'Rutland, USA' wins audience award

Tuesday, December 10, 2002

By Pamela H. Sacks
Telegram & Gazette Staff

Since its premiere in Worcester last spring, the bawdy, madcap comedy “Rutland, USA” has been attracting audiences and accolades on both coasts.
     The film, which was made by Los Angeles-based Ludicrous Productions, won the Audience Choice Award for best digital movie in October at the Big Bear International Film Festival in California.
     Andrea Ajemian, a Rutland native who is an actress and partner in Ludicrous Productions, produced the film.
     The Big Bear festival attracted more than 300 entries, Ms. Ajemian said by phone from her office in Los Angeles.
     “In the film world, if you win an audience-choice award, that's the best you could hope for,” she said. “The big-shot awards are very political. This one means the public likes your film.”
     Ms. Ajemian, 27, has even more reason to be pleased.
     In September, she captured a Best Actress award at the B Movie Film Festival in Syracuse, N.Y., for her role as the over-the-top TV reporter in “Rutland.”
     The movie also was among six from 150 entries to be selected to compete for Best Feature.
     “Rutland, USA” made its debut in May at the Bijou Cinema in Worcester. More than a thousand people attended several showings over two days.
     Now the film has been picked up for a week's run at the West Boylston Cinema. It will be shown at 7 each night from Dec. 13-19, and members of the cast will be on hand to greet moviegoers.
     The independent film, which is about two bumbling detectives investigating a kidnapping, was shot in and around Rutland with a crew of four and a budget of $4,000.
     More than 35 Central Massachusetts residents won roles in the movie and worked for free.
     Filming took place over three weeks in October 2001.
     Ms. Ajemian said that, occasionally, people have been confused about the film's content. Some think it's a documentary of Rutland.
     “If people know it's a zany comedy, they love it,” she said. “If they think it's a documentary, they're not going to like it. We keep saying, 'It's set in Rutland.' ”
     The movie also is available on DVD.
     Ms. Ajemian and Jon Artigo, a partner in Ludicrous Productions who has a key role in “Rutland,” will be on hand to talk to customers and sign DVDs at 7 tonight at Tatnuck Bookseller, 335 Chandler St., Worcester.

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