“We are each other’s biggest fans,” says Amber McNutt, Executive Producer of the feature film, “Night, Night,” which began filming this month on location in Fairfield and Corsicana, Texas.
“We basically decided to go big, or go home,” says Director Niki Koss, bringing the story to life with her first big feature film.
“It’s just so far beyond my expectations,” says screen writer and producer Robert Johnson, who shared his pride in bringing this film project to his hometown. “It is very special. It’s special to all of us.”
![](http://freestonecountytimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Night-Night-big-3.jpg)
“Night, Night” is a psychological thriller about a woman that wakes up from a horrific car accident and must find a way to survive a recovery from hell.
“This is a strong female character who is put into a situation where she cannot be strong,” says Johnson.
“For me, as a man to write that, it’s difficult because I’m seeing it through my eyes,” continues Johnson, who says his story could only come to life through the collaboration with McNutt and Koss, strong females in their own right. “We’re on version twenty-eight, now.”
![](http://freestonecountytimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Night-Night-interview-Johnson.jpg)
“He’s written a wonderful script,” says Executive Producer McNutt. “Niki [Koss]’s vision with this movie, meshing with what he has written as a plot, is just becoming magic.”
Director Koss says she fell in love with the concept, adding that Johnson allowed her to share in making the story their own.
“It’s interesting, because April was a totally different character when we first started this,” says Koss. “I couldn’t help but fuse a lot of myself into her.”
Johnson adds, “Without Niki at the helm of this, it would just be another story. She is making it come alive.”
![](http://freestonecountytimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Night-Night-set-design-Fairfield-1024x684.jpg)
As a filmmaker, Koss says her goal is for the audiences to recognize her work. “I want them to know it’s mine without having to be told,” she says. “I think it’s really important, with this one, to set the tone for that, visually.”
Koss names Director Wes Anderson as an inspiration. “I just love his composition of shots and color blocking,” she says.
While this may be her first big feature film, Koss has been directing for eight years, producing a number of short films, including “Then & Now,” which earned her the Best Comedy Award at the Madrid International Film Festival and the Female Filmmaker Award at Burbank Film Festival.
Of course, “Your story is only as good as the people on the screen who make it come to life,” says screenwriter Johnson, who took time to praise the actors.
![](http://freestonecountytimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Night-Night-actor-Roberts-Fairfield.jpg)
Cast in the lead is Brenna D’Amico, along with Nick Marini as the boyfriend with secrets.
“I read the script and was on the edge of my seat from page one,” says D’Amico, who was the director’s first choice in the lead role.
Marini, who ended his vacation early and flew fourteen hours from Australia to join the cast, had nothing but compliments for the cast and crew. “To have Niki [Koss] at the helm, she’s the youngest director I’ve ever had,” he says.
According to Johnson, watching these two act makes him realize that there still much he doesn’t know about the craft. “They have barely scratched the surface of what they are capable of,” he says. “I can’t wait to watch their evolution.”
The crew of “Night, Night” is pushing to have their film ready in time for festival season at the end of this year.
Then, it’s on to their next project. “This is not a one-time deal for us,” says Johnson.
Stay tuned.
![](http://freestonecountytimesonline.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/01/Night-Night-Cast.jpg)
Crew: Niki Koss – Director; Robert Johnson – Writer / Producer; Amber McNutt – Executive Producer; Natali Jones – Supervising Producer; Austin Seltzer – Producer; Ryan DeLaney – Producer; Samantha Baugnon – Associate Producer; Jamie Gallagher – Casting Director; Grant Culwell – Director of Photography; Ashley Nicole Allen – Production Designer; and Amy Gilbert – Script Supervisor.
Cast: Brenna D’Amico (April Davis); Nick Marini (Robert Mitchell); Adam Budron (Will Swain); Taylor Gray (Jax Davis); Tony Todd (James Glass); Eric Roberts (Dr. Nelson); Deric Augustine (Grant Shepard); Matty Cardarople (Lucas); Lawrence Varnado (Det Putman); Richard Ray (Chief Harrison); Natalie Jones (Reporter Nancy); Paul T. Taylor (Judge Benson); Tom Zembrod (Police Sgt.); Samantha Baugnon (Courtney); Brooke Anne Smith (Lauren Steele); Harrison Callaghan (Police Officer 1); Jennifer Ugochukwu (Nurse Aubrey); and J-Jay Sahagian (ER Nurse).
Click here to see video clip of interview with writer / producer Robert Johnson.