“Hannah Free,” the Chicago-produced indie, had a local sneak peek screening at a sold out Midwest Independent Film Fest event on August 4.
At a producer’s panel introduced by Mike McNamara before the screening and led by Women in Film Chicago’s Melissa Thornley, the “Hannah” filmmakers offered candid takes on producing their ultra low-budget indie feature.
“Hannah Free” was almost entirely shot at producer Tracy Baim’s stately turn-of-the-century Prairie Avenue home. “For 18 days,” Baim said, “I had 50 people showing up at my house at 5:00 in the morning wanting coffee. I was beyond sleep deprivation.”
At its world premiere in San Francisco at Frameline in June, “I sat there with Claudia Allen and we were in shock at the size of the crowd. It all grew from a talk in my car.”
“We were glad they laughed in all the right places,” added writer Allen. “You never know what can happen as a result of a conversation in a car.”
Baim described their fund-raising strategy saying “over 400 people who had faith in us contributed money to finance the production.” “I know some wealthy folks,” said Allen, “But by and large they weren’t the ones who gave us money.”
