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In three short years Angelo Bell has transcended his guerilla filmmaking origins to launch a thriving, up-and-coming independent film production company, 319 Productions. With the whirlwind success of the Film Genesis Script-to-Film Screenwriting Contest, 319 Productions is poised to explode onto the Hollywood scene.
Hollywood, CA (PRWEB) September 14, 2006 -- Pre-Production: Writer, director and producer Angelo Bell of 319 Productions has just gotten off the phone with Patricia of www.swat4hire.com. He has just negotiated reduced weapons training pricing for his current leading actress. In June 2007 Angelo plans to helm his first first feature in two years, "Valerie Guerrero: Fierce Warrior" with Kimberly Prendez in the title role. This film comes on the heels of writing, directing and/or producing six short films in a single year.
2006 was a banner year for Angelo Bell, 319 Productions, Film Genesis LLC and its sister company, FloodGate Media Inc. The companies were responsible for the development and production of "Broken Hearts Club," a romantic comedy; "Renounced," a dramatic short about heroin abuse; "I Know Who Shot You," a psychological thriller; "Valerie & Sid," a drama about present day slavery in America; "Love Is For Democrats," a political comedy about the Republican Party; and the winner of the Film Genesis Script-to-Film Contest, "El Ride."
However, even as Mr. Bell gears up and prepares his films for submission to the Sundance Film Festival in 2007, he confesses that his thoughts continue taking him into the future. "I'm ready to do something remarkable," He says. "I have everything in place, my talented actress [Kimberly Prendez], my story and my Director of Photography. Now all I need is my script." Mr. Bell's film, "Valerie Guerrero" (http://www.319prods.com/valerieguerrerothemovie/) will be shot in 2007 in multiple locations including Los Angeles, Needles, CA and Weslaco, TX. Mr. Bell has arranged for his lead lady, Kimberly Prendez, to undergo several hours of tactical SWAT training, two weeks of assault course training and three months of martial arts.
"This is the role I've been waiting for," says Ms. Prendez about her character, Valerie Guerrero. "Who knew that when a mutual friend introduced us I'd end up making two films with Angelo in less than a year? Who knew that I'd be looking forward to the most challenging and rewarding role of my career."
Kimberly Prendez's career is indeed blossoming. With recent roles on television and film, Ms. Prendez was selected as Artist Interviews Magazine's Up-and-Coming Actress (http://www.artistinterviews.com/upAndComing/upAndComing.php). During her interview, Ms. Prendez discussed how she actually met Angelo Bell three years earlier when she auditioned for a role in his feature film debut, "Sex, Shoes & Unicorns." "I was so excited about auditioning for a particular role," Kimberly laughs. "But the casting director ultimately had other plans." Now mastering her Cuban dialect under the expert tutelage of veteran dialect coach, Larry Moss, Kimberly Prendez is preparing herself for the role of a lifetime. Becoming the character Valerie Guerrero is particularly personal to Kimberly since she is also Cuban American. "When I first read the script for the short I immediately called my mother to tell her about it," said Kimberly. "I knew it would have a definite impact on her but little did I know at the time that I would be doing it again -- on a larger scale."
Now Angelo and Kimberly are looking forward to the future of "Valerie Guerrero" in more ways than one. Angelo will also be making his feature film acting debut in the film, playing in a small role opposite Kimberly. However, even as Angelo prepares for his own physical conditioning he remains actively engaged in the post-production process for "El Ride." Business partner, Daryll Harkless remarks, "El Ride is the international debut of Film Genesis. This film is why we created the project in the first place. We saw that Matt (Damon) and Ben (Affleck) were doing it wrong (Project Greenlight) and we wanted to reach into the cracks and crevices of the indie world and find something rich and fresh and un-Hollywood." Angelo concludes, "What we found was Veronica Rodigriguez and a little script called EL RIDE."
Veronica Rodriguez of Weslaco, TX was flown to Los Angeles CA for five days to direct her first short film. As a new filmmaker, Veronica entered the contest not expecting to win -- thus, making the win all the more sweeter. Angelo, Veronica and Daryll hope to take their little film to the snowy streets of Sundance in Park City, UT in January '07.
Meanwhile, the ever-growing family of 319 Productions is looking forward to a powerful next year of adventurous, graceful and explosive filmmaking. Of the films Angelo expects to submit to Sundance, many have in their leading roles actors from Angelo's other films, including two films (Valerie & Sid and Love is For Democrats) in which Kimberly Prendez had pivotal roles. Angelo's actor and friend, Sean Ross has leading roles in three of the films expected to be submitted to Sundance.
Angelo considers filmmaking to be an adventure and it is that mindset which helps him overcome the challenges that often arise. You can read more about the explorations of 319 Productions by visiting the company's website, http://www.319prods.com and http://www.floodgatemedia.com. The company is also on MySpace at http://www.myspace.com/319productions. Film Genesis contest info can be found at http://www.filmgenesis.com and up-to-date information about Kimberly Prendez can be found at http://www.kimberlyprendez.com. | 