As the Baltimore, Maryland based filmmaker Armando Valle, after seeing the final/2008 version of Date Number One in Silver Spring, Maryland at Lo-Def/Jackie's Back Room in late May 2008 described the movie in his blog, Date Number One is "a charming, DIY feature romantic-comedy presenting a refreshing, positive outlook on the trials of contemporary dating. A multi-ethnic cast, among them a seductive Indian man, a french-speaking hottie, a curvy blonde seeking a blissful three-way bi-sexual relationship, a Buddhist African-American woman, and a lonely career Ninja seek love in the modern city. The episodic film, completed through a long period by Ekanayake, exhibits a vibrant 'can do' attitude that's spreading along the world of independent cinema today."
From the beginning of the project the goal was to create a D.I.Y. (do-it-yourself or real independent, completely outside of the limitations and control of Hollywood or indiewood) Populist (a film that may be accessible to the vast majority of Americans) movie, thus Date Number One displays the results of working creatively and well under an ultra-low/"no" budget production situation (the cost of the film was under $10,000, from script to screen and DVDs); that being, among other things, a movie with scenes featuring charming, open, inviting, hopeful, and refreshing humor and events and a multi-ethnic cast. During the 2004 - 2008 period I, writer/director Sujewa Ekanayake, coupled production & distribution work on Date Number One with writing about and promoting real independent filmmaking and self-distribution on my indieWIRE carried blog DIY Filmmaker Sujewa (http://www.diyfilmmaker.blogspot.com/). The result of these activities is increased web and rest-of-world visibility of real independent filmmaking, including self-distribution, and a movie that tells 4 stories about first dates; Story 1 - Start Over, about a writer who tries to get back together with his ex-girlfriend, Story 2 - Just Another Ninja Searching For Love, about a ninja who goes on a blind date (ninja is played by John Stabb from the Washington, DC punk band G.I.), Story 3 - A Romantic Dinner For 3, about a woman attempting to add a third partner to a romantic relationship, and Story 4 - The Superdelicious French Lesson, about a first date where a character learns a little bit of French in an unusual way.
Date Number One, in its 2006 form, was discovered to be "Witty" by David Hudson at the film blog world popular GreenCine Daily blog, and "Funny" by media professor Chuck Tryon at The Chutry Experiment blog, and "Sexy, Sexy, Sexy" by Los Angeles area based filmmaker and blogger Jerry Brewington of Hollywood Is Talking blog. I believe the new & final 2008 version of the movie retains all of the positive elements of the 2006 version, and increases their effectiveness through a shorter running time, better transitions, and more music.
The 2 hours long 2006 version of Date Number One screened in Washington, DC, Seattle, New York City, Kensingon, Maryland and Takoma Park, Maryland. The 85 minutes long 2008 or Final Version of Date Number One has, as of this writing, screened in Silver Spring, Maryland and is looking forward to traveling around America and the world and delighting new friends.
- Sujewa Ekanayake
May 25, 2008
Kensington, Maryland, U.S.A.
