PlasticVille Productions Releases Short Film Lampooning
Fitchburg, Massachusett’s Claim as the “Home of the First Easter Bunny”

Comedic short film, “The First Easter Bunny,” will be featured at the
F4 Film Festival in Fitchburg, Mass. Running from April 10 – 12, 2003

FITCHBURG, Mass., April 1, 2003 – PlasticVille Productions, a local independent film production company, will have its second short film, The First Easter Bunny, screened at the F4 Film Festival on Saturday, April 12, 2003. The production company’s second short film, The First Easter Bunny, will be screened during the prestigious final short film track starting at 4:00 pm on April 12th. PlasticVille Productions won the Audience Award at last year’s inaugural F4 Film Festival with their short film, We’ve Got Johnny.

The First Easter Bunny is a comedic short (14.5 minutes) that takes a stab at explaining Fitchburg, Massachusett’s claim as “The Home of the First Easter Bunny.” During the summer of 2001, director AF Grant first noticed signs around Fitchburg touting the city as “Home of the First Easter Bunny.” Even though he had grown up in neighboring Leominster, Mass., AF had no idea what the signs meant or that the Easter Bunny was from Fitchburg.

“When I saw the signs while driving through Fitchburg,” explained AF Grant, PlasticVille Productions director emeritus, “I knew there was the kernel of a film idea in those signs. But at the time, I was deep in pre-production on my first short film, We’ve Got Johnny. When we won the Audience Award at last year’s F4 for that film, a few of the people involved in the production were sitting around a pizza wondering what we should work on next. I brought up the signs and the idea for The First Easter Bunny was born.”

The First Easter Bunny was co-written by Chuck Smith and AF Grant. AF Grant and Brian DelGiudice produced the film. The film stars Chuck Smith as Jack LeBlanc, a Fitchburg-based “jack of all trades” who narrates the inspiring “true” story of Fitchburg’s favorite rodent son to a group of children on Easter Sunday. Orphaned as a young rabbit, Bunny overcomes prejudice and persecution to discover his special purpose in life. Through years of trials animals,” the crew worked with more than 10 children, a dog, and seven different “bunnies” during the production. Stunts – including shots of the Bunny driving a Harley and a Porsche – were completed without incidence or injury. Buckets of chocolate and bales of green Easter Basket grass, as well as pounds of meat and dozens of eggs added to the richness and smells of the finished short.

The project was shot on MiniDV using a Sony VX2000 camera, and editing was done throughout the production on a Canopus DV Storm Edit System with Adobe Premiere. The final cut was completed in late January 2003. Early 2003 featured minor tweaks based on test screenings for cast and crew.

The First Easter Bunny will be screened at the F4 Film Festival on the final day of the festival (April 12, 2003) during the 4:00 pm short film segment. More information about the F4 Film Festival can be found on their web site at www.f4festival.com. Tickets are available at the Fitchburg State College Weston Box Office or via telephone by calling 978-665-3347. Individual screening passes are $5; an All Screenings pass is available for $20.

For more information about PlasticVille Productions, The First Easter Bunny, or We’ve Got Johnny, visit PlasticVille Productions online at http://www.plasticvilleproductions.com. For a press review copy of The First Easter Bunny, please contact AF Grant via email at afgrant@plasticvilleproductions.com.

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