Moondance Alexander is a 2007 American comedy-drama film directed by Michael Damian and written by Janeen Damian, Juan Saenz and Martha Lopez. Shot on location in Okotoks, High River and Calgary, Alberta, CanadaDon Johnson wraps up 'Moondance' the film is based on actual events from the life of Janeen Damian. It stars Kay Panabaker and Lori Loughlin, with Don Johnson and Sasha Cohen.
Plot Moondance (Kay Panabaker) is faced with the difficulties of her father's passing and her overprotective mother (Lori Loughlin). When she finds a lost pinto horse and discovers his jumping abilities, she convinces his owner Dante Longpre (Don Johnson) to train them to compete in a jumping show. There Moondance faces her enemy Fiona Hughes (Sasha Cohen) and her fancy horse Monte Carlo. When they do a surprisingly good job at the show, Dante isn't questioned anymore about his ability to train riders and horses. Everybody is shocked when Moondance ties Fiona, the reigning Bow River Classic champion.
Cast Kay Panabaker as Moondance Alexander Don Johnson as Dante Longpre Lori Loughlin as Gelsey Alexander James Best as Mr. McClancy Sasha Cohen as Fiona Hughes Whitney Sloan as Megan Montgomery Joe Norman Shaw as Ben Wilson Aedan Tomney as Josh Wilson Mimi Gianopulos as Bella Landon Liboiron as Freddie
Behind the scenes Moondance Alexander was not well received by HorseChannel.com for storyline believability reasons. However, the story is closely based upon Janeen Damian's childhood experience of befriending a horse that she had found, receiving help from a trainer, and entering the horse in the Memphis Classic.
Moondance Alexander is a true family film, written by Janeen Damian and husband Michael Damian (born Michael Damian Weir), Damian, a Daytime Emmy Award winner, was also the producer of the film. Much of the music was written by Damian's brother, music producer and New Music Weekly editor, Larry Weir. Emmy Award winning Tom Weir was the mixing engineer at Studio City Sound.
Checkers the horse was played by three horses, a horse for tricks, a horse for jumping and a horse for Kay Panabaker to ride. Michael Damian recalled two of the horses names as Picasso and Trigger. The third horse's name is Spook.Ending credits of the movie names all three horses.
Moondance Alexander received a U.S. General Audiences rating and was filmed in Alberta, Canada.
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| 2007 | Best Picture | Dixie Film Festival
|2007 | Best Actress (Kay Panabaker) | Dixie Film Festival
Soundtrack The Moondance Alexander Original Soundtrack was the second soundtrack released under the Caption Records label.
Featured vocalists
Mimi Gianopulos Lea Herman Tessa Ludwick Buck McCoy Monét Monico Sara Niemietz Ian Walsh Laura Wight Heather Youmans
Musicians
Bernie Barlow, Vocals Paul Bushnel, Bass Michael Chaves, Guitar Jorge Costa, Vocals (Background) Michael Damian, Percussion, Vocals (Background) Milo Decruz Bass, Guitar, Keyboards, Percussion, Producer Burleigh Drummond, Percussion Blake Ewing, Vocals (Background) Josh Freese, Drums Joshua Grange, Guitar Lea Herman, Keyboards, Vocals (Background) Matt Laug, Drums Lance Morrison, Bass Ginger Murphy, Cello Leah Nelson, Viola Michael Parnell, Keyboards Tim Pierce, Guitar Cam Tyler, Drums Ian Walsh, Bass, Guitar, Piano, Vocals (Background) Kevin Walsh, Guitar Larry Weir, Percussion, Vocals (Background)
Personnel
Jorge Costa, Audio Engineer, Engineer James Gaynor, Audio Engineer Josh Mosser, Audio Engineer Luke Tozour, Audio Engineer, Engineer Tom Weir, Audio Engineer, Engineer
See also List of films about horses
References
External links Moondance Alexander on Facebook