REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA
Special Screening - November 16th, 2008
ENZIAN Theatre, Orlando Florida
Text, photos and video by Max Michaels

Director by Darren Lynn Bousman (SAW II, SAW III, SAW IV) and writer/actor Terrance Zdunich have been tirelessly touring the country in an amazing grassroots effort to promote their Glam-Goth-rock-industrial onslaught REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA. This unprecedented outing is due to the stunning lack of faith distributor LIONSGATE (who was ready to shelve it straight to DVD) has in the potential of this film to gain an audience. Converted from the obscure staged opera into an ultra stylized film staring Hollywood heavies like Paul Sorvino (GOODFELLAS), Alexa Vega (SPY KIDS), Paris Hilton (HOUSE OF WAX), and Anthony Head (TV’s "Buffy the Vampire Slayer") alongside underground icons Bill Moseley (THE DEVIL’S REJECTS), Ogre (from the band Skinny Puppy) and world-renowned opera singer Sarah Brightman (Broadway’s "Phantom of the Opera") this film is well stocked to attract a deeply diverse fan base. For proof of REPO!'s mass potential all one need do is attend one of these unique screenings. Within minutes of arriving hours prior to doors at the breathtaking ENZIAN theater in Orlando, FL for the final stop on this leg of their self-funded tour we saddled up to the EDEN bar outside for a drink or two while awaiting Darren to arrive for an interview and the venue was already flush with Goths and geeks alike. Many singing along in chorus word for word to songs from the soundtrack playing over the PA system. Most either adorned with their own home made custom REPO! T-shirts or dressed as their favorite character. Though the writer and director may shy away from calling their film a cult hit (yet) or not settle for lazy critic comparisons to Rocky Horror Picture Show there is no question that Rocky and like minded fans will undoubtedly flock to and embrace this film just as fervently and if the palpable sense of anticipation, excitement, energy and camaraderie we felt was not proof of its destiny to become a cult phenomenon, then the one attendee who flew from Puerto Rico just to be a part of this amazing event certainly does.

Find out about future director sponsored screenings by immersing yourself in the films web site, joining the chat boards and be sure to snag some banners and ad them to you web and networking pages and help these hard working artists get the attention and respect they deserve. Be sure to check back to our main page and look out for the next print issue of MOVEMENT magazine featuring our full interview with Darren, Terrance and Ogre!

www.repo-opera.com