Indie film set in chaotic 1990's L.A. amid earthquakes, riots & slow car chases:
About the Film
Synopsis - ". . . somewhere, a dog barks"
Written by Philip Lester, this gritty story set in the 1990's, follows 7 strangers lured to L.A., their hopes and broken dreams crashing into each other in one weekend of conflict, love, drugs, music, psychic visions, and death. Film production expected in late 2023-24. This is a motion picture film thriller full of action and dark humor, rooted in great characters, immersed in great 90's music and styles.
Why is the dog barking? Did something happen to his owner? Someone trying to break in? Is the dog auditioning for independent films?
Cast
James R. Black, After reading the script, James not only committed to play the role of Darryl in “... somewhere, a dog barks,” he signed on as Producer! A onetime professional football player as running back for the Cleveland Browns, James always had a passion for independent films and pursued his passion while playing for the Browns and for Canada's Ottawa Rough Riders.
James has his own film production company, and Many recall James as security specialist, Michael Hailey, from UPN's drama "The Burning Zone." A regular on “Anger Management,” James' television credits include, "Bones," Navy: NCIS," "CSI: Miami," "Charmed," "Will and Grace," "10-8," "Summerland," "Strong Medicine," HBO’s "Don King: Only in America," and "Criminal Intent." He appeared in “Godzilla,” “Out of Sight,” with George Clooney, “Soldier” for Warner Brothers, and the hit motion picture film Universal Soldier II.
Most recently, James appeared on CBS drama "Moonlight" as Lt. Carl Davis, as a crazed stalker on ABC Family drama, "Lincoln Heights," and on the TNT critically acclaimed show, "The Closer" as Lt. Xavier.
Screenwriter
Philip Lester wrote “. . . somewhere, a dog barks” originally in 1997 as an expansion script from a short film screenplay entitled “A Waiter’s Nightmare.” During the same time frame, he wrote the stage play “Murder: Stage Right,” which to date has been produced by more than 20 companies, in a dozen different states and three foreign countries.
Theatre credits include: The Odd Couple, Ten Little Indians, School for Scandal, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, Macbeth, Taming of the Shrew, The Merchant of Venice, A Comedy of Errors, The Three Musketeers, A Christmas Carol, The Odyssey, Don Quixote, and Almost Perfect. As a member of Will & Company, Philip served as Associate Artistic Director and Fight Choreographer for 8 years, and learned American Sign Language, and performed several of these titles for the deaf. He then was cast as the lead in the original play “Sweet Nothing in My Ear,” which he performed in Chicago, at the Victory Gardens Theatre. This lead to a starring role in the Lifetime movie “Where the Truth Lies”, with Marlee Matlin and Regina King. Other television and film credits include “24,” “CSI: Miami,” “Strong Medicine,” “Hollywood Safari,” “Quadrant 9EV9,” “One Night Stand,” and “Distorted Images.”
Born in Wiesbaden, West Germany, Philip has lived in Ohio, Korea, Munich, Florida, and northern Virginia. An L.A. resident since 1989, Philip resides in Valley Village with his wife, Jenny.
Executive Producer
Michael J. McKay, is best known for directing, co-writing and co-producing "Lake Effects," starring Jane Seymour, Scottie Thompson, Madeline Zima, Jeff Fahey, Casper Van Dien, with Ben Savage and Sean Patrick Flanery, which sold to Hallmark and was renewed, showing on the Hallmark Movie Channel for 6 years.
As Head Writer and Producer/Director for 20 years with Killer Entertainment, Artistry Matters, and Creative Motion Entertainment, Mike has written 19 plays and screenplays, customized and performed thousands of events. Roles on stage range from the lead (Gregor Samsa) in Metamorphosis, to the demon barber in Sweeney Todd. An expert in over 30 dialects, Mike studied in Robert Easton's Master Classes for 15 years.
Key roles include guest stars as Russian Commander Petavich on JAG, and as the thief T. Rex on Drake and Josh, an injured Russian soldier on Alias (Ice), and over 100 appearances as a police officer on General Hospital and Port Charles.
Mike has been married to Louise for 35+ years, is a father of 3 (now adults), earned a B.A. in English from Univ. of Notre Dame, served 4 years as a Cavalry officer, in Mannheim, Germany, where as Squadron Plans Officer, and HHT XO, he was responsible for 100s of lives and 100s of millions worth of equipment, customized relational computer databases, and has performed over 450 weddings with Great Officiants.
Coming Soon!
Opportunities to invest in motion picture film
Opportunities for film production cast and crew
Independent films development and Pre-production data
SAG Signatory