeared in films including, “Predator,” “Running Man,” and “Demolition Man.” “Woodshop” marks Ventura’s return to the big screen after a 10 year hiatus.

The former governor of Minnesota plays a tough woodshop high school teacher, who hosts Saturday detention for a “Breakfast Club”-esque cast of characters, in this comedic drama. Ventura said he was intrigued by the movie because Coggan wrote the script with his role in mind, and he was also ecstatic to get back into acting after his foray in politics.

Also starring in the film are: Mitch Pileggi, Don S. Davis, and former Denver Bronco Rod Smith makes a cameo. Several young Colorado natives including Scott Cooper Ryan and Jonathan Davis round out the cast. Ventura said he enjoyed filming in Boulder and working with all of the young people in the movie, who fondly nicknamed Ventura “gov.”

“Working with the young people is always fun. They learn from you, and you learn from them,” Ventura said. “It helps bridge the generation gap.”

The film features original music by Pete Coggan and Sam McGuire, and other selections by local bands including, Big Head Todd & the Monsters and 3OH!3.

“We’re a locally-owned business, and we’re all about the economy in Colorado,” said Caroline Coggan, the film’s executive producer. “We really believe in the area; this is our home.”

Kevin Shand, of the Colorado Film Commission, said the typical feature film production revenue in Colorado is less than $5 million dollars a year. Colorado, he said, lacks a competitive incentive to lower costs for production companies and attract more filmmakers to the state.

But Shand said he hopes that will change.

“Production companies like 42 Productions have found a good niche and are successful at what they’re doing. They have good actors, good content and great facilities,” Shand said. “Why can’t we have more of that the state?”

Visit www.woodshopmovie.com to learn more about the film or www.42productions.com to learn more about the production house.

Patricia Kaowthumrong is a student at the University of Colorado School of Journalism and Mass Communication. Contact her at .

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