NEW YORK - After a stop in Toronto, cast members of "American Teen" traveled to New York for the documentary's premiere Friday.
They've spent the previous 1-1/2 months in Los Angeles, and filmed an appearance on "The Today Show" Friday morning. The cast got to attend the ESPY awards and meet all of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner's "Girls Next Door". They were on MTV's "Total Request Live" Monday. USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, the Associated Press, Rolling Stone, Mother Jones magazine and many other publications all have highlighted the film and the cast.
The cast also can be found online from YouTube to Facebook.
Friday at 4:30 p.m., three of the cast members called from New York to talk about the film and the adventure their lives are on now.
"American Teen" is the documentary filmed in Warsaw and Warsaw Community High School during the 2005-06 school year. It follows five seniors during their last year of high school - Megan Krizmanich, Colin Clemens, Hannah Bailey, Mitch Reinholt and Jake Tusing.
The PG-13 film was shot by Nanette Burstein. In January, Burstein won the director award for a documentary at the Sundance Film Festival for "American Teen". It's getting its own premiere in Warsaw Aug. 5 at 7:30 p.m. at the WCHS Performing Arts Center.
During interviews Friday afternoon, Krizmanich, Bailey and Reinholt all agreed the condensed version of their senior year in high school is accurate. But the people in the film aren't exactly who they are now.
Having seen the film more times than she can count, Krizmanich said, she can see that she was the mean one. She did exactly what she wanted to do, but, she said, she's since mellowed out.
Krizmanich will be a junior at Notre Dame this fall, studying pre-med. She doesn't have time to get into any drama because she's too busy studying.
"I've matured," she said.
Krizmanich said she knows the Warsaw audience will be the harshest critics of the film because it is their hometown. But Warsaw is excited about the film, too. People often stop her and ask her about how well the movie is going.
There are some ups and downs in the movie, and some really emotional moments. Krizmanich said, having seen it so many times, she can quote it.
Her favorite line of "American Teen", however, belongs to Reinholt, not herself.
"I like Mitch's line when he says, 'There's always hope,'" she said.
While the movie is an accurate portrayal of that one year of their lives, Krizmanich said, "It's a very condensed version." More than 1,200 hours of footage was shot for a movie less than two hours long.
For some people, the shooting of the film might seem like forever ago. But, Krizmanich said, she's watched it so many times, it seems like just yesterday.In the film, Bailey says she wants to get into the film industry. She's going after that dream by attending film school in New York. She will be a sophomore this fall, having taken a year off after high school to go to San Francisco, Calif. Bailey said her focus at school is on film editing. Down the road, she said, she'd like to work on a script or two, but she has no plans to be in front of the camera - unless the right director and right cast come along. But she will be picky.
Despite the "American Teen" experience, Bailey said, she sees herself on the same level at film school as all the other students.
"We're all new to the film business," she said.
Bailey didn't audition for the documentary just because of her interest in film, she said. Part of the reason was just pure boredom.
She was hanging out at Taco Bell with her friend, Clark, who also appears in the film, the day of the auditions. They realized it was the day of the auditions, they were bored, so they went. It turned out to be a good idea, Bailey said.
Though she said she hasn't changed too much since high school, there is one aspect where Bailey admits that she has.
In the film, Bailey says, "I don't fit in, I hate it. Warsaw is such a conservative town, and I'm so not conservative."
Bailey moved to Warsaw when she was 15 years old. Now that she's moved away from Warsaw, she said she's developed an appreciation for Warsaw. She misses it, she said.
"I really do love Warsaw," she said.
During the filming of the movie, Bailey, "the artsy student", dated "the heartthrob", Reinholt. After four weeks, Reinholt broke up with Bailey by text message. But it's become a non-issue for the duo.
"We've been really good friends for the past few years," Bailey said.
Also during filming of the movie, Bailey said, there was a lot of negativity toward it. Perhaps it was jealousy that only a select few students were being filmed. Perhaps it was annoyance with the constant cameras around. Whatever the reason then, Bailey said, it's been a couple of years now and people's attitudes toward the film have changed. Warsaw is waiting to see the film.
"I think it will go well," she said of the pending premiere. "People will be happy."
Like Krizmanich, Reinholt is studying pre-med and he'll be a junior. He is a bio-chemistry major at Indiana University, Bloomington.
And while the trailer for "American Teen" calls him "The Heartthrob," don't use the label on him.
"I hate it," Reinholt said. "It doesn't describe me. ... I consider myself a geeky jock."
In one scene, Bailey got Reinholt to put on a dragon suit and get on his hands and knees. A heartthrob wouldn't do that, he said, but a geeky jock would.
When the cast watched "American Teen" for the first time, Reinholt said, there was a wide range of emotions. They were nervous and not sure what to expect. However, he said, at this point, the cast supports each other when they know a tough part is coming up in the movie because all five of them have gotten close.
Another way they show their support for each other, he said, is by making fun of one another. During a previous interview, Reinholt had the misfortune of describing the movie as "neat." His castmates didn't let him forget it. But Reinholt said it's all in good fun.
A special screening of the movie was provided to the cast's parents and other family members a couple of months ago. Reinholt said his parents, brothers and grandparents all saw it and loved it.
When the movie premieres in Warsaw for the general audience, Reinholt said he probably will be nervous. Warsaw is their hometown, and the people know them and their backgrounds.
"It gives a brief glimpse into one year of our lives," Reinholt said.
One thing the film left out, unfortunately, Reinholt said, was his senior year of football. It doesn't even get a mention. While the football team didn't have a great year Reinholt enjoyed it. The film focuses more on basketball.
"It's been an incredible adventure I've been having with these four people who I call my best friends," Reinholt said of the film, the premieres and interviews. "It's an experience I'll never forget."
Tickets for the "American Teen" premiere are on sale now at the WCHS Performing Arts Center box office, or by calling 574-371-5040. They are $10 each, with all proceeds from the ticket sales benefitting WCHS students. VISA and Mastercard are accepted. Seating is general admission.
Following the movie premiere, a post-screening dessert reception will be held in the Tiger Den. A disc jockey will provide music. The reception is included in the price of the ticket.
The box office is open 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday through Friday.
"American Teen" opens in Warsaw and Indianapolis Aug. 15.
