'Smut' reunites Western Alumni
An independednt film stars many alumni from Western Illinois University
Sarah Zeeck
Issue date: 3/21/07 Section: News
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Producer William Koenig's movie "Smut" was filmed entirely in Los Angeles, including locations in Encino, North Hollywood, Woodland Hills, Santa Monica, Hollywood, Westwood, West Hollywood, Pacific Palisades and Koreatown.
"(The movie) is the story of a man who used to be in the adult film industry who is slowly trying to get his life together on many different fronts," Koenig said.
All of the cast members who were graduates of Western knew each other before the film. "We were just old friends at Western," Koenig added.
Chris Blisset, who composed some of the music used in the film, was in a band while at Western named Voodoo Bus.
"I knew (all of the actors) pretty well," Blisset said.
Brian McIntyre, Western alumnus and actor in the movie, said he met his future coworkers when he was in graduate school.
"I was at grad school in the theatre department, where I met a majority of the other actors (in this film)," McIntyre said.
Darren Mangler, Western graduate and another actor in the movie, said he and Koenig had been friends since before college.
"(Koenig) and I were actually friends in grade school in Savannah, Ill. In college, we made friends with people in the theatre department," he said.
Matt Senko, Western alumnus and another actor in the movie, said he felt that all of the actors brought different benefits to the movie.
"We're involved in different facets, and each person works well with what they do," Senko said.
"We cast so many talented people who brought their own juice and flavor to the movie," Mangler added. "It's good to work with friends again."
"Smut" is the fifth and largest project the Western actors have completed.
"It's more dramatic and less comedic than (past projects) we've done," Senko said. "It came across pretty well."
Mangler found various aspects of the movie interesting.
"It's called 'Smut,' yet there's no nudity," Mangler said.
"(Koenig) wrote this movie and (his character) kissed every girl in it, and mine didn't get to kiss any of them," he added.
Koenig said that one of the best parts of the movie was the musical contribution.
"Brooke Edwards played a pivotal part," he said. Edwards, another Western graduate, now has a band named Glow based in St. Louis.
He added that Chris Blisset's band Voodoo Bus, now under the name Captain Hero, also provided a song on one of its albums.
Blisset said the song used was from the band which he was a member of during college.
"We would play in places like The Pace, but The Café was home to us," Blisset said.
"When I was back here, I visited (The Café) and the back stairs still smelled the same - the smell of beer, urine and vomit brought tears to my eyes in a new way," he added.
"The music is phenomenal," Koenig said. "I just can't say enough about it."
"I just wish that we had a CD soundtrack for (the movie)," he added.
"Smut" is available for purchase now on www.pawsedog.com.
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