I HATE TOM PETTY

Feature Film Competition

Director Ila Duncan

USA, 2011, 103 minutes, color

EXHIBITION PREMIERE: February 14, 2012

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SYNOPSIS:

Nineteen year old director Ila Duncan's first film tells the story through original music and dramatic performances of a guitar player songwriter who is the son of a successful Wall Street financier. Though taught from the cradle about business he chooses art over commerce, setting up an emotional struggle, a rift with his family and a competition with his agent who pushes him into over striving. Believing Tom Petty is the ultimate modern commercial success he challenges himself to match Mr. Petty's career. At one point the stress causes a temporary failure in his career and a breakup with his singer songwriter girlfriend. He descends into a world of drugs, alcohol and hookers until his girlfriend returns to help him put his life back together.

CAST AND CREDITS:

Director: Ila Duncan

Writers: Ila Duncan and David Cuddy

Producer: Woodson Duncan

Starring: Ian Way, Mia Van Der Water, Eric O’Keefe, Seth Blum, Josie Smith

Official Site: www.ihatetompetty.com

I HATE TOM PETTY

Feature Film Competition

Director Ila Duncan, USA, 2011, 103 min, color

WATCH TRAILER  |  WATCH FULL FILM

OVERVIEW:

Nineteen year old director Ila Duncan's first film tells the story through original music and dramatic performances of a guitar player songwriter who is the son of a successful Wall Street financier. Though taught from the cradle about business he chooses art over commerce, setting up: an emotional struggle, a rift with his family and a competition with his agent who pushes him into over striving. Believing Tom Petty is the ultimate modern commercial success he challenges himself to match Mr. Petty's career. At one point the stress causes a temporary failure in his career and a breakup with his singer songwriter girlfriend. He descends into a world of drugs, alcohol and hookers until his girlfriend returns to help him put his life back together.

FULL SUMMARY:

Through music and dramatic performances the film tells the story of the relationship between a young successful guitar player/songwriter (Bob) and a very attractive singer/songwriter (Kitt). Bob and Kitt are brought together by their friends and one opportunistic agent to build a cover band. Instantly infatuated with each other, they become lovers and move in together. To the disappointment of his parents, an extremely successful Wall Street Financier and a philanthropist, Bob has chosen art over commerce, beginning an emotional struggle.

Bob was taught from the cradle to be successful at all costs, and this mentality leads him into a competition with his family. Knowing Bob’s family background and temperament, the agent holds up Tom Petty as the ultimate modern commercial musical success and challenges him to match Mr. Petty’s achievements. In the hopes of leveraging the success of the group, the agent begins planning Kitt’s solo career, playing the lovers against each other. The pressure builds on Bob, who is young and unused to such stress, until he finally snaps, causing a failure in his career, and a break up of the lovers.

After the break up, Kitt learns that Bob has fallen into a downward spiral of alcohol and drug abuse. Kitt returns to try to pull Bob back to his former productive self.

The film features 10 original rock tunes that are written and co-written by the lovers as they progress along the relationship curve.