 LAS
VEGAS --- What happens in Vegas, no longer is staying in Vegas,
thanks to a movie called “Self-Medicated” that
burst onto movie screens across the country on Friday, August
31.
A true prescription for mesmerizing audiences everywhere,
“Self-Medicated” was written by native Las Vegan
Monty Lapica, who also stars in the full-length feature film.
Based on actual events, it paints a searing true portrait
of a 17-year-old Lapica (in the role of Andrew Eriksen) on
the edges of Las Vegas, his life gone out-of-control after
the death of his father.
Variety calls Lapica’s performance “especially
blistering” and says that the portrait of redemption
and personal triumph over hardship “packs a startling
punch.” The film, which made its debut at the 2006 CineVegas
Film Festival at the Palms in Las Vegas, went on to win top
awards at 39 film festivals worldwide.
Lapica’s real lifelong best friend, Shane Stuart (son
of “Legends In Concert” creator/producer John
Stuart), plays Eriksen’s best friend Seth Calenes (one
of the leading supporting roles) and is also the associate
producer of the movie. Additionally, the film’s producer,
Tommy Bell, is another native Las Vegan. Lapica, Stuart and
Bell grew up together and personally lived the events depicted
in the film.
“Monty’s
friends became increasingly important to him,” says
Shane Stuart. “They became his family through his deepest
trials and tribulations.”
Also
starring Golden Globe nominee Diane Venora as Andrew’s
mother, as well as Michael Bowen and Greg Germann, the film
starts out on the Las Vegas Strip then moves to locations
around the city where events actually occurred to tell its
story. Not only were scenes shot in Lapica’s home and
at John Stuart’s Legends Ranch where Lapica and Stuart
respectively grew up, but there was also filming at Bonanza
High School, which Lapica, and Stuart attended. Almost the
entire movie was shot in Las Vegas.
Here
is a brief synopsis of “Self-Medicated:” Unable
to cope with the death of his father, a prominent Las Vegas
doctor, Andrew’s foray into drugs and violence is gaining
momentum. The once-promising young man is on a path of self-destruction.
Helpless to control Andrew’s addiction, his mother refuses
to sit idly by as her only son destroys himself. As a last
resort, she hires a private company to kidnap him and confine
him in a locked-down and, unbeknownst to her, corrupt psychiatric
hospital to detox him. As Andrew is subjected to the secret
physical and emotional abuse of the program, something inside
him awakens and he knows that he must somehow get free to
save what’s left of his life. But in order to do that
he must first face his demons head on.
“Self-Medicated”
is Lapica’s writing and directorial debut. Stuart recently
made his full directing and producing debut in his second
film, “Heart of the King,” a documentary that
gives an insight into the Elvis Presley phenomenon and what
has made the 36,000 Elvis impersonators worldwide give up
their lives and other professions to live through a jumpsuit
as Elvis, even though they may not have the looks, talent
or skills to make it as Elvis. “Heart of the King”
won the People’s Choice Award at the 2007 Silverlake
Film Festival in Los Angeles and is the official selection
to preview at the Great Lakes Film Festival in Pennsylvania
on September 29. John Stuart is executive producer of the
film.
Meanwhile back at the Ranch…Green Valley Ranch in Henderson
a suburb of Las Vegas, is among the theaters in which “Self-Medicated”
was released last Friday. In many respects, “Self-Medicated”
is just what the doctor ordered – take two tickets (or
more) and call the box office in the morning.
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ADDITIONAL
ARTICLES
BY
BOBBIE KATZ
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Local
Movie Hits Big Screens Across the USA
