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NAIL IN THE COFFIN: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro

Screening in Limited Theaters
Friday, September 4, 2020

Available on VOD/Digital
Tuesday, September 8, 2020

Directed by: Michael Paszt
Featuring: Professional Wrestler Ian Hodgkinson (Vampiro) and Dasha Hodgkinson

Runtime: 1 hr 28 min
Rating: Not Yet Rated
Genre: Documentary
Country: Canada

Semi-retired professional wrestler Ian Hodgkinson reveals the harsh realities behind the glamour of being in the world of wrestling as the infamous ‘Vampiro’. A Lucha Libre legend, Hodgkinson tells the astonishing story about his meteoric rise to fame in the 90's and how it almost killed him. Yet none of that was as back-breaking as his current life - working behind-the-scenes as the Director of Talent for Lucha Libre AAA in Mexico City and Lucha Underground in Los Angeles, while simultaneously raising his teenage daughter Dasha in remote Northern Canada as a single parent.

Unlike many professional wrestling documentaries before, director Michael Paszt has constructed a fascinating and heartfelt look at a wrestler who has overcome and continues to battle with physical injuries, sexual abuse, and drug addiction. Not to mention the wild stories of working for Milli Vanilli, and wrestling alongside the punk rock band The Misfits - Vampiro’s stories are multi-faceted and completely enthralling.

Told through an engrossing collection of home videos and personal interviews with his closest friends and family, NAIL IN THE COFFIN is an intimate and genuine look into a single father grappling with fame, the pressures of professional and personal responsibilities, and his own mortality.

NAIL IN THE COFFIN celebrated its world premiere at Fantastic Fest in 2019, coming out with raving reviews. The film will be releasing in limited theaters on Friday, September 4, 2020 and will be available on major VOD/Digital platforms beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020.

“NAIL IN THE COFFIN: The Fall and Rise of Vampiro is an incredibly inspirational true story that shows us no matter how many times life tries to beat you down and break you apart, you need to rise up and conquer your demons in order to survive,” says Patrick Ewald, CEO of Epic Pictures (U.S. Distribution). “And now, as we are faced with incredible challenges all around us, I can’t think of a more relevant film to remind us of the resiliency and power of the human spirit.”

NAIL IN THE COFFIN is directed by Michael Paszt. Produced by Pasha Patriki and Paszt, associate producer Maye Ornelas and executive produced by Gregor Habsburg, Jacquelyn Frisco, Ian Hodgkinson, Marisela Peña, Dorain Roldån, James Fler, and Andrew Thomas Hunt. Cinematography by Patriki, and edited by Danny Palmer.

NAIL IN THE COFFIN will be available on VOD/Digital Tuesday, Sept. 8, 2020:

Fandango Now | DirecTV | Breaker | Alamo On Demand

Blu-ray pre-order: https://epic-pictures.com/merchandise/nail-in-the-coffin-the-fall-and-rise-of-vampiro-blu-ray

About Epic Pictures

Since the foundation of the company in 2007, CEO Patrick Ewald has grown Epic Pictures into an independent content studio with the mission of delivering the best-in-class genre entertainment “for fans, by fans.” Epic Pictures produces, finances, and distributes approximately twenty-thirty independent genre films a year. In 2013, the company established Epic Pictures Releasing which is its US focused distribution division. In 2017, Epic Pictures acquired the world’s most popular horror website, Dread Central, and launched its unique horror label, Dread, followed by its AVOD channel, DreadTV. In 2019, Epic Pictures started the horror gaming site, DreadXP, with a focus on editorial, reviews, podcasts, and original streaming content. In 2020, DreadXP began a video game publishing division with the launch of The Dread X Collection, an anthology of horror games in collaboration with some of the most innovative developers in the independent gaming space. https://epic-pictures.com/

TENNIS COMEDY ‘FIRST ONE IN’ SETS RELEASE FOR SEPTEMBER 8

Literally Films has announced the release date of the indie-tennis-comedy FIRST ONE IN, starring Kat Foster (Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Weeds) and Georgia King (HBO’s Vice Principals ). The film is executive produced by Jonathan Gray and produced by Paul Jarrett and Nick Huston, in association with Rosetta Films and Literally Films.

FIRST ONE IN is the feature-directing debut of indie screenwriter Gina O’Brien. This is the third feature from O’Brien whose Sundance premiere “Once More With Feeling” was produced by Rosetta Films’ Paul Jarrett. Jarrett directed O’Brien’s second screenplay “Fan Girl” which premiered on ABC Family.

After accidentally killing an endangered animal on a popular reality TV show, Madi Cooke (Kat Foster) is labeled an eco-terrorist, is fired from her job, and believes she now is the most hated woman in America. She changes her look and last name to interview with Bobbi (Georgia King), who heads Mason Agents — the #1 real estate firm in Connecticut. But in an effort to maintain championship status in a local, annual tournament, Bobbi only hires women who play tennis.

Madi joins a clinic at Acme Indoor Tennis to practice the game she hasn’t played seriously since high school, nearly 20 years ago. That’s where she meets Tennis Pro Fernando (Josh Segarra), Jane (Catherine Curtin), Ceecee (Emy Coligado), Preeti (Aneesh Sheth) and Valentina (Karina Arroyave), and renews her strained friendship with her best friend and former high school tennis partner, Ollie (Alana O’Brien).

In a twist of events, Madi and her underdogs take on Bobbi’s Mason Agents at their Elite tennis club, where Madi will find her grit or lose everything.

“During the day in tennis clubs across America, millions of women gather to hit balls at each other. I’m one of them,” says O’Brien. “We wear trendy outfits, visors, and elbow and knee braces. We drink coconut water and eat protein bars and take acetaminophen. We are middle-aged women of all shapes, sizes, and athletic ability. Our personal lives may differ from one another, but on some 250,000 courts in the U.S., we’re all tennis players. Many of us aren’t good, but the competition is as fierce as the pros, sort of, and it’s fun material for a screenplay.”

FIRST ONE IN is set to release on major VOD/Digital platforms including Amazon, iTunes, and Google Play beginning Tuesday, September 8, 2020. FIRST ONE IN stars Kat Foster (Jean-Claude Van Johnson, Weeds), Georgia King (HBO’s Vice Principals ), Alana O’Brien (Inside Amy Schumer), Emy Coligado (Crossing Jordan), Catherine Curtin (Orange is the New Black), Aneesh Sheth ( Jessica Jones), Karina Arroyave (Orange is the New Black), Josh Segarra ( Trainwreck), and Michael Ian Black (Wet Hot American Summer, Stella).

About Rosetta Films

Prior to First One In, Paul Jarrett (Rosetta Films) managed non-scripted production for ABC News Long Form / Lincoln Square Productions as the Supervising Line Producer. Jarrett delivered content to and managed relationships with Disney ABC Television Group, A&E, Investigation Discovery, Bravo, Netflix, and Disney +. Jarrett also recently executive produced and was the show-runner on the Investigation Discovery Channel TV show I, Witness, which premiered in 2017. Prior to that, Jarrett directed and produced the feature film Fan Girl starring Kiernan Shipka (Mad Men, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina) and Meg Ryan (Sleepless In Seattle). When Fan Girl premiered on ABC Family, the film was the 8th most trending Twitter topic in the world.

Hollywood Screen Legend Oliva de Havilland Is 104 Years-Young

Call her a Screen Legend, an Old Hollywood Star, a Movie Star, or Star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, Olivia de Havilland is each one of them.

Dame Oliva de Havilland born July 1, 1916 in Tokyo, Japan, to English parents, Walter de Havilland, a patent attorney and, Lilian Fontaine, and actress. She’s the older sister of another star of the Golden Age of Hollywood, actress Joan Fontaine.

She has won two Academy Awards for Best Actress, “To Each His Own (1946) and “The Heiress” (1949).

De Havilland is the last surviving adult that starred in the block buster film “Gone with the Wind” that premiered in Atlanta on December 15, 1939. Olivia de Havilland portrayed Melanie Hamilton Wilkes, Scarlett O’Hara’s (Vivian Leigh) sister-in-law. She was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for this role. She lost to Hattie McDaniel

She is also remembered for her performance as Maid Marian, opposite Errol Flynn in “The Adventures of Robin Hood” (1938).

Fontaine won an Academy Award for Best Actress for her role in Alfred Hitchcock’s “Suspicion” (1941)

Olivia became the Hollywood’s first free agent on August 23, 1943, when she successfully sued Warner Bros and changing the power structure from the movie studios to the actors and actresses. This established what is called the De Havilland Law.

Dame Olivia de Havilland resides in France, where she has made it her home for about 70-years.

Blackstone, Hudson $1.65 Billion Hollywood Film Production Deal

Blackstone Property Partners, an investment group, has bought a 49% stake in Sunset Bronson, 5800 Sunset Blvd., Sunset Gower, 1438 N. Gower Street and Sunset Las Palmas, 1040 N. Las Palmas Avenue, from Hudson Pacific Properties said Chairman-CEO Victor Coleman.

The combined square footage of the three studios is 1.2 million square feet and includes 35 sound stages, all valued at $1.65 billion.

Blackstone looks to expand development at Sunset Gower, Sunset Las Palmas Studios and make additional studio purchases din and around Los Angeles and beyond.

New Trailer Jennifer Hudson in “RESPECT” Aretha Franklin Bio

Academy Award Best Supporting Actress, Jennifer Hudson brings the Queen of Soul Aretha Franklin to the big screen in “RESPECT”.

“RESPECT” has a limited release on Christmas Day, December 25^th. Wide release on January 15^th, Martin Luther King Jr Holiday.

Directed by Liesl Tommy, “RESPECT” is his first feature film and written by Tracey Scott Wilson. The cast includes Forest Whitaker as C.L. Franklin, Audra McDonald as Barbara Franklin, Marlon Wayans as Ted White, Aretha’s first husband, Mary J. Blige as Dinah Washington, Gilber Glenn Brown as Martin Luther King Jr.

Lights, Camera, Action! Hollywood Productions Resume June 12, 2020

TCL Grauman's Chinese Theatre. Photo: Yevette Renee

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Order of the Health Officer has released the REOPENING SAFER AT WORK AND IN THE COMMUNITY FOR CONTROL OF COVID-19.

The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has announced that the Music, film and television production can reopen during Stage 3 on Friday, June 12, 2020. All productions prior to resuming must prepare, implement and post the required Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Reopening Protocol for Music, Film and Television Production.

There are five areas that all productions must address prior to reopening: Workplace policies and practices to protect employee health, Measures to ensure physical distancing, measures to ensure infection control, communication with employees and the public, measures to ensure equitable access to critical service.

Physical Distancing

They suggest any employee that can work from home, should do so. The workplace must provide all personal protective equipment (PPE), all visitors and employees must wear face covering.

All productions and recording sessions are required to have a written protocol before they can start work to ensure six (6) feet or more between people. With only essential cast and crew on or near the set at any time. If cast and musicians are unable to wear face coverings must be a minimum of 8 feet of social distancing. Whenever possible, workspaces are to have one directional traffic. When riding the elevator, the capacity limit is based on the ability to maintain six (6) feet distance. They also suggest easing elevator traffic by opening stairwells for up and down traffic.

All shops shall be by appointment only to prevent lines forming.

Television and film productions are required to give periodic testing to cast and crew, especially those in high-rick scenes requiring close contact without masks.

Infection Control

Ventilation must be increased in all spaces. All contracts, music sheet, scripts and other documents must be distributed digitally or printed and given to everyone. Before and after filming and other sessions, all commonly touched areas must be disinfected at least three times a day. The entire facility must be cleaned daily i.e. sets, production spaces. Minor child actors can be accompanied by up to two adults. Payment portals, props, costumes, set materials, trucks and other vehicles must be disinfected after each use.

All Productions must provide a copy of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health protocol to every person that come on-set or enters the production facility.

The movie extra industry will suffer a major impact with productions being told to avoid large crowd scenes.

Craft services: people will only be able to eat and drink in a designated area. The cast and crew must eat and drink in production set area in staggered schedules.

Food buffets are not allowed as well as no communal food or drink services (no coffee pots). Food must be single serve only. People who bring in their own food cannot share their food.

The date, time and name of the crew currently in session must be recorded to assist in contact tracing when necessary.

Production locations must be completely secure from the public with enough space for everyone stay six (6) to social distance.

URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN Film Review

Von Rydingsvard in her Williamsburg studio on South 5th Street, surrounded by the cedar cast of katul katul, 2002.

Premieres May 29, 2020 at Film Forum in New York

Opens June 5, 2020 in the major cities of Los Angeles, Berkeley, San Francisco, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia and more cities to be announced.

Director: Daniel Traub
Feature Documentary

Director Daniel Traub’s gives an in depth look at the life of sculptor Ursula Von Rydingsvard in his new film URSULA VON RYDINGSVARD: INTO HER OWN.

A compelling story of her birth in Germany, the five years she and her family lived in a displaced person camp prior to her parents and four siblings moving to the United States, her marriage to her husband of nine-years, who was institutionalized with schizophrenia and her eventual rise as one of the few women who specialize in monument sculptors.

Ona, Barclays Center, Brooklyn, 2013.

It is fascinating to see how Ursula who grew up during the war and lived in poverty and despair as a displaced person was able to rise to such great heights as an artist. Hearing her speak about being in the 3^rd grade and being elected to create posters and other art assignments in school appear to be the spark that ignited her passion for the arts. It is as though the world of art was her calling, her destiny.

One usually thinks of an artist and the creation of their work as an individua effort yet with Ursula, you see her chosen genre of working with large sculptures made out of cedar and eventually working with bronze, requires a team effort. A team she clearly admires and respect. It is a great opportunity for young artist to work and learn from a master of the arts like Ursula. She and her team have lunch together everyday, which gives you a sense of a family unit. That cohesiveness is displayed in the seamlessness of the sculptures that they create together.

Von Rydingsvard drawing cut lines on a 4x4" cedar beam, 2016.

It was intriguing watching as she traveled to Poland for the first time and see the similarities between of the large, neat stacks of wood used for heating their homes and her large stacks of 4x4 cedar blocks used in her sculptures and other Polish items that had been unknowingly created in her art. It provides an innate connection between her and her family’s homeland.

Composer Simon Taufique original scores provides a great backdrop to Ursula’s life journey from Germany to her new life in the United States.

An enjoyable film about the humbly beginnings of a woman determined to be an artist. An artist who chose a genre without many woman role models and excelled.

Production Company: Itinerant Pictures
Run time: 57 minutes
Director: Daniel Traub
Producers: Daniel Traub, Ken Kobland, Simon Taufique
Executive Producer: Morning Slayter
Editors: Ken Kobland, Melody London
Cinematographer: Daniel Traub
Composer: Simon Taufique

View Trailer Below

We Are One: A Global Film Festival Free On YouTube May 29 – June 7, 2020

The corona virus COVID-19 has turned the film industry upside down and has caused the cancellations of film productions, screenings, premieres and film festivals around the world.

To bring much needed entertainment through film to the world and help with the desperate needs of humanity during this pandemic, global film festivals have come together to establish We Are One: A Global Film Festival that will be screen exclusively on YouTube May 29 – June 7, 2020.

This free 10-day film festival gives viewers an opportunity to support COVOD-19 relief efforts by donating from the film program pages. The funds will go to WHO (World Health Organization, UNICEF, UNHCE, Save the Children, Doctors Without Borders, Leket Israel, Go Foundation, Give2Asia and more organizations.

The Film Festivals participating in the We Are One: A Global Film Festival are Annecy International Animation Film Festival, Berlin International Film Festival, BFI London Film Festival, Cannes Films Festival, Guadalajara International Film Festival, International Film Festival and Awards Macao (IFFAM), International Film Festival Rotterdam, Jerusalem Film Festival, Locarno Film Festival, Marrakech International Film Festival, New York Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, Sarajevo Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival, Sydney Film Festival, Tokyo International Film Festival, Toronto International Film Festival, Tribeca Film Festival, and Venice Film Festival.

The films screened are web series, television, feature films, 360 VR, short films with panel discussions and other programs.

There are films for everyone to choose from that include action and adventure, Romance, Drama, animation, comedy, documentaries, music, activism and socialism, fantasy and experimental.

The screening schedule lists the time for the first showing for each film. There will be additional showings as well as most films going to VOD.

View the schedule for We Are One: A Global Film Festival film at http://www.weareoneglobalfestival.com/schedule

We Are One: A Global Film Festival on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/weareone

Little Richard, Legendary Rock n Roll Artist, Has Died at 87

On May 9, 2020, the world lost one of its most significant musical icons, Little Richard.

Born Richard Wayne Penniman in Macon, Georgia, “Little Richard” became a household name with the success of his hit songs, “Tutti Frutti” , “Long Tall Sally and “Rip It Up”

Known as The Innovator, The Originator, and The Architect of Rock and Roll, his flamboyant stage costumes, screaming vocals and over-the-top piano playing, make-up and hairstyle made Little Richard a dynamic musician who was able to crossover and bring people of all races in as his fans. Because he had such a diverse fan base , his concerts were successful in stopping segregation because everyone came to see him perform.

He was a major influence on Elvis Presley who covered at least four of his songs and on soul and funk, rhythm and blues, rock and hip hop music. In addition to Elvis Presley, his music was covered by Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Eddie Cochran, The Everly Brothers, Bene Vincent and Bill Haley.

Little Richard was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the Songwriter Hall of Fame and received a Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Recording Academy and Rhythm and Blues Foundation.

The Beatles opened for Little Richard as well as The Everly Brothers, the Rolling Stones and Bo Diddley. In 1964, famed guitarist, Jimi Hendrix joined his band the Upsetters.

According to Johnny Otis, R&B icon, “Little Richard is twice as valid artistically and important historically as Elvis Presley, the Beatles, and the Rolling Stones put together.”

He leaves his only child, his son Danny Jones Penniman.

Andre Harrell, Hip Hop and R&B Icon, Founder of Uptown Records Has Died at 59

Andre Harrell. Photo: Yevette Renee

May 8, 2020

New York native, music trailblazer, Andre O’Neal Harrell, passed away on May 7, 2020 in West Hollywood, CA.

Harrell, a man that knew the music business from front and back as an Artist in the music duo Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and as an industry executive when he worked with Russell Simmons at Def Jam Records as its Vice President and general manager.

Harrell eventually left Def Jam to start his own music label, Uptown Records, in 1986. It is at Uptown where Harrel hired Sean “Diddy” Combs as an intern. Not only did this hiring lead to the start of Diddy’s mega successful career but also to the long-lasting careers of Mary J. Blige, the first successful solo Uptown artist, Heavy D and the Boys, The Lost Boyz, Anthony Hamilton, Al B. Sure, Jodeci, the Notorious B.I.G., Teddy Riley and Guy. He launched the career of Robin Thicke while at Nu America Records. He executive produced Robin Thicke and Pharrell’s mega hit song “Blurred Lines.”

His career path includes the 1995 position as CEO and president of Motown and founder of the Nu America advertising agency. Harrell came full circle in his relationship with Diddy when he became Vice Chairman of Diddy’s Revolt TV and Media.

He also experienced success in the TV and Film industry. He created and produced the highly successful tv show “New York Undercover” starring Malik Yoba and gave Halle Barry her first lead role in Strictly Business and the same is true for Jessica Alba in Honey.

Andre Harrell was a major force in the early days of Hip Hop and was able to seamlessly merge Hip Hop with R&B, a style of music that continues to endure.

He leaves his only son, Gianni.