PRESS NOTES

ABOUT THE FILM

Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates hit the road in BONNEVILLE, a story about three friends who "come of age" for a second time on a trip across the great American West. Faced with the decision of a lifetime, Arvilla Holden (Lange) loads up her 1966 Bonneville convertible and, with her friends (Allen, Bates) in tow, sets out from Pocatello, Idaho en route to Santa Barbara.
As they detour to spots like Bryce Canyon and Las Vegas, it doesn't take long for the women to realize Arvilla has something unexpected in store. But what none of them realize is that what began as a simple trip will end up becoming a chance to rediscover themselves, their friendship, the importance of promises - and of letting go. Also starring Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski, BONNEVILLE unites three of the most acclaimed actresses of our time in a story that celebrates fun, adventure and living life to the fullest.
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ABOUT THE PRODUCTION

Set in some of the most stunning landscapes in the West, BONNEVILLE stars Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Joan Allen as three best friends on the road trip of a lifetime. Co-starring Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski, the film is directed by first time feature director Christopher N Rowley, from a screenplay by fellow newcomer Daniel D. Davis.
Rowley worked closely with Davis on the development of the script, along with fellow USC alum John Kilker (Producer) and THE STATION AGENT producer Robert May. Davis explains that the story of BONNEVILLE is actually intensely personal: "The inspiration for the principal characters came from my own life - my grandmother, Arvilla, my Aunt Carol and Margene Criddle, a close family friend. When my grandfather died, my grandmother seemed to lose her sense of purpose and interest in life. BONNEVILLE came from my desire for a happier ending, one where grief gives way to the realization that another life full of adventure and discovery lies ahead.
"When the time came to cast, the filmmakers were determined to seek out some of the most legendary film actresses of our time. Rowley explains, "When we started going out to the actresses, I believed in the script. I knew that Robert, and John and Dan believed in the script. But to see Jessica Lange, Joan Allen and Kathy Bates respond to the script was a huge benchmark in the process of making the film."
About the character of Arvilla, Lange says, "She was lucky at a point in her life to meet a man who gave her this gift of a very exciting life and opened up worlds to her. What interested me in the script was how you take the character through this in a symbolic, kind of metaphoric period of time. You know, to see the evolution of a person that is going through the grieving process. It really becomes a journey of self-discovery."
Lange signed on to play Arvilla, and the filmmakers next went to Bates with the role of Margene. However, Bates admits, "To be honest, the first time I read the script, I loved the story. But I felt that my character Margene was a little 'one note.' And so I thought about it a lot and gave notes back and then a few months went by, and they sent me a new script, and I really liked the differences and the complexities in Margene. It was important to me that Margene be a whole, real person, not just somebody who's given one liners all the time."
Allen was the last of the three women to sign on, basing her decision on an appreciation that "there were three women characters that you don't often find in scripts, with a real journey to go on. And I loved the idea of working with Jessica and Kathy, neither of whom I'd ever worked with."
With Lange, Bates and Allen on board, the filmmakers began searching for the right supporting cast. The role of the friendly truck driver who becomes an unlikely suitor was filled by Tom Skerritt and Christine Baranski signed on as Arvilla's stepdaughter, Francine.
With the cast in place, the producers began planning the final details of the shoot. Based out of Salt Lake City, production on BONNEVILLE took place over six weeks in the fall of 2005. The shoot took the cast and crew to Bryce Canyon, Las Vegas and California and everyone was impressed by the camaraderie that grew, between both cast and crew. Allen raves, "We had so much fun and so many laughs. I particularly loved being on Lake Powell and working on the houseboat. I mean, the bonus in doing the work is getting to go to these incredibly beautiful places that I had never been to."
An undeniable chemistry grew between the three actresses, or as Rowley explains, "It was incredible to watch these women interact and actually become friends through the process." Lange describes her experience with Bates and Allen: "There was something perfect in the balance, in the dynamics of the three of us and what we brought to the characters, and how the relationship kind of grew. It's one of those rare cases where you can't explain it, but it has a certain kind of grace, a certain dynamic that has worked very well for the characters and also to tell the story."
Bates seconds Lange's sentiments, continuing "It's been an unexpected pleasure. You never know what you're going to go through when you come together with a group of people to make a film. I felt myself comfortable, and relaxed, able to be authentic, and be myself. Everyone gets to be themselves and be appreciated for who they are, and that's been what my experience has been working on this particular film, I feel that I've gotten to be me, and be loved for that, and what more wonderful thing in the world is there than that?"
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THE CAST

THE CREW