Blair Treu, a local filmmaker, and screenwriter Jessica Barondes teamed up for the second time with "Little Secrets" (TriStar, 2002, PG, $24.95, 2 discs), a delightful comedy-drama that had a brief theatrical run last summer and is out on DVD this week.
The story revolves around a teenage violinist (Evan Rachel Wood) who helps youngsters in her neighborhood keep deep secrets . . . and who harbors one of her own.
Funny, charming and smart, "Little Secrets" is the kind of movie they don't make any more, equally enjoyable for kids and their parents.
The film also holds its own quite well against anything Hollywood has to offer, although it was filmed for as much as most movies spend on catering, was shot completely on location in Salt Lake City and is devoid of the usual vulgar gags that pepper big-budget "family" movies.
Director Treu and writer Barondes, who previously collaborated on the Disney Channel favorite "Wish Upon a Star," also seemed to have a great time doing the DVD's audio commentary, during which they deconstruct the film in a way that should please movie buffs, but also entertain as they discuss locations, the young cast and making a movie with no studio interference.
In separate telephone interviews, both said they were happy to see positive reviews during the film's theatrical release, particularly one on TV. "Two thumbs up on 'Ebert & Roeper' was a landmark thing to get as a writer," said Barondes.
Both also acknowledge that "Little Secrets" came out at the right time.
" 'Kangaroo Jack,' " Treu said with a sigh, admitting that he took his kids to see it. "I was very disappointed. You go in thinking it's one thing — and it does have a lot of humor in it — but its pretty baseless."
"There are not a lot of family movies being made," Barondes said. "It's a tough market, but I think that's why we were able to get the movie in there; there's not a glut of these sort of family films."
Treu even takes it one step further. "There is a large segment of our society that has basically stopped going to movies, period. Hollywood has lost touch with them. Unless they live in that environment, it's not going to speak to them.
"My grandparents or distant relatives that live out in Vernal don't go to movies, because the movies they have gone to have offended them to such a degree. So they rent the oldies. They don't trust the movies."
Barondes said that part of what makes "Little Secrets" work is that its themes are universal. "I think the things I write about are pretty timeless. They could have been made in the '70s, '80s, and here we are in the 2000s, and hopefully it will work and will hang around."
And both insist that Columbia/TriStar didn't interfere in the making of the movie. "The studio was really cool about it," Treu said. "These guys were really terrific. You hear so many stories about directors going in and the studio launching edicts — put this in, take that out. These guys were not that way."
While he's made most of his movies in Utah and would be content to continue doing so, Treu admits he'd like to have a shot at the big time. "I'd love to use big stars and have big budgets — if I can do it without being offensive in the process.
"There are a lot of really decent people who want to work on decent, positive movies that have something to say, but so few are written, and hundreds of people are vying for them. The 'Rudys,' the 'Hoosiers,' 'October Sky' — I'd love to do those, whether they are star-driven or not."
The "Little Secrets" DVD has two discs, the second being the film's musical soundtrack, scored by Utah composer Sam Cardon — which may mark the first time a soundtrack audio disc has been included with a DVD. "It's like an added perk," Barondes said, "a little bonus."
Treu added that it's also a tribute to Cardon's talent. "Sam is, I think, the most gifted composer we have in the state. A lot of people have the impression that when you hire local people, they don't measure up. But in Sam's case, that is not true; he can stand with the best."
E-MAIL: hicks@desnews.com