Carried Away was written, directed, and produced by Tom Huckabee. For those of you who don't know Tom, he produced Frailty with Bill Paxton and Matthew McCoughnahey, script doctored in Hollywood for 30 years, and is the former Artistic Director of the Lone Star Film Festival. Tom moved back to Fort Worth, after the death of his wife, to take care of his father. When he met Gabriel Horn, Producer/Principal of Carried Away, he was inspired to make his own movies again, after 30 years.
After the initial inspiration, Tom didn't waste any time! He put together an impressive team of locals from Ron Gonzalez as DP, to Toni Brock Cobb as Casting Director; the entire team was the Best of the West. He gathered a cast of formidable talents including beautiful actresses like Morgana Shaw, Jennifer Sipes, and Juli Erickson, and hot dudes like Gabriel Horn, Tyler Corrie, and myself. (That was a ruthless plug!) His story was a non-typical Southwest tale, unlike the creative content you usually see from Texas Indie filmmakers, and was strong on a number of fronts. First, he's an exceptional storyteller with a keen eye for nuanced character development and quiet but impactful story arches. Second, Tom knew exactly who he wanted to reach, and why his film was important from a personal and a universal perspective. Finally, Tom didn't waste time on his 20 year old script being made into a film, but he didn't rush it either. Now, think about the filmmakers you know, and see if they:
1. Know their characters and story from top to bottom, inside and out.
2. Know who they want to reach, and why their film stands out.
3. Take their time (20 years with the script), but push fearlessly into completion.
These are traits/definitions that most filmmakers talk about, but few embody. For those filmmakers that embody these traits, keep trucking.
Carried Away is a film like Little Miss Sunshine, The Graduate, and The Golden Girls mixed into one splendid dysfunctional family gathering. It doesn't go for easy payoffs, or deliver the obvious dramatic blows, but it builds a quiet rapport with its audiences. While attending, any one of the many, screenings of Carried Away I've witnessed unsuspecting fans being born into his infectious fold. It's not just a movie it's a movement for Texas filmmakers. Its mission is to tell a personal story, with universal questions, and real Southwest characters for Texas actors to sink their teeth into. Unlike most films I've seen on the festival circuit, there is not a lot to pick at when it comes to Carried Away.
The shots are strong, the acting is exemplary, and the score is unique and engrossing. The story isn't something you've seen before, the resolution isn't obvious, and the subject is universal and impacting.
So, am I bias? Maybe, but I challenge you to see it for yourself, and let me know.
In my opinion, Tom Huckabee and this extraordinary team, has challenged Texas filmmaking to go deeper, support local artists, and get personal. Additionally, Tom does an incredible job inciting audiences to come see his flick, with awesome swag, stellar promotional gear, and strong publicity. So, if you're into the whole package, stay tuned on Tom Huckabee, his story is just getting started.
