During his 15-year filmmaking career, Blair Treu has compiled an enviable list of accomplishments. Among his many credits are feature-length documentaries, episodes of children's television series, TV movies, straight-to-video features and productions for both Disney and the LDS Church.
But as he approaches middle age, the fortysomething Treu still has yet to fulfill his biggest dream — to make a feature film that would actually reach theaters nationally and play on the big screen.
Until now.
Treu's newest feature, "Little Secrets," rolls out in limited release in most major film markets next Friday, Aug. 23, and will expand to more theaters across the country over the next few weeks.
"My goal was to have my first feature in theaters by the time I was 30," Treu told the Deseret News. "Then it was 35. Now that I'm 42, I've finally done it, and it's like, 'Oh man, what am I going to do next?' "
"Little Secrets" will have its world premiere Monday, Aug. 19, as a featured presentation of the first Salt Lake Children's Film Festival, which begins tonight at the Megaplex 12 Theatres at The Gateway mall.
The film follows Emily (Evan Rachel Wood, of TV's "Once and Again"), a teenage violinist who doubles as a counselor of sorts to kids in her neighborhood, and who keeps their secrets. Unbeknownst to everyone, however, she's hiding a secret of her own.
Though it was developed independently (Treu served as producer and director), studios came a-calling after the film made a splash at last fall's Heartland Film Festival, an event that focuses on family-friendly movies. Treu won the Award of Excellence, and the film shattered all of the festival's previous box-office records.
As a result, "Little Secrets" is being released jointly by Samuel Goldwyn Films and TriStar Home Entertainment. (Goldwyn is handling the film's theatrical release; TriStar will later release the film on home video.)
"Before this all happened, I was considering putting the film out myself, which would have been a pretty costly and pretty risky venture," Treu said. "But TriStar was so enthusiastic about it that I knew I'd be crazy not to let them do it."
Still, as happy as he is with the studios so far, Treu did let slip a secret of his own: He's still partial to the film's original title, "Secret Keeper," which was changed. "I think the original title is more fitting. But I can understand where everyone else is coming from. It's a title that sounds more like a family film — so many of them seem to have the word 'Little' in their title."
Besides, he's not about to argue the point since the studios made few, if any, other changes. "I've just been blown away at how positive everyone has been about my little film," Treu said. "As a result, it's hard to not have high expectations after an experience like the one we did at Heartland. But I'm trying to be realistic, telling myself it's already been a success."
Treu sees "Little Secrets" as the latest step in a continuing revival of family-friendly movies that are free of what he calls "gratuitous content," such as sex, foul language and violence. "These films have long been seen as being 'soft' by Hollywood, and they've sort of neglected them," said Treu, who mentioned that he's been heartened by the success of such studio films as Disney's sports-related dramas "Remember the Titans" and "The Rookie," and the fact-based "October Sky."
"I think in our post-9/11 world, people are looking for something uplifting, with a positive message that helps make them feel better about themselves," he said.
"Little Secrets" certainly features a positive message, and while it doesn't feature any huge stars, the cast does include young TV actors Michael Angarano ("Will & Grace," "Cover Me") and David Gallagher ("7th Heaven"), as well as movie actress Vivica A. Fox ("Independence Day," "Double Take").
The rest of the film's cast is primarily made up of Utahns, and the film was shot entirely in the Beehive State, using a local crew. "Utah's got this amazing talent base to draw from, including a lot of great actors, as well as technical-crew people who are the best in the country," Treu said. "Utah is known outside for its amazing scenery, but this is a great place to find talent."
Speaking of Utahns, Treu says he expects to be lumped in with the burgeoning new group of LDS filmmakers. "It's a flattering comparison, really. I'm impressed with what they're doing, especially Richard Dutcher. But I'm going at it a bit differently than they do.
"I don't disagree with their goal of making films for an LDS audience, but I'm really hoping to make films that appeal to everyone, be they Mormon, Catholic, Protestant, Jewish or whatever. I think everyone wants to see something positive for a change."
E-mail: jeff@desnews.com