The curtain rose on the much anticipated feature film No Address Thursday night with a special invitational red carpet premiere in nearby Placer County. The event welcomed community leaders, dignitaries and members of the local media from Sacramento and Placer counties, many of whom were involved in local filming of the movie one the past year
The premiere offered a full red carpet setting, allowing guests to celebrate the locally produced film before its nationwide release. Now, starting today, No Address hits nearly 100 theaters across the country, bringing its powerful message about homelessness to audiences nationwide.
Produced by Rocklin-based Robert Craig Films and distributed by Fathom Entertainment, No Address marks Placer County’s first major motion picture to receive a nationwide theatrical release. Following its debut, the film is now showing on over 5,100 screens nationwide. Filmmakers hope No Address will encourage viewers to engage more deeply with compassion in their own communities and inspire personal participation in helping those affected by homelessness.
Craig was on hand for the premiere Thursday evening, visiting with locals who flocked to the premiere as well as the after party the production hosted and the nearby Eureka restaurant. The film is the first major film hitting the big screen to be produced in Placer County with additional scenes shot throughout Sacramento County, including Folsom.
“We were able to show the whole country that we can make a full movie filming right here in the Sacramento region, they had everything we needed,” said Craig as he joined locals for the red carpet celebration before the debut of the gripping film that brings the effects of homelessness and its effects to light.
“You have people that are just like you and me, that had a job, they lost their job, or their rent went up and they flat out couldn’t pay it. I mean, most people are one or two paychecks away from homelessness,” said producer Robert Craig. “It’s amazing how simple it is, how someone can slip into homelessness.”
Director Julia Verdin, known for The Merchant of Venice and 2 Jacks, co-wrote the script with James J. Papa. Verdin was also in attendance Thursday night, greeting visitors at the entry of the Westfield Galleria theater.
“I wrote the script as a homage to those who have ended up on the streets,” said Verdin. “I have talked to people who had good lives and jobs and came from good families who through different misfortunes ended up on the streets.”
The private screening and red-carpet event benefited The Gathering Inn, a nonprofit supporting those experiencing homelessness. This initiative is part of Robert Craig Films’ Big Five Giveback program, which commits 50% of net profits from its first five productions to over 1,400 nonprofit partners nationwide.
“The most important social determinant of whether somebody will succeed in life, having a fulfilled life, is having at least one positive connection with another human being that has the affluence, influence, and motivation to help them. That connection could come from a parent, a grandparent, a foster parent, or even an older sibling who took on a caregiving role. It takes a relationship to make a difference,” said Keith Diederich, President and CEO of The Gathering Inn who attended Thursday’s screening events.
No Address was filmed in various locations across the Sacramento region, including several key scenes shot in and around the Folsom community. The film’s screenplay has received over 60 Best Screenplay Awards from international film festivals. As Craig emphasized, “Most people are one or two paychecks away from homelessness. It’s amazing how quickly someone can slip into this crisis.”
“What I hope this movie does is educate people and help our country take a deeper look at homelessness. A lot of the anxiety and ignorance around this issue comes from a lack of understanding—people don’t think it could happen to them,” But if they can see themselves in one of these characters, maybe they’ll realize that it could happen to anyone,” added Diederich. “If they understand that, then maybe they’ll have a little more empathy, compassion, and understanding around the issue.”
The movies cast includes William Baldwin as Robert, a businessman exploiting an encampment for profit, Xander Berkeley as Harris, a veteran and protector, and Ashanti as Violet, a veteran coping with PTSD and addiction. Beverly D’Angelo portrays Dora, a former actress living with dementia, while Lucas Jade Zumann plays Jimmy, a protective, streetwise young man. Other key cast members include Ty Pennington as Mr. Mills, Kristanna Loken as Kim, Patricia Velasquez as Gabrielle, and Isabella Ferreira as Lauren.
Billy Baldwin described the film a call to action on the mental health crisis in America. He has also said that the movie is a way to bring awareness to the homelessness crisis in the United States.
“Buying a ticket to this movie is a great first step. Every dollar helps and buying a ticket to this movie will fund nonprofit organizations that service the homeless all across the country,” said Baldwin.
Baldwin spent time engaging with Sacramento’s homeless community to prepare for his role. The cast drew from real stories collected during the production team’s visits to shelters and encampments. The production also inspired a companion documentary, Americans With No Address, spotlighting stories from 17 cities across the U.S. Many local officials, business owners, and residents were featured in cameo roles and as extras, reflecting the deep community involvement in the making of the film..
Craig, founder of Robert Craig Films and a resident of Meadow Vista, continues to produce films that promote empathy and action. His past work includes The Lost Girls, an award-winning Lifetime Channel film raising awareness about sex trafficking. His work won’t conclude with No Address with future projects down the road that will surely make an impact in the lives of others by bringing awareness to the masses and even more individuals like all of those Thursday that left the premiere with an inside view of the personal side of homelessness.
“Everyone in this room is here for a reason—whether you’re a donor, a board member, a church volunteer, a journalist, or part of a nonprofit. You’re here because you care about this issue. And it is a huge issue. The only way it’s going to be solved is through one-on-one relationships and caring enough to make a difference,” added Diederich. “That starts by recognizing that experiencing homelessness doesn’t make someone better or worse—it makes them human.”
Now playing in 97 Central Valley theaters as part of the more than 5,100 screens nationwide, Locally No Address can be seen at Cinemark, AMC, and Regal theaters. Tickets are available online and at participating theater box offices. The official movie website can be found at https://www.noaddressmovie.com
