The Long Way Home: A Bigfoot Story
Honored at New York International Independent Video and Film Festival
By Jackie Peronne jacper@juno.com

Mullet, a character in The Long Way Home: A Bigfoot Story

The walls of James "Bubba" Cromer's law office are filled with diplomas, certificates, and photographs of his years in public service. His two newest awards showcase a more quirky side.

This Columbia attorney ,with years of service as a legislator and as reading clerk of the S.C. House of Representatives, is finding a new niche as an independent filmmaker.

His first effort, The Long Way Home: A Bigfoot Story took top honors at the New York International Independent Video and Film Festival.

"Hundreds, maybe thousands, of independent filmmakers apply to this festival, and only a fraction of them are admitted. Very few of those are narratives like my Bigfoot story. The Festival tends toward short, flashy quickies, so they can list a large number of productions.

The Long Way Home won top honors after being shown at the East Village on July 24 in New York."

Following this recognition, the movie was reviewed in Cult Movies magazine, calling the characters "quirky, real, with gritty charm."

James "Bubba" Cromer, former legislator, wins top honors with his film The Long Way Home; A Bigfoot Story.

Cromer says it all began as a joke. Sitting on the porch of his parents' North Carolina mountain home, he brought up the subject of some local legends such as The Lizard Man of some years back. His father, Lewis Cromer, suggested he use his knack for storytelling to write a book about some of these figures (or figments?)

The book evolved into a film project. The more Bubba Cromer thought about the local characters he knew in their mountain retreat area, the more he realized they should be part of his plot.

His father's only acting experience had been in the courtroom, but he brought to life the character of the Sheriff in The Long Way Home.

"He's a natural," said his son. "So is the snake handler, the drag queen, and Cornbread. They're all very busy being themselves in my story."

The movie represents a learning experience, and a year of hard work for Bubba. "I went through four - that's FOUR - Directors of Photography, and two editors (I wound up doing the editing myself, mostly in the small hours of the night as I had to hold on to my day job to pay the bills).

Mona Lisa Johnson is shocked at her Bigfoot sighting.

"A long time ago, my grandfather told me if I expected to have people working for me, I would need to know how to do everything I was hiring them to do, or I would never succeed. Now I know how to be the writer, the director, the producer, the cameraman, the editor, and the promotion expert. Maybe I'm making my grandfather proud."

Will he make another movie? The sequel will probably be about the Lizard Man. Or maybe not.

The Bigfoot story was shown at Nickelodeon and the Indie Grits Festival. Its next showing is scheduled for Halloween week at Nickelodeon.

The Long Way Home: A Bigfoot Story is being pre-pared for worldwide distribution by UFO--TV Distribution in Venice Beach, Calif.

Bigfoot Story is being prepared for worldwide distribution by UFO- TV Distribution in Venice Beach, Calif. It can be bought from Bubba Cromer for $17 at James Cromer, 2908 Devine Street or P.O.Box 50624, Columbia SC 29250, or call (803) 254 - 7900. The movie can also be purchased at Dr. Rocco's in Five Points or Mary's Beauty Salon on 7528 Terry Street.

Reporter, played by Bubba Cromer, interviews Daniel Boone Owen.

www.myspace.com/big footsmovie and www.youtube.com/bigfootbubba.

Patio Furniture entertains at the PT's Cabaret of Ashville. Lewis Bentley tells a Bigfoot tale. Carolyn Lewis with her son Bubba Cromer at the New York International Independent Video and Film Festival.