Danielle Panabaker‘s indie feature ‘Weakness’ is now available on DVD and VOD! Here’s an interview with director Michael Melamedoff, coming from Gravitas Ventures:

What inspired you to write the story that eventually became the film? Are there any connections between the film’s plot and your life or someone you know?
I started writing “Weakness” a year after graduating college. It began as a very loose collection of ideas and characters. I wrote a draft at 22 and put it away for a long time. In my mid-20?s I ended a long term relationship, and in the months that followed made a series of choices that felt overtly familiar. I dug out the first draft of “Weakness” and recognized elements of my own decision making on the page. What interested me weren’t the events themselves, as much as the way I had sublimated my desires over the course of many years. How people come to terms with their needs and desires is an interesting subject to me. I subsequently began rewriting and expanding the script, introducing a new world of characters as well. Most significantly, Danielle Panabaker’s character did not exist in early drafts of the script.

Many of the film’s main characters have been involved in major studio films over the past few years. How did you choose whom to cast and how did you get them interested in your film?
I actually wrote the role of “Elizabeth” for June Diane Raphael; we’ve been friends for about ten years now. Additionally, I had a wonderful producer and casting director on this film, Lois Drabkin. Her presence in the casting industry made it possible to get the script into the right hands. I was then fortunate that a lot of very talented people responded to the material. I spent a year flying back and forth between New York and California casting the film. I didn’t audition anyone for this film; I simply sat down and talked with everyone over coffee. Bobby Cannavale and I primarily talked about sports in our meeting. I remember meeting Danielle Panabaker — she was my very first casting meeting for this film — and knowing immediately that she was the one.

Check out the full interview right here!

Be sure to get your own copy on Amazon or iTunes!

Just a reminder fans. The Weakness DVD is out TODAY, you can get your copy at Amazon or iTunes!

The gallery has been updated with a new production still featuring beautiful Danielle Panabaker. You can check it out by clicking on the picture above!

Weakness follows the life of high school teacher Joshua Polansky (Bobby Cannavale), whose world is falling apart: his wife, Elizabeth (June Diane Raphael), wants to start swinging; his mother, Lenore (Phyllis Somerville), thinks she has terminal cancer; and his autistic brother, Pete (Keith Nobbs), who resides at an assisted living home. At school, things get complicated as a love triangle of sorts develops between Joshua and his teaching colleagues, the wise-cracking Bart (Josh Charles), and idealist Katharine (Lily Rabe). When Elizabeth leaves him, Joshua retreats from his responsibilities and begins dating Danielle, (Danielle Panabaker), a former student who has postponed attending college. Joshua’s subsequent regression and indecision fail to mask his anger and hurt, leading to a series of events that force him to reconsider not only his decisions, but the subtle and profound ways that people affect one another.

‘Weakness’ stars Bobby Cannavale and Danielle Panabaker.

Osiris Entertainment has released the final trailer for Weakness. The film, directed by Michael Melamedoff, stars Bobby Cannavale and Danielle Panabaker. It premiered during last year’s Austin Film Festival with very good reviews.

You’ll find it in stores on September 6! The DVD will also include the trailer and a photogallery.

Make sure to mark your calendars, Danielle Panabaker’s three latest films are getting Home Video releases very soon:

John Carpenter’s The Ward (August 16) – Blu-ray & DVD

Special Features: to be announced, so far an audio commentary by director John Carpenter and actor Jared Harris, and a cast interview are rumored.

Official Artwork: Blu-ray | DVD

“Danielle Panabaker makes her character Sarah the epitome of Carly Simon’s classic tune “You’re So Vain,” and she’s a kick to watch” Cinemaroll

Weakness (September 6) – DVD *Date moved, previously August 9*

Special Features: None

Official Artwork: DVD

“[Weakness] is a beautiful film and Danielle is GREAT in it.” Michael Melamedoff

Beverly Lewis’ The Shunning (September 13) – DVD

Special Features: None

Official Artwork: DVD | DVD AD

“Panabaker does a great job conveying a love of family yet an unyielding desire to get at the truth. Her rebellion isn’t disrespectful of the Amish life, but rather an unshakable determination to follow her heart.” Variety

Danielle Panabaker co-stars in Weakness, a film about a suburban high school teacher who loses his wife and his moorings during a summer break. The movie premiered last year at the Austin Film Festival with very good reviews.

Weakness follows the life of high school teacher Joshua Polansky (Bobby Cannavale), whose world is crumbling around him: his wife, Elizabeth (June Diane Raphael), wants to start swinging; his mother, Lenore (Phyllis Somerville), thinks she has terminal cancer; and his autistic brother, Pete (Keith Nobbs), who resides at an assisted living home, only connects outside of himself through baseball, games or an occasional burst of anger. At school, things get complicated as a love triangle of sorts develops between Joshua and his teaching colleagues, the wise-cracking Bart (Josh Charles), and idealist Katharine (Lily Rabe), who only has eyes for the married Joshua. When Elizabeth leaves him, Joshua retreats from his adult life and responsibilities and begins dating Danielle, (Danielle Panabaker), a former student who has postponed attending college. Joshua s subsequent regression and indecision fail to mask his anger and hurt, leading to a series of events that force him to reconsider not only his decisions, but the subtle and profound ways that people affect one another.

You’ll find Weakness in stores on August 9, 2011. But you can now pre-order your copy on Amazon.com!

I’ve updated the gallery with the first poster for Weakness, Danielle’s new independent film. The movie debuted at the 17th Annual Austin Film Festival last october and is currently looking for distribution.

You can also watch an alternate version of the first trailer HERE. It’s basically the same but the music and some scenes are a bit different.

The gallery has been updated with the first photo of Danielle Panabaker at Austin, TX. Looking very casual and happy

Hopefully more photos from the “Weakness” screening and Q&A Session will pop up later!

Credit for the pic goes to Townsend Davies and Cindy Martinez, who were lucky enough to meet Danielle!

Feel free to send you own photos if you get to meet her too.

I’ve updated the gallery with two new Weakness stills. Danielle looks BEAUTIFUL in these so be sure to check them out!

Also, the film’s got an official Facebook page. You can access it and become a fan by clicking here.

Weakness stars Bobby Cannavale and Danielle Panabaker. It’s set to premiere later TODAY at the Austin Film Festival.

So this comes a little late but, according to director Michael Melamedoff, Danielle Panabaker will be attending the premiere of Weakness tomorrow during the Austin Film Festival:

Michael Melamedoff: Please join me and star Danielle Panabaker at a screening of our film, Weakness, this Sunday and Monday evening. We’ll be participating in a Q&A after the screening.

The director also posted:

Please join the cast and crew of WEAKNESS on Sunday, October 24 at 6:30pm or Monday, October 25 at 9:30pm for a screening and q&a after.

So expect some pictures and videos coming later!

The first review of Weakness is here. Coming from Smells Like Screen Spirit:

Weakness, the debut feature film by writer-director Michael Melamedoff, is a very eloquent yet dismally realistic portrayal of a lost and confused man who could probably be satisfied with a way to just decelerate the dreadful downward spiral of his existence. Joshua’s life, at least as represented in Weakness, is like a 90-minute long train wreck (Melamedoff’s film utilizes events such as a fall from a roof and a near car crash as metaphors for Joshua’s life); and Cannavale, in his doleful and subdued performance, ably conveys Joshua’s many weaknesses without always verbalizing them. Joshua definitely does not make the best choices or say the most appropriate things; in many ways Joshua just plows through life with a kind of nonchalance, just assuming that things will begin to improve without his urging.

If you, like me, are still recovering from an emotional break-up, Weakness may hit a little too close to home. Some scenes ring a bit too true for my liking, at least at this juncture in my life. That does not mean Weakness is not a good film; if anything, that is definitely a compliment to Melamedoff and his cast.

Read the whole review here.

Weakness stars Bobby Cannavale, Danielle Panabaker, Josh Charles and June Diane Raphael. The film is set to premiere this sunday, October 24th during the Austin Film Festival. More info can be found here.