MOVIE SPOTLIGHT - "MULBERRY CHILD"

MULBERRY CHILD will premiere at the Gene Siskel Film Center’s Documentary Series –“Stranger Than Fiction” on January 21st, 2012 at 8PM, followed by screenings on January 24th at 8PM and January 26th at 8PM

MULBERRY CHILD is a powerful, deeply moving story of author Jian Ping’s (Mulberry Child: A Memoir of China) coming of age as the daughter of a senior government official and her family's struggle to survive China's Cultural Revolution of 1966-1976.

After living in America for 20 years, Jian Ping finds the courage to write the story of her childhood in Communist China. Her beloved father, a high ranking government official was arrested and falsely accused of treason, her mother was persecuted daily and her family was scorned and banished to live in a primitive mud hut, with no heat or running water in a cold remote area N.E. of China. The traumatic experiences of The Revolution had a lifelong impact on Jian making it difficult for her to express her feelings.

There is a disconnect between Jian and her free spirited American raised daughter, Lisa. Jian wants Lisa to read her story in order to understand her own heritage, but for years, Lisa has no interest in reading the manuscript.

Growing up as an all American girl with freedom and comfort, Lisa does not identify with her Chinese roots. During the 2008 Beijing Olympics Jian’s father falls gravely ill. Jian and Lisa travel to China to see him for the last time. After reconnecting with her Chinese family, Lisa decides to read her mother's book upon returning back to the states. Will this journey into the past forge a better understanding between mother and daughter?

MULBERRY CHILD teaches us the human capacity for courage and endurance, and how the events of the past can haunt our future.

Directed by award winning filmmaker Susan Morgan Cooper (An Unlikely Weapon: The Eddie Adams Story), and narrated by Golden Globe and Emmy nominated actress Jacqueline Bisset - MULBERRY CHILD - traces Jian Ping's traumatic childhood during The Cultural Revolution in China [1966-1976] and examines the repercussions on Jian's American raised daughter living today in Chicago.“My mother wanted to show me China. China showed me my mother.”

For more info log onto: www.mulberrychildmovie.com

LAUGH OUT LOUD COMEDY "THE OUT-SIDER" FILMS

The OUT-SIDER is the hilarious new comedy by the award-winning Producer/Director Jana (AJ) Mattioli who was most recently honored as, “Forty People Under 40 To Look Out For,” in the Advocate. Accomplished writer of The OUT-SIDER, Robert Borneman, gels very cohesively with Mattioli’s vision of comedic with a slice of in your face provacative type material. Shooting has recently wrapped and post- production has begun on this comedy gem. After speaking with Jana (AJ) Mattioli and her production team at Mattioli Productions, there is no doubt that The OUT-SIDER is going to make waves when released this summer. We spoke to Keith Collins, lead actor and Associate Producer, and he assures us that this comedy, “will make you laugh so hard that you will have to hold the tears in.” We are definitly looking forward to seeing this film when it’s complete.

So what is The OUT-SIDER film about? Well from what we saw during a hilarious day of filming, it is based on the discovery of the fundamental and primitive layers of sexuality that exist to all who want to and are willing to accept them; however astonishing or confusing.

The Cup, a coffee shop frequented by the local gay community, becomes the place where Suzie (Denise Finelli; Filthy Rich Filthy Uncle Phil and Plan Bee) finds herself facing her old college roommate, Alexa (newcomer Holly Meek). Recently coming to the realization that she is a lesbian, Suzie is hopeful that the shop’s atmosphere with the help of her flamboyantly gay brother Jamie (award winner Keith Collins; Stuck in the Middle, BIdentity Crisis) will help in breaking this possibly shocking news to her longtime friend.

Small-town raised Alexa has little exposure to such a community and is thus immediately seen as “the outsider.” Yet, despite her ignorance and naivety, Alexa reveals that there’s more to her than meets the eye.

Expectations are pleasantly shattered at the end of The OUT-SIDER. It’s a fantastic presentation of “being true to yourself as others rarely are.” With acclaimed Director Mattioli (An Affirmative Act, BIdentity Crisis), The OUT-SIDER continues to live up to the precedent of strongly conscientious, heartwarming and sincere filmmaking we have come to expect from Mattioli Productions.

Completing the cast is Joshua Cruz (Big Gay Musical) as Adrien, the sexy straight waiter of The Cup and Steve Wolf (Curiosity Killed The Cat) as Chase, the slimy Casanova wannabe. Robert and Joyce Borneman, Greg Jackson, and Steve Wolf act as the Executive Producers on this project. This film is made in association with Dreamcatcher Entertainment. The OUT-SIDER one rollercoaster ride of a comedy look for it out summer of 2012. For more information, www.ShesTheOutSider.com

MOVIE SPOTLIGHT - "THE OUT-SIDER"

Chase, a recurring character in a series of coffee shop escapades sets the stage for the revelation of Suzie’s’ sexuality. We learn that Suzie isn’t the only one with something to reveal.

Suzie meets an old college friend Alexa at a coffee shop, which is the hot spot for the local gay community. Alexa comes from the Midwest where there is no “gay community”, at least none that she is aware of. Suzie has given up on men since college where she was roommates with Alexa, so she isn’t exactly sure of how to break the news that she now dates women to her longtime friend. Suzie is hoping the gay environment at “The Cup” and the fact that her gay brother Jamie works there will give her the confidence to tell Alexa.

The daily drama of the coffee shop brings some hysterical moments to the screen as waiters Jamie and Adrien interact. Adrien is eye candy for the ladies and for the men as it turns out, but there really aren’t any takers, or at least none that Adrien is interested in.

Suzie and Alexa engage in an unintended educational dialogue as Suzie hopes to reveal her sexuality. Alexa keeps Suzie from getting to the point because she steers the conversation from naivety about the gay community. In the epicenter for the gay community, clearly Alexa is an outsider. As Alexa becomes educated, we may learn more than we want to.

THE OUT-SIDER written by Robert Borneman, Directed By Jana Mattioli, Starring Joshua Cruz,Denise Finelli, Keith Collins, Holly Meek and Steven Wolf. Produced By, Mattioli Productions in association with Dreamcatcher Entertainment with Executive Producers Robert Borneman, Joyce Borneman and Greg Jackson. For more info on THE OUT-SIDER log onto; www.ShesTheOutSider.com

WELCOME 2012!

WISHING YOU A VERY HAPPY NEW YEAR FROM ALL OF US AT THE DAILY FILM FORUM