An interview with Lance Kinsey, director of 'All-Stars' (screening March 19 at Chagrin Cinemas and March 20th and 21st at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

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Interview by Bob Ignizio

Lance Kinsey was born in Arlington, VA in 1959, but he grew up in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. His parents were involved with the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre, and Lance got his first taste of acting at the age of 9 playing the role of Miles in a stage production of “The Innocents”. After graduating from Vanderbilt University in Nashville, TN, Kinsey eventually made his way to Chicago where he joined the Second City comedy troupe. Lance eventually got into film and television acting, and is probably most famous for playing the role of Proctor in POLICE ACADEMY 2 through 6.

Now Lance has directed his first feature film, the mockumentary ALL-STARS which he also wrote, produced, and stars in. It's a very funny spot-on look at a girls' softball team, parents who are sometimes more intent on winning than the kids, and the coaches and officials who have to deal with it all while trying to make sure everyone has a good time. The film plays at the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival, first with a special “neighborhood screening” at Chagrin Cinemas on Thursday March 19th at 7:00 pm, followed by two showings at the Film Festival proper in Tower City Cinemas on Friday March 20th at 5:00 pm and Saturday March 21st at 2:45 pm.

I contacted Lance ahead of the film's screening, and he graciously agreed to answer my questions about both his past work and the new film.

All-Stars (March 19th at Chagrin Cinemas and March 20th and 21st at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival)

[ALL-STARS screens Thursday March 19th at 7:00 pm at Chagrin Cinemas, Friday March 20th at 5:00 pm, and Saturday March 21st at 2:45 pm at Tower City Cinemas as part of the 39th Cleveland International Film Festival.]

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Review by Bob Ignizio

With his debut feature as director, veteran character actor Lance Kinsey (perhaps best known as Proctor in POLICE ACADEMY 2 through 6) opts to follow in the mockumentary footsteps of Christopher Guest's WAITING FOR GUFFMAN, BEST IN SHOW, and A MIGHTY WIND . ALL-STARS may not be reinventing the wheel, but it's a consistently funny film about a girl's softball team, their often obnoxious parents, and the put-upon coaches and officials trying to achieve the impossible task of making everyone happy while still finding a way for the kids to have a good time.