Unspool Hollywood

High Octane Pictures Dark Comedy “Stealing Chaplin” on Prime Video

A stylistic half-sibling to the works of The Coen Brothers, Guy Ritchie, Elmore Leonard, and Martin McDonagh, this film appeals to much of the same vast audiences who turned “Fargo,” “In Burges,” "Snatch," "Raising Arizona," “The Big Lebowski,” and “Mindhunter” into massively successful cult classics with a dark comedy inspired by a true story about two brothers who dig up and steal the corpse of Charlie Chaplin. Filmed on the legendary strip, Freemont Street and the 27 acre ranch of Mr. Las Vegas Himself Wayne Newton, the film honors the spirit of Las Vegas in true cinematic fashion.

“Stealing Chaplin” became the first comedy feature film to auction collectible NFT’s earlier this summer. Embracing the NFT world with not one but fifteen unique collectible NFT’s for auction providing comedic content crafted directly from the acclaimed diabolical dark comedy “Stealing Chaplin.” We also greatly appreciate your what's streaming, review and interview consideration for this comedic caper -- a slapstick a homage to Chaplin himself.

he film stars Simon Phillips (“Age of the Living Dead, “ No Easy Days”), Doug Phillips (“Not All Who Wander,” “Butchers”), Al Sapienza (“The Sopranos,” “House of Cards,” “Suits”), Peter Woodward (“The Patriot,” “National Treasure: Book of Secrets,” “Babylon“), Ken Bressers (“The Nights Before Christmas,” “The United Nations of Horror”), Anne-Carolyn Binette (“Age of The Living Dead,” “The Scarlet Vultures,” “Butchers”), Liliana Vargas (“Make Mo Money,” “Sara Did It”), the cinematic debut of Bianca Katz, and Mr. Las Vegas Himself Wayne Newton. Inspired by real events, two Las Vegas based con men dig up and steal the corpse of comedian Charlie Chaplin in order to ransom it. With the theft gaining the world’s attention and the reward rising daily, soon every local lowlife, criminal and dirty cop wants a piece of the action.

Film Synopsis: Inspired by real events, two Las Vegas based con men dig up and steal the corpse of comedian Charlie Chaplin in order to ransom it. With the theft gaining the world’s attention and the reward rising daily, soon every local lowlife, criminal and dirty cop wants a piece of the action.

Where to follow the film and its journey:
Facebook:
Instagram: @StealingChaplin
Twitter: @StealingChaplin

View Trailer Below!

Tom Surgal’s ‘FIRE MUSIC’ Opens Friday, September 10th

Submarine Deluxe Presents in Association with Joseph Wemple, Films We Like, and Mexican Summer 'FIRE MUSIC'

Sigma 7 Ornette Coleman

Director and Writer: Tom TurgalL
Featuring: Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Albert Ayler, Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy and many more.
Genre: Documentary
Runtime: 1 hour 28 minutes
Country: USA

FIRE MUSIC opens theatrically in New York at the Film Forum on Friday, September 10th and Los Angeles at the Laemmle Glendale on September 17th with a national
release to follow.

FIRE MUSIC is an official selection of the New York Film Festival

John Tchicai Münster

Although the free jazz movement of the 1960s and ‘70s was much maligned in some jazz circles, its pioneers – brilliant talents like Ornette Coleman, Cecil Taylor, Sun Ra, Albert Ayler, and John Coltrane – are today acknowledged as central to the evolution of jazz as America’s most innovative art form. FIRE MUSIC showcases the architects of a movement whose radical brand of improvisation pushed harmonic and rhythmic boundaries and produced landmark albums like Coleman’s Free Jazz: A Collective Inspiration and Coltrane’s Ascension. A rich trove of archival footage conjures the 1960s jazz scene along with incisive reflections by critic Gary Giddins and a number of the movement’s key players.

Writer / Director Tom Surgal is known for directing a series of groundbreaking music videos for leading alternative bands like Sonic Youth, Pavement and The Blues Explosion. Tom was initially mentored in filmmaking by Brian De Palma and would go on to work in a wide range of film production jobs, including production design and casting. Tom is also a musician who has performed regularly with Nels Cline (Wilco), Thurston Moore (Sonic Youth), Jim O'Rourke and Mike Watt (Minutemen, The Stooges) and is co-leader of the improvisational ensemble White Out. He is also a curator who has programmed celebrated music series at various downtown New York venues, including an entire month of shows at John Zorn's hallowed performance space The Stone.

Tom is recognized as a leading authority on Avant-Garde Jazz and boasts one of the world's largest collections of Free Jazz recordings.

Chad Michael Murray in Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman Out August 16th

Filmmaker Daniel Farrands ED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN PHOTO CREDIT: Dark Star Pictures/Voltage Pictures

ED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN will have its Fathom Release (Nationwide on over 750 screens) on August 16 with a US VOD and DVD release to follow on September 3, 2021.

A specter roams the highways of a gritty and decadent 1970s America, hunting for his next prey—his name is Ted Bundy (Chad Michael Murray). Tracking him down are the intrepid female detective Kathleen McChesney (Holland Roden), working out of the Seattle Police bureau, and rookie FBI profiler Robert Ressler (Jake Hays), the government agent who coined the term “serial killer.” This is the true story behind the manhunt that brought America’s most fearsome boogeyman to justice.

Chad Michael Murray in Daniel Farrands' TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN PHOTO CREDIT: Dark Star Pictures/Voltage Pictures

Daniel Farrands wrote and directed the project, which stars Chad Michael Murray (House Of Wax, The Haunting In Connecticut 2: Ghosts Of Georgia, and Riverdale) as Bundy. Rounding out the key cast are Genre actress Lin Shaye (Insidious franchise, The Grudge, Penny Dreadful: City Of Angels) and Holland Roden (Escape Room 2, Teen Wolf).

ABOUT DARK STAR PICTURES

Dark Star Pictures is a new-age North American distribution company, focused on bringing unique and targeted content to audiences across the country. We are committed to releasing auteur-driven, original cinema in the theatrical, digital and home video space. Our goal is to create original marketing campaigns directly catered to audiences who will embrace our brand of thought-provoking cinema. Recent releases include Tribeca Midnight Selection Honeydew, Sundance favorite Koko-di Koko-Da, Cannes Official Selection Enfant Terrible and the newly announced SXSW psychological drama Freeland.

Website: https://darkstarpics.com

#TedBundy #AmericanBoogeyman #TrueCrime

View trailer below!

Finding Kendrick Johnson in Theaters Friday, July 30th

Screening Nationwide in Theaters and available on Video On Demand July 30th

On January 11th, 2013, Kendrick Johnson was found dead in his high school gymnasium rolled up in a gym mat. The state of Georgia ruled his death as an accident, having died from positional asphyxia. When the family hired their own Forensic Pathologist, not only did he find KJ’s organs missing from his body during the autopsy, he determined the cause of death to be from non-accidental blunt force trauma. To this day, no one knows where KJ’s organs have gone.. So what really happened to KJ?

FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON is the feature documentary product of a 4-year undercover investigation into the facts of this case. From the creator of 'Stranger Fruit', this new documentary hopes to shed light on one of the most important American stories of our time.

Told through the eyes of KJ's family and close friends, Narrated by Hollywood legend, Jenifer Lewis, Directed by 'Stranger Fruit' creator, Jason Pollock, with an amazing team of Producers including Actor Hill Harper, and Space Jam 2 Director Malcolm D. Lee, FINDING KENDRICK JOHNSON shares this truly historic, heartbreaking, and unbelievable story with the world for the first time.

“The case of Kendrick Johnson is one the most important cases in U.S. history,” says writer/director Jason Pollock. “KJ deserves justice, and hopefully our film will help his family get one step closer to that outcome.”

View trailer below!

Dark Star Pictures New Films ‘Ted Bundy: American Boogeyman and Aileen Wuornos: American Boogeywoman’

Los Angeles-based Dark Star Pictures have announced upcoming US Release dates today for TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN and AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN.

The releases include a nationwide one- night Fathom release (In over 750 cinemas) for both titles, with VOD and DVD release to follow in September and October respectively.

TED BUNDY: AMERICAN BOOGEYMAN will have its Fathom Release on August 16 with a US VOD and DVD release to follow on September 3, 2021.

AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN will have its Fathom Release on September 20 with a US VOD/DVD Release on October 8, 2021.

Companion piece and ‘Monster' Prequel, AILEEN WUORNOS: AMERICAN BOOGEYWOMAN focuses on serial killer Aileen Wuornos, which is also directed by Farrands and stars Peyton List in the title role (Cobra Kai, Tobin Bell ("Jigsaw" from the Saw Franchise), Lydia Hearst (The Haunting Of Sharon Tate), Nick Vallelonga (Green Book), Swen Temmel (In Time, Backtrace), Meadow Williams (Boss Level. Den Of Thieves), and Andrew Biernat (Shadow's Edge).

"We are thrilled to be bringing these films to audiences across the country, director Daniel Farrands has taken two of America's most heinous serial killers and managed to spin their stories in a fresh way - introducing a genre film style to these familiar true crime stories. People will be able to experience these chapters of American history in a new way," commented Michael Repsch, President Dark Star Pictures

ABOUT DARK STAR PICTURES

Website: https://darkstarpics.com

Submarine Deluxe Presents in Association with Joseph Wemple, Films We Like and Mexican Summer ‘FIRE MUSIC’

Director and Writer: Tom Surgal
Featuring: Ornette Coleman, Sun Ra & His Arkestra, Albert Ayer, Cecil Taylor, Eric Dolphy and many more
Runtime: 1 hour 28 minutes
Genre: Documentary

John Coltrane ©Lee Tanner-The-Jazz

Opens theatrically in New York at Film forum on Friday, September 10 and Los Angeles at Laemmle Glendale on September 17 with a national release to follow.

'FIREMUSIC' is an Official Selection at the New York Film Festival.

Sun Ra 1968

Carla Bley with the Carla Bley Band, Keystone Korner, San Francisco CA 2/10/79

Tom Surga ©Lin Culbertson

(Minutemen, The Stooges) and is co-leader of the improvisational ensemble White Out. He is also a curator who has programmed celebrated music series at various downtown New York venues, including an entire month of shows at John Zorn's hallowed performance space The Stone.

Tom is recognized as a leading authority on Avant-Garde Jazz and boasts one of the world's largest collections of Free Jazz recordings.

Gravitas Ventures Feature Documentary “Stronger For Life” On All VOD/Digital Platforms; Blu-Ray and DVD Today, July 20

What does an internationally renowned fitness expert and entrepreneur do when faced with a diagnosis of breast cancer?

When internationally acclaimed fitness expert Ilaria Montagnani received her initial diagnosis of breast cancer in the summer of 2016, she decided to film footage documenting this emotionally and physically challenging journey. Her whole life, she has been driven to acquire strength and knowledge to help herself and others –and this terrifying cancer diagnosis was no exception to her life’s mission.

Ilaria’s main belief that hard work teaches you to never give up - was truly put to the test and she wanted to honestly show how this disease would affect her physically and emotionally.

For anyone, a diagnosis of cancer is a frightening and life-changing experience but for a professional athlete and international fitness instructor, it is a challenge of unprecedented impact. Ilaria sought out a woman who took her workouts, Noriko Sugiura, a Japanese filmmaker friend to help guide her in the process.

More than a 100-hours of footage in on a hand-held camera, Ilaria next sought out a team of editors and cinematographers – Corey Florin (“Dream Factories,” “High Expectations”), Stephanie Gaweda (“Summer Moon,” “Mates”), and Federico Rosenzvit (“Years of Living Dangerously,” “Laredo, Texas,” and “City of Joel”), to guide and shape the documentary chronicling her journey. This is the filmmaking team that eventually shot and edited the movie that became “Stronger For Life.” “Stronger For Life,” is a cinematic sibling to inspirating and relatable documentaries “Dancer,” and “Any One Of Us,” which have chronicled the physical and mental struggles of athletes where life has thrown them unseen medical curveballs and a chance to make it through to the other side of illness.

Multiple media outlets from around the world have covered Ilaria fitness journey in her more than 20 years in the fitness world, including: The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Martha Stewart Show, The Dr. Oz Show, The Tyra Show, and CBS and ABC Evening News, among many others. The Wall Street Journal called her a “leading force” in the fitness world and New York magazine labeled her one of the city’s top fitness gurus. In 2017, Ilaria received the Lifetime Achievement Award from Equinox Fitness for top group fitness instructor in the country.

Where to follow the film and its journey:
Website: www.strongerforlife.film
Instagram: @strongerforlife.film

“Stronger For Life”
Ilaria Montagnani arrived in the United States from Florence, Italy at nineteen. She loves New York City and its potential to be anything you want to be if you work hard and have vision. During the next 20 years, Ilaria overcomes many obstacles as a pioneering woman entrepreneur developing weight-training and fitness workouts based on martial arts.

She is one of the first women to bring strength training and martial arts to gyms in the U.S.In 2016, Ilaria, then an internationally recognized fitness expert at the peak of her career, was diagnosed with breast cancer. For an athlete of her magnitude, it was devastating.

Shortly after her struggle, Ilaria learns of her father’s diagnosis of terminal cancer. Stronger for Life documents Ilaria’s fight against cancer and how she embodied her own philosophy: Exercise makes you stronger for life, to overcome the heartache and challenges she encounters.

WARNER BROS. PICTURES‘ SPACE JAM: A NEW LEGACY PRESENTS…THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL TRIBUTE AWARD HONORS

The Pan African Film Festival (PAFF) announced today it will broadcast its 29th annual Tribute Award Honors Show virtually throughout the world through its partnership with Facebook streaming Live exclusively on the PAFF Facebook page Thu., July 22 7:00 PM-9:00 PM PT. Watch the livestream on PAFF's Facebook page here. The PAFF Awards Show is presented by Warner Bros. Pictures’ Space Jam: A New Legacy available in theaters JULY 16th and on HBO Max.

For nearly 30 years, PAFF has showcased films from all parts of the world, representing such countries as Angola, Nigeria, Jamaica, New Zealand, Rwanda, Canada, Mozambique, Egypt, the Dominican Republic, Ethiopia, Brazil, Kenya, Fiji, Mexico, the U.K., South Africa, England, Japan, France and of course, the United States. With the pulse on the international film market, PAFF has opened the minds of its audiences, and transported them to far-away places and back home again.

“Over the years, filmmakers the world over have become more sophisticated in telling their stories,” says Asantewa Olatunji, the director of programming for PAFF. “In our ever-shrinking world, it is so important to understand the experiences and points of views of diverse peoples and cultures.”

This year's awards show will feature the following honors and talent:

JURY AWARDS

Shola Adewusi

BEST SHORT NARRATIVE
presented by Shola Adewusi
(BOB ♥ ABISHOLA, WB TV & CBS)

Vernee Watson

BEST DOCUMENTARY
presented by Vernee Watson
(BOB ♥ ABISHOLA, WB TV & CBS)

Tory Kittles

BEST 1ST FEATURE
presented by Tory Kittles
(The Equalizer, NBCUniversal & CBS)

BEST 1ST DOCUMENTARY
presented by Thomas Q. Jones
(Johnson, Bounce TV)

FOLAKE OLOWOFOYEKU

BEST NARRATIVE FEATURE
presented by Folake Olowofoyeku
(BOB ♥ ABISHOLA, WB TV & CBS)

YOUTH VISIONARY AWARD

Awarded to young filmmakers and content creators whose work shows a promising young start from their storytelling to their content creating styles.
YOUTH VISIONARY AWARD is a new award this year.

BEAH RICHARDS AWARD

Awarded to up-and-coming female actors whose body of work thus far exemplifies a positive and uplifting Black image and experience. Past winners of the BEAH RICHARDS AWARD include Tessa Thompson and Regina King.

CANADA LEE AWARD

Awarded to up-and-coming male actors whose body of work thus far exemplifies a positive and uplifting Black image and experience. Past winners of the CANADA LEE AWARD include Idris Elba, David Oyelowo and Nate Parker.

DJELI AWARD

Awarded to writers, directors, producers, actors, musicians, and promoters. In Pan African cultures, a DJELI is a storyteller, a historian, one who carries the culture and maintains the history. DJELI is a new award.

JA’NET DUBOIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD

Awarded to actors whose body of work and achievements exemplify Black excellence. Past winners of the JA’NET DUBOIS LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD include Alfre Woodard, Forest Whitaker, and Phylicia Rashad.

This year, PAFF competitions included over 65 World premiere titles and over 29 US premieres.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the 29th Pan African Film Festival Tribute Award Honors Show will be held virtually on-line and on-demand exclusively via Facebook Live. The virtual component allows PAFF to reach a global audience. More information can be found at www.paff.org.

The 30th PAFF will take place February 8-21, 2022.

ABOUT THE PAN AFRICAN FILM FESTIVAL

Looking forward to its 30th Anniversary, the Pan African Film Festival (PAFF), is America’s largest and most prestigious Black film festival. Each year, it screens more than 200 films made by and/or about people of African descent from the United States, Africa, the Caribbean, South America, the South Pacific, Latin America, Europe and Canada and increasingly Asia. In conjunction with its simultaneous Art Showcase, PAFF holds the distinction of being the largest Black History Month event in the US.

PAFF was founded in 1992 by award-winning actor Danny Glover (“The Color Purple,” “Lethal Weapon”), the beloved Emmy Award-winning actress Ja’net DuBois (best known for her role as Willona in the TV series “Good Times”) and executive director, Ayuko Babu, an international legal, cultural and political consultant who specializes in African Affairs. PAFF is a non-profit corporation dedicated to the promotion of ethnic and racial respect and tolerance through the exhibit of films, art, and other creative expressions.

The goal of PAFF is to present and showcase the broad range of Black creative works, particularly those that reinforce positive and images, help to destroy negative stereotypes, and depict an expanded, realistic vision of the Black experience. PAFF believes film and art can lead to better understandings and foster communications between people of diverse cultures, races, and lifestyles, while at the same time, serves as a vehicle to initiate dialogue on the important issues of our time.

For more information, please visit www.paff.org or email info@paff.org.

Interview with Ilaria Montagnani About Her New Film “Stronger For Life”

Featuring: Ilaria Montagnani, Gabriella Montagnani, Elizabth Deluca, Omar Sandoval, Lorenzo Montagnani
Genre: Documentary
Language: English

I had the opportunity to talk to Ilaria Montagnani about her first film and new documentary "Stronger For Life" that chronicles her journey
after being diagnosed with breast cancer.

Yevette: What was it like preparing for the documentary and working with your parents?
Ilaria: I did not prepare for the film. There were no preparations. I had got together a team and we started filming. It was hard work.

Yevette: What was it like working with your team, how did you work with Corey Florin, Vici Suflan and Noriko Sugiura?
Ilaria: I had a great team that was wonderful to work with. they really helped me with the whole process.

Yevette: What was it like shooting on two continents?
Ilaria: I do a lot of traveling and filming in the United States and Italy was similar to what you do while traveling.

Yevette: When was the moment you came to believe "exercise makes you stronger for life."
Ilaria: I have always felt that way. There was never a particular moment.

Yevette: In the film, you made it clear you did not want to be a housewife.
Ilaria: Yes, Italy was/is a very traditional place. My mom's and my sister's choice are great for them. I wanted something different.

Yevette: Your Mom is such a strong person.
Ilaria: I am glad you brought that up. My mom is one of the strongest people I know.

Yevette: As a trainer, how have you changed your business model due to COVID-19?
Ilaria: I started free virtual trainer for my clients, to keep them active and was surprised at how it took off and is really popular.

Yevette: How is your Mom? Here in Hollywood, tell her I think she is a star.
Ilaria: She is doing well. I will tell her. She will like that a lot.

Follow Stronger For Life:
Website: www.strongerforlife.film
Instagram: @strongerforlife.film

Production Co.: Gravitas Ventures
Executive Producers: Ilaria Montagnani, Leslie Rankow
Producer: Dahlia Waingort Guigui
Editor: Corey Florin
Consulting Producer: Federico Rosenzvit
Director of Photography: Noriko Sugiura
Music: Ched Tolliver

Watch Trailer Below!

OTT.X ANNOUNCES SECOND ANNUAL IMPACT AWARDS

Streaming Video Industry trade association OTT.X seeks nominations for original online programming that inspires positive action and promotes acceptance and equality.

OTT.X, the industry trade association supporting the OTT streaming ecosystem, has opened submissions for the second annual OTT.X Impact Awards. The OTT.X Impact Awards is a program created by and for the over-the-top streaming industry to recognize creators, producers, platforms and channels who are using the power of streaming video to make a positive impact. Submissions are being accepted from June 23 through September 30, 2021 for audio visual works that premiere and are distributed through OTT channels and platforms. Nominations will be announced on November 9 and winners will be announced at the Impact Awards Ceremony to be held on December 9, 2021.

“Our industry has the attention of millions of people globally,” said Mark Fisher, OTT.X President and CEO. “The stories we tell, messages we send and truths we reveal have the power to change the world. Using this power to promote understanding, acceptance, equality and to inspire positive action is a responsibility that OTT.X and our membership are committed to.” Paul Colichman, CEO of Here Media and OTT.X Impact Awards Steering Committee Chair commented, “As streaming transforms the entertainment landscape it also democratizes video content distribution. This allows for more programs that focus on social justice, equality, kindness and compassion.”

The inaugural OTT.X Impact Awards was held virtually on December 10, 2020 and recognized three winners including Here Media’s “Girls Voices Now - ‘Not Quite Here, Not Quite There’” for Impactful Short Title, Chicken Soup for the Soul Entertainment’s “Going From Broke’ for Impactful Series, and Passion River’s “Intelligent Lives” for Impactful Full-Length Feature.

What: Second annual OTT.X Impact Awards – Recognizing content and innovation in the OTT streaming industry that inspires positive action and promotes acceptance of and equality for all people.

How to Apply: Visit https://www.entmerch.org/impact-awards/

Key Dates:

Submissions open – June 23
Submissions close – September 30
Nominations announced – November 9
Awards Ceremony / Winners Announced – December 9
Qualifications: Content must premiere on an OTT channel or platform, maintain exclusive availability via OTT distribution and be available in the US for at least 3 weeks. Qualifying period is the twelve-months ending September 30, 2021.

For more information as well as content submissions visit the OTT.X Impact Awards site; https://ottximpactawards.org/

About OTT.X

OTT.X is the not-for-profit international trade association dedicated to advancing the interests of the multi-billion home entertainment industry. OTT.X-member companies operate business that engage in or support the commercial OTT distribution of audiovisual entertainment. Membership comprises the full spectrum of the ecosystem, including digital retailers, MVPDs, AVOD and SVOD networks and channels, platforms, companies creating and/or distributing content for these channels of distribution, and companies providing services or technology for the use of others in this community. OTT.X (formerly EMA) was established in April 2006 through the merger of the Video Software Dealers Association (VSDA) and the Interactive Entertainment Merchants Association (IEMA).

To learn more, go to www.ottx.org.

MEDIA CONTACT

MILLENNIAL PR
Mitch Swan
323.378.6687
mitch@millennialpublicrelations.com