FILMMAKER BRINGS MOVIE BACK HOME TO VALLEY.

Byline: Dave McNary Daily News Staff Writer

The first step to Hollywood glory often begins in unglamorous locales like comedy clubs in strip malls with the faint hope that an agent, talent scout or producer might drop by.

But after a decade of playing that game - performing thousands of sets in clubs, acting on TV and hammering out scripts - Bill Kalmenson got tired of waiting. The key moment came in early 1992, when his girlfriend dumped him to go to work on Jerry Brown's presidential campaign.

It was part two of a one-two punch; already, club bookings were drying up as the recession took hold. ``I knew my life was no big deal in the overall scheme of things, but I also thought there was a movie I could squeeze out of myself,'' said Kalmenson, a 1974 graduate of Taft High in Woodland Hills.

So he became a Hollywood do-it-yourselfer, writing, directing, starring in and promoting his own full-length movie. While industry veterans say the odds of Kalmenson's success are painfully small, he took advantage of several trends (increased acceptance of nonstudio films, foreign demand for American movies, using the Internet as a promotional tool) to keep hope afloat.

Kalmenson began by writing a script for a romantic comedy about his life coming unraveled; he found a producer; he raised funds from friends (``less than $1 million'') and created Buffalo Jump Productions; and wound up directing ``The Souler Opposite'' during a four-week shoot in late 1996, much of it in the Valley.

In one key early scene, Kalmenson's character, Barry Singer, antagonizes a pair of bikers during his set at the L.A. Cabaret comedy club in Encino. They complain to the manager, who bars Singer from the premises. Then the bikers meet him in the club's parking lot to say ``no hard feelings,'' but sucker-punch him into unconsciousness.

One of the club waitresses helps him come to, then gives him a ride home via Ventura Boulevard; they discover he's from Tarzana and she's from Woodland Hills. ``I actually went to El Camino (Real) High in Woodland Hills, but I'm not telling you what year I graduated,'' said actress Janel Moloney, who plays the female lead.

Kalmenson completed post-production on the romantic comedy in mid-1997 and lined up a foreign distributor to start making sales in Europe and Latin America. ``I just got an e-mail from someone who saw it on Chilean TV and wanted to buy the video,'' he said this week. ``Foreign sales have kept us going.''

But he could not find a domestic distributor despite receiving enthusiastic responses at film festivals. ``I begged all the studios, and I think it's a shame they won't back this movie, because it's a little gem,'' he said.

So Kalmenson launched his own distribution operation, using a combination of computer technology, show-biz savvy and old-fashioned hustle to make himself look like a full-fledged studio with posters, press kits, an Internet site, trailers and a soundtrack.

``I knew that I had to come up with something at least as good as a studio operation, and I think I've put together first-class materials,'' Kalmenson said. ``That's why exhibitors finally are dealing with me.''

``The Souler Opposite'' got its first domestic theatrical release when it opened at the Laemmle Theaters in Santa Monica three months ago. Reviewers were mostly enthusiastic, and the film has now played at a dozen other locations for a week or two, sometimes grossing better than $5,000 per weekend. Typical distribution deals call for the exhibitors to keep half of the gross.

``We've done pretty well, but it's hard because we only play in one location at a time, so I can't really get the advertising efficiencies you need to build an audience,'' Kalmenson said.

Much as he did when he was a comic, he promotes the film through fliers, radio interviews and cable TV ads. ``I don't want to embarrass myself and only sell $200 of tickets,'' he adds.

More than two years after it was shot, ``The Souler Opposite'' returned to its Valley roots this weekend for a run at the United Artists Warner Center theater. It opened Friday and will remain as long as the movie is attracting customers.

Kalmenson has mixed emotions about what he's achieved. ``I've been feeling pretty beat up over not being able to get a distribution deal, but I had some time to think about it over Christmas and really feel like this has been a victory. I actually did what I set out to do,'' he said. ``Of course, Hollywood is the only place where victory feels like defeat, because you're always supposed to want more.''

Indy films like ``The Souler Opposite'' face massive obstacles, according to Chris Lanier, president of the Motion Picture Intelligencer consulting service. ``The odds are terrible,'' he said. ``There are probably only 60 or 80 that get distribution each year, and only 15 or 20 of those make any money. There are hundreds of other films that just sit on the shelf.''

Occasionally, a film like ``The Full Monty'' hits a financial home run; it took in $200 million worldwide after costing a mere $3 million to make.

``Everyone focuses on the extremes like `Titanic' or `The Full Monty' and says, `Boy did they make a lot of money,' '' Lanier said.``If you're an exhibitor, and you have something that's becoming a hit, you can make big bucks. That's why there are a lot of films going through, and they're changing most of the bill each week.''

Kalmenson admits he'll need video and pay-TV deals to pay back all the investors, but he insists ``The Souler Opposite'' could have a long life, particularly if Moloney or co-stars Chris Meloni and Timothy Busfield see their careers take off. As for himself, Hollywood executives are now more likely to take meetings and return his calls.

``I've gone from there being absolutely no interest to there being lukewarm interest,'' he quipped.

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Photo

PHOTO (Color) Hollywood do-it-yourselfer Bill Kalmenson stands in front of L.A. Cabaret comedy club in Encino with actress Janel Moloney.

John Lazar/Daily News