The Saturday evening show at the Talking Picture House was filled with residents, including several legislators, for the director's cut premier of "The Hills Have Thighs." James Bubba Cromer, who directed and starred in the film, spoke afterward, detailing his film making process. Among the insights Cromer, who was a six-term member of the state house of representative, shared were how his role as an actor evolved from that one of a small part to the leading role and the challenges of working within a tiny budget (the film cost $30,000).

The director's cut followed several hundred hours of labor intensive re-editing as Cromer and his staff tightened and shortened the film. Reactions among moviegoers were generally positive, as Cromer sold copies of his DVDs afterward. However, a couple of persons left early apparently in disgust. Asked about that, Cromer said that, in the tradition of the director provocateur John Waters,  "if I didn't have a couple of people walking out, I wasn't doing my job!"

Following the premier in Charleston, it will be shown later this month as part of the Indie Grits festival in Columbia. Meanwhile, plans are being finalized for the "Lowcontry Indie Shorts" at the Talking Picture House. As part of the North Charleston Arts Festival, a series of 8-10 minute short films--all directed and produced by local talent--will be shown on May 2 and will be free to the public. Film shorts will include:  “Born of the Metropolis," by Dave Smith & John Barnhardt, “Acquired Taste” directed by Jackson McDonald, and “Tackle Box”  by Bob Newcomb. Between the 4 and 7 p.m. showings (which will have different film screenings) members of the Greater Park Circle Film Society, which sponsors the Talking Picture House, will co-host a VIP reception with the Carolina Film Alliance, whose members include directors, producers, and actors.