Inside Scoop: SIC To Begin Production on Two New Projects

September 3, 2017 lgreenbaulm Leave a comment

Inside Scoop: SIC To Begin Production on Two New Projects

Story by Alex Jack

SIC productions will soon begin production on two new projects, in what sources are describing to our editors as what will be “two vastly different, but both hugely impactful stories.”

The first is the television series “Viral,” a spin on the sci-genre format will blend thriller-drama genres in its story about a group of scientists attempting to save humanity from an alien virus. New Zealand star Sophie Renée will play the lead role of Emma Greene, one of the scientists. Naresh Kumar is playing the supporting lead role of Johnny, and previously worked with SIC productions on the world-renowned short film “Cyberversity”. Kaisania Calubaquib is attached to direct. If the casting of such high-caliber talent as Emma and Kumar wasn’t enough, Calubaquib’s association brings with it even more credence. Calubaquib, who won the Best Director in NYC Indie Film Awards 2017, Platinum Award Best Short in NYC Indie Film Awards 2017, and the the Grand Jury Prize Best Short in UMFF 2017, is said to be “incredibly excited” at the prospect of working both with SIC and his leading actors.

Acclaimed actor Naresh Kumar in “Cyberversity,” one of SIC’s well-known productions.

Renée, most well known for her role in “The Velvet Hour,” won the Award of Excellence in the 2017 International Freethought Film Festival in Orlando, Florida for her work. She proudly explains that “it was also the first time that I got that I got to use my French language skills in the acting world!” Renée recently worked in a critical role with hugely famous French star Francis Lalanne on a secret project. Via our editors, Sophie proudly added: “I was also lucky enough to be taken under his wing throughout our time together and the emotional support that he gave me is something that I will forever be in his debt for.”

Sophie Renée will play Emma Greene in “Viral.”

The second of SIC’s projects due to begin shooting any day now couldn’t be further from the sci-fi genre. “Singled Out,” a feature film that it is said to be in the grittier vein of Bradley Cooper-vehicle “A Place Beyond the Pines” and the Oscar-nominated “Hell or High Water,” instead explores drugs, crime and corruption in the Atlanta Police Department. In the role of James Montgomery, who our editors believe could either be an anti-hero or a traditional protagonist, is UK star Neil Reidman. Reidman, who shares the screen with superstar Nicole Kidman for Etihad’s global advertising campaign, is said to be thrilled at joining such an eminent production. While the exact release date of “Singled Out” hasn’t been identified, SIC have exclusively revealed to us that it will most definitely be in cinemas in 2018, likely in contention for the 2019 awards season. Such strategic release plays at the Oscar-race are frequently looked upon with cynicism, but given SIC’s track-record of highly-regarded films and the Academy’s response to films like “Moonlight,” it’s looking likely that “Singled Out” will be a strong contender.

Famed thespian Neil Reidman will play James Montgomery in the feature film, “Singled Out” for SIC Productions.

Reidman, often recognised for his portrayal of Lieutenant Atillo in “Doctor Who,” is currently shooting an undisclosed feature. While the details have to stay under-wraps, it’s understood the project is highly-anticipated and will bring the actor even more fans worldwide. The classically trained actor, who also starred in Laurence Olivier Award winning stage shows on the West End in key roles, including “Big Life,” will go straight from his wrap party to the shoot of “Singled Out.” He also played critical roles in the hugely-successful TV shows “Holby City,” “Doctors” and “Casualty” and is repped by some of the most powerful agents in entertainment.

Dani Bryan, CEO of SIC, has worked with numerous major brands such as Michelob Ultra, AutoTrader, DSW, Lincoln Navigator, and Facebook. The extension of SIC’s line-up with these two projects, and the addition of such-high caliber stars, will undoubtedly allow Bryan to wield more power in the business.

Director, Mexican Filmmakers, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

Telling Stories to Spark Social Change: Director Alma Jiménez Ochomogo

September 3, 2017 Scott Prewitt Leave a comment

Director Alma Jiménez Ochomogo was born in Toluca, a small town about an hour outside Mexico City. Her parents owned and managed a small business, which provided a living for the family but didn’t leave them time for much else, so Jiménez Ochomogo was often left to her own devices. She couldn’t have known it then, but looking back with the clarity of hindsight she can point to her time spent there as the beginning of her lifelong pursuit.

“My family owned a small grocery store in Mexico and my mother used to work there all day long, so I spent most of my time there. I couldn’t really spend a lot of time playing outside because it was on a busy street — and because of insecurity,” she said, reflecting on how it all began.

“One of the only things that I could do was watch movies. I always had a big imagination so I think that was my escape. [It was like] I was in all kinds of places and adventures in the movies. [That] has tremendously impacted my life.”

Though that small town was where she’d discovered her passion, the opportunities there for an aspiring filmmaker were extremely limited. So the ever-driven Jiménez Ochomogo chased her calling to Los Angeles. She flourished in the city, and it immediately became clear she had a rare gift. Her film “The Play” is a testament to that gift, beautifully blending a rich, original narrative with a bold message of perseverance in the face of inequality.

“‘The Play’… tells the story of Kimberly, a transgender actress, who receives her first role as a woman and is struggling to get into character,” Jiménez Ochomogo described. “It was a very difficult endeavor to find someone who could both play a transgender actress and deliver Shakespeare… if I didn’t choose the right person, the character could have become cartoonish.”

Director Alma Jiménez Ochomogo (left) and actors Ted Heyck & Aean McMullin (right) preparing to shoot “The Play.” Photo by Sara Marijuan

Written, directed and produced by Jiménez Ochomogo, “The Play” is a brilliant and powerful work that boldly tackles a topic too often swept under the rug. Aean McMullin delivers a masterful performance as Jennifer, deftly embodying the young actress.

“Kim… is cast as Viola/Cesario, the heroine and protagonist of the play ‘Twelfth Night’ by William Shakespeare,” she explained. “Aean McMullin, the actor, did a great job creating Kim. He had the right amount of vulnerability and strength that the character required to feel real. It also helped that he was classically trained so was amazing in delivering Shakespeare.”

In February, Jiménez Ochomogo unveiled her most ambitious project yet. Blurring the line between social media and cinema, L.A. Livfe was a series of three films by three directors which were ‘screened’ using the Facebook Live service. To ensure the project would get off on the right track, Jiménez Ochomogo’s film “The Pair” was chosen to be the first film to air.

“I directed the first short film called ‘The Pair,’ which was a love story about a Palestinian and an Israeli who meet in a Los Angeles bar,” she said. “We rehearsed for hours, but we only broadcast live once… so in many ways it was a make-it-or-break-it type of project.”

To shoot a film and air it live online for the world to see is an immense undertaking. It required countless hours of preparation, and the stakes couldn’t have been higher. But Jiménez Ochomogo had a story in her mind, and she knew exactly how to tell it.

“Our objective was to incorporate film language into live broadcasting, and the thread that joined all of the stories together was the city of Los Angeles,” she explained. “Each of us told a story of a moment in this city.”

At once enthralling and captivating, “The Pair” was a perfect example of what sets Jiménez Ochomogo apart. She is driven to find the unusual, the unorthodox and the unexpected, all of which she brings to life on the screen. Together with her visionary eye, her gift for storytelling puts Alma Jiménez Ochomogo miles ahead of her peers.

Actor, Actor Profile, Reviews, Interviews & Features!

More Than Just a Music Video Heroine: Swedish Actress Josefin Nilsson

September 2, 2017 lgreenbaulm Leave a comment

Actress Josefin Nilsson shot by Tajna Tanovic

Audiences across the globe, hip-hop fans especially, will recognize Swedish bombshell Josefin Nilsson for her featured role in an impressive list of music videos in recent years, but her skill as an actress extends far beyond simply playing a music video heroine, although she does that incredibly well.

Earlier this year Nilsson was featured in the music video for Mike WiLL Made-It’s hit song “Perfect Pint” featuring Kendrick Lamar, Gucci Mane, and Rae Sremmurd. In the video, which was released in May and has already garnered nearly 15 million views on YouTube, Nilsson comes onto the scene as a gargantuan model whose legs the rappers driving a car between as she towers over the desert. Later on in the video fans will see Nilsson fly across the screen riding a rocket through the air, a trippy video to say the least.

Nilsson recalls, “The first music video I was a part of was actually a Chris Brown music video for the song ‘Bitches N Marijuana.’ I grew up idolizing Chris so the thought of actually being wanted for his video felt a little crazy at first.”

In addition to “Bitches N Marijuana Feat. ScHoolboy Q,” a 2015 collaboration between Brown and Tyga that earned over 20 million YouTube views, Nilsson has been featured in a number of Grammy Award winning artist Chris Brown’s other music videos, such as those for the hit songs “Grass Ain’t Greener,” which garnered more than 60 million views on YouTube, as well as Gucci Mane’s 2017 hit “Tone it Down” featuring Brown.

Still of Josefin Nilsson from the “Perfect Pint’ music video

While Nilsson, who attended The Ballet Academy, one of Sweden’s most prestigious dance schools, has definitely made an impact with her featured performances in several hit music videos, her performances in films such as the startling horror flick Darkest Decision prove her strong capacity as an leading lady on film.

In Darkest Decision, which was chosen as an Official Selection of the Northern Frights Festival, Nilsson gives a riveting performance in the starring role of Cara Fox. Directed by Derek Quick (Fist Full of Glove, Lovisa, Set Ettiquette), Darkest Decision is a zombie film that follows a group of friends running for their lives, with Nilsson’s character Cara serving as the hero of the movie.

After being chased down by a bevy of bloodthirsty zombies, Cara, Darren and Jay lock themselves indoors, escaping in the knick of time. However, when Cara realizes Darren, played by Shane Liburd, has been infected, she has to make the pragmatic, but cold decision to kill him on the spot before he turns.

In Darkest Decision actress Josefin Nilsson nails her mark as the film’s fierce female hero, while also imbuing her character with just enough fear to make the situation believably terrifying. In the film Nilsson stars alongside Asians on Film Festival Winter Award winner Daniel Joo (Art of Deception, Fortune 500 Man), Diego T. Kuri (Life as a Mermaid, Golden State), and Mari Ørstavik (Killing Time in America, A Dolls House).

Josefin Nilsson on the poster for the film “Darkest Decision”

About working on the film, Nilsson says, “It was really a great experience being a part of this project. It was a great team and the other lead Daniel Joo is such a great actor, I was blessed to work next to him on this film.”

Before making her way to Hollywood several years ago, actress Josefin Nilsson took to the screen in Sweden where she took on numerous critical roles in high profile productions such as the family romance film Eve & Adam: Four Birthdays & a Fiasco directed by two-time Guldbagge Award winner Catti Edfeldt, the International Emmy Award nominated series Laura Trenter- Fire! aka Det Brinner, and the dramatic thriller Medicinmannen.

Up next for the actress is the film 7 Days a Kingpin, which is slated to begin filming later this year and will be directed by Paul Bunch (Waiting for Michelle, Crossing the Line, Thy Will Be Done).

Nilsson says, “I am super excited for the feature film ’7 Days as a Kingpin.’ I will be playing one of the leads and it will be great to be a part of such a big production. Daveigh Chase, known for ‘Donnie Darko,’ is starring in it and big producers like Scott Reid and John Ryan Jr. are a part of it.”