Directed by Award-Winning Jorn Winther – whose lengthy credits include everything from creating the long-running TV magazine series 20/20 and directing the famous Frost/Nixon interview to multiple-camera rock concerts to thousands of hours directing daytime dramas including General Hospital, All My Children, One Life to Live and Another World, as well as prime-time variety programs, movies of the week and specials.
His shows have collected 37 Emmy nominations, and won 12. This is Winther’s first feature.
“Better late than never,” Winther said."DO IT OR DIE" is based on a true story: the brutal kidnapping of Palm Springs socialite and philanthropist Elaine Chaddick (played by Denise DuBarry) in 1979.
A fast-paced, action and psychological thriller, Elaine fights to stay alive out in the hot desert, using all her people skills to prevent her sociopathic kidnapper Bobby Ray Robbins from killing her – and the FBI agent assigned to her case racing against the clock to find her and bring down her kidnapper.
The story was the basis for a book, Night of the Full Moon, by former FBI agent Herb Clough, the detective who actually cracked the real-life case.
Amazingly, Jorn worked for years to get the film made and its production marks a promise made to Clough days before he passed away.
Winther said, “It is an important movie considering the many shootings we are currently experiencing by mentally disturbed people. [protagonist] Bobby Ray (played by Andrew McGuiness), a Viet Nam veteran, was one of those people.”Other cast members include David Naughton (AMERICAN WEREWOLF IN LONDON) as Herb Clough; John Callahan (Santa Barbara) as Harry Chaddick; and Viktoria Stamm as Ginger, Bobby Ray’s wife.
Amazingly, Jorn worked for years to get the film made and its production marks a promise made to Clough days before he passed away.
Winther says, “I’ve kept that promise with the help of filmmakers headed by Denise DuBarry, who moved heaven and earth to make this picture a reality. We were joined by Bruce Feagle, Cheryl Blythe, Connie Taylor, Brandon Worswick and the Palm Springs community. It’s been very emotional ride for me; I love this movie, and when I make the trip up the ‘Stairway to Heaven,’ I will be looking for cloud nine, because that is how I feel.”
“We’re delighted Palm Springs honored our film with a premium position in the festival,” producer and lead actress Denise DuBarry, who’s had multiple careers as an actress (BEING THERE, Charlie’s Angels, Black Sheep Squadron), philanthropist and infomercial producer (she’s Co-founder and Chief Creative Officer of Thane International), said. “'DO IT OR DIE' is an all-desert production—based on a true story that happened here, produced with local talent and availing ourselves of the many amazing locations the desert has to offer. 'DO IT OR DIE' is a just the latest example of our ongoing efforts to help bring more production to the desert—we got to shoot it here AND we get to premiere it here. We couldn’t be more pleased to showcase it to the desert audience—as well as to film buffs from Los Angeles and around the world.”
In 2010, DuBarry Hay premiered her last film, prolific Palm Springs-based director Christian Sesma’s "SHOOT THE HERO," at Palm Springs.
"DO IT OR DIE" is a nearly totally local production, DuBarry, a tireless and noted advocate for regional production who has also served as past President of Palm Springs Women in Film and Television (PSWIFT), said, “The Coachella Valley is an ideal location for film shoots. We received tremendous local support from crew, talent, hotels, and other businesses here.”
"DO IT OR DIE" screens during the Festival: Wednesday, Jan. 4, 2017 at 4:30 p.m. at the Anneberg Theatre.
