“Apple Seed” Gets Television and Streaming Premiere on Showtime Network

August 1st, The Showtime Network will premiere the independent road trip comedy Apple Seed starring the late Rance Howard in his final film performance, Michael Worth, Esther Anderson, Adrienne Barbeau, Clint Howard and Robby Benson.  Produced by Dustin Rikert and Jennifer Kamstock along with Executive Producers Jody Marriott Bar-Lev and Avi Bar-Lev.

SHOWTIME PThe Worth written Apple Seed had a long road to get into production.  For a decade the proposed starring vehicle for Clint and Ron Howard’s father Rance was bounced around independent production companies with no traction.  “I was preparing to shoot it for $40,000 up and down highway 5 in California”, Worth admits right before Jody and Avi Bar-Lev came to the rescue.  Made for a pittance by Hollywood standards, Apple Seed filmed in 15 days across two distant states, Arizona and Vermont, before wrapping in early 2018.  “Film making can at times be looked at as such a technical and strategic process, ” Worth says.  “But also at times a deeply spiritual and cathartic one.  And in this case, Apple Seed for me was not only a vehicle to funnel emotional journeys and philosophical ideas I needed to convey at that time in my life, but it gave me the satisfaction of seeing a ten year dream of mine”.

That dream was to give his friend and fellow actor Rance Howard, who had spent a lifetime in supporting roles, a chance to be the leading man.  Worth had recently directed Howard in the drama Broken Memories which gave him a chance to stretch his acting muscles as a man with Alzheimer’s, but this would be his chance to finally get that glowing first name up in lights.  It would also be the first time Rance and his son Clint would play father and son on screen together.

Apple Seed brought the Howard’s at one time next door neighbor and veteran actor Robby Benson into the fold as well as the lovely Adrienne Barbeau and Australia’s own Esther Anderson.  It opened the Dances With Films Film Festival in 2019 and was produced under the Grizzly Peak Films and Button and Reel Entertainment Banner.

Clint Howard and Michael Worth on Good Morning Arizona.