Exclusive: Charlie Gillespie (Julie and the Phantoms), Kyla Kenedy (Mr. Mayor) and Sterling Beaumon (Your Lucky Day) are attached to star in Shattered Ice, a New England hockey drama from director Alex Ranarivelo.
Written by Jake Miskin, the film finds high school hockey bruiser Will Mankus (Gillespie) more lost than ever following the unexpected loss of his best friend and star player, Danny (Beaumon), to suicide. As his alcohol consumption intensifies and his mental health declines, Mankus must lift himself up from rock bottom with the help of his small-town New England community to find hope and pursue his dreams of playing college hockey.
Set to round out the cast of Shattered Ice are Oscar Wahlberg (Manchester by the Sea), Pat Shea (Behind the Cage: The Real Life of a College Hockey Player) and Cole Tristan Murphy (The Holdovers).
Dan Sheldon, Ben Stephen, Christopher Nelson and Miskin will produce, with...
Written by Jake Miskin, the film finds high school hockey bruiser Will Mankus (Gillespie) more lost than ever following the unexpected loss of his best friend and star player, Danny (Beaumon), to suicide. As his alcohol consumption intensifies and his mental health declines, Mankus must lift himself up from rock bottom with the help of his small-town New England community to find hope and pursue his dreams of playing college hockey.
Set to round out the cast of Shattered Ice are Oscar Wahlberg (Manchester by the Sea), Pat Shea (Behind the Cage: The Real Life of a College Hockey Player) and Cole Tristan Murphy (The Holdovers).
Dan Sheldon, Ben Stephen, Christopher Nelson and Miskin will produce, with...
- 12/14/2023
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
Alex Ranarivelo has done a great job directing the romantic film Holiday in the Vineyards. The movie revolves around the story of Carter Baldwyn, the heir to a renowned wine company, and Valentina, a realtor who has been trying to back local winemakers. Holiday in the Vineyards has a wonderful cast, including Josh Swickard and Sol Rodriguez, which adds charm to the movie. The film has a festive vibe entangled with romance elements, which can be paralleled with the film Your Christmas or Mine. Will Carter be able to ensure that the local essence of Huckabee Vineyards is maintained? Will the differences between Valentina and Carter be resolved? Let’s find out!
Spoiler Alert
Why Does Carter’s Mother Send Him To Los Santos?
Carter is given a task by his mother to go to Los Santos when she learns that the vineyard there is up for sale. She wants...
Spoiler Alert
Why Does Carter’s Mother Send Him To Los Santos?
Carter is given a task by his mother to go to Los Santos when she learns that the vineyard there is up for sale. She wants...
- 12/14/2023
- by Debjyoti Dey
- Film Fugitives
Amazon Freevee has announced that it will stream Casa Grande, a bilingual limited series that examines the everyday realities and conflicts between California’s migrant workforce and the landowners who reap the profits.
Created by Lauren Swickard (A California Christmas) and Ali Afshar, Casa Grande follows the intertwining lives of various families in the farmlands of Northern California and is described as an “upstairs/downstairs story transposed from turn-of-the century English countryside to rural America.” It stars John Pyper-Ferguson, Christina Moore, Madison Lawlor (Juniper), Karen Bethzabe (Babylon), Javier Bolaños (All American), Raquel Dominguez (Chicago Med), James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Kate Mansi (Days of Our Lives), Daniel Edward Mora (Coco), Loren Escandon (The Baxters), and Ali Afshar (He’s Just Not That Into You).
All five one-hour episodes of the English and Spanish language limited series will premiere on Monday, May 1.
“We...
Created by Lauren Swickard (A California Christmas) and Ali Afshar, Casa Grande follows the intertwining lives of various families in the farmlands of Northern California and is described as an “upstairs/downstairs story transposed from turn-of-the century English countryside to rural America.” It stars John Pyper-Ferguson, Christina Moore, Madison Lawlor (Juniper), Karen Bethzabe (Babylon), Javier Bolaños (All American), Raquel Dominguez (Chicago Med), James Marsters (Buffy The Vampire Slayer), Kate Mansi (Days of Our Lives), Daniel Edward Mora (Coco), Loren Escandon (The Baxters), and Ali Afshar (He’s Just Not That Into You).
All five one-hour episodes of the English and Spanish language limited series will premiere on Monday, May 1.
“We...
- 3/20/2023
- by Lynette Rice
- Deadline Film + TV
Amazon Freevee has landed the exclusive first-run U.S. rights to “Casa Grande,” a bilingual limited series that follows the tales of California’s hardworking, often undocumented migrant workforce, as well as the wealthy landowners in Northern California.
The series, which consists of five one-hour episodes, premieres May 1 on Freevee. Lauren Swickard (“A California Christmas”) and Ali Afshar created “Casa Grande,” which comes from Afshar’s Esx Entertainment shingle.
Series stars include John Pyper-Ferguson, Christina Moore, Madison Lawlor (“Juniper”), Karen Bethzabe (“Babylon”), Javier Bolaños (“All American”), Raquel Dominguez (“Chicago Med”), James Marsters (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Kate Mansi (“Days of Our Lives”), Daniel Edward Mora (“Coco”), Loren Escandon (“The Baxters”) and Ali Afshar (“He’s Just Not That Into You”).
Latin filmmaker Gabriela Tagliavini (“Despite Everything”) directed the series; Swickard serves as showrunner and also wrote the series with Alex Ranarivelo and Michael Cruz. Other executive producers include Ava Rettke and Daniel Aspromonte.
The series, which consists of five one-hour episodes, premieres May 1 on Freevee. Lauren Swickard (“A California Christmas”) and Ali Afshar created “Casa Grande,” which comes from Afshar’s Esx Entertainment shingle.
Series stars include John Pyper-Ferguson, Christina Moore, Madison Lawlor (“Juniper”), Karen Bethzabe (“Babylon”), Javier Bolaños (“All American”), Raquel Dominguez (“Chicago Med”), James Marsters (“Buffy The Vampire Slayer”), Kate Mansi (“Days of Our Lives”), Daniel Edward Mora (“Coco”), Loren Escandon (“The Baxters”) and Ali Afshar (“He’s Just Not That Into You”).
Latin filmmaker Gabriela Tagliavini (“Despite Everything”) directed the series; Swickard serves as showrunner and also wrote the series with Alex Ranarivelo and Michael Cruz. Other executive producers include Ava Rettke and Daniel Aspromonte.
- 3/20/2023
- by Michael Schneider
- Variety Film + TV
For quite some time now, Christmas has come every day for Ali Afshar.
The actor, producer and former race car driver is founder and president of Esx Entertainment, a prolific indie film and TV production company that’s made its name in recent years pumping Yuletide content to streamers amid the pandemic.
The projects are modestly budgeted and shot efficiently and safely, mostly due to Afshar’s commandeering of his hometown — a sleepy Sonoma County village called Petaluma, where he built a soundstage from a converted barn and mines below-the-line crew from local residents. Titles include Netflix’s “A California Christmas” and its sequel “City Lights,” and the HBO Max originals “A Christmas Mystery,” “A Hollywood Christmas” and “Holiday Harmony.”
Afshar’s well-oiled Christmas machine functions at such a level that, during a recent conversation with Variety, he revealed he was in the middle of shooting another film — “A Wine Country Christmas.
The actor, producer and former race car driver is founder and president of Esx Entertainment, a prolific indie film and TV production company that’s made its name in recent years pumping Yuletide content to streamers amid the pandemic.
The projects are modestly budgeted and shot efficiently and safely, mostly due to Afshar’s commandeering of his hometown — a sleepy Sonoma County village called Petaluma, where he built a soundstage from a converted barn and mines below-the-line crew from local residents. Titles include Netflix’s “A California Christmas” and its sequel “City Lights,” and the HBO Max originals “A Christmas Mystery,” “A Hollywood Christmas” and “Holiday Harmony.”
Afshar’s well-oiled Christmas machine functions at such a level that, during a recent conversation with Variety, he revealed he was in the middle of shooting another film — “A Wine Country Christmas.
- 3/17/2023
- by Matt Donnelly
- Variety Film + TV
The new comedy feature "A Hollywood Christmas", directed by Alex Ranarivelo, stars Jessika Van, Josh Swickard, Anissa Borrego, Riley Dandy, Zak Steiner, Tom Williamson and Missi Pyle, now streaming on HBO Max:
"...'Jessica' (Jessika Van) is a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood who has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when network executive 'Christopher' (Josh Swickard) shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, 'Reena' (Anissa Borrego), points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one!
"Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings. Is there enough Christmas magic to pull it off? In...
"...'Jessica' (Jessika Van) is a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood who has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when network executive 'Christopher' (Josh Swickard) shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, 'Reena' (Anissa Borrego), points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one!
"Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings. Is there enough Christmas magic to pull it off? In...
- 12/24/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
The holidays started early in Tinseltown (and elsewhere), beginning with James Cameron missing his own “Avatar: The Way of Water” Hollywood premiere, knocked down with a bout of Covid and moving on to New York’s first look at “Whitney Houston: I Wanna Dance With Somebody.” Santa turned up at Christina Moore and John Ducey’s “I Believe in Santa” Netflix premiere and there was even a Christmas Con! Meanwhile, Damien Chazelle brought a much less family-friendly flick, “Babylon,” to the City of Angels in another splashy premiere.
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
Dolby Theatre, Hollywood
Stars Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington attend the U.S. premiere of “Avatar: The Way of Water” in Hollywood. (Courtesy 20th Century Studios)
It was well worth the wait! Disney transported fans into Pandora for the “Avatar: The Way of Water premiere” at the Dolby Theatre. Stepping inside, it was as...
“Avatar: The Way of Water”
Dolby Theatre, Hollywood
Stars Stephen Lang, Sigourney Weaver and Sam Worthington attend the U.S. premiere of “Avatar: The Way of Water” in Hollywood. (Courtesy 20th Century Studios)
It was well worth the wait! Disney transported fans into Pandora for the “Avatar: The Way of Water premiere” at the Dolby Theatre. Stepping inside, it was as...
- 12/23/2022
- by Jenny Peters
- The Wrap
I Believe in Santa is a romantic comedy starring Christina Moore y John Ducey. It is directed by Alex Ranarivelo.
Are you expecting another cookie cutter rom-com set in New York? Well, then you are in for a surprise. This flick isn’t set in New York.
Premise
Lisa thinks she’s finally met the man of her dreams until she finds out he still believes in Santa Claus.
About the Movie
Do you remember The Noel Diary? Possibly not, because it was neither a grand movie nor was it intended to stay on the anyone’s retina for its visuals. If that movie was not outstanding, this new Netflix Christmas number is even less so, exhibiting its TV production arsenal and following the manual on how to produce a limited budget, family friendly, clichéd and light movie without dying in the process.
One has to be very undemanding not...
Are you expecting another cookie cutter rom-com set in New York? Well, then you are in for a surprise. This flick isn’t set in New York.
Premise
Lisa thinks she’s finally met the man of her dreams until she finds out he still believes in Santa Claus.
About the Movie
Do you remember The Noel Diary? Possibly not, because it was neither a grand movie nor was it intended to stay on the anyone’s retina for its visuals. If that movie was not outstanding, this new Netflix Christmas number is even less so, exhibiting its TV production arsenal and following the manual on how to produce a limited budget, family friendly, clichéd and light movie without dying in the process.
One has to be very undemanding not...
- 12/14/2022
- by Veronica Loop
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
A Hollywood Christmas is a romantic comedy starring Jessika Van and Josh Swickard. This quirky Christmas movie for the entire family is directed by Alex Ranarivelo.
Christmas in the studio.
Premise
Jessica, a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when handsome network executive Christopher shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, Reena, points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one. Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—her actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog, and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings.
Movie Review
Do you remember The Player (1992)? It was a close to brilliant movie in which Robert Altman would elaborate his close up shots,...
Christmas in the studio.
Premise
Jessica, a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when handsome network executive Christopher shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, Reena, points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one. Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—her actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog, and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings.
Movie Review
Do you remember The Player (1992)? It was a close to brilliant movie in which Robert Altman would elaborate his close up shots,...
- 12/6/2022
- by Elisabeth Plank
- Martin Cid Magazine - Movies
Producer Ali Afshar and Esx Entertainment has become a big supplier of holiday movies for HBO Max with count ’em, three coming up: two on Thanksgiving — Holiday Harmony and A Christmas Mystery and one one on Dec. 1, A Hollywood Christmas.
Holiday Harmony follows singer/songwriter Gail (Annelise Cepero) who lands an opportunity to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the big time, and heads cross country—until she breaks down in Harmony Springs, Oklahoma. With just two weeks to get to the iHeartRadio Christmas Eve performance of her dreams, she takes the advice of local Jack-of-all-trades, Jeremy (Jeremy Sumpter), and takes on a group of misfit kids hoping to perform in a Christmas Eve Gala of their own. Gail and Jeremy grow close, but if she’s going to fulfill her lifelong dream, she may have to leave him and the town she’s grown to love behind. Brooke Shields...
Holiday Harmony follows singer/songwriter Gail (Annelise Cepero) who lands an opportunity to compete for a once-in-a-lifetime shot at the big time, and heads cross country—until she breaks down in Harmony Springs, Oklahoma. With just two weeks to get to the iHeartRadio Christmas Eve performance of her dreams, she takes the advice of local Jack-of-all-trades, Jeremy (Jeremy Sumpter), and takes on a group of misfit kids hoping to perform in a Christmas Eve Gala of their own. Gail and Jeremy grow close, but if she’s going to fulfill her lifelong dream, she may have to leave him and the town she’s grown to love behind. Brooke Shields...
- 11/19/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
The new comedy feature "A Hollywood Christmas", directed by Alex Ranarivelo, stars Jessika Van, Josh Swickard, Anissa Borrego, Riley Dandy, Zak Steiner, Tom Williamson and Missi Pyle, streaming December 1, 2022 on HBO Max:
"...'Jessica' (Jessika Van) is a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood who has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when network executive 'Christopher' (Josh Swickard) shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, 'Reena' (Anissa Borrego), points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one!
"Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings. Is there enough Christmas magic to pull it off? In Hollywood...
"...'Jessica' (Jessika Van) is a young, up-and-coming filmmaker in Hollywood who has made a name for herself directing Christmas movies. But when network executive 'Christopher' (Josh Swickard) shows up threatening to halt production on her latest movie, Jessica’s assistant, 'Reena' (Anissa Borrego), points out the irony: Jessica isn’t just trying to save her Christmas movie, she’s actually living in one!
"Jessica must now juggle all the classic tropes—actors falling in and out of love, a wayward elf dog and her own stirring romantic feelings for her perceived nemesis—in order to get her movie and her life to their happy endings. Is there enough Christmas magic to pull it off? In Hollywood...
- 11/15/2022
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Exclusive: We hear that four holiday movies have received HBO Max release dates as of Wednesday: Legendary’s Christmas Story sequel, A Christmas Story Christmas for November 17 this year, and three yuletide titles from Esx Entertainment: Holiday Harmony and A Christmas Mystery both on November 24 and A Hollywood Christmas on December 1.
A Christmas Story Christmas from director Clay Kaytis and producers Irwin Zwilling, Marc Toberoff, Cale Boyter, Jay Ashenfelter, Peter Billingsley and Vince Vaughn follows Ralphie, who is all grown up now. He must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley reprises his role as Ralphie. Erinn Hayes, Julianna Layne, River Drosche, Rd Robb and Scott Schwartz along with Zack Ward and Julie Hagerty also star.
The romantic drama Holiday Harmony from producers Ali Afshar, Lauren Swickard and Daniel Aspromonte, and directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino, follows singer-songwriter Gail, who...
A Christmas Story Christmas from director Clay Kaytis and producers Irwin Zwilling, Marc Toberoff, Cale Boyter, Jay Ashenfelter, Peter Billingsley and Vince Vaughn follows Ralphie, who is all grown up now. He must deal with Christmas and all that comes with it, this time as a dad. Peter Billingsley reprises his role as Ralphie. Erinn Hayes, Julianna Layne, River Drosche, Rd Robb and Scott Schwartz along with Zack Ward and Julie Hagerty also star.
The romantic drama Holiday Harmony from producers Ali Afshar, Lauren Swickard and Daniel Aspromonte, and directed by Shaun Paul Piccinino, follows singer-songwriter Gail, who...
- 8/24/2022
- by Anthony D'Alessandro
- Deadline Film + TV
Exclusive: Dennis Quaid has signed on to star in The Hill, a family drama penned by Angelo Pizzo and the late Scott Marshall Smith, who passed away in December.
The film will tell the true story of Rickey Hill, a kid who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also a story about family, and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Quaid will portray Rickey’s father, Pastor Hill, an instinctively protective man who doesn’t want his son to go out into the world to pursue his dream, fearing that he’ll get ridiculed for his disability. Ultimately, Hill’s tough exterior is broken as Rickey grows up and proves his natural ability.
Jeff Celentano is directing the film, cast by Rick Montgomery (Green Book), which will go before cameras in Georgia in November.
He’s also producing alongside Warren Ostergard, with Matthew Dwyer, Michael Hollingsworth, Michael Blubaugh and Rickey Hill serving as exec producers.
The rest of the film’s cast has not yet been announced.
“I’m setting out to make an iconic film in the classic sense, a beautiful sweeping and powerful inspirational story. One that will stand the test of time like Blindside, Rudy, Field of Dreams and The Natural. Dennis was the first and only person I thought of for the lead role upon reading the script,” said Celentano. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he has the ability to play a loving, caring father while at the same time a staunch, powerful man – all the qualities needed to bring Pastor Hill’s character to life.”
“Since the 1970s in particular, the sports film has gained increasing recognition as one of the most important and popular genres in contemporary cinema,” added Quaid. “I couldn’t be more excited about this project. This film will no doubt further validate the power of American social mobility and show that in America you can choose to be what you want.”
Quaid is an Emmy nominee and two-time Golden Globe nominee best known on the film side for turns in Yours, Mine & Ours, In Good Company, The Day After Tomorrow, Cold Creek Manor, Far from Heaven, The Rookie, Wyatt Earp, Postcards from the Edge and other titles.
The actor’s recent TV credits include Netflix’s Merry Happy Whatever, Amazon’s Goliath and Fortitude, and Crackle’s The Art of More.
He’ll next appear in Alex Ranarivelo’s Born a Champion, Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle, Andrew and Jon Erwin’s American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, Ray Giarratana’s The Tiger Rising, Sean McNamara’s Reagan, in which he’ll play the actor-turned president, and more.
Quaid is represented by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
The film will tell the true story of Rickey Hill, a kid who overcame his physical disability to play professional baseball. Given the complexities Rickey faced in his relationship with his father, his is a story about more than just athletics. It’s also a story about family, and what one young man can do to follow his dream.
Quaid will portray Rickey’s father, Pastor Hill, an instinctively protective man who doesn’t want his son to go out into the world to pursue his dream, fearing that he’ll get ridiculed for his disability. Ultimately, Hill’s tough exterior is broken as Rickey grows up and proves his natural ability.
Jeff Celentano is directing the film, cast by Rick Montgomery (Green Book), which will go before cameras in Georgia in November.
He’s also producing alongside Warren Ostergard, with Matthew Dwyer, Michael Hollingsworth, Michael Blubaugh and Rickey Hill serving as exec producers.
The rest of the film’s cast has not yet been announced.
“I’m setting out to make an iconic film in the classic sense, a beautiful sweeping and powerful inspirational story. One that will stand the test of time like Blindside, Rudy, Field of Dreams and The Natural. Dennis was the first and only person I thought of for the lead role upon reading the script,” said Celentano. “There’s no doubt in my mind that he has the ability to play a loving, caring father while at the same time a staunch, powerful man – all the qualities needed to bring Pastor Hill’s character to life.”
“Since the 1970s in particular, the sports film has gained increasing recognition as one of the most important and popular genres in contemporary cinema,” added Quaid. “I couldn’t be more excited about this project. This film will no doubt further validate the power of American social mobility and show that in America you can choose to be what you want.”
Quaid is an Emmy nominee and two-time Golden Globe nominee best known on the film side for turns in Yours, Mine & Ours, In Good Company, The Day After Tomorrow, Cold Creek Manor, Far from Heaven, The Rookie, Wyatt Earp, Postcards from the Edge and other titles.
The actor’s recent TV credits include Netflix’s Merry Happy Whatever, Amazon’s Goliath and Fortitude, and Crackle’s The Art of More.
He’ll next appear in Alex Ranarivelo’s Born a Champion, Julio Quintana’s Blue Miracle, Andrew and Jon Erwin’s American Underdog: The Kurt Warner Story, Ray Giarratana’s The Tiger Rising, Sean McNamara’s Reagan, in which he’ll play the actor-turned president, and more.
Quaid is represented by UTA, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Hansen, Jacobson, Teller.
- 8/16/2021
- by Matt Grobar
- Deadline Film + TV
"Born a Champion" is the new martial arts action feature, directed by Alex Ranarivelo, starring Katrina Bowden, Dennis Quaid and Sean Patrick Flanery, now on digital and demand:
"...'Mickey Kelley', one of the first American black belts in Brazilian 'jiu-jitsu', gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned 'Mma' tournament..."
Click the images to enlarge....
"...'Mickey Kelley', one of the first American black belts in Brazilian 'jiu-jitsu', gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned 'Mma' tournament..."
Click the images to enlarge....
- 1/25/2021
- by Unknown
- SneakPeek
Born a Champion Trailer — Alex Ranarivelo‘s Born a Champion (2021) movie trailer has been released by Lionsgate and stars Sean Patrick Flanery, Katrina Bowden, Dennis Quaid, Reno Wilson, Costas Mandylor, Maurice Compte, Paul J. Alessi, Chris Boudreaux, Marshelle Fair, William W. Barbour, Jonathan Kowalsky, Johnny Jay Lee, Christine Kilmer, and Ali Afshar. Crew Flanery and [...]
Continue reading: Born A Champion (2021) Movie Trailer: Sean Patrick Flanery & Dennis Quaid star in Alex Ranarivelo’s Martial Arts Drama Film...
Continue reading: Born A Champion (2021) Movie Trailer: Sean Patrick Flanery & Dennis Quaid star in Alex Ranarivelo’s Martial Arts Drama Film...
- 11/30/2020
- by Rollo Tomasi
- Film-Book
"There is always some theoretical fighter who thinks he can take on the pros." Lionsgate has unveiled an official trailer for a Mma fighter film titled Born a Champion, from French filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo. The film is co-written by and stars actor Sean Patrick Flanery as Mickey Kelly, one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Set in the 1990s, the film follows Mickey as he finds himself pulled into an unsanctioned Mma tournament in the hopes of providing for his family. The full cast also includes Dennis Quaid, Katrina Bowden, Currie Graham, Costas Mandylor, Maurice Compte, Reno Wilson, and Ali Afshar. This has all the usual fight film tropes, and doesn't seem to be unique at all especially with the military subplot, but it does look like Flanery is giving one hell of a performance at least. Check it out below. Here's the official trailer (+ poster) for Alex Ranarivelo's Born a Champion,...
- 11/20/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Warner Bros. has picked up the worldwide sales rights to Esx Entertainment’s political drama series “Casa Grande,” which award-winning Argentine director Gabriela Tagliavini (“How to Break Up With Your Douchebag”) has been tapped to direct.
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will handle international sales while Warner Bros. Television Group does domestic.
Inspired by true events, the dramatic series of five one-hour episodes follows several families in the farmland of Northern California as it navigates universal themes of class, immigration, culture and family.
“There’s a war about race in our country taking place right now, and we decided to take the bull by the horns,” said Tagliavini, adding: “We show in provocative scenes how hate and violence are originated by fear.”
“I’m proud to be part of this political series; this controversial show will have people talking,” she asserted.
John Pyper-Ferguson (“The Last Ship”) and Christina Moore (“Claws...
Warner Bros. International Television Distribution will handle international sales while Warner Bros. Television Group does domestic.
Inspired by true events, the dramatic series of five one-hour episodes follows several families in the farmland of Northern California as it navigates universal themes of class, immigration, culture and family.
“There’s a war about race in our country taking place right now, and we decided to take the bull by the horns,” said Tagliavini, adding: “We show in provocative scenes how hate and violence are originated by fear.”
“I’m proud to be part of this political series; this controversial show will have people talking,” she asserted.
John Pyper-Ferguson (“The Last Ship”) and Christina Moore (“Claws...
- 11/18/2020
- by Anna Marie de la Fuente
- Variety Film + TV
“The Ride” begins with a scene of unexpected brutality, engineered by a racist, feral kid. Even so, its “inspired by a true story” promise at the start rings a little tinny. And early on, the BMX-meets-“love wins” drama about a boy whose white supremacist roots and abusive home life land him in juvenile detention has an afterschool-special veneer, albeit somewhat gritty. The over-emotive score, particularly at the outset, punctuates the violence and the sentiment unnecessarily.
But the movie, streaming on Amazon, gains emotional traction when seven years later, John McCord finds himself released to an interracial foster couple. The reason for the film’s emotional resonance owes less to the screenplay — which teases too many easy tropes — than it does to the slow-burn chemistry between Shane Graham, who plays John of the set jaw and racist quips, and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, who portrays the foster father who has seen a lot worse.
But the movie, streaming on Amazon, gains emotional traction when seven years later, John McCord finds himself released to an interracial foster couple. The reason for the film’s emotional resonance owes less to the screenplay — which teases too many easy tropes — than it does to the slow-burn chemistry between Shane Graham, who plays John of the set jaw and racist quips, and Chris “Ludacris” Bridges, who portrays the foster father who has seen a lot worse.
- 11/15/2020
- by Peter Debruge
- Variety Film + TV
With films like The Help, Hidden Figures, and Green Book in the rearview mirror, I foolishly thought that Hollywood had learned its lesson and the patronizing, clichéd white savior narrative would be put to rest for at least another decade or so. In a time when the Black Lives Matter movement has never been more visible in mainstream media and conversations around racism and white supremacy are inspiring cultural reckoning, you would hope someone would think twice before going forward with a film where a Black man "saves" a white supremacist teen. But no, instead, we have The Ride, an upcoming indie film inspired by the real-life story of BMX star John Buultjens.
Related: Viola Davis Thoughtfully Explains Why She Regrets Her Role in The Help
According to the synopsis, the film follows John McCord (Shane Graham), a young man from a troubled upbringing who lands in juvenile detention after a violent "racially-charged" incident.
Related: Viola Davis Thoughtfully Explains Why She Regrets Her Role in The Help
According to the synopsis, the film follows John McCord (Shane Graham), a young man from a troubled upbringing who lands in juvenile detention after a violent "racially-charged" incident.
- 11/12/2020
- by Mekishana Pierre
- Popsugar.com
"Did you think it was going to be easy?" Roadside Attractions has debuted another new official US trailer for an indie drama titled The Ride, from filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo, about the life of a pro BMX rider from Glasgow, Scotland. This originally premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival in 2018, and we featured a promo trailer back then. The Ride, also known as just Ride, is about BMX pro John Buultjens, as played by Shane Graham in the film. Raised by a white supremacist family, John spent most of his youth locked up in a juvenile detention center. He eventually gets introduced to a foster family, only to discover his new father is black, but together they work through to overcome his racism and "form a bond that helps thrust him down the path to BMX glory." Also starring Ludacris, Sasha Alexander, Blake Sheldon, Jessica Serfaty, Ali Afshar, Nic Luken,...
- 11/5/2020
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
“We’re gonna lose the farm, son!” husks country star Trace Adkins in the trailer for “Bennett’s War,” which then goes on to further suggest the viewer is in for a steaming pile of platitudinous corn, with a side order of flag-waving. And indeed, Alex Ranarivelo’s sports drama has a pretty hokey story gist: Wounded military veteran forces himself to miraculously recover his full mobility so he can return to motocross racing and get that prize money to … yep, save the family farm.
Maybe such on-the-nose marketing works for some Heartland audiences, but the good news about that bad trailer is that it does this film a disservice. While “War” may be a duly formulaic feel-gooder at heart, it also soft-pedals the more potentially heavy-handed emotional beats to pleasing effect.
Modest but enjoyable, with some exciting race footage, it should provide an inviting alternative for audiences on the...
Maybe such on-the-nose marketing works for some Heartland audiences, but the good news about that bad trailer is that it does this film a disservice. While “War” may be a duly formulaic feel-gooder at heart, it also soft-pedals the more potentially heavy-handed emotional beats to pleasing effect.
Modest but enjoyable, with some exciting race footage, it should provide an inviting alternative for audiences on the...
- 8/31/2019
- by Dennis Harvey
- Variety Film + TV
Exclusive: Fledgling La film production and distribution outfit Forrest Films is gearing up on mixed martial arts movie drama Mickey Kelley, which will star Sean Patrick Flanery (Powder), Katrina Bowden (30 Rock) and Dennis Quaid (The Day After Tomorrow) alongside Mma fighters Renzo Gracie, Edson Barboza, and Mickey Gall.
Set in 1990, the film follows Mickey Kelley (Flanery), one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned Mma tournament, where his dreams of providing for his family come to a halt with a split-second decision. His life goes off the rails until years later he gets a shot at redemption.
Alex Ranarivelo (American Wrestler) will direct the pic, currently in pre-production. Flanery and Alex Ranarivelo teamed to co-write the screenplay, from a story Flanery created.
Supporting cast includes Maurice Compte (Narcos), Reno Wilson (Transformers) and Currie Graham (Pompeii). Ali Afshar...
Set in 1990, the film follows Mickey Kelley (Flanery), one of the first American black belts in Brazilian jiu-jitsu, who gets pulled away from everything he loves and into an unsanctioned Mma tournament, where his dreams of providing for his family come to a halt with a split-second decision. His life goes off the rails until years later he gets a shot at redemption.
Alex Ranarivelo (American Wrestler) will direct the pic, currently in pre-production. Flanery and Alex Ranarivelo teamed to co-write the screenplay, from a story Flanery created.
Supporting cast includes Maurice Compte (Narcos), Reno Wilson (Transformers) and Currie Graham (Pompeii). Ali Afshar...
- 7/16/2019
- by Andreas Wiseman
- Deadline Film + TV
"Going wheel to wheel is not smart for someone in your condition." Forrest Films has debuted an official trailer for an indie injured war veteran meets racing sports drama titled Bennett's War, the latest from filmmaker Alex Ranarivelo. The film is about a young soldier in the Army Motorcycle Unit named Marshall Bennett, who is injured by an Ied while serving in combat. He returns home and makes a remarkable comeback from a broken back and leg to be a champion motorcross racer. Michael Roark stars as Bennett, with a cast including country star Trace Adkins, plus Ali Afshar, Allison Paige, Hunter Clowdus, Brando Eaton, Tony Panterra, Michael King, & Taylor Kalupa. This looks exactly as cheesy and kitschy and uber heroic as described, but maybe that's what works for this. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Alex Ranarivelo's Bennett's War, direct from YouTube: After surviving an Ied explosion in combat overseas,...
- 5/30/2019
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
Roster includes Motocross drama Bennett’s War.
Radiant Films International has kicked off talks on a pair of titles with Us theatrical deals in place – Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges action drama The Ride, and Bennett’s War.
The Ride recounts the life of Glaswegian pro BMX rider and author John Buultjens, who grew up with an abusive father and wanted to ride ever since he watched E.T.
When he was adopted by foster parents, Buultjens received a bicycle on his tenth birthday and a lifelong love affair began. He moved to Australia and eventually California, where he became the global...
Radiant Films International has kicked off talks on a pair of titles with Us theatrical deals in place – Chris ‘Ludacris’ Bridges action drama The Ride, and Bennett’s War.
The Ride recounts the life of Glaswegian pro BMX rider and author John Buultjens, who grew up with an abusive father and wanted to ride ever since he watched E.T.
When he was adopted by foster parents, Buultjens received a bicycle on his tenth birthday and a lifelong love affair began. He moved to Australia and eventually California, where he became the global...
- 5/16/2019
- by Jeremy Kay
- ScreenDaily
Friday at New York Comic Con, Co-Op Entertainment and Legion M unveiled plans for Girl With No Name, a female-led Western action-adventure movie produced by Co-Op’s Laura Ivey (Walking Out, Ithaca) and directed by Tanya Wexler (Hysteria). But the story won’t be constrained to the screen.
Ahead of the release of Girl With No Name the movie, audiences will have the chance to meet the eponymous hero in a 40-page comic book published by Legion M called A1Shot, developed by Dave Elliott at AtomekART. Adapted in part from Alex Ranarivelo’s screenplay, the comic book has an appropriately female-centric creative team: Co-Op ...
Ahead of the release of Girl With No Name the movie, audiences will have the chance to meet the eponymous hero in a 40-page comic book published by Legion M called A1Shot, developed by Dave Elliott at AtomekART. Adapted in part from Alex Ranarivelo’s screenplay, the comic book has an appropriately female-centric creative team: Co-Op ...
- 10/5/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Film + TV
Friday at New York Comic Con, Co-Op Entertainment and Legion M unveiled plans for Girl With No Name, a female-led Western action-adventure movie produced by Co-Op’s Laura Ivey (Walking Out, Ithaca) and directed by Tanya Wexler (Hysteria). But the story won’t be constrained to the screen.
Ahead of the release of Girl With No Name the movie, audiences will have the chance to meet the eponymous hero in a 40-page comic book published by Legion M called A1Shot, developed by Dave Elliott at AtomekART. Adapted in part from Alex Ranarivelo’s screenplay, the comic book has an appropriately female-centric creative team: Co-Op ...
Ahead of the release of Girl With No Name the movie, audiences will have the chance to meet the eponymous hero in a 40-page comic book published by Legion M called A1Shot, developed by Dave Elliott at AtomekART. Adapted in part from Alex Ranarivelo’s screenplay, the comic book has an appropriately female-centric creative team: Co-Op ...
- 10/5/2018
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Wonderful Trailer For The Film Ride which Tells the Inspiring True Story of BMX Rider John Buultjens
I've got a trailer here for you to watch for a great looking indie film called Ride. It co-stars Ludacris and it tells the true story of BMX rider John Buultjens from Glasgow, Scotland.
Buultjens, who is played by Shane Graham, was raised by a white supremacist family and he got into a lot of trouble growing up. He spent a lot of his youth locked away in a juvenile detention center. He eventually came under the care of a foster family, the father of which is African American. As they overcame the challenges of racism, they ended up forming a bond and in the process, John learned how to be one hell of a talented BMX athlete!
The film tells a powerful story and it looks like it's actually a great film! Ever since I was a kid I've enjoyed the sport of BMX riding and it's cool to...
Buultjens, who is played by Shane Graham, was raised by a white supremacist family and he got into a lot of trouble growing up. He spent a lot of his youth locked away in a juvenile detention center. He eventually came under the care of a foster family, the father of which is African American. As they overcame the challenges of racism, they ended up forming a bond and in the process, John learned how to be one hell of a talented BMX athlete!
The film tells a powerful story and it looks like it's actually a great film! Ever since I was a kid I've enjoyed the sport of BMX riding and it's cool to...
- 4/19/2018
- by Joey Paur
- GeekTyrant
"I promise not to quit if you don't." Check out this trailer for a little indie film profiling the life of a BMX rider from Glasgow, Scotland. Ride is about BMX pro John Buultjens, played by Shane Graham. Raised by a white supremacist family, John spent most of his youth locked up in a juvenile detention center. He eventually gets introduced to a foster family, only to discover his new father is black, but together they work through to overcome his racism and "form a bond that helps thrust him down the path to BMX glory." The cast includes Ludacris, Sasha Alexander, Blake Sheldon, Jessica Serfaty, Ali Afshar, Nic Luken, Christina Moore, and Zaire Adams. This is premiering at the Newport Beach Film Festival, and should hit theaters later this summer. This looks very good, featuring a sport we don't usually see on the big screen. Here's the first official...
- 4/17/2018
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
11th Gasparilla International Film Festival to Screen 35 Features Including J.K. Simmons’ ‘All Nighter’“All Nighter”
The 11th edition of Tampa’s most prominent film event, Suncoast Credit Union’s Gasparilla International Film Festival (Giff), will take place March 2-March 9, 2017 at the Tampa Theater and AMC Centro Ybor. Gavin Wiesen’s “All Nighter,” starring Academy Award-winner J. K. Simmons will have its World Premiere as part of the festival.
A total of 35 films and over 70 shorts will screen over eight days and will include international and regional premieres of narrative features, documentaries and short films from around the world. In addition to the film program, Giff will also feature master classes and panel discussions.
The title sponsor, Suncoast Credit Union, has been committed to the festival for three consecutive years with the goal of bringing quality entertainment and enrichment to the community. The Suncoast Credit Union also sponsors the Family Fun...
The 11th edition of Tampa’s most prominent film event, Suncoast Credit Union’s Gasparilla International Film Festival (Giff), will take place March 2-March 9, 2017 at the Tampa Theater and AMC Centro Ybor. Gavin Wiesen’s “All Nighter,” starring Academy Award-winner J. K. Simmons will have its World Premiere as part of the festival.
A total of 35 films and over 70 shorts will screen over eight days and will include international and regional premieres of narrative features, documentaries and short films from around the world. In addition to the film program, Giff will also feature master classes and panel discussions.
The title sponsor, Suncoast Credit Union, has been committed to the festival for three consecutive years with the goal of bringing quality entertainment and enrichment to the community. The Suncoast Credit Union also sponsors the Family Fun...
- 3/1/2017
- by Carlos Aguilar
- Sydney's Buzz
Suncoast Credit Union Gasparilla International Film Festival (Giff) announced its official selection for the annual event held at the Tampa Theater and AMC Centro Ybor in Tampa, Florida, from March 2-March 9.
The festival will host the world premiere for All Nighter starring Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons and directed by Gavin Wiesen.
There will be 35 films and over 70 shorts, in which it will host international and regional premieres of narrative features, documentaries and short films around the world.
Here are the highlighted line up of the films:
Opening Night Film:
Burn Your Maps: A nine-year-old boy, grieving with his parents over the recent loss of his baby sister, becomes obsessed with the idea that he’s a Mongolian goat herder who belongs back home in his small village in Mongolia. Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Suraj Sharma. Directed by Jordan Roberts
Closing Night Film:
Unleashed: When...
The festival will host the world premiere for All Nighter starring Academy Award winner J.K. Simmons and directed by Gavin Wiesen.
There will be 35 films and over 70 shorts, in which it will host international and regional premieres of narrative features, documentaries and short films around the world.
Here are the highlighted line up of the films:
Opening Night Film:
Burn Your Maps: A nine-year-old boy, grieving with his parents over the recent loss of his baby sister, becomes obsessed with the idea that he’s a Mongolian goat herder who belongs back home in his small village in Mongolia. Cast: Vera Farmiga, Jacob Tremblay, Virginia Madsen, Suraj Sharma. Directed by Jordan Roberts
Closing Night Film:
Unleashed: When...
- 2/22/2017
- by Gig Patta
- LRMonline.com
“Running Wild” follows the story of Stella Davis (Dorian Brown Pham), a beautiful young woman whose husband dies in a car accident. After becoming a widow, Stella saves her ranch by working with a group of convicts. Watch an exclusive clip below.
Read More: An Unlikely Hero Is Tasked With Preventing Iran From Going Nuclear in ‘Patriot’ – Trailer
The clip shows the moment Stella meets the group that will help her save her ranch. Their crimes range from tax evasion and online fraud to possession of firearms, vehicular homicide and grand larceny. While working with these convicts, Stella finds herself facing prejudice, greed and bureaucracy.
The cast includes Sharon Stone (“Basic Instinct”), Tommy Flanagan (“Gladiator”), Jason Lewis (“Sex in the City”), and Tom Williamson (“All Cheerleaders Die”). Flanagan plays the leader of the convicts, and Stone is the villain of the story.
Read More: Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning Turn on...
Read More: An Unlikely Hero Is Tasked With Preventing Iran From Going Nuclear in ‘Patriot’ – Trailer
The clip shows the moment Stella meets the group that will help her save her ranch. Their crimes range from tax evasion and online fraud to possession of firearms, vehicular homicide and grand larceny. While working with these convicts, Stella finds herself facing prejudice, greed and bureaucracy.
The cast includes Sharon Stone (“Basic Instinct”), Tommy Flanagan (“Gladiator”), Jason Lewis (“Sex in the City”), and Tom Williamson (“All Cheerleaders Die”). Flanagan plays the leader of the convicts, and Stone is the villain of the story.
Read More: Kirsten Dunst and Elle Fanning Turn on...
- 2/9/2017
- by Yoselin Acevedo
- Indiewire
Welcome back to the Weekend Warrior, your weekly look at the new movies hitting theaters this weekend, as well as other cool events and things to check out.
This Past Weekend:
Bomb, bomb bomb bomb, Boooooomb! Things just kept getting worse and worse at the box office as this past weekend saw more new releases not meeting up to their potential. The horribly-reviewed horror movie Rings (Paramount) ended up around where I predicted with $13 million, taking second place to M. Night Shyamalan’s Split. The sci-fi romance The Space Between Us (Stx Entertainment) didn’t make much of a mark, opening in ninth place with just $3.8 million with about $1,300 per theater. Robert De Niro’s The Comedian (Sony Classics) tanked worse than many recent movies, making less than a million in 848 theaters or about $1,000 per theater. By comparison, the doc I Am Not Your Negro made about 78% of that amount in 800 less theaters.
This Past Weekend:
Bomb, bomb bomb bomb, Boooooomb! Things just kept getting worse and worse at the box office as this past weekend saw more new releases not meeting up to their potential. The horribly-reviewed horror movie Rings (Paramount) ended up around where I predicted with $13 million, taking second place to M. Night Shyamalan’s Split. The sci-fi romance The Space Between Us (Stx Entertainment) didn’t make much of a mark, opening in ninth place with just $3.8 million with about $1,300 per theater. Robert De Niro’s The Comedian (Sony Classics) tanked worse than many recent movies, making less than a million in 848 theaters or about $1,000 per theater. By comparison, the doc I Am Not Your Negro made about 78% of that amount in 800 less theaters.
- 2/8/2017
- by Edward Douglas
- LRMonline.com
"These men may spend the night in jail, there may be guards all over the place, but when they're with these horses they're free." One Media has debuted a trailer for a film titled Running Wild, a drama about a woman trying to save her ranch by working with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses that came on to her property. This stars Dorian Brown as Stella Davis, the rancher woman who learns that "there is no better remedy to misfortune than helping another living creature." Indeed. Sharon Stone also stars, along with Tommy Flanagan, Christina Moore, Jason Lewis, Tom Williamson, John Ducey, & Michael Wiseman. This looks like a straight-to-tv Hallmark movie, but somehow it's sneaking into some theaters. Here's the first official trailer (+ poster) for Alex Ranarivelo's Running Wild, direct from YouTube: Running Wild is about Stella Davis, a widow who saves her ranch by working...
- 12/19/2016
- by Alex Billington
- firstshowing.net
A teen refugee from Iran finds that athletic-based school pride can (eventually) trump prejudice in American Wrestler: The Wizard, a cumbersomely named coming-of-age pic by Alex Ranarivelo. Based on the experiences of producer Ali Afshar, who here plays the uncle who helped young Ali adjust to American life, the film adds Reagan-era Islamophobia to a wholly conventional sports film; though it's only a middling example of its genre, these themes may help the movie win over some viewers who are especially sensitive to the treatment of immigrants in the age of Trump.
Young Ali (George Kosturos) is a hustler in...
Young Ali (George Kosturos) is a hustler in...
- 12/17/2016
- by John DeFore
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Sp Releasing and Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Running Wild in select theaters and On Demand February 10, 2017.
Running Wild tells the story of a young widow trying to save her ranch following her husband’s fatal car crash. She creates a convict rehabilitation program, working with a herd of wild horses that have wandered onto her property. She did not anticipate the greed, bureaucracy and vanity that she must overcome to heal the convicts, the horses and ultimately herself.
Check out the trailer:
Running Wild stars Sharon Stone (Casino, Basic Instinct), Tommy Flanagan (FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” Gladiator), Jason Lewis (NBC’s “Midnight, Texas,” HBO’s “Sex and the City”), Dorian Brown Pham (FX’s “Wilfred,” Home Run), and Tom Williamson (Freeform’s “The Fosters,” All Cheerleaders Die). The film is directed by Alex Ranarivelo (American Wrestler: The Wizard) and written by multi-hyphenate Christina Moore (Pray for Rain,...
Running Wild tells the story of a young widow trying to save her ranch following her husband’s fatal car crash. She creates a convict rehabilitation program, working with a herd of wild horses that have wandered onto her property. She did not anticipate the greed, bureaucracy and vanity that she must overcome to heal the convicts, the horses and ultimately herself.
Check out the trailer:
Running Wild stars Sharon Stone (Casino, Basic Instinct), Tommy Flanagan (FX’s “Sons of Anarchy,” Gladiator), Jason Lewis (NBC’s “Midnight, Texas,” HBO’s “Sex and the City”), Dorian Brown Pham (FX’s “Wilfred,” Home Run), and Tom Williamson (Freeform’s “The Fosters,” All Cheerleaders Die). The film is directed by Alex Ranarivelo (American Wrestler: The Wizard) and written by multi-hyphenate Christina Moore (Pray for Rain,...
- 12/16/2016
- by Tom Stockman
- WeAreMovieGeeks.com
Exclusive: Fast & Furious regular and rap star Chris “Ludacris” Bridges has been tapped to star in BMX, an inspirational action drama based on the true story of BMX rider John Buultjens. Alex Ranarivelo (Running Wild, Praying For Rain) is directing the film from a script he co-wrote with Hadeel Reda, Jean-Marie Sobeck and Jack Reher. Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar’s Esx Entertainment are producing in their latest collaboration with the director. Shane Graham (Boyhood) stars…...
- 10/26/2016
- Deadline
To help sift through the increasing number of new releases (independent or otherwise), the Weekly Film Guide is here! Below you’ll find basic plot, personnel and cinema information for all of this week’s fresh offerings.
Starting this month, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for July 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, July 8. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Director: Jake Szymanski
Cast: Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Zac Efron
Synopsis: Two brothers place an online ad to find dates for a wedding and the ad goes viral.
The Secret Life of Pets
Director: Chris Renaud,...
Starting this month, we’ve also put together a list for the entire month. We’ve included this week’s list below, complete with information on screening locations for films in limited release.
See More: Here Are All the Upcoming Movies in Theaters for July 2016
Here are the films opening theatrically in the U.S. the week of Friday, July 8. All synopses provided by distributor unless listed otherwise.
Wide
Mike and Dave Need Wedding Dates
Director: Jake Szymanski
Cast: Adam DeVine, Anna Kendrick, Aubrey Plaza, Zac Efron
Synopsis: Two brothers place an online ad to find dates for a wedding and the ad goes viral.
The Secret Life of Pets
Director: Chris Renaud,...
- 7/8/2016
- by Steve Greene
- Indiewire
‘The Dog Lover’ Exclusive Clip: An Undercover Animal Rights Activist Struggles To Do The Right Thing
“The Dog Lover” follows Sara Gold (Allison Paige), a rising star at the United Animal Protection Agency (Uapa), a major animal rights organization that seeks to stop puppy mills and conducts animal rescues. When Sara is tasked to go undercover as a college intern at a suspected puppy mill run by the conservative, enigmatic Daniel Holloway (James Remar), she jumps at the chance to shine.
Though initially gruff and reluctant to get to know Sara, Daniel slowly warms up to her and she soon starts to fall for his son William (Jayson Blair). More importantly, she doesn’t see any signs of animal abuse. But when the Uapa and local law enforcement raid the farm and accuse Daniel of animal abuse, Sara is torn between doing what’s right and doing her job, between the family she’s grown to love and the organization she swore to protect.
The film...
Though initially gruff and reluctant to get to know Sara, Daniel slowly warms up to her and she soon starts to fall for his son William (Jayson Blair). More importantly, she doesn’t see any signs of animal abuse. But when the Uapa and local law enforcement raid the farm and accuse Daniel of animal abuse, Sara is torn between doing what’s right and doing her job, between the family she’s grown to love and the organization she swore to protect.
The film...
- 7/8/2016
- by Vikram Murthi
- Indiewire
The Dog Lover Esx Entertainment Reviewed by: Harvey Karten, Shockya Grade: B+ Director: Alex Ranarivelo Written by: Ali Afshar, Alex Ranarivelo Cast: James Remar, Lea Thompson, Jayson Blair, Christine Moore, Allison Paige Screened at: Critics’ link, NYC, 6/10/16 Opens: July 8, 2016 There’s a saying that many people find difficult to believe and it goes like this: The road to hell is paved with good intentions. In other words, do-gooders may discover that actions to which they commit, the ones that give them the feeling that there’s a halo over their heads, are bad news. Still don’t believe it? Then you owe it to yourself to watch “The Dog Lover,” [ Read More ]
The post The Dog Lover Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post The Dog Lover Movie Review appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/4/2016
- by Harvey Karten
- ShockYa
Exclusive: Mimi Steinbauer and her team will introduce buyers in Cannes to the coming-of-age film starring William Fichtner, Jon Voight, Gabriel Basso, Lia Marie Johnson and newcomer George Kosturos.
Alex Ranarivelo directed American Wrestler: The Wizard, which will screen in the Cannes market on May 17 and recently premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Brian Rudnick wrote the screenplay inspired by true events of high school wrestling champion Ali Afshar, who is featured in the film and is a producer alongside Hadeel Reda.
Forrest Lucas and Protect The Harvest serve as executive producers and Ashley Michaelsen is a co-producer.
Kosturos stars as Afshar, an outcast teenage immigrant sent to live with his uncle in the small Northern California town of Petaluma where he joins the floundering high school wrestling team.
He teams up with the inspiring coach and leads the team to success.
“It’s amazing what young kids can do when they put their minds to it,” said...
Alex Ranarivelo directed American Wrestler: The Wizard, which will screen in the Cannes market on May 17 and recently premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
Brian Rudnick wrote the screenplay inspired by true events of high school wrestling champion Ali Afshar, who is featured in the film and is a producer alongside Hadeel Reda.
Forrest Lucas and Protect The Harvest serve as executive producers and Ashley Michaelsen is a co-producer.
Kosturos stars as Afshar, an outcast teenage immigrant sent to live with his uncle in the small Northern California town of Petaluma where he joins the floundering high school wrestling team.
He teams up with the inspiring coach and leads the team to success.
“It’s amazing what young kids can do when they put their minds to it,” said...
- 5/5/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Exclusive: Entourage alum Kevin Dillon and newcomer DeRon Horton have been cast as the leads in Dirt, a drama from director Alex Ranarivelo. Forrest Lucas is financing the film and will produce alongside his Esx Entertainment partner Ali Afshar. Dirt centers on Dez Truss (Horton), a 17-year-old who is caught boosting cars for an auto-theft ring and is given one last chance to set his life straight by a compassionate mentor. He introduces the kid to Rick Radden (Dillon), a…...
- 5/4/2016
- Deadline
Claire Carré’s Embers scooped best feature film in the juried awards as the southern California festival came to an end.
Carré was also named best director, while George Kosuros won best actor for American Wrestler: The Lizard. Best documentary went to Off The Rails by Adam Irving.
In the audience awards, Jeremy Profe’s The Lennon Report and Jesse Shapiro’s Nobody Walks In La took the feature film prize.
Zack Bennett and Kevin Schlanser prevailed in the documentary category for The Ataxian, while Dmitry Meskhiev’s Battalion (Russia) was named best foreign film.
The Outstanding achievement in filmmaking: feature film award went to Alex Ranarivelo for American Wrestler: The Wizard, and The Violin Teacher director Sergio Machado and The Innocents director Anne Fontaine collected the corresponding prize for foreign film.
Bob Yari took the directing honours for Papa: Hemingway In Cuba, while Dev Patel and Evanna Lynch were named best actors for The Man Who Knew Infinity and My Name Is Emily...
Carré was also named best director, while George Kosuros won best actor for American Wrestler: The Lizard. Best documentary went to Off The Rails by Adam Irving.
In the audience awards, Jeremy Profe’s The Lennon Report and Jesse Shapiro’s Nobody Walks In La took the feature film prize.
Zack Bennett and Kevin Schlanser prevailed in the documentary category for The Ataxian, while Dmitry Meskhiev’s Battalion (Russia) was named best foreign film.
The Outstanding achievement in filmmaking: feature film award went to Alex Ranarivelo for American Wrestler: The Wizard, and The Violin Teacher director Sergio Machado and The Innocents director Anne Fontaine collected the corresponding prize for foreign film.
Bob Yari took the directing honours for Papa: Hemingway In Cuba, while Dev Patel and Evanna Lynch were named best actors for The Man Who Knew Infinity and My Name Is Emily...
- 5/2/2016
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
War Machine
Anthony Michael Hall ("The Dark Knight," "Foxcatcher") has been cast opposite Brad Pitt in David Michod's provocative, satirical comedy "War Machine" at Plan B Entertainment and Netflix. The story is based on the book "The Operators" by Michael Hastings.
Pitt plays a four-star general whose lethal reputation and impeccable track record vaults him to command the American war in Afghanistan. Hall will play General Hank Pulver, his second in command. Filming begins later this month. [Source: Deadline]
Holding Patterns
Odeya Rush, Freddie Highmore and Haley Joel Osment have been set to topline Jake Goldberger's coming-of-age dramedy "Holding Patterns" which is in production in Alabama.
The story centers on a man (Highmore) in his mid-20s and still living at home with his mother and stepfather who puts all his eggs in one basket: the girl (Rush) who works at his local coffee shop. Catch is she has a serious...
Anthony Michael Hall ("The Dark Knight," "Foxcatcher") has been cast opposite Brad Pitt in David Michod's provocative, satirical comedy "War Machine" at Plan B Entertainment and Netflix. The story is based on the book "The Operators" by Michael Hastings.
Pitt plays a four-star general whose lethal reputation and impeccable track record vaults him to command the American war in Afghanistan. Hall will play General Hank Pulver, his second in command. Filming begins later this month. [Source: Deadline]
Holding Patterns
Odeya Rush, Freddie Highmore and Haley Joel Osment have been set to topline Jake Goldberger's coming-of-age dramedy "Holding Patterns" which is in production in Alabama.
The story centers on a man (Highmore) in his mid-20s and still living at home with his mother and stepfather who puts all his eggs in one basket: the girl (Rush) who works at his local coffee shop. Catch is she has a serious...
- 8/19/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Sometimes creativity comes from the most unexpected of collaborations, and a new example of this is Running Wild – a drama that is about to commence shooting with Sharon Stone newly signed on to star. The production is among the first for Esx Entertainment, which is a partnership between actor and producer Ali Afshar (The Wrong Side Of Right), and oil magnate Forrest Lucas, of Lucas Oil.
The female-led story sees the widowed Stella Davis work with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses, and save her ranch. The morality tale will see Stella battle bigotry and corruption, and will feature Sharon Stone in the role of Meredith – essentially the villain of the piece. Directed by frequent Afshar collaborator Alex Ranarivelo (the Born To Race video franchise), with a script by veteran TV actress and first-time writer Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick (Not Quite An Angel), Running Wild is, for all intents and purposes,...
The female-led story sees the widowed Stella Davis work with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses, and save her ranch. The morality tale will see Stella battle bigotry and corruption, and will feature Sharon Stone in the role of Meredith – essentially the villain of the piece. Directed by frequent Afshar collaborator Alex Ranarivelo (the Born To Race video franchise), with a script by veteran TV actress and first-time writer Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick (Not Quite An Angel), Running Wild is, for all intents and purposes,...
- 8/19/2015
- by Sarah Myles
- We Got This Covered
The star has joined the drama from Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar’s recently launched Esx Entertainment. Separately, Ving Rhames is on board Alcon’s comedy Bastards.
Alex Ranarivelo will direct Running Wild from a screenplay by Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick about a widow who saves her ranch by working with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses that wandered on to her property.
Principal photography is scheduled to start this week in Napa, California. Stone will play the antagonist.
Esx Entertainment finances and produces the project and Lucas and Afshar serve as producers. Moore is co-producer.
Ving Rhames has joined Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Jk Simmons and former NFL star Terry Bradshaw in the comedy Bastards, which marks the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Lawrence Sher from The Hangover films and will shoot in Atlanta and Miami in September. Warner Bros will distribute in the Us.
Alex Ranarivelo will direct Running Wild from a screenplay by Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick about a widow who saves her ranch by working with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses that wandered on to her property.
Principal photography is scheduled to start this week in Napa, California. Stone will play the antagonist.
Esx Entertainment finances and produces the project and Lucas and Afshar serve as producers. Moore is co-producer.
Ving Rhames has joined Ed Helms, Owen Wilson, Jk Simmons and former NFL star Terry Bradshaw in the comedy Bastards, which marks the feature directorial debut of cinematographer Lawrence Sher from The Hangover films and will shoot in Atlanta and Miami in September. Warner Bros will distribute in the Us.
- 8/18/2015
- by jeremykay67@gmail.com (Jeremy Kay)
- ScreenDaily
Star Trek Beyond
British actress Lydia Wilson ("About Time," "Ripper Street") has joined the cast of the Justin Lin-directed "Star Trek Beyond" for Paramount and Skydance. The film is slated to open on July 8th next year.
Details of her role are being kept under wraps, not a surprise as the same is true of Idris Elba's villain role in the movie which is currently shooting in Canada. She's one of several new cast members this time around with others including Joe Taslim and Sofia Boutella. [Source: Variety]
Rainbow Six Siege
Ubisoft has announced that "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege" has been delayed by a month and a half and will now hit stores December 1st rather than October 13th.
The reason for the delay is said to be due to adjustments and improvements being required across all game modes, most notably the co-op elements and interface navigation. The...
British actress Lydia Wilson ("About Time," "Ripper Street") has joined the cast of the Justin Lin-directed "Star Trek Beyond" for Paramount and Skydance. The film is slated to open on July 8th next year.
Details of her role are being kept under wraps, not a surprise as the same is true of Idris Elba's villain role in the movie which is currently shooting in Canada. She's one of several new cast members this time around with others including Joe Taslim and Sofia Boutella. [Source: Variety]
Rainbow Six Siege
Ubisoft has announced that "Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege" has been delayed by a month and a half and will now hit stores December 1st rather than October 13th.
The reason for the delay is said to be due to adjustments and improvements being required across all game modes, most notably the co-op elements and interface navigation. The...
- 8/18/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Sharon Stone is set to star in Running Wild, a drama from Esx Entertainment, the newly launched outfit from Lucas Oil head Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar. Alex Ranarivelo is directing the film, from a script by Christina Moore and Brian Rudnick. Principal photography begins this week in Napa, CA. The pic centers on Stella Davis, a widow who saves her ranch by working with convicts to rehabilitate a herd of wild horses that wandered on to her property. She must fight…...
- 8/18/2015
- Deadline
Director Alex Ranarivelo has signed on to helm the drama Running Wild, for Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar's newly launched Esx Entertainment. The film follows a widowed ranch owner who works with ex convicts to rehabilitate the wild horses that wander onto her property. In doing so she saves her ranch, but must confront prejudice, greed, vanity and bureaucracy while learning that helping other living creatures is a great remedy for misfortune. Running Wild is tied to…...
- 7/29/2015
- Deadline
Several in the works projects have secured some directors.
"Hitman: Agent 47" director Aleksander Bach is set to helm the alien invasion tale "Revoc" for Summit Entertainment and Mandeville Films/TV. Joe Robert Cole penned the script for the grounded sci-fi epic, but plot details are being kept under wraps. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing.
Next up, Alex Ranarivelo has signed on to direct the drama "Running Wild" for Esx Entertainment. Brian Rudnick penned the script while Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar will produce and filming begins mid-August in California's Napa Valley.
The story follows a widowed ranch owner who works with ex convicts to rehabilitate the wild horses that wander onto her property. In doing so she saves her ranch, but must confront prejudice, greed, vanity and bureaucracy.
After that comes word that "It Follows" director David Robert Mitchell will next be tackling an untitled project which...
"Hitman: Agent 47" director Aleksander Bach is set to helm the alien invasion tale "Revoc" for Summit Entertainment and Mandeville Films/TV. Joe Robert Cole penned the script for the grounded sci-fi epic, but plot details are being kept under wraps. David Hoberman and Todd Lieberman are producing.
Next up, Alex Ranarivelo has signed on to direct the drama "Running Wild" for Esx Entertainment. Brian Rudnick penned the script while Forrest Lucas and Ali Afshar will produce and filming begins mid-August in California's Napa Valley.
The story follows a widowed ranch owner who works with ex convicts to rehabilitate the wild horses that wander onto her property. In doing so she saves her ranch, but must confront prejudice, greed, vanity and bureaucracy.
After that comes word that "It Follows" director David Robert Mitchell will next be tackling an untitled project which...
- 7/29/2015
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
Los Angeles was the host to the Esx Entertainment special screening of “The Wrong Side of Right.” The film premiered Tuesday at Hollywood’s Tcl Chinese 6 Theatres. In attendance were several of the film’s stars, including Lea Thompson, Allison Paige, Christina Moore and Jayson Blair, Brandon Eaton and Annabelle Kavanaugh, as well as director Alex Ranarivelo, producer/actor Ali Afshar, and the man who’s the basis for the film, Daniel Christensen. Other guests included Missi Pyle, John Ducey, Lucas Oil Porducts’ Forrest Lucas and Charlotte Lucas, Jeff Probst, fashion designer Ashley Michaelsen, Caitlin O’Connor, Alice Aoki, radio personality Trent Loos and Caitlyn Carver. Take a look at a gallery of photos [ Read More ]
The post Stars Come Out to Support Special Screening of Suspense Drama The Wrong Side of Right appeared first on Shockya.com.
The post Stars Come Out to Support Special Screening of Suspense Drama The Wrong Side of Right appeared first on Shockya.com.
- 7/15/2015
- by monique
- ShockYa
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