Photo courtesy of Ryan DeLaney
Brenna D'Amico as April in Night Night.
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Growing up, producer and actor Ryan DeLaney spent plenty of time at the Ronnie’s Cinema on South Lindbergh. Friday and Saturday nights were filled with friends, family, popcorn, and a long list of movies. But for DeLaney, who grew up in Fenton, there was always one nagging thought.
“I would always sit there and say, ‘Oh my gosh, how cool would it be if one day it’s my movie?’ because I've always wanted to work in the film industry, even in high school,” he recalls.
Once in a while, those high school daydreams come true. Later this month, the Rockwood Summit grad is bringing his first feature film, Night Night, home for a premiere event and theatrical release at Marcus Ronnie’s Cinema. Produced by DeLaney, directed by Niki Koss, and starring Disney’s Descendants actress Brenna D’Amico alongside Tony Todd (Candyman), Eric Roberts (Inherent Vice), and Nick Marini (Cobra Kai), Night Night finished filming just as the pandemic began to shut things down.
D’Amico stars as April Davis, a successful young woman who returns home to care for her younger brother, only to be involved in a tragic accident that kills a family and leaves her in a coma. When she awakes, the lines between reality and her imagination become more and more blurred.
The film’s writer, Robert Johnson, was inspired by his time as chief of police in Corsicana, Texas. “It's not really a true story, but it's based off his work in the field, bits and pieces put together,” DeLaney says. “So that's very unique. How often is the chief of police writing a screenplay that's making it to the theaters?”
Johnson will be on hand for the November 20 premiere of Night Night, which DeLaney is affectionately referring to as “A Night Night to Remember.” The evening will include a red carpet, screening of the film, and after party, all following a couple days of DeLaney and his team making stops at Rockwood Summit and several local landmarks.
“I want to bring [the team] to St. Louis, and I want to put on a huge production and show St.Louis how thankful I am for their support,” he says. “We're doing an assembly at my high school, talking with the news... We all fly in that Thursday, and we're going to do a big press thing and we're going to do different events, go to different famous landmarks in St. Louis like Ted Drewes and getting my people to try Imo’s pizza—stuff that’s only in St. Louis.”
Pre-sales for Night Night sold out in just 24 hours after the release of the film’s trailer, which offers a first look at the creepy, candy-colored thriller. It hit 30,000 views within a week of its premiere, which DeLaney attributes to support from the communities that he grew up in.
“It's really impressive to see the community come together and support me,” he says. “[The trailer] just blew up, and I really believe that’s the support of my hometown. And that's why I feel this opportunity is so special.”
In return, DeLaney hopes to support the community while he’s in the neighborhood. He and D’Amico will speak about perseverance and the hard work it takes to pursue a passion at Rockwood Summit High School on November 19.
“At one point in time, I was sitting there,” DeLaney says of the students. “I was them, listening, and I had dreams. And we're going to discuss that and how, you know, even though I have a movie out and it's playing, that's not the end of it. I have to keep hustling and keep on top of my game to keep the momentum going. Even once you think you're there, you have to stay on top and keep it going; you’ve got to stay persistent. 'Perseverance' has been my favorite word through this whole journey.”
The Night Night producer has also reached out to business leaders, inviting them to walk on the red carpet and share the spotlight with the creatives and influencers attending the November 20 premiere. So far, Adolphus Busch and representatives from Coldwell Banker Premiere, Delmar Mortgage, Riley’s Flowers and Gifts, Seven & Central Boutique, Studio C Dance, and Second Chance Ranch STL Foundation have confirmed.
While the first auditorium has already sold out, there are still tickets available for a second screening the same evening. And for those who can’t make it to the glitzy opening night event, Night Night will have showtimes at Ronnie’s throughout the week and will soon be available for streaming on Amazon Prime, YouTube, Google, and Hulu.
“I feel like a film is a baby,” DeLaney says. “And now that it's finished, now that we have distribution and a theatrical release, I can't wait to show it to everyone. That is what I'm excited for, for people to see how hard each and every single person has worked on this. Not every film, especially indie films, gets picked up for a theatrical release and video on demand. We made it, it's our baby, and I can't wait to show the world what it looks like.”
