Showing posts with label Movies Related. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Movies Related. Show all posts

18 September 2020

David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'

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David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'
David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary' (image via BRON Studios)
BAFTA, Emmy and Golden Globe nominee David Oyelowo (Selma), Olivia Washington (The Butler), Emmy award winner Barry Pepper (Saving Private Ryan) and Jimmie Fails (The Last Black Man in San Francisco) will star in writer/director Nate Parker's next feature film Solitary from BRON Studios. 

  • The film begins production next week in Vancouver, British Columbia.
After a wrongfully imprisoned man (Oyelowo) endures the mental torture of seven years of solitary confinement he is released into a world in which self-isolation is the new normal. As he tries to rebuild a life with his fiancé (Washington) and son, he is plagued by deep-seated trauma which creates unimaginable danger for both him and the family he's battling to protect.
Solitary is the latest project from BRON in their continuing mission to bring socially conscious and underrepresented stories to the forefront of cinema. BRON believes that these narratives must be captivating and compelling while also empowering, so that we may shape our communities and our future for the better.

David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'
David Oyelowo (Photo Credit: Kevin Scanlon)
David Oyelowo's credits include Golden Globe nominated performances in Selma and the HBO drama Nightingale. Additional credits include the mini-series Les Misérables, The Queen of Katwe, and Lee Daniels' The Butler

  • His feature directorial debut, The Water Man, premiered at this year's Toronto Film Festival to critical acclaim.
David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'
Olivia Washington (Photo Credit: John Keon)
Olivia Washington was most recently in The Public Theater's presentation of Much Ado About Nothing. She is also known for her work in Lee Daniels' The Butler and guest performances on Empire, Madoff, Mr. Robot, and Spike Lee's She's Gotta Have It

  • She will next been seen in Joel Coen's upcoming Shakespeare adaptation, The Tragedy of Macbeth, from Scott Rudin and A24, as well as the John Lee Hancock thriller The Little Things from Warner Bros.
David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'
Barry Pepper (Photo Credit: Matt Sayles, AP)
Barry Pepper has a history of taking on courageous and dramatic roles such as those in Saving Private Ryan, The Green Mile and True Grit. He received an Emmy for his portrayal of Bobby Kennedy in The Kennedys and a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Roger Maris in the HBO sports drama 61*. 

  • Pepper can recently be seen in the disaster horror film Crawl.
David Oyelowo, Olivia Washington, Barry Pepper And Jimmie Fails To Star In 'Solitary'
Jimmie Fails (Photo Credit: Adam Newport-Berra)
Jimmie Fails starred in the critically acclaimed film The Last Black Man in San Francisco, which he co-wrote with his best friend and longtime collaborator, Joe Talbot. The film premiered at the 2019 Sundance Film Festival and won both the Directing Award and the U.S. Dramatic Special Jury Award. 

  • Fails can next be seen in acclaimed director Kornél Mundruczó's Pieces of a Woman, which recently premiered at the Venice Film Festival and was swiftly picked up by Netflix.

Nate Parker (The Birth of a Nation) is set to write, direct, and produce the feature with Aaron L. Gilbert (Bombshell) of BRON Studios, Christina Lee Storm (The Least of These) on behalf of Yoruba Saxon Productions and David Oyelowo (The Water Man). Jason Cloth (Joker) of Creative Wealth Media is executive producer.

The casting directors are Mary Vernieu (Knives Out, Looper, Silver Linings Playbook) and Michelle Wade Byrd (Bird Box, Girls Trip). The production designer is two-time Oscar nominee Jan Roelfs (Gattaca, Orlando). The director of photography is Elliot Davis (Out of Sight, The Birth of a Nation). The costume designer is Emmy nominee Christopher Hargadon (Once Upon a Mattress, The Umbrella Academy), and Kate Weiss (Shooter) has joined as first AD.

About BRON:

BRON is a worldwide media and entertainment company committed to furthering the art and craft of meaningful commercial storytelling. Focused on the strategic development, production and financing of original live-action and animated features, television and digital media content, BRON has been instrumental in more than 100 productions and has built a robust slate of upcoming projects across all platforms. 


The company's filmmaker-first approach, built on inclusion, innovation and respect, has helped BRON solidify creative relationships with elite talent from an array of backgrounds. 


The company's full roster of acclaimed releases includes Academy Award® winning films such as Bombshell, Roman J. Israel Esq., Fences, and the box-office record-breaking film Joker as well as Clint Eastwood's The Mule, Leave No Trace, The Willoughbys, Queen & Slim, The Way Back starring Ben Affleck, Greyhound starring Tom Hanks and Jason Reitman's The Front Runner and Tully, among others.


Upcoming film releases include Barry Levinson's Harry Haft, starring Ben Foster; Taylor Sheridan's Those Who Wish Me Dead, starring Angelina Jolie; David Lowery's The Green Knight, starring Dev Patel; Jordan Peele's Candyman; the Aretha Franklin biography Respect, starring Jennifer Hudson; Judas and the Black Messiah, starring Daniel Kaluuya and LaKeith Stanfield, and Ghostbusters: Afterlife, the third collaboration with Jason Reitman.


BRON recently wrapped production on Måns Mårlind's 8-episode series, Shadowplay, starring Taylor Kitsch and Michael C. Hall.


Founded in 2010 by Aaron L. Gilbert and Brenda Gilbert, BRON Studios is headquartered in Vancouver, with offices in Los Angeles, New York and Toronto.
SOURCE: BRON

9 September 2020

'Apocalypse Love Story' is a Film the World Needs Today [Trailer Included]

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'Apocalypse Love Story' is a Film the World Needs Today
"Apocalypse Love Story" trailer released by award-winning director Justin Wilder Neese
Award-winning director and producer Justin Wilder Neese has released the trailer for his upcoming independent feature film "Apocalypse Love Story."
The story revolves around two 8-year-old children – a Caucasian girl and African American boy, who are the sole survivors of an ecological worldwide apocalypse. Their struggle to survive and dependence on each other sets them on a journey of self-discovery, friendship and love.
Sam was the daughter of a survivalist father, possessing the knowledge and skills to survive on her own. James is the survivor of domestic abuse. Despite his kind, brave heart, he lacks any survival skills. Each character battles the overwhelming loneliness of this desolate world – until one fateful day they meet.

Sam is played by 11-year-old actress Kayden Tokarski with 10-year-old actor Byron McCray in the role of James. The movie also features cameos by actress and model Jena Sims, celebrity trainer Corey Calliet, and actress Sage Kirkpatrick. 


'Apocalypse Love Story' is a Film the World Needs Today [Trailer Included]
'Apocalypse Love Story' - Two kids are the sole survivors of an ecological worldwide apocalypse
"Our protagonists are children whose journey is essentially an uplifting and inspiring tale: One where there is no prejudice or hate – only the harsh environment around them and a growing reliance on each other," said Director Justin Wilder Neese. "Their minds are uncynical and unbiased … children see each other like we should see each other – as equals. This film tells a story that is full of hope, something today's society is clearly desperate for, and it's message is one the world needs right now."
  • Los Angeles-based Neese is the award-winning director of "Hummingbird" and "Glass of Scotch."

The Trailer:

  • "Apocalypse Love Story" is set to be released by early January 2021.

Bonus Video:


  • For more information follow Apocalypse Love Story on Instagram at @apocalypselovestory and Twitter at @apocalypseloves.
SOURCE: Justin Wilder Neese

6 September 2020

"My Brothers' Crossing" - A Faith Based Film On Racial Reconciliation - Premiers In US Theaters Despite Covid-19 [Trailer Included]

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"My Brothers' Crossing" - A Faith Based Film On Racial Reconciliation - Premiers In US Theaters Despite Covid-19
"My Brothers' Crossing" official movie poster. It features Daniel Roebuck, James Black, Marsha Dietlein, Joe Estevez and Eliza Roberts.
"My Brothers' Crossing" is a spiritually uplifting film that depicts a true story about a black pastor that unintentionally has a head on collision with his car into a motorcycle killing a white couple shortly after the Missouri riots in August 2014. 
My Brothers' Crossing is based on the book, "In the Blink of an Eye: Forgiveness in Black and White" and tells the story of the tragic death of motorcycle bikers Bobby and Pam Clark. The story unfolds from the perspective of Bobby's brother, J.T. Clark, of whose on-screen character is played by award-winning actor Daniel Roebuck (The Fugitive, Getting Grace). Clark eventually forgives C.J. Martin, the black man who killed his brother and is played by veteran actor James Black (Godzilla, Days of our Lives).

The story dives deeper than just forgiveness, it also chronicles the journey of J.T.'s salvation during the turmoil of losing his brother. Clark stated that it's like one of those stories you wouldn't believe unless it happened to you.

  • Movieguide gives the movie 3 out of 4 stars and says it's an inspiring story about the power of forgiveness, loving your neighbor and the importance of God.
The movie transcends human forgiveness and redemption, a much needed story amidst the current coronavirus pandemic, protests and economic chaos currently in the US today. Film director Ricky Borba says the film couldn't have come out at a better time.
"The film was initially set to premiere in theaters last fall, but we are very thankful it was delayed and is hitting theaters now when this country so desperately needs healing across all racial lines." Borba went on to say, "I really believe God saved the film to premier for such a time as this."
  • Actor Black was moved by not just the forgiveness element of the story, but also said, "the fact that after the Clark family forgave the Martin family, they loved them unconditionally."
Borba said that he only had about two weeks to prepare for the directing of the movie, where his prior directorial debut faith based film, "The Talking Tree", he had 18 months to prepare. Having such a short period of time to prepare created a unique set of challenges but he said it also created an incredible bond among the crew to work together as a team. Borba beamed that he couldn't be more proud of the performances on screen and behind the scenes.
One thing he couldn't foresee was how many life-saving doors God would open on such short timing during the shoot. Borba's favorite example was when the production crew needed to film at the local courthouse on short notice, and thankfully, the court allowed the crew to use the courthouse without interruption for the day. That allowed them to stay on their shooting schedule without delay. Borba was thankful to the Lord.
The movie was produced by Tony and Edna White, and executive produced by Reverend Samuel Rodriquez, who co-produced the film "Breakthrough" in 2019. Rodriguez says the story of forgiveness is timely in a way that cannot be mere coincidence.
"Especially at a time when we are confronted with the unresolved problem of racism in America, our nation needs to remember that forgiveness can eclipse our racial divisions and heal even our deepest wounds." Rodriquez continued, "I am honored to be part of such a powerful and compelling film, one that shares the hope of transformation for individuals and entire communities through the power of Jesus Christ."

The Trailer:


  • My Brothers' Crossing is being distributed by Atlas Distribution and will open in several hundred Regal and AMC theaters across the US starting Thursday September 3rd.

Tickets for the film can be purchased here:

SOURCE: Ricky Borba

5 September 2020

#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia

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#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia
Embrace Your Powers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia (PRNewsfoto/SQUARE ENIX)
SQUARE ENIX announced that Marvel's Avengers is now available worldwide for the PlayStation4, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.
Marvel's Avengers offers players a truly rich experience and combines the single player focused Reassemble story campaign with the ongoing Avengers Initiative's War Zone missions, which take the Avengers around the world and beyond. 

Each mission in the Reassemble campaign is designed to showcase one or more hero's unique abilities, while the Avengers Initiative missions can be played solo with your own custom AI team or with a group of up to four players (Internet connection required. Your platform's online multiplayer requirements will apply...) as any Hero in the player's roster.

"At its heart, Marvel's Avengers is a game about hope in a modern Super Hero setting," said Shaun Escayg, creative director for Marvel's Avengers at developer Crystal Dynamics. "Our original story campaign features Kamala Khan, aka Ms. Marvel, as the point-of-view focus who is unflappably optimistic, and she uses her passion, natural curiosity, gifted intellect, and emerging powers to expose a conspiracy, leading her on an adventure to re-assemble and re-build the Avengers to their former glory."


#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia
Embrace Your Powers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia (PRNewsfoto/SQUARE ENIX)
To ensure a continuing heroic experience for all players, the narrative of Marvel's Avengers will expand over time, with the addition of new stories featuring new heroes, villains, mission types, regions, items, and more delivered to players at no additional cost once they own the core game. 


  • These stories move the entire Marvel's Avengers narrative world forward on a multi-year arc, and all new missions are accessible to the entire roster of playable heroes.
Fans won't have to wait long for this new content, either. The game's first post-launch content season, focused on the recently announced Kate Bishop and her iconic mentor Hawkeye, Clint Barton, begins just weeks after launch with mysterious new Tachyon missions. 

Kate's Operation, "Taking AIM," kicks off in late October featuring a new villain and new mystery. Kate, an Olympic-caliber gymnast and master archer, comes with her own distinct set of Heroic Skills, outfits, and takedowns to unlock and master just like the core launch Heroes.

#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia
Embrace Your Powers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia (PRNewsfoto/SQUARE ENIX)
"Taking AIM" begins shortly after the conclusion of the game's Reassemble campaign and is just the first half of the two Hawkeyes' Story Arc. Clint Barton's Hawkeye takes the stage in November to complete the double-feature arc and set the stage for what's next. 


  • All of these new missions are playable with the entire roster of heroes, and all of this content, including heroes, villains, game modes, missions, gear, and more will be made available at no cost to all owners of the Marvel's Avengers core game.
Players in Marvel's Avengers are also able to customize Earth's Mightiest Heroes in a number of ways. While each Super Hero plays true to their unique power sets, each has the flexibility to play differently based on the gear players equip and the skills they enable, so no two player's heroes play in exactly the same way. 

Each hero has dynamic combo systems, heroic moves, intrinsic abilities, and signature move sets to unlock and customize – many inspired by classic moves from over 80 years of Marvel history across all media, while others are crafted as originals just for the game.

  • Players can also dress the iconic Super Heroes with classic, fan-favorite, and all-new original outfits, including Iron Man's suit from the 2014 Original Sin storyline, or Thor's Donald Blake identity, which is a nod to an alias of Thor's who first appeared in 1962's Journey into Mystery issue #83.
#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia
Embrace Your Powers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia (PRNewsfoto/SQUARE ENIX)
  • Marvel's Avengers will be available on PlayStation5 and Xbox Series X when the consoles launch in 2020. 
  • Players who own the current-gen version of the game will be able to upgrade to the next-gen version at no additional cost, regardless if players are moving from PlayStation 4 to PlayStation 5 or Xbox One to Xbox Series X. 
  • Those moving their saves to next-gen will transfer their player profiles and progression so they can pick up right where they left off. In addition, cross-gen play will be supported so PS5 players will be able to play with their friends on PS4 and Xbox Series X players can connect with their friends on Xbox One.
#EmbraceYourPowers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia
Embrace Your Powers! Marvel's Avengers Available Now For Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC, And Stadia (PRNewsfoto/SQUARE ENIX)
  • Marvel's Avengers is rated T (Teen) by the ESRB.

Related Links:

SOURCE: SQUARE ENIX

25 August 2020

"The One and Only Jewish Miss America" - The Inspiring Story of Bess Myerson [Trailer Included]

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"The One and Only Jewish Miss America" - The Inspiring Story of Bess Myerson
"The One and Only Jewish Miss America" documentary tells the story of Bess Myerson, beauty queen from the Bronx, NYC, who overcame antisemitism to win the 1945 Miss America pageant.
On September 8, 1945, just months after Germany's surrender and the liberation of Nazi death camps ending the Holocaust, an unlikely and unexpected winner was crowned Miss America in Atlantic City, NJ. It was Bess Myerson, tall, talented, beautiful – and Jewish. In spite of antisemitism and threatening calls to pageant judges warning them against selecting a Jew, Bess took the title home to her family's tiny apartment in the Shalom Aleichem housing project in the Bronx, NY.

A concert pianist, Bess Myerson tied for first in the talent contest, won first place in the swimsuit competition, impressed the judges in personal interviews, and, as the only college graduate among 42 contestants, represented a new kind of post-war poise, intelligence, and feminism. It was a victory not just for Bess, the middle daughter of struggling immigrants from Russia, but also an all-American validation for Jewish-Americans and immigrants all over the country.


New York's Museum of Jewish Heritage is premiering "The One and Only Jewish Miss America" on September 8, 2020, 75 years after Bess Myerson's historic win – and 99 years to the day after the pageant was founded as a bathing beauty contest. 

"The One and Only Jewish Miss America" - The Inspiring Story of Bess Myerson
David Arond, award-winning filmmaker, directed and produced "The One and Only Jewish Miss America" documentary to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Bess Myerson winning the pageant in 1945.
At 7:00 p.m. EDT, filmmaker David Arond will conduct an online panel discussion with those featured in the film: Barra Grant, Bess Myerson's daughter and an accomplished actor and screenwriter, and two international authorities on antisemitism: Abraham Foxman, a friend of Bess's and director emeritus of the Anti-Defamation League, and Brian Levin, director of the Center for the Study of Hate and Extremism and criminal justice professor, California State University, San Bernardino.
"The documentary follows Bess's life from childhood, when she thought she was ugly and gangly," says Arond, "through her entry into the Miss New York City pageant, which her older sister arranged without her knowledge." 
The story continues after the Miss America pageant, when sponsors withdrew their support of a Jewish winner. Bess Myerson never received the promised $5,000 scholarship (which she hoped to use at the Julliard School for a master's degree in music) and the new car from Ford Motor Co. Her Miss America pageant tour also ended in disappointment, when she faced antisemitism and restricted hotels and concert venues that prohibited Jews from entering. Instead of giving up, she started a new tour, with the support of the Anti-Defamation League: a 15-city educational tour to promote respect for all people, regardless of race or religion. 
"Bess Myerson symbolizes the spirit of standing up to prejudice of all kinds," Arond adds. "Her tour of tolerance led to her work in media, politics and social justice."

The Trailer:


The 51-minute documentary has won more than two dozen best documentary feature awards and will be screened at film festivals around the world.
 

Documentary Premiere and Online Panel Discussion
September 8, 2020, 7:00 p.m., EDT
Museum of Jewish Heritage, New York City

SOURCE: Museum of Jewish Heritage, NYC

24 August 2020

China's First Blockbuster Of The Year, The Eight Hundred, Opens Friday At Select Theaters In The U.S. And Canada [Trailer Included]

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China's First Blockbuster Of The Year, The Eight Hundred, Opens Friday At Select Theaters In The U.S. And Canada
The Eight Hundred - Poster
CMC Pictures, under CMC Inc., will release The Eight Hundred, the acclaimed visionary war epic by director Guan Hu (Mr. Six, My People, My Country), in over 90 North American theaters this Friday -- one week following its massive $116.63 million debut in China. Major markets including New York and California will be added in the coming weeks pending cinema reopenings in those states. 
The first Chinese film to be shot entirely in the IMAX format, the $80 million production recreates the final days of 1937's Battle of Shanghai and features a cast of thousands.
China's first major theatrical release since local cinemas reopened in July, The Eight Hundred earned an astounding $116.63 million (which included $30 million from previews) this past weekend in its home territory. This despite local theater capacity limited to 50% due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Lauded by both audiences and critics, the film is the world's first blockbuster since the beginning of the pandemic in March, which forced the mass closure of cinemas.

China's First Blockbuster Of The Year, The Eight Hundred, Opens Friday At Select Theaters In The U.S. And Canada
Still from "The Eight Hundred"

About the film

It's October 26, 1937 and the Japanese Imperial Army has overpowered Chinese military forces during the Battle of Shanghai, a three-month engagement that has reduced parts of the city to rubble and demoralized a country. With China's National Revolutionary Army in retreat, a group of draft dodgers and deserters are forced to join a battalion to protect their last remaining stronghold: the six-story Sihang Warehouse. Despite being outnumbered and outgunned, the unit, dubbed "The Eight Hundred Heroes," refuses to surrender and successfully fends off an onslaught of punishing attacks. Their heroic acts of bravery against insurmountable odds begin to inspire their fellow countrymen, which helps to reignite the spirit of their nation.

The Trailer:

About the production

One of the largest Chinese movies ever produced, The Eight Hundred sets a new benchmark for the country's rapidly growing film industry. In development for over a decade, the film required four years to complete following a grueling eight month shooting schedule. To ensure historical accuracy and authenticity, full scale sets were meticulously constructed over the course of an entire year. These included the Sihang Warehouse, the Suzhou River and numerous buildings that made up the glamorous Shanghai International Settlement of 1937.

In addition to the award-winning Chinese cast and crew, leading Hollywood veterans were also recruited to help realize Guan Hu's ambitious cinematic vision. These included Academy Award-nominated visual effects supervisor Tim Crosbie (X-Men: Days of Future Past), action director Glenn Boswell (The Thin Red Line) and composers Rupert Gregson-Williams (Hacksaw Ridge) and Andrew Kawczynski (Dunkirk).

China's First Blockbuster Of The Year, The Eight Hundred, Opens Friday At Select Theaters In The U.S. And Canada
Still from "The Eight Hundred"
"The Eight Hundred is ultimately about a nation and its people coming together during a time of unprecedented crisis," said Guan Hu. "It's a universal story that has a renewed relevance in these current times. I'm thrilled that CMC Pictures is bringing the film to North America's audiences and sharing an inspiring moment in China's history with the rest of the world." 
"CMC Pictures is proud to offer North American audiences the chance to experience The Eight Hundred on the big screen," said Julia Zhu, Director of International Distribution at CMC Pictures. "An epic in every sense of the word, the picture is a marvel of filmmaking and a testament to the power of the theatrical moviegoing experience, which CMC is committed to bringing back in full swing."
China's First Blockbuster Of The Year, The Eight Hundred, Opens Friday At Select Theaters In The U.S. And Canada
Still from "The Eight Hundred"

About Guan Hu

A leading voice of China's Sixth Generation directors, Guan Hu is celebrated for his bold style and passionate storytelling. A graduate of the prestigious Beijing Film Academy, Guan made his debut with the critically-acclaimed Dirt in 1994. His 2009 drama Cow was selected into the Horizon Section of the Venice International Film Festival and received seven Golden Horse Awards nominations. Guan's 2015 crime drama Mr. Six was selected as the Venice Film Festival's Closing Night Film and featured at the Toronto International Film Festival. The film also won Best Leading Actor and Best Adapted Screenplay at the 52nd Golden Horse Awards. Last year, Guan directed a segment in the anthology drama My People, My Country.
SOURCE: CMC Pictures

21 August 2020

Rebecca & Josh Tickell's 'Kiss the Ground' Available On Netflix September 22 [Trailer Included]

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Rebecca & Josh Tickell's 'Kiss the Ground' Available On Netflix September 22 [Trailer Included]
Kiss the Ground - Poster (Courtesy of Big Picture Ranch)
'Kiss the Ground', a powerful documentary exploring soil regeneration and its place as a compelling and effective solution to our planet's climate crisis, will be available on Netflix September 22, 2020. 

Directed by Rebecca Tickell and Josh Tickell (FUEL, PUMP, THE BIG FIX), the film is narrated by Woody Harrelson and features Ian Somerhalder, Gisele Bündchen, Jason Mraz, and David Arquette. The film is produced by Big Picture Ranch.

'Kiss the Ground' is an inspiring and groundbreaking film that reveals the first viable solution to our climate crisis. 'Kiss the Ground' reveals that, by regenerating the world's soils we can rapidly stabilize the Earth's climate, restore local ecosystems and create abundant food supplies. Using compelling graphics and visuals, along with striking NASA and NOAA footage, the film artfully illustrates how, by drawing down atmospheric carbon, soil is the missing piece of the climate puzzle. The movie is positioned to catalyze a movement to accomplish the impossible - to solve humanity's greatest challenge, to balance the climate and secure our species' future.

Initial footage for the film was shot 9 years ago in Africa by Executive Producer Ian Somerhalder, (who grew up in the same town and went to the same high school in Louisiana as director, Josh Tickell). Somerhalder and the Tickells joined forces with the KISS THE GROUND nonprofit organization with the mission to make a movie that showed how to turn deserts back into lush ecosystems while reversing climate change. The result has been an almost decade-long journey to produce a film which includes never before seen footage from around the world showing the reversal of ecological damage and giving a playbook for the restoration of Planet Earth.

"This film represents the culmination of tens of thousands of hours of research by scientists around the world who have finally cracked the code on managing climate change - before it's too late," says Josh Tickell. "Never before has there been a more important message, and the good news is it's hopeful, it's actionable and the film shows us steps we can take right now," says Rebecca Tickell.
The film was a selection of the 2020 Tribeca Film Festival. Producers include Rebecca Tickell, Josh Tickell, Bill Benenson, Ryland Engelhart and Darius Fisher and Executive Producers are Laurie Benenson, Gisele Bündchen, Bill Cameron, John Paul DeJoria, Pedro Diniz, Anna Getty, George Hagerman, RJ Jain, Jena King, Julian Lennon, Michelle LeRach, Melony & Adam Lewis, Craig McCaw, Angus Mitchell, Elizabeth Moore, Stephen Nemeth, Larry O'Conner, John Roulac, Regina K. Scully, Nicole Shanahan, Jon & Susan Sheinberg, Mark Sims, Iris Smith, Ian Somerhalder, and Tara & Brian Swibel.

The Trailer:


  • 'Kiss the Ground' is part of a new crop of true 4k resolution documentaries. Technology to make the film including computers, servers, hard drives and speciality film equipment was provided by Other World Computing, Price.com and Black Magic Design.

About Big Picture Ranch

Nested in the Los Padres National Forest in Ojai, California sits Big Picture Ranch - an organic avocado farm which also operates 24/7 as a soup-to-nuts film studio. Founders Josh and Rebecca Tickell are Sundance Award-Winning documentarians. Big Picture Ranch creates content that changes the global narrative around important environmental issues. Filmmakers Josh & Rebecca Tickell won the Audience Award at the Sundance Film Festival with their first film FUEL, premiered their oil spill documentary THE BIG FIX as an official selection at Cannes, and are launching their first scripted feature film, HEARTLAND soon.

About Josh Tickell

The author of four books, Josh Tickell has worked on environmental issues for over twenty years. His career spans a unique mixture of science, journalism and filmmaking. His directorial debut film, FUEL, is the 2008 Sundance Audience Award winning documentary that investigates the possible replacement of fossil fuels with renewable energy. His 2017 Simon and Schuster book, Kiss the Ground, How the Food You Eat Can Reverse Climate Change, Heal Your Body and Ultimately Save Our World, was an Amazon Bestseller in multiple categories. Tickell holds an MFA in film from Florida State University's Film School. He is a regular guest on talk shows and gives keynote presentations internationally on sustainability, regeneration and filmmaking.

About Rebecca Tickell

Rebecca Tickell is a director, producer and environmental author & activist. She produced the Sundance Audience Award Winning, environmentally-themed movie, FUEL, and co-directed/produced 'The Big Fix', an 'Official Selection' of the 2011 Cannes Film Festival. She spent several years documenting the impacts and root cause of the BP oil spill. While investigating the spill she became ill and was left with permanent damage from exposure to the oil and dispersant in the atmosphere. Her directorial debut (with husband Josh) was the critically acclaimed documentary PUMP, narrated by Jason Bateman. She directed and produced the John Paul DeJoria story, GOOD FORTUNE, the YouTube sensation, THE EARTHING MOVIE as well as the forthcoming documentary THE REVOLUTION GENERATION and the forthcoming feature scripted film, HEARTLAND. As a child, she starred in the Orion (now MGM)'s Christmas Classic movie, Prancer.

About KISS THE GROUND 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Film Partner

KISS THE GROUND is a Los Angeles-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization on a mission of creating awareness around the extraordinary potential of healthy soil. KISS THE GROUND has educated and activated millions through their Media Program, Farmland Program, and Stewardship Program. Their Farmland Program supports transitioning farmers and ranchers with training, mentorship, and soil testing and has a robust scholarship program for farmers who need financial assistance to take part. The Stewardship Program is an education platform, community, and resource hub that was created to educate, inspire and empower individuals to become powerful and impactful advocates for the regenerative movement. KISS THE GROUND has become a premier online educational hub for regenerative agriculture, offering an online "pathway" for anyone to find resources and their unique way forward in contributing to this expanding global movement.

SOURCE: Big Picture Ranch

20 August 2020

The FREE Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival Announces a Sneak Preview of Its 2020 Line-up

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The FREE Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival Announces a Sneak Preview of Its 2020 Line-up
The FREE Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival Announces a Sneak Preview of Its 2020 Line-up
The pandemic can't stop the Chesapeake Film Festival from giving their valued film enthusiasts another fabulous cinema experience in 2020. At NO COST to attendees, they'll receive a four-day All Festival pass to watch any or all of 45 films. 
It's the festival's gift to film lovers in the community, and beyond. Because the festival is virtual, attendees can watch the films anywhere in the world.
All the festival asks is that attendees consider a contribution to offset expenses.

The festival is bringing attendees an explosion of cinematic flavors, including dramas, comedies, environmental concerns, emerging artists, Maryland-made films, fascinating documentaries and pulsating animations.


Registration for the festival opens September 1 on chesapeakefilmfestival.com.

Some of the exciting new independent films featured:


  • California Typewriter might center on a small, beleaguered typewriter repair shop in Berkeley, California, but this … documentary is about so much more than broken keys and busted type wheels. It's really about how we create art. Featuring Tom Hanks, John Meyer and Sam Shepard.
  • Unarmed ManNarrative Feature - Civil unrest erupts after a police officer shoots and kills an unarmed black man during a routine traffic stop.
  • A Piece of Cake – Narrative Short – When a desperate father discovers his daughter's favorite cake decoration is illegal, he descends into a confectionary black market.
  • Wake Up – In a short film directed by Olivia Wilde, Margaret Qualley stars as a woman awakened to a world she doesn't recognize, one where people are more engaged with screens and devices than with each other.
The FREE Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival Announces a Sneak Preview of Its 2020 Line-up
Wake Up
  • Emanuel – Documentary Feature – National headlines blazed the story: Churchgoers Gunned Down During Prayer Service in Charleston, South Carolina. After a 21-year-old white supremacist opened fire in Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, nine African Americans lay dead.
  • An Island Out of Time – Environmental Short – about a remarkable family, the Marshalls, whose lives personify Chesapeake Bay's waterman, seafood-harvesting culture and history.
  • Lost Cat – Animation – A girl travels through a surreal environment to catch her escaped cat.
  • Les Animaux Domestiques – Animation – France -- Mr. and Ms. Archibald adopt by turns a dog, a cat, a fly, a toad and a moth. But they do not know anything about animals.
The FREE Virtual Chesapeake Film Festival Announces a Sneak Preview of Its 2020 Line-up
Les Animaux Domestiques
Trailers of many of the films will be available on September 1.
SOURCE: Chesapeake Film Festival

7 August 2020

"Creatures" Tale of 1700's North American Smallpox Outbreak Currently Filming with Native American Cast & Producers During Global Pandemic

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"Creatures" Tale of 1700's North American Smallpox Outbreak Currently Filming with Native American Cast & Producers During Global Pandemic
"Creatures": Filming is underway at the Blackfeet Reservation in Northern Montana
'Creatures', a story of the smallpox pandemic that decimated Native American tribes across the Western American territories, is currently being filmed on the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, with shooting scheduled to wrap during the second week of August for a Winter 2020 international theatrical and streaming release. 
'Creatures' is a powerful reminder that what we are coping with as a world, is truly ancient history.
'Creatures' is developed in cooperation with the Blackfeet Tribe of Montana, with a full cast of Indigenous actors, and several Blackfeet producers and crew members. The story is told through adventures of several youths from warring tribes who wrestle with the spread of the disease and the introduction of the horse, called "Creatures," that hold the promise of power.

"Creatures" Tale of 1700's North American Smallpox Outbreak Currently Filming with Native American Cast & Producers During Global Pandemic
"Creatures" Movie about a Pandemic being filmed during the Coronavirus Pandemic
"Our film follows the story of one Blackfeet man and his response to the same kind of issues that we, as a unified American people, are addressing today: how do you collectively manage a mysterious and deadly pathogen that rapidly spreads from person to person? The Blackfeet Nation has kept these stories alive for generations and now we are sharing them with the rest of the world. If there is one lesson that our past holds for this future generation, it's that fear is the deadliest weapon of all. Conquer that, and logic will save you," says Pat "Judge" Hall, Producer and Locations and Wrangler for 'Creatures'.
Smallpox was brought to the New World by the Spaniards and was later spread from tribe to tribe, as a deadly bioweapon. Smallpox was responsible for decimating entire tribes from the planet. It is estimated that over two thirds of the Blackfeet Tribe alone were killed in the first wave. 

The course of the disease vector across the Great Plains was accompanied by the proliferation of horses, called "elk-dogs," also imported by the Spanish, and came to represent a powerful weapon in the fight to conquer enemies and gain territory. 
The profound impact of the horse and its nascent relationship with the Blackfeet is a powerful metaphor woven through the tapestry of this gritty, personalized slice of Native American history.
'Creatures' is produced by KK Productions and is directed by Kristian Kery. It features a completely Native American cast and is shot on location in Blackfeet Nation, Montana.

SOURCE: Blackfeet Reservation

5 August 2020

HorrorPack Limited Edition #50 Ships in the August Blu-ray Pack

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HorrorPack Limited Edition #50 Ships in the August Blu-ray Pack
August HorrorPack Limited Edition Blu-ray #50
A little under five years ago, subscription service HorrorPack launched its first offering, a monthly Mystery Horror Movie subscription box with both DVD and Blu-ray plans

Founded by Diego Kirsch and Chris Ethridge, HorrorPack's mission was simple: Despite the rise of VOD, the demand for physical media still exists, particularly for collectors, and in areas with limited broadband. HorrorPack would meet this need by sending four DVDs or four Blu-rays straight to the customer's door every month. 

A little while later, they began to include a Numbered, Limited Edition Blu-ray each month in the Blu-ray pack.

Flash forward to now: In the August 2020 pack, HorrorPack will be shipping Limited Edition #50, right before their 5-year anniversary in September. This milestone mystery title, previously unreleased in North America, is a horror film featuring the legendary Tony Todd.

  • Each disc will be signed by the Director. 
HorrorPack Limited Edition #50 Ships in the August Blu-ray Pack
HorrorPack Horror Movie Subscription Box
"One of the best things we have been able to do at HorrorPack is to help get independent horror films out to a wider audience while compensating the filmmakers at the same time," says Ethridge.
Kirsch adds, "We also connect the filmmakers to the HorrorPack subscriber and unboxer community, which has been growing steadily with everyone staying at home due to COVID-19."

  • The DVD plan contains 4 Horror DVDs each month for $19.99 including US shipping. The Blu-ray plan consists of 4 Horror Blu-rays each month, including the Numbered Limited Edition title, for $24.99 with US shipping.

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Both formats have multi-month subscription options, which are even more affordable, and HorrorPack ships internationally for an additional cost. 


SOURCE: HorrorPack

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