"Ask Me How I Feel," a documentary film about a singer's return to the stage after music broke his heart, named a "Project We Love" by Kickstarter

The vision for "Ask Me How I Feel" was born in Philadelphia, PA in February 2016 when filmmakers Marie Hinson and Thomas Daniel Dwyer met Frank Bey and decided to follow him to the Blues Music Awards in Memphis where he was nominated for two awards that year. Over the next two years the filmmakers followed Bey around the world, capturing moments from Bey's shows and life off the stage. During this time, Bey went to Nashville for the first time in his career to make an album about his life, "Back in Business", with Grammy award-winning producer Tom Hambridge. "Ask Me How I Feel" culminates with this creative and emotional high-point of the 72-year-old singer's life.  The official documentary trailer can be viewed here.

The development of the film has brought together a uniquely-special crew, diverse in backgrounds but strongly united in their mission to share the urgently needed voices of the film.  The director, Marie Hinson, is an emerging artist and cinematographer whose films have screened at galleries and festivals all over the world. Her roots as a queer transgender woman from rural Appalachia bring to all of her work topics of identity, place and creative voice. Producer, Thomas Daniel Dwyer, is a musician and former public school teacher who entered the film business through acting.  Executive Producer, Jamila Paksima, is an Iranian-American documentarian and TV producer. Her recent work includes the award-winning documentary "Until 20" and the eight-part series for PBS "The Contenders."

The making of this independently-produced documentary has been a local, community-engaged effort. Now that the filming is complete, the filmmakers are reaching out to the audience beyond their home and Bey's stage. They are inviting audiences from around the world to join them in a grassroots effort to finish the film through a crowdfunding campaign. Their campaign is running on Kickstarter until Oct 25 and was just picked as a "Project We Love" by the popular crowdfunding platform.  For further details, visit the Kickstarter campaign.

Summer Hill Films announces the North American DVD and VOD release of the surreal drama, Grief

In the film, we follow Kyle Harden who tortures himself day after-day by returning to his once happy home where he, his wife, and son all lived.  He wants to end the suffering by facing his inner demons in an effort to 'pull the trigger' as he slips further and further into a psychological wormhole of love, loss, and self-exploration.

The film stars Kevin Renwick, known for 'Nocturnal Animals' (2016), 'Win Win' (2011), and 'Left of the Murder' (2015). Also starring Jackie Moore, recently appeared on `The Mindy Project', `West World', Dr. Dre's upcoming series `Vital Signs', and `The Odd Couple'.

Written and co-directed by Kevin Renwick, who is a prolific writer of sorts varying from screenplays to short stories and songs.  He has directed several short films as, `Left of the Murder' (2015), `Monkey with a Mustache' (2013), and `The Best Coffee Maker' (2012).  Co-director Chris Mammarelli is known for his work on Left of the Murder (2015) and Southern Comfort (2014).

"We are very excited to release the first-time feature of Kevin and Chris, 'Grief,'" says Summer Hill Films President, Ted Chalmers, "Kevin gives an unnervingly entertaining and edgy performance."

"Happy to find Summer Hill after the film's debut at Dances With Films," says Kevin Renwick, "Now let us get this thing out for the masses and hopefully, they'll watch and enjoy it!"

'Grief,' is now available in North America on DVD from Fox Hollow Features with VOD from Amazon, Google Play, and Xbox coming soon. It will also be available on Amazon UK and internationally licensed through Summer Hill Entertainment which attends all the major film sales markets including EFM, Marché du Film, AFM and Hong Kong Filmart!

As the film deals with grief and suffering and suicidal thoughts, Summer Hill Films has pledged a portion of the proceed will go to American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP).  For more information, please visit: www.summerhillfilms.com/charity.

A New Professional Service Firm Exclusively Focusing on the Entertainment Industry Launches in Los Angeles

Many people know of firms like Ernst & Young, Deloitte, Mckinsey & Company and Booz Allen Hamilton for the professional services they provide major companies around the world. These award winning brands are some of the best when it comes to Operational Consulting, Financial Advising and Business Management. v2 Management LLC (V2M) is looking to emulate these brands and bring similar services to creative individuals and businesses within the entertainment industry. Some A-List creatives are equivalent to a medium size business, especially when considering revenues exceed 7 figures for one project.  Currently, some top creative talent have a combination of Agent, Manager, Publicist, Business Manager, CPA and Lawyer to hopefully grow their career and keep it afloat. This model might not be the best for the client, especially when each service provider has their own agenda in mind, which may not put the client's needs first.

The ultimate goal for V2M is to be a one-stop-shop for creatives, who opt not to bring the above mentioned services "in-house" and would like to hire one company that maintains their singular vision.

Client First, Employee Second and Company Third (1st, 2nd, 3rd) is a term which eventually became the motto in the offices of V2M. "We are a service company first and foremost and if we keep that in mind, we'll prosper and maintain growth for years to come" said Brandon Ross, the company's Founding Partner. The company does not want employees to be treated second rate compared to clients, but an employee's desire to buy a new Tesla should not be put over the well being of the client. Mr. Ross, a former Talent Manager, who took a 10 year break from the industry in order to pursue other passions; noticed that employees and companies would always put commissions ahead of client's well-being and doesn't want V2M to have any part in that.

V2M is backed by Private Equity and US Bank. Upon opening, the company plans on only offering Talent Management and Business Management services, but plans to expand into other key services starting Q2 2019. Click here for the official site -  https://www.v2management.com/

Powerful Female Director Eliza Brownlie Joins Free The Bid Network

Earlier this year director Eliza Brownlie joined Free the Bid, an initiative founded in 2016 that aims to create an equal playing field for women directors to bid on jobs in the global commercial advertising industry.

"This organization is dedicated to promoting extraordinary female directors in the industry worldwide," says Brownlie. "Getting accepted into this network was a huge honor, and I'm so grateful that something like this exists. It's important for so many reasons...it provides accomplished women directors with the visibility and access to jobs that we deserve. Additionally, Free the Bid fosters a diversity of points of view, without which, the narratives that are told become very homogenous."

Some of the other female commercial directors who've been invited to join Free The Bid include  Patty Jenkins ("Wonder Woman," "Monster"), Sofia Coppola ("Marie Antoinette," "Lost In Translation"), Kathryn Bigelow ("Point Break," "Zero Dark Thirty") and many more.

By making a pledge to Free The Bid, brands and advertisers promise to include the reel of at least one female director everytime they triple-bid on a commercial production, meaning that of the three directors they pitch to a client one of those will be from a woman. More than 50 global advertising agencies including  DDB, BBDO and JWT, and brands such as Coca-Cola, eBay and Levi's have pledged their participation in the network.

Over the last few years Eliza Brownlie has directed commercials and fashion films for brands including Dove, Canon, Cast + Combed, Top Expert and more.

Brownlie says, "My personal directing style is characterized by dreamy, stylized, and atmospheric imagery that feels both intimate and ominous. I'm interested in exploring social constructs and the alienation that humans experience as a consequence of such, often with a focus on women."

One of her recent projects as a director is an upcoming commercial for Angie Bauer, a luxury lingerie collection constructed in Los Angeles using hi-tech fabrics and delicate embroideries created in Italy. Slated to be released on the Angie Bauer site, the world's leading contemporary fashion platform Not Just a Label and various fashion magazines and blogs, the commercial depicts an American woman with an affinity for Parisian culture who embarks on a nocturnal adventure over the course of a night in LA wearing several pieces from the Angie Bauer collection.

"Visually, the aim for the commercial was to reflect the design of the pieces– contemporary, feminine, and delicate yet strong," says Brownlie.

"Angie and I were fans of each other's work and had been talking about collaborating for a while… I loved her design sensibility and I knew her pieces would look amazing on film. I came up with a concept which I put into a pitch deck outlining the story, the directorial approach,  as well as visual mood boards. I presented it to the client who loved the idea and brought me on board to direct it."

Emphasising a modern woman who enjoys intimates that are simultaneously luxurious and comfortable, the commercial stars Tarryn Lagana, who also starred in Brownlie's narrative horror film "The After Party," an Official Selection of the Williamsburg Independent Film Festival and the Sacramento Horror Film Festival in 2016 and 2017.

Since beginning her career with the music video for The Darcys' song "Itchy Blood," which developed from an idea she and cinematographer Peter Hadfield pitched to the band and their label Arts and Crafts Records, Brownlie has shown immense creativity and brilliant sensitivity in all of her follow up work. Her use of surrealist imagery and subtle sensuality make her commercials and fashion films feel as though we are being transported into a beautiful dream.

Designer Angie Bauer says, "I knew Eliza would make the video spectacular, and I completely trusted her direction from the start. She has such a distinct personal style and an exceptional work ethic. Her ability to create a captivating mood through imagery and performance is unparalleled. The commercial turned out beautifully, and I can't wait to share it with the world!"

Many of the projects Brownlie has directed to date, such as the series for Dove's Self-Esteem Projectand the pitch deck for Canon Female Hero, have been the result of a colleague showing her reel to a client.

"The production company and client contacted me after watching my reel," explains Brownlie landing the Dove project. "A producer colleague had suggested me for the job. I pitched on it against several other directors and was awarded the commercial. I felt very passionate about the concept and the positive message of it, and I knew it was something that I could do well."

Her empowering portrayal of women artists in the Dove project led Brownlie to be tapped to direct the Canon Female Hero project, a docu-style commercial campaign that tells the stories of three successful women photographers that debuted alongside the release of Canon's new digital camera line.

The level of emotion and humanness she draws out of her subjects makes her a rarely gifted artist in the industry, but if a client doesn't have the opportunity to see her reel, then they can't choose her to direct their project.

"I wish networks like Free The Bid existed when I was growing up. There were only a handful of women directors that were discussed in popular culture conversations at the time, and girls just weren't as encouraged to pursue film or given as many opportunities as their male counterparts," says Brownlie. "Inequality in the industry is still rife, but networks like Free the Bid are working diligently to change this by backing exceptional and unique directors who happen to be women."

As a director, Brownlie is currently in various phases of production on several upcoming projects including a commercial for Vissla and D'Blanc, one of the world's top surf and eyewear brands, a fashion campaign for the luxury department store Departamento, a docu-style commercial for The Spirit Guild, as well as a comedy project that is being produced by Avail Comedy and stars Chris Fairbanks from HBO's "Crashing" and Comedy Central's upcoming series "Corporate."

Comedy Film "Home Entertainment" Chosen as an Official Selection of 2018 Austin Film Festival

The comedy film "Home Entertainment" from award-winning writer Sonia Gumuchian and Katherine Eaton has been chosen as an Official Selection of the Austin Film Festival, where it is slated to have its world premiere. "Home Entertainment" will screen at the Rollins Theatre on October 28 at 8:45 p.m. and again on October 30 at the Galaxy Highland at 5 p.m. on screen 7 during the Austin Film Festival.

A film about a wealthy homeowner who rents out his posh Malibu mansion to an array of guests, "Home Entertainment" is the kind of laugh out loud comedy that will make you think twice about using a vacation rental site to book the baller pad that seems too good to be true.

Written, produced and directed by Gumuchian and Eaton, "Home Entertainment" stars four-time Young Artist Award winner Brock Ciarlelli from ABC's "The Middle," Meredith Thomas from the comedy series "Swedish Dicks," Jon Root from FOX's "Brooklyn Nine-Nine," and Heather McPhaul from the seven-time Golden Globe nominated HBO series "Veep."

"Home Entertainment" is one of approximately 150 films that will screen during the Austin Film Festival this year, which runs from October 25th to November 1st in Austin, TX and marks the festival's 25th anniversary.  Last year Gumuchian's script "Hi Again" became a Second Rounder by the Austin Film Festival's Script Competition, and as "Home Entertainment," which marks her debut as writer and director, prepares to have its world premiere at the festival, it appears things have come full circle for the talented filmmaker.

In a similar vein to the film "The Truman Show," "Home Entertainment" is an anthology that follows three separate waves of renters, none of which have any idea that they're being watched via live stream through the mansion's security camera footage by the eccentric homeowner and his group of rich dinner party guests.

"Each weekend comprises of its own story with different guests each time around," explains Eaton. "Our first weekend story is about a couple on a romantic weekend getaway that turns into a disaster. The second story revolves around a sexual nonconformist's unorthodox memorial party and Part 3 is about a super L.A. spirit guide meetup."

The dialogue in Gumuchian and Eaton's script and the actors spot-on timing combined with the bright lighting and scene pacing make "Home Entertainment" an impeccable comedy in the way of the story and visuals presented.

"We thought it would be interesting to talk about the state of privacy we live in today, and the extent to which technology has encouraged new types of behavior, including strange hobbies adopted by several of our characters," explained Gumuchian and Eaton in a director's statement "After making this film, we'll be paranoid enough to check every nook and cranny of our future vacation rentals and we encourage you to do the same."

A graduate of the prestigious USC School of Cinematic Arts, Gumuchian has worked with several major networks and studios, including ABC Studios, the Hallmark Channel, HBO and FOX where she learned the ins and outs of creative development. In addition to growing praise for "Home Entertainment,"Gumuchian has gained international attention for her scripts "Loyal Royals," "Hi Again," "Good Cop, Old Cop" and several others. Katherine Eaton, a USC alumna as well, is known for her on-screen work, which includes playing the lead role in the film "Why the Anderson Children Didn't Come to Dinner" from multi-award winning Canadian filmmaker Jamie Travis, the director behind the comedy film "For a Good Time Call" featuring Primetime Emmy nominee Seth Rogan ("This is The End"). Eaton is also known for her work as a floral designer for celebrities such as Heidi Montag, companies such as YouTube, Flora Health, The Fullest and Facebook, and events that include the Grammys.

"Home Entertainment" cinematographer and producer Jarod Wang says, "Working with Sonia and Katherine is simply seamless… Without them, there would be no project. Their script was very funny and well put together, it made it very easy for me to imagine the shots. You can tell they really appreciate the story and the art form and I think that makes them very strong filmmakers."

Aside from being a producer and the cinematographer on "Home Entertainment," Jarod Wang is also known for his work as a fashion photographer. He recently worked on projects such as "Changers' for the popular clothing label Opening Ceremony, as well as Kenzo's "The Everything."

The score for "Home Entertainment" was composed by Benjamin Sturley, who's performed on "Saturday Night Live," "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon" and "Good Morning America" and is the guitarist for Selena Gomez and Noah Cyrus. The sound design was led by Sam Vargas ("Heart of Paradise," "Shark Lake") and the film's colorist was Sean Stack ("American Beauty Star," "JFK: A President Betrayed"), who was nominated for the Best Editing Award at the Hoboken International Film Festival for the film "Blood Punch."

A co-production between the U.S. and Canada, "Home Entertainment" was shot on location in Malibu, CA and took one year to complete.

Prior to "Home Entertainment," Gumuchian's original script and pilot "Loyal Royals" earned First Place at the Hollywood Hills Screenplay Competition, Fifth Place at the London Film Awards, the Best Unproduced Script Award from London Filmmaker Festival and was chosen as an Official Selection of the Atlanta Comedy Film Festival, an Official Finalist of the World Series of Screenwriting and a Semi-Finalist of the Screenplay Festival, among multiple other accolades.

Though Gumuchian has penned an impressive list of award-winning scripts over the years, she says, "Home Entertainment, has by far, been my favorite project."

Fossil Mountain Publishing Announces that 2018 is the Year of The Nutcracker

Visions of sugar plums danced in their heads. All across the globe little ballerinas and pint-sized soldiers, 6 – 12 years old, audition for the opportunity to perform in their town's local production of The Nutcracker. During the months of August and September, Nutcracker auditions are held in every major country. With its lavish costumes, exquisite dancers, and brilliant musical compositions, young ballet students dream of dancing alongside the professional cast.

Many productions cast over 100 children for parts in the Party Scene, Battle Scene, and as Polichinelles with Mother Ginger. Depending on how many qualified boys audition, girls sometimes are cast in the roles of the boy dancers in Party.

This year, with the addition of Disney's upcoming movie, The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, audiences will be able to enjoy, The Nutcracker, throughout the holiday season through books, movies and, of course, live performances. We at Fossil Mountain Publishing encourage families to indulge!

To get your tween, 9 – 14, ready for Nutcracker Season, Fossil Mountain Publishing is excited to present, Prince Dustin and Clara: Deep in the Black Forest, a retelling of The Nutcracker. The author, Daniel Lee Nicholson, performed in The Nutcracker for 10 years. Nicholson was sure to include the essence of the ballet, including many of the dance scenes, in the book. As Clara and Prince Dustin, the Nutcracker Prince, race to escape the wrath of Egon, they encounter one adventure after another deep in the Black Forest, the setting of the Snow Scene. Nicholson incorporated much of the allure of the Black Forest in the story.

Nicholson's tale is both fantasy and adventure to appeal to both boys and girls; dancers and non-dancers alike. Prince Dustin and Clara: Deep in the Black Forest is available now at your favorite online and retail bookseller.

Visit us at https://www.fossilmountainpublishing.com/

About Daniel Lee Nicholson:

Daniel Lee Nicholson was born and raised in the Midwest. He has been a performer and ambassador of the performing and fine arts ever since his first performance as a soldier in The Nutcracker in Chicago. He resides with his wife in the Los Angeles area and works in Productions in the Media and Entertainment industry. Deep in the Black Forest is the first installment in the series Prince Dustin and Clara.

About Fossil Mountain Publishing:

The mission of Fossil Mountain Publishing LLC is to captivate and entertain; engage and inspire young readers and readers of all ages by publishing family-oriented books that promote reading and literature; technology and the arts.

Visit us at https://www.fossilmountainpublishing.com/

Cinedapt Revitalizes the Entertainment Industry to End Piracy with Personalized Films

Cinedapt, LLC (Cinedapt.com) announced today that it is currently accepting filmmakers and investors to collaborate as part of its initial horror lineup for the 2020 launch of its patent pending, cinedaptive streaming platform.

Cinedapt is an adaptive film streaming service which provides a customized version of a movie tailored specifically for each person or group of people watching.  Dynamic content and effective scene variants are brought together through machine learning to present viewers with their most impactful and unforgettable experience in cinematic history.

In a torrent of countless video streaming services, Cinedapt is anchored as the next major evolution of film in more than a century.  This advancement is comparative of the technological enhancement from the silent film era to modern mobile entertainment.  While other services are focusing on producing and distributing content, Cinedapt is leading the cinematic evolution with original, personalized films.

Additionally, Cinedapt leverages blockchain technology to end piracy in a similar way forensics of DNA has been used to solve crime.  This is accomplished by incorporating blockchain's immutable public ledger for each film containing the user identification and unique rendered film information.  However, filmmakers interested in complying with award and festival guidelines may still release a piratable version of their cinedaptive film through conventional distribution such as theatrical, physical, and digital.  Cinedaptive short or feature length movies are intended for playback via streaming mobile, desktop, TV, VR, and more.

The initial launch of Cinedapt will focus on the horror genre and allow filmmakers to provide a personalized, relatable, yet unpredictable movie experience by knowing a viewer's fears while using machine learning to adapt the movie seen.  With more than ten thousand short and feature length films produced every year, those made with Cinedapt in mind are destined to be more memorable with a greater reaction from its audience… and a greater return on investment.

Cinedapt questions original content providers in Hollywood with "when was the last time you saw a horror movie that gave you nightmares, a comedy that made you laugh, or a drama that made you cry?"

Cinedapt is the solution by providing relatable options for filmmakers which go beyond basic targeted advertising.  Examples of this include but are not limited to: displaying alternate scenes based on a user's phobia; randomizing timing in scare sequences for unpredictability; and rendering scenes with recognizable names, locations, and more along with familiar images, audio, and video.

If a viewer has a high tolerance to horror, Cinedapt rewards by adapting further with more frightening mutations of the movie such as: synchronizing a scene beats per minute with a user's resting heart rate before ramping above intense during the scare sequence; synthesizing vocals from frequency extraction of deceased loved ones, so the user hears relatable phrases spoken in a familiar voice (future feature); and introducing disturbing imagery and content based on analysis of the user's online psychological profile.  For more examples and descriptions, visit cinedapt.com.

For filmmakers and investors unsure of Cinedapt's potential, Michael Kureth, its Founder and CEO, is reminded of a similar effort he had in 2007 with what he copyrighted as "The World's First Online Movie Theatre" (US Copyright TXu001617004 issued December 20, 2007; US Copyright PA0001735643 issued June 17, 2008; US Design and Utility Patent 12/072,276 filed February 21, 2008).  This was a digital streaming service he created to empower independent filmmakers and major studios to be compensated for their films in an online theatre.  The response at the time from filmmakers and investors was a concern of piracy in having a film streamed online and an assumption that people would never pay to watch a movie on their computer or phone.

The services and processes of Cinedapt are patent pending technologies.  Cinedapt, Cinedaptive, and its logo are filed trademarks.  Cinedapt, LLC is an active and registered California company.

Cinedapt is the future of cinematic entertainment.  Interested filmmakers and investors may get involved by visiting cinedapt.com or contacting info@cinedapt.com

Press Release:
https://s3-us-west-1.amazonaws.com/cinedapt/2018-09-19-cinedapt-press-release.pdf

Promo Video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GS4uL0Klxi4

Polly Cooper, Oneida Indian Revolutionary War Patriot Honored in the Feature Film George Washington's Army and Me, Elijah's Long Journey Home

George Washington's Army and Me, Elijah's Long Journey Home feature film has included the role of Oneida Indian Polly Cooper, a female Revolutionary War Patriot, to highlight her selfless service to soldier's at Valley Forge in 1777/1778.

Writer Michael Dooling shared: "A story about family, freedom, and home—about America's struggle for Independence—would be remiss without honoring Polly Cooper and the Oneida Nation. Cherished by her people for her service to the Continental Army in the face of adversity, Polly aided the American cause at Valley Forge by cooking, nursing, teaching nutrition, and providing corn to the starving—making the difference between life and death for many."

The film's genre is best described as "Tom Sawyer Meets The Patriot movie". George Washington's Army and Me, Elijah's Long Journey Home follows 10-year-old Elijah and his adventures as he follows his father, a farmer who joins the 6^th Pennsylvania Regiment after the British invade their family farm.

1000's of mothers and children followed their soldier husbands and fathers during the Revolutionary War, marching up to 9-miles a day under terrible conditions. They provided much needed support to the Army performing various duties, most had no place else to go. Based on letters and diaries from the period, the film is an adventurous, at-times humorous, heartfelt story with a universally relatable message of family, freedom, and home.

Actress Phoenix Bess said: "I love the character of Polly Cooper! And, I love even more that she is a real person in history. Polly's steadfast courage and compassion are inspiring — leaving her village, traveling to Valley Forge, and navigating the perils of war are actions of a hero and a true leader. Her selfless devotion to assisting the American soldiers during the war and her impact on history are incredible. I am grateful and extremely excited to have this opportunity to bring her to life in this film. I hope that through my portrayal of Polly, her story will become more widely known and appreciated, and as a Native American, I feel deeply the importance and gravity of bringing this Oneida heroine's life to light. I am honored to have this role."

"Most Americans know that George Washington is considered the "Father of the Country" but very few know Polly Cooper, from the Oneida tribe and how she played a crucial role in our American Revolution. Through service and sacrifice to the American cause she can rightly be called, the Mother of the Country. I know the entire production team including myself is proud to highlight Polly's war-time service within the film and bring light to her accomplishments. Because of the Oneida's assistance and especially Polly's dedication the tribe have deservedly earned the moniker, "America's First Ally."  Said Robert Child, Award Winning Director and Screenwriter.

An Independent Film Production with Fiscal Sponsorship, 1663 Media Arts, LLC has laid the groundwork and is well positioned to attract funding to meet their $700K budget. Filming is forecast to begin late spring of 2019 in Virginia with a goal to release the film October 19, 2019. Individual, Organization and Corporate supports are all welcome; film perks are offered and donations qualify for a US tax credit.

Producer, Andrea M. Clarke shared, "I am humbled and determined to do all we can to honor Polly Cooper within our film by shedding a much-earned light on her strength, compassion and unwavering service to the Continental Army Soldiers during the Revolutionary War."

The vision for the film is to reignite the interest of people young and old to learn more about the real life characters, unsung hero's, surrounding the founding of the United States of America. The story is steeped in family, freedom and home and how resilience and determination through the eyes and actions of a 10-year old boy, the human spirit can and will prevail. It's a story the whole family will enjoy!

http://GWArmyAndMe.com
https://youtu.be/UxNyPEgedpM

'Parkway of Broken Dreams' crowdfunding campaign launched today on Seed&Spark

The crowdfunding campaign for Parkway of Broken Dreams, a documentary about the rise and fall of alternative culture around Las Vegas' University District in the 1990s, launched today on the film funding and distribution platform Seed&Spark at seedandspark.com/fund/parkway-of-broken-dreams

Running from Sept. 17 to Oct. 17, the Parkway of Broken Dreams crowdfunding project is part of Seed&Spark's Hometown Heroes rally, in which hometown-centered films (both fiction and nonfiction) can qualify for an opportunity to be executive produced by Duplass Brothers Productions, Salem Street Entertainment, and UnLTD Productions. In order to qualify, the project has 30 days to not only raise at least 80% of its $15,000 funding goal, but also to gain 1,000 followers on the website.

Directed by journalist, cartoonist and filmmaker Pj Perez, Parkway of Broken Dreams documents the booming scene that sprung up along Maryland Parkway in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when it became the thriving center of cultural activity in Las Vegas. Independently owned coffee shops filled with academics and intellectuals. Multiple record stores, including a massive Tower Records, served as premier destinations for local musicologists. Bars and clubs buzzed with live music, flowing taps and warm bodies. And UNLV's student-run radio station, KUNV, provided the soundtrack, through its innovative and award-winning Rock Avenue programming.

By the dawn of the 2000s, however, that scene almost entirely disappeared. Coffeehouses shuttered. Record stores went under. Rock Avenue was cancelled. The art and music scene, for the most part, moved to downtown Las Vegas, and Maryland Parkway today is–with the exception of official UNLV construction projects–a collection of decades-old shopping centers with little more in common than their aging exteriors.

The scene that rose up out of the late '80s and early '90s–paralleling the national mainstreaming of alternative music and coffeehouse culture–serves not just as a high-point in Las Vegas' cultural history, but as the "big bang" for almost everything to come after that. Nightlife pioneers got their start putting on after-hours events in tiny cafes and bars. Rock Avenue DJs became music industry powerhouses. An Emmy-award winning TV writer honed his skills over cheap cups of coffee. Everyone from future Saturday Night Live stars to members of The Killers owe at least part of their creative lives to the opportunities afforded them from the inclusive, come-as-you-are nature of the Maryland Parkway cultural scene.

Parkway of Broken Dreams tells the story of that scene's ascendance and dissolution through a combination of new interviews with dozens of the people who made it all happen and curated footage that captures both the visual expression of the scene and a view of where Maryland Parkway currently stands—as well as where it may be going. More information about the film and its production can be found at parkwayofbrokendreams.com.

Parkway of Broken Dreams is Perez's first feature. He co-wrote and co-directed the 48 Hour Film Sugarhook, produced and directed the reality-style short Las Vegas Rules, and currently has several television pilots in development. Although currently based in Huntington Beach, California, he spent 25 years in Las Vegas as an editor, writer and musician, and like many other creatives, honed his skills in the Maryland Parkway scene.

Signature Tracks Premieres "ARMED" Original Motion Picture Soundtrack

Signature Tracks is thrilled to release their highly anticipated original motion picture soundtrack for the new crime drama, Armed, on September 14, 2018. The album is now available on most digital platforms including iTunes and Spotify. Signature Tracks is one of the most innovative music production houses in the industry, composing for countless high profile projects and networks such as NBCUniversal (Bravo, E!), Viacom (MTV, VH1), A+E (A&E, History), Discovery (TLC, Discovery), Omnicom, and more. The album features an original score by the talented composers and team at Signature Tracks, led by co-founders Russell Howard, Adam Malka, and David Lasman. "Since our inception, we've recruited the highest level composers that had hit records on the radio but wanted a more consistent income stream. And we taught them how to score to content. Because of this, the transition from television to film has been seamless and we're excited for audiences to hear the score for Armed," shared David Lasman.

"Mario is extremely hands-on. We worked directly with him when creating and editing the soundtrack," music supervisor and composer, Adam Malka, explained. "I would go to his house and endlessly watch pictures and demo music to the picture to see what his feeling is, and together we picked all the songs scene-by-scene. The result is something that we are all tremendously proud of and we look forward to the audience reaction."

"The musical palate has some cool Latin underscores in certain scenes," continued Malka, "but the score and sound of the film, overall, has an electronic synth sound with vocals that are very haunting like a James Bond film."

Russell Howard who most notably produced Jay-Z's Grammy-nominated album The Life and Times of S. Carter before co-founding Signature Tracks said, "Mario has an incredible vision and there is a reason that he is at the top of his game. The talent clearly runs in the family. On the soundtrack, you'll hear a couple tracks we produced that feature his sons, Mandela and Makaylo Van Peebles, rapping."

Written, directed by, and starring critically acclaimed artist Mario Van Peebles, Armed follows the story of Chief (Mario Van Peebles), a former U.S. Marshall, who has fallen on hard times after a raid that went horribly wrong. As Chief struggles to get his life back on track, a former colleague reappears in his life and explains that all of the survivors from his unit are suffering similarly and that there may be a larger conspiracy at hand.

# # #

Listen to the Armed album here now

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/2p96CPH

iTunes: https://apple.co/2MyQHnb

For more information on Signature Tracks: Website

ABOUT SIGNATURE TRACKS:

Co-founded by Russell Howard, Adam Malka, and David Lasman, Signature Tracks is one of the most prolific music production houses in the entertainment industry today. With over 2,000 TV series, films, awards shows, and album credits, Signature Tracks most notably contributed music to the most recent seasons of ABC's The Bachelor and The Bachelorette. They've also provided original music for E's Keeping Up with The Kardashians, Universal's Unfriended, and CBS's People's Choice Awards, as well as the theme songs for Comedy Central's The Jim Jeffries Show and CBS's The Price Is Right.

Signature Tracks has also been hired by Viacom (MTV, VH1), Discovery Channel, and A&E Networks to create a distinct musical palette for their channels, including scoring several shows and many on-air promotions as the networks seek to freshen their musical aesthetic and add production value.

Shortly after high school, childhood friends Russell, Adam, and David moved from the suburbs of Philadelphia to Los Angeles where lead composer, Russell, met rap icon Jay-Z, who immediately loved his music. On the spot, Jay-Z purchased two tracks for his album, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S. Carter. This jump started Russell's career, leading him to a Grammy nomination and collaborations with DMX, Seal, and Lupe Fiasco, among others. David, who previously worked as a producer on shows like Millionaire Matchmaker and Alpha Dogs, was frustrated with the lack of original and exciting music for television. This motivated him to team up with Russell and Adam to start Signature Tracks, with the goal of specializing in delivering the most current sounds to picture while maintaining the important balance between costs and results for their clients.

Summer Hill Films accelerates the North American DVD and VOD release of the commuter drama, Gridlock!

Film tells the story of David Martin, rage filled, and trampled by life, he drives through a series of phone calls which crush him further into a confined space.

The film stars the actor, writer and producer, Jeff Houkal who is most known for Fox TV's 'Lethal Weapon' (2016), 'Life in Pieces' (2017) and `General Hospital' (2018). Houkel's company, Violet State Productions, made the film and has also recently released the film, Edge of Isolation, through IndieRights.

The film also stars, Brighid Fleming, known as Heather in the television series 'Dog with a Blog' (2014-2015) and `Labor Day' (2013). Wolfgang Bodison is best remembered for his performance as Lance Corporal Harold Dawson in `A Few Good Men' (1992) and in the thriller `Cyber Case' (2015). Laura Coover is known for `Another Happy Day' (2011), `Agent Carter' (2015) and `The Playboy Club' (2011).

Directed by, Daniel Imperiale. He worked as a cinematographer on a slew of projects and has written and directed a half dozen of short films of his own, including as Iris, Bonbonniere '71 and Angrez. Gridlock is Daniel's feature directorial debut.

"We are very excited to release this unique film," says Summer Hill Films President, Ted Chalmers, "Anyone who has suffered the L.A. freeways will relate to this nightmare."

"Gridlock is a unique film experience that requires a special audience," says Jeff Houkal, "Summer Hill is the right team to help us find that audience.  We are very excited!"

'Gridlock,' is now available in North America on DVD with VOD from Amazon, Google Play, and Xbox coming soon. It will also be available on Amazon UK and internationally licensed through Summer Hill Entertainment which attends all the major film sales markets including EFM, Marché du Film, AFM and Hong Kong Filmart!

"The Jersey Devil" To Take On Atlantic City?

Embed from Getty Images

Award Winning Actor / Producer Keith Collins Birthday Bash And A Special Celebration Of The Soon To Be Released Film "The Samaritans"

Collins, known for starring in worldwide indie hits such as the comedy cult film "The Jersey Devil" and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment's Psychological Thriller "The Evangelist" is set to celebrate Jersey Devil style in none other than, you guessed it, Atlantic City, New Jersey!! The VIP Birthday event is taking place Saturday night October 6th at AC Hotspot SCORES Nightclub. Nightlife Impresario Barry Mullineaux's powerhouse company Perk Marketing which does the marketing for the venue and Robert's Steakhouse are located in the newly opened Hard Rock Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City, NJ. We hear many special celebrity guests are expected with some surprise live performances not to be missed. The event also is a celebration for the highly anticipated soon to be released thriller "The Samaritans"


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ki6wMYIP46o&t=32s

CHRISTOPER MANN JOINS BONNIE BEDELIA AS HONOREES AT 2018 ATLANTIC CITY CINEFEST

Atlantic City Cinefest has added actor Christopher Mann, a Chester, Pa. native, to its honoree list, joining Golden Globe and Emmy nominee Bonnie Bedelia as Lifesaver Award winners. The actors will be honored on Sunday night at Dante Hall Theater at the conclusion of the 11^th annual film festival Oct. 12 to 14.

Mann, best known for his role as Councilman Tony Gray on the HBO series, “The Wire,” made his television debut on NBC’s “Homicide Life On The Streets.” He has appeared on television shows such as “Law & Order” – both SVU and Criminal Intent - “Heroes,” “Kidnapped,” “Blue Bloods,” “House of Cards”, “Mindhunters” and more.

He also acted in films including “Loving”, “Michael Clayton”, “Duplicity” and “The Bourne Legacy”. In addition to “What Death Leaves Behind”, set to play at the festival in the 3:30 p.m. block on Oct. 14 at Dante Hall, Mann will be featured in “Luce” starring Naomi Watts, Tim Roth, Kelvin Harrison Jr. and Octavia Spencer. He also appears in “The Nomads” with Tika Sumpter and Tate Donovan and the newest installment in the Rocky franchise, “Creed II” starring Michael B. Jordan, Sylvester Stallone and Tessa Thompson.

“Attracting an actor of Chris’ caliber is a big one for the Atlantic City Cinefest, especially with his starring role in one of our selected films,” says festival president, Joelle Sokolic.

Bedelia will also host a screening of “Die Hard” to mark the 30th anniversary of the film, where she played Holly Gennero McClane, Bruce Willis’ wife. She also appeared in “Die Hard 2.” The screening occurs Oct. 13 at 7:30 p.m. in Dante Hall. In addition, Bedelia will be a panelist on the filmmaking panel at Dante Hall on Saturday Oct. 13 from 2 to 3 p.m.

Bedelia received a Golden Globe nomination as Best Actress for her role as drag racer Shirley Muldowney in “Heart Like a Wheel” and Emmy nominations for her performance in the children's special “Locked in Silence” and as Guest Actress in the series’ “Fallen Angels” episode, “The Quiet Room,” directed by Steven Soderbergh. The native New Yorker co-starred as Camille Braverman, the matriarch of the family in the television version of “Parenthood,” which ran for six years.

Tickets for the Atlantic City Cinefest are $5 for a single block of films, including “Die Hard”, $25 for a Saturday or Sunday pass and $40 for an all festival pass. Tickets are available online at www.dantehallstockton.org for a $2 service charge. They are also available at the door.

The Atlantic City Cinefest celebrates the art form of independent moviemaking. The festival has hosted Kevin Smith, Terry Winter, Robert Downey, Sr., Blanche Baker, Scott Rosenfelt, William Forsythe, Dominique Swain and Brian O'Halloran during the first nine years. Presented by Downbeach Film Festival, the Cinefest shows movies at Dante Hall Theater, 14 N. Mississippi Avenue and the Noyes Arts Garage, 2200 Fairmount Avenue. Both venues are managed by Stockton University.