From Kimball to Hollywood Bill Cooper premieres short film

Actor and film maker Bill Cooper announces the Hollywood premiere of his short film, “Womb Music,” at the FAIF International Film Festival on Saturday, Oct. 7, at Mann’s Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Calif. Bill, the son of Bill Cooper Sr. and the late Muriel Cooper of Kimball, said this is a dream come true for him. Bill grew up in the Kimball area and attended Kimball schools, graduating in 1973. He credits Kimball High School teacher Angela Provost for his interest in acting. Bill was involved in dramas, plays and one-act plays while a sophomore, junior and senior at Kimball High School, and recalls play director Provost as being strict, but fair, and very bright. He said has many fond memories of her. Following high school, Bill attended St. Cloud State University, where he received a degree in communications. He started out in broadcasting, and then “sort of ended up taking acting classes on the side” at The Actors Studio in Minneapolis. He got an agent and has been acting ever since. Bill decided to “throw his hat into the directing ring about three years ago to see what would happen.” Besides his directing duties, Bill teaches acting also. He has been involved with the video, television and film business as an actor for 20 years. His acting credits include 80 television commericals and hundreds of industrial, corporate, print and voice-over projects. Writing and directing have been natural extensions of his creative and technical connection to storytelling. “Womb Music” is Bill’s first short film and was shot at a single location and over one weekend. “Womb Music” tells the story of a motherless child on the verge of committing a crime, and a childless woman on the brink of dispair. One quiet morning their lives intersect with “wrenching, unexpected results”.  Learning about the influence of music on babies in the womb, along with a passion for exploring the connections between people, inspired Cooper to create “Womb Music.” “The film ends with a tense, disturbing confrontation,” Cooper said. “To heighten that tension, and to make the scene as authentic as possible, the actors portraying the two main characters, who had never met before, rehearsed separately and didn’t meet until the camera was rolling. I feel it was a directorial choice that really paid off,” he said. “We’re elated that ‘Womb Music’ is an official selection of the FAIF International Film Festival. Now it will get a wider audience at a great venue in a great film city.” This dramatic short film by Bassett Creek Productions delves into the consequences of the choices we make every day – good or bad – that affect us for the rest of our lives. Since its March 2006 premiere in Minneapolis’ Fearless Filmmakers Series, the film has received audience and critical acclaim. “Womb Music” features film newcomer Brent Stariha, veteran opera singer Vera Mariner (who has appeared at Carnegie Hall, the Guthrie Theater, Cincinnati Opera and Dayton Opera) and Paul Economon (“Paper Hearts” and “Reunion”). The director of photography was Sam Fischer (“ER” and “Everwood”). During a telephone interview Monday, Bill said he was getting ready to leave for vacation in Paris this week.   He needs to be in California by Oct. 6 to meet with the media prior to the premiere. He expects family, friends, and cast people to attend the premiere with him. The 10-day festival features more than 200 independent international films selected from a record-breaking number of entries. Bill’s father, sisters Alana Pramann and Cathy Olsen, and brother Chuck still live in the Kimball area. Another brother, Tom, lives in California. For more information on “Womb Music”, go to Web site www.wombmusicmovie.com.