Tacoma Weekly Newspaper

Hoping to repeat the same success seen with their first film, Tacoma filmmakers, Daniel Purcell and Dave Kellman opted for an emotional topic in their latest film “No Love Lost.”

On Dec. 18 they debuted their film at epicinema, an innovative home entertainment business on Opera Alley.

“No Love Lost” centers around an underground mafia-style business helping others to see the error of their troubled relationship. One such relationship is where the boyfriend cares little to nothing for his teacher girlfriend. He doesn’t know her birthday or what her future plans are. And so with a call from her sister, the business steps in to separate the couple, revealing to her how she deserves better than what her boyfriend is providing her with.

The moral of the story is that everyone deserves to be happy in love. We may see a troubled relationship with others around us, but rarely see it when it’s right in front of our eyes.

Props go to writer and director Purcell for writing a movie that is not only graphically pleasing and scripted well, but has a great message behind it.

Purcell, originally from South Bend, Ind., moved to Tacoma in 1998 to make movies.

“When I saw Tacoma I knew immediately the visual character was perfect for filming,” Purcell said.

Sitting behind the camera is Kellman, a lifelong resident of Tacoma who attended Wilson High School. He is a TV producer at Rainier Media Center, where he films city council meetings in several cities in Pierce County. He has more than 15 award-winning films to his credit and spot work broadcast nationally on PBS.

They both work under the collaborative banner of Cheap Shot Collective, a name that both say reveals their collaboration philosophy and egalitarian community of creative people. 

In 2003, they stole the show at Projections Film Festival in Bellingham with their first movie, “The Camel’s Back,” which won best of its category and acted as a catalyst to change the film festivals’ rules.

“The Camel’s Back” made its Tacoma debut that same year when featured in Tacoma’s only film festival, The Last Reel.

“The Camel’s Back” was the first collaboration for the partners, who met in Tacoma three years ago. They were introduced by actor J.R. Johnson, best known for his work in the movie “10 Things I Hate About You.”

But unlike their first production, “No Love Lost,” was made in three months, with little to no funds, simply collaborations between various groups.

For example, epicinema, where they showed the film, is a great example of one partnership. The business agrees to show their movie and in turn supports local artists in Tacoma. Cheap Shot Collective is another great partnership, joining together filmmakers, musicians, actors and other artists in Tacoma.

They plan to enter “No Love Lost” into three various film festivals in 2006, at which time interested viewers can watch the short film. Seattle Truly Independent Film Festival is in early June. Local Sightings Film Festival will be in October and Bellingham’s Projections Film Festival in mid-November.

“There’s no guarantee that we will be selected in all three festivals but we have our fingers crossed. With the amount of positive feedback from our premier I think we are looking pretty good,” Kellman said.

“No Love Lost,” stars Paul Proio, Ailsa Hopper, Jeff Howards, Donnie Stallman, Melissa Dyan, Justin Tamminga and Purcell. The original score was done by Justin Tamminga, Kellman did the cinematography, and Kellman along with Purcell and Donnie Stallman produced it.

The group looks to develop their next project, which is a feature-length comedy to be produced in Tacoma, utilizing and promoting local talent and settings.

For more information visit www.cheapshotcollective.com.