Tom Basham, a Nokesville businessman, started delving into film around 12 years ago with the creation of his company, Sail Away Productions. Basham’s first musical feature, "Bright Lights and Promises," will play for one night only at Bow Tie Cinemas in Reston Town Center this Thursday, October 25,
Basham is a local guy. He graduated from Brentsville District High School and went on to attend Virginia Tech where he was interested in business and engineering. He now owns Nokesville Design, is president of a Nokesville Business Association, and is married and has two children.
He has always been interested in movies, but it was his eldest daughter who really pushed him into the field. She wanted to attend a screenwriting class in Bethesda, so Basham took the class with her.
“That was a door opening for me because I always liked writing, but to write a novel or long short story didn’t connect with my visual sensibilities. I definitely appreciated the visual part of screen writing. I have written eight feature length scripts and sent them out for national contests,” said Basham.
Basham went on to co-produce three feature films, two of which are on Netflix, and all three are on Amazon.
Basham found he did not have to go to all the way to Hollywood to start producing films.
“I saw another guy was making his first movie in Warrenton, so I hooked up with him and co-produced three feature films of more the horror genre,” said Basham.
"Bright Lights and Promises" is a musical film featuring 11 songs from Grammy award winner and first Saturday Night Live musical guest, Janis Ian. The 11 songs are taken off of five different albums she did in the 70s.
“It’s a sort of a star is born type of plot. You have an older lounge singer, who is ready to move on in her life, and then a young waitress girl who is just starting out. One person moving on and another person moving up – and there’s relationship issues and things like that,” said Basham, describing the film’s plot.
Basham produced, directed, and wrote "Bright Light and Promises." Jessica Cain plays the lead, Jesse, the young, up-and-coming singer. Opera singer Sissel Bakken plays Maria, the aging lounge singer. Other casting information can be found on imdb.com.
The casting process lasted about six months. The film features actors and actresses from places as far away as Baltimore, Md.; SC; and Williamsburg, Va.
“We posted on a number of casting websites in the D.C. area for theatre and film. Once you post on a couple of those, the other ones pick you up,” said Basham. “We had about 500 people respond to our cast call."
Basham entered his film in the festival circuit in 2011, during which time "Bright Lights and Promises" won a number of best picture awards.
“We won best musical at the Independent Family Film Festival in Hollywood, CA. We also won in a New York independent film festival and at Bare Bones in Oklahoma – a very big festival for independent films,” said Basham.
The film will have a one night screening at Bow Tie Cinemas.
“A theatrical release is hundreds of thousands of dollars. A lot of independent films go direct to DVD, so it was really nice that we were able to set up at least one screening in theaters. The room we’re in will probably seat around two hundred people,” said Basham.
Are there other films in Basham’s future?
“I will do something after this, but I’m showing restraint right now and not because the minute you start something new you spend less time on the last project. I wanted to get this movie out and be sure that I complete the whole process with this before I move on to the next thing. Once you move on you stop looking back,” said Basham.
DVDs of the film are available through the website, brightlightsandpromises.com. They will be on Amazon eventually. Tickets to the one night screening will be available at the door Thursday night in Reston at 6 pm or through the website.
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