News

Original Article: Gazette Extra

JANESVILLE — A Janesville director and producer’s film placed high enough in recent competition to premier in Lisbon next month, setting it up for a chance to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival in May.

Daniel J. Pico’s film, “Reasonable Doubt,” filmed in Janesville, placed in the top 15 of 103 films entered n the 48 Hour Film Project competition Yes We Cannes. That qualified “Reasonable Doubt” to premier at Filmapalooza in Lisbon, Portugal March 20-23.

Pico and some of his team members are attending the film festival in Lisbon, including co-writer and co-editor Matthew M. Jones, assistant director and assistant editor Tanya Lovecraft and production designer Jennifer Smith.

For the 48 Hour Film Project, the team had 48 hours to write, film, and edit a movie. On a Friday evening at 7 p.m. they received a list of things to include and had to submit the film on Sunday at 7:30 p.m.

Written, Filmed, and Edited in under 48 hours the weekend of December 1st, 2023. As part of the YES WE CANNES challenge, part of the 48 HOUR FILM PROJECT. The top winners of the competition get to screen at the Cannes Film Festival 2024! PICO BLVD ENTERTAINMENT

They started out on that Friday night with a prop, a character with a name and occupation, a line of dialogue and a choice of two genres where they can choose to do one or both. For “Reasonable Doubt,” the genre was drama, the prop was a gift, the character was Samantha Morganstitch who was a hobbyist and the line was “You can count on me.”

“Reasonable Doubt” is a seven-minute-long legal thriller short drama. It revolves around a car accident, during which a mother loses her son and the offending parties won’t say who was driving or what happened. It was filmed in Janesville on Dec. 2, 2023.

Janesville filming locations included outside the Janesville Senior Center, 69 S. Water St., which was made to look like the exterior of a courthouse. Filming also took place at Computer Center, on the third floor of the historic Fredendall Building, 39 S. Main St., and in its back parking lot, and in the basement of Hometown Pharmacy, 21 S. Jackson St.

A behind-the-scenes image from the filming of ‘Reasonable Doubt’ in downtown Janesville by Pico Blvd Entertainment. Submitted Photo

Pico’s team found out Jan. 15 that they had placed in the top 15, and had earned both a best best use of line award and a best acting in a leading role award for Rainy Armstrong, who plays Samantha Morganstitch.

“Rainy brings a lot of professionalism and she’s always prepared, she does a great job,” Pico said.

The film was also nominated for best writing, best editing, and best trailer

Awards for best directing, best original musical score, and best film will be announced at Filmapalooza. The top 9 films from Filmapalooza will go on to be shown at the Cannes Film Festival in France May 14-25.

• Directed by Daniel J. Pico

• Written by Matthew M. Jones and Daniel J. Pico

• Produced by Alex Neuhalfen

• Cinematography by Jeff Siljenberg

• Camera by Sam Sorenson

• Actors Rainy Armstrong, Amelia Mahrie, Sydney Possinger, Mic Frommelt, Franklin Breit, Clark Blomquist, Maureen Janson