The path to theatrical distribution for the independent filmmaker can be a long, arduous journey. Such has been the case for writer/director Paul Duran and his partner, producer Vera Anderson during their four-year battle to bring their thoroughly entertaining film, The Dogwalker, to "a theater near you." Opening Friday, September 13, at Laemmle's Sunset 5 in West Hollywood, The Dogwalker has been hailed by film director Cameron Crowe as "a completely captivating film filled with characters you won't want to leave behind..." featuring, according to Crowe, "a breakout comedic performance by Will Stewart." Stewart (who essays the title role) plays Jerry, a down-on- his-luck mystery man who resides in his bro- ken down car, whose life changes dramatically when he does a good citizen turn by helping an elderly lady get to the hospital after she is dragged to the ground while walking "Lucky," her excitable Bull Mastiff. Jerry finds himself being roped into a job of dog walker/caretaker for the elderly woman, Alma (Carol Gustafson). Soon he's forced to juggle the attentions of Alma's attractive bossy daughter, Helen (Stepfanie Kramer), and Helen's sexpot teenage daughter, Susan (Nicki Aycox), both who want to bed him. Mix in a few of Jerry's fellow homeless pals with Alma's senior citizen card shark cronies and this comedy takes on a heavy turn or two.
     According to L.A. resident Stewart, Jerry is "kind of a loser that you like, and that was fun to play. Jerry doesn't have a back story and I like that–you could drop him in anywhere and he could come up with a back story that can work for that environment...like the Western heroes you don't know much about, but you sense they were a little shady before they rode into town."
     Finished three years ago, The Dogwalker was a wet print hit at the 1999 Karlovy Vary International film festival held in the Czech Republic, and earned positive response at subsequent festival screenings, but only recently found distribution with Outrider Pictures. Such is the hard twisting road independent films often take to get noticed and seen, but Will loved the process. "The nice thing about acting in a smaller movie is the rapport you get with the director. I've worked on Training Day and Playing God, and big budget films just aren't conducive to that. [The Dogwalker] was my first lead and it was such a great experience. We worked 15 hours a day; it was exhausting and I loved every minute. The director and producer are boyfriend and girlfriend and we shot most of the movie in their house which they had just bought. The whole neighborhood got involved and pitched in. That old Lincoln that I drive in the movie which never runs was owned by their neighbor, and really never ran. We filmed in less than a month with very little money and had fun doing it. At one point the lawn wasn't green enough so we spray- painted the lawn green. And I really loved working with the older actors, Carol Gustafson, John Randolph, and Allan Rich–all amazing stage actors–it was an honor to work with them."
     Since wrapping The Dogwalker Will has completed two more indie films: World without Waves and Pas De Deux. He is also a working screenwriter and recently finished his second script for Cinetel Pictures. He's just been hired to co-adapt Victor Villaseñor's best selling novel Thirteen Senses as a feature.

N.B.: Thanks to producer Roderick Spencer for bringing The Dogwalker to our attention.