Rising Stars

I'm excited about "Rising Stars."  We shot the movie last August and finished earlier this year.  Doberman Entertainment is nearly done with the deal for distribution and it will be exciting.  (I'll announce when they tell me I can the specifics).

We shot this movie here in the DFW area, mostly at the University of Texas at Arlington.  What's really fun about this film is the cast-- these guys across the board were awesome.  We have Kyle Riabko, who's playing on Broadway right now.  Lauren Ashley Carter-- one of the best young actor's I've ever worked with.  We've got Fisher Stevens, who just won the Academy Award (producing a documentary).  Barry Corbin... the lovely Catherine Mary Stewart... And Rebecca St. James.  Rebecca is really doing well moving from grammy award winning Christian singer to film actor.  There's Leon Thomas III who's landed a sweet role on television.  As well as Natalie Hall who's done the same.

The movie is about high schoolers caught up in a national talent search, squaring off against each other in the Finals, to see who will get the fame and fortune contract.  The two categories are Musical Acts, and Filmmakers.  Three musical acts pair up with three filmmakers for one week of collaboration and competition.  The movie is that week.

The film is targeted as a family film for the secular audience and I think there's something in there for everyone.  Premieres and dates will be forthcoming shortly.

And our male lead is...

Playing the role of 17 year old Chance McCoy will be Kyle Riabko. We are very, very excited that Kyle is coming on board. An accomplished singer/musician/writer, he will bring an incredible depth to the role.

Here's his bio from his website:

n a short ten years Kyle Riabko has transformed from a precocious singer/guitar prodigy to the lead actor in the Broadway musical, Spring Awakening.

Kyle Riabko started his performing career at the tender age of ten. The young singer/guitarist started touring his native Canada during his summer holidays with musicians more than twice his age. At 15 years old he signed his first record deal with Aware/Columbia and his debut single “What Did I Get Myself Into” went top ten at AAA radio in the U.S. Kyle spent the next three years performing in Japan, the U.S., Canada and Australia opening for the likes of John Mayer, Keb Mo, Buddy Guy, and Maroon 5. Along the way, he’s dedicated his time and talent to various charities including Telemiracle and Song for Africa.

Kyle’s love for acting also started at a young age. He directed and acted in two of his own indie films at the age of 14 and went on to play the lead in numerous high school plays. He’s currently a principal actor in the upcoming season of Instant Star, the teen drama from the makers of Degrassi: The Next Generation. But his most astonishing feat to date is winning the part of Melchior, the thoughtful student heartthrob of Spring Awakening, the eight-time Tony-award winning musical. Riabko’s current residence is in New York and spends his free time songwriting, producing and recording. His music has been recorded by a variety of artists and he has placements in both TV and film.