The HIGH THERE street team at the Las Vegas Hempfest

High There Producer Burt Kearns, director and director of photography Henry Goren and director and writer Wayne Darwen, taking a break from publicity duties at the Las Vegas Hempfest on Saturday, October 3, 2015.  Not pictured: executive producer and public relations director Sam Peters, who is across Convention Center Drive at Piero’s.

NY Post’s PageSix.com: Tommy Chong tells HIGH THERE star Wayne Darwen to carry on his work

“Chong told Wayne to carry on the work of getting laughs with pot humor 

and ‘passed the cannabis torch’ to a new generation,” said my witness. 

“There were tears.”

by Richard Johnson

October 7, 2015

Fans are praying for Tommy Chong, of “Cheech & Chong” fame, as he faces his latest battle with cancer.

The marijuana maven who created best-selling stoner comedy albums and eight movies with partner Cheech Marin could barely stand last weekend at the Las Vegas Hempfest, where he was given a lifetime achievement award.

Chong, 77, announced three years ago he’d been stricken with cancer. But a month later, he tweeted that a hemp oil treatment was working and that he was “99 percent cancer-free.”

Onstage Saturday, Chong said the cancer had come back “big” and that he was due for major surgery in the coming days.

“I was on the Southwest flight from LA with him,” said one source. “He looked pretty worn out. He was visibly weak and ill.”

Chong graciously chatted backstage with Wayne Darwen, director and star of the cult comedy film “High There.”

“Chong told Wayne to carry on the work of getting laughs with pot humor and ‘passed the cannabis torch’ to a new generation,” said my witness. “There were tears.”

Exclusive: Roland Jointz’s gas mask prescription for the Las Vegas Hempfest!

 Yes, this is a prescription for a gas mask.

Viewers of High There know that Dave High’s lifeline to reality -- his cameraman Roland Jointz, -- wears the protective apparatus gas mask throughout their adventures-- because he’s very susceptible to secondhand marijuana smoke and wants to avoid a “contact high” while he’s trying to work (or perform any activity-- he does not imbibe or inhale).

Well, in real life, the man behind Roland Jointz has the same concerns.  Henry Goren, who co-directed High There with Dave High’s alter ego, Wayne Darwen, took special precautions before heading off to the Las Vegas Hempfest over the weekend... an actual bonafide doctor’s prescription that allowed him to drive onto the convention center grounds, stroll through the vendors market festival, attend seminars, converse backstage, wander freely and be nterviewed on television-- looking like a civil defense instructor.

Women loved Dave High at the Las Vegas Hempfest!

Men want to be him -- and women want to be with Dave High.  The latter was quite evident by their behaviour at the 2015 Las Vegas Hempfest!

Press Release: HIGH THERE movie sequel to begin filming in Las Vegas

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Producers announce shooting plans for Area 420 at Las Vegas Hempfest

LAS VEGAS  (October 6) The team behind the hit independent gonzo comedy film High There was in Las Vegas this weekend, appearing with Tommy Chong and Afroman at the second annual Las Vegas Hempfest -- and announcing the start of principal photography on the sequel, Area 420.

The announcement was made by executive producer Sam Peters during an impromptu news conference at the Las Vegas Convention Center, where the fest took place on Saturday.  "High There was a film that took a pair of baffled and bickering journalists to Hawaii, where they uncovered a government plot to control the marijuana trade," Peters said. "Now, in Area 420, the pair will head to Las Vegas, only to expose a government plot that is literally out of this world. We promise sex, inebriation, real-life situations, newsmaking revelations -- and lots of laughs!"

Peters said filming on Area 420 will begin in late November on and around the Las Vegas Strip, as well as other cities and locations that remain under wraps. Directors Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren are reprising their roles as gonzo tabloid producer Dave High and his teetoaling cameraman, Roland Jointz.

The producers are now enlisting celebrity cameos for the upcoming comedy, which may explain the deep conversations Saturday between Darwen and fellow Hempfest stars Chong and Afroman.

"We're shooting in  Vegas, so we want to get some of our friends and favorites on board, including Carrot Top, Penn, Mac King, Art Vargas, Cook E. Jarr and Jerry Tiffe," added producer Burt Kearns, who was seen losing big in the Caesars Palace casino early Sunday morning.  "And of course, Wayne wants to include the wonderful women from the Hustler Club (site of the Hempfest after-party)."

Darwen is a veteran tabloid journalist, a founder of tabloid television and model for Robert Downey Jr.'s character in Natural Born Killers.  Goren is an award-winning news camerman and cinematographer.  Kearns, who is co-scripting the new nonfiction movie, is a longtime television and film writer and producer whose credits include the Burt Reynolds comedy classic, Cloud 9.

High There has been very well-received by critics ("A perfect film"-- ABucket OfCorn.com) and is becoming a cult favorite on BRINKvision's limited edition DVD and Video on Demand.

Added Peters:  "Area 420 is going to be High There on steroids.  Or I suppose I should say, 'High There on some super strain of weed'!  It will be everything folks love about High There, only bigger and funnier. And Vegasier."

Area 420 is a Sam Peters International Productions Unlimited presentation of a Good Story Productions and Rat Lung Pictures production.

View or download the new High There trailer  

High There at Amazon.com
PR release

FOR INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, PRESS MATERIALS

CONTACT: Sam Peters

goodstoryproductions@mac.com

SAM PETERS PUBLIC RELATIONS NY LA LV LN HK

“Because I got HIGH THERE!” Thanks to AFROMAN for sharing the spotlight!

Stoner music legend Afroman was a big hit at the Las Vegas Hempfest this weekend, and no bigger hit than he was with the High There team.

After posing for the media with his colleague Dave High, the Grammy-nominated musician carrid on with a copy of the High There DVD, spreading the cult movie to new audiences across the 420 nation!

HIGH THERE stars light up the Las Vegas Hempfest!

Henry Goren and Wayne Darwen, AKA Roland Jointz & Dave High, with comedy legend Tommy Chong at the 2015 Las Vegas Hempfest this weekend.  And Tommy wasn’t the only celeb rushing to get a photo with the High There team!

Afroman!

“Ganja Farmer” reggae star Marlon Asher!

Cali reggae star Ras Rebel!

Nuglife Radio host & cannabis activist Medicinal Mike!

Roland Jointz meets Phillip A. Bowl!

Las Vegas rolls out the green carpet for the HIGH THERE team

Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren, AKA Dave High and Roland Jointz of the hit indie nonfiction gonzo film High There, will be joining fellow 420 stars like Tommy Chong and Afroman at the second annual Las Vegas Hempfest,  an all-day event tomorrow, Saturday, October 3rd,  at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Dave and Roland are on the road now. Get ready, Las Vegas!

Watch this space for details as they unfold!

Press Release: HIGH THERE directors and stars to appear at Las Vegas Hempfest Saturday October 3rd

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren to give away limited edition DVDs, announce sequel plans

HOLLYWOOD (September 30) High There directors and stars Wayne Darwen and Henry Goren will appear at the Las Vegas Hempfest on Saturday October 3rd.

The pair from the hit independent nonfiction gonzo film will be on hand for panel discussions and outdoor concert performances, as well as leading giveaways of BRINKvision's limited edition High There DVD and other collectible items.

Darwen and Goren will also be available for radio, television and online interviews, They plan on making a special announcement about the start of principal photography on the High There sequel, Area 420 -- including filming in and around Las Vegas.

High There continues to rack up substantial viewers as a Video on Demand, and steady sales as a limited edition DVD since its release in June. Good Story Productions recently launched a new High There trailer, titled "The Best-Reviewed Documentary Film of 2015," on YouTube, Vimeo and other platforms.

The Las Vegas Hempfest will take place at the Las Vegas Convention Center, with entertainment, vendors and education seminars produced by Freedom Leaf, Inc.

The outdoor portion will cover 600,000 square feet (across from the convention center) with two stages of live music, speeches from activists, the Cannabis Progress Awards and a vendor village. Indoors, the fest will present panels of cannabis industry experts, advocates and celebrities.

Legendary comedian Tommy Chong will be on hand to accept a lifetime achievement award. Other celebrities include Afroman, Chanel West Coast, Wild 'N Out's Spanky Hayes, MC Ras Rebel and Medical Mike.

As for Darwen and Goren, there's been much speculation as to whether they will appear as "themselves" or in character.

"If past appearances are any indication, we can expect Dave High to be in fine form," said High There executive producer Sam Peters. "Roland Jointz? It all depends on whether he's allowed to wear his gas mask!"

High There is a Sam Peters International Productions Unlimited and Good Story Productions presentation of a Rat Lung picture, distributed by BRINKvision on limited edition DVD and VOD.

The film has received many rave reviews from indie movie websites, including A Bucket of Corn, which called High There "a perfect film," and Movie & TV Series Geek ("A perfect example of a memorable and really good piece of filmed cinema").

View or download the new High There trailer at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cP8sJ1yA__g

Find additional photos and information at hightherethemovie.blogspot.com.

High There at Amazon.com:http://www.amazon.com/High-There-Wayne-Darwen/dp/B00U2YNLK0

FOR INTERVIEWS, REVIEWS, PRESS MATERIALS

CONTACT: Sam Peters

goodstoryproductions@mac.com

SAM PETERS PUBLIC RELATIONS NY LA LV LN HK