Jake's Corner Movie Hits the Big Screen
Arizona Free Press
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by Karon Schneider
Jake's Corner the movie, filmed entirely on location at Jake's Corner, Payson and Phoenix, is headed to the big screen. Written and Directed by Jeff Santo and produced by Tim Comstock and Hollywood Heard, Jake's Corner will be moving from the festival curcuit to Harkins Theaters. After its outstanding success at the Sedona and Phoenix Film Festivals, Harkins Theaters, in an almost unprecedented move, has selected Jake's Corner for a September 5th Phoenix area theatrical debut. Jake's Corner will show in 6-8 of Harkins largest theaters. Only one percent of independent films made are ever released theatrically, and Jeff ,Tim and I couldnt be more excited! said Producer Hollywood Heard.
Producer Hollywood Heard, Director Jeff Santo
Harkins is the largest chain of theaters in the State of Arizona. The Jeff Santo-directed production, which will open at selected Harkins Theaters on September 5, played to 5 sold out screenings at the Sedona and Phoenix Film Festivals and was greatly received with hour-long Q&As after the shows.
Premiering at Sedona Film Festival, Jakes Corner was among the 150 films selected for this festival from over 1,500 submissions. Festival officials had to turn away over 100 people who waited in line to see the film because the screenings were sold out. Jakes received a rating of 4.35 out of 5 from those that saw the film. Special screenings of Jakes Corner were also held in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Singer/Songwriter BJ Thomas
Work has started on the soundtrack, which will be produced by Grand Canyon Films (Santo, Heard, and Comstock). The soundtrack will feature 5 songs by 5 time Grammy Award winner BJ Thomas, 3 songs by Arizonas own Tom McCormack, and a selection of themes from Steve Dorffs moving Southwestern score.
This family drama centers around Johnny Dunn, a former NFL star and University of Arizona Heisman trophy winner, that moves away from the spotlight after a family tragedy. Dunn buys the high desert town of Jakes Corner and inherits the eclectic group of residents that live there. . His reclusive life is shattered when he is forced to take care of his young nephew, Spence, who "has survived a family tragedy of his own." Spence is played by Peoria, AZ resident, Colton Rodgers, in his breakout acting debut. Colton was selected from hundreds of other boys for this part and is a student at Oakwood School in Peoria. He's very interested in a career in the movies and modeling.
"Jeff has written an incredible family drama that is entertaining, heart wrenching, and heartwarming all at the same time. It shows that no matter what happens in life, you can overcome it with the support and love of those around you. said producer Hollywood Heard.
Actor Danny Trejo, Director Jeff Santo, Actor Richard Tyson
The cast is certainly nothing to sneeze at either. The entire cast, which includes many notable names, personifies and exudes a down-to-earth persona almost unexpected in those who have found fame and fortune.
Portraying the lead role of Johnny Dunn is actor Richard Tyson, who has appeared in over forty films and television projects. He describes Johnny Dunn as a "serious character" and of the movie, says, "it's not fluff, it's real."
Tyson's film credits include 3 O'Clock High, Liar's Poker, Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down, Kindergarten Cop, There's Something About Mary, Me, Myself and Irene, Two Moon Junction, Big Bad Wolf, and a repertoire of Shakespeare, including Richard III, Romeo & Juliet and the Taming of the Shrew.
Playing the role of Fran, the Jakes Corner sage is Hollywood icon Diane Ladd. Ladd has three Academy Award nominations as Best Supporting Actress for Martha Coolidge's Rambling Rose, Martin Scorcese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and David Lynch's Wild at Heart. Her list of credits includes Chinatown, Ghosts of Mississippi, The World's Fastest Indian, Primary Colors, and Citizen Ruth. Diane did Rambling Rose with her daughter Laura Dern (whose father is well-known actor Bruce Dern). She was the first woman to direct her ex-husband Bruce in Mrs Munck, which was selected for ten International Festivals.
Actor Danny Trejo, another well-known face and no stranger to Hollywood, has appeared in Con Air, Heat, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Desperado, Reindeer Games, Point Blank, and numerous TV episodes including Desperate Housewives, King of the Hill, and NYPD Blue.
David Della Rocco plays Wheels, the grill man, at Jakes Corner and is well-known among the younger generation for his role in the cult classic "The BoonDock Saints.ÂÂÂ
Santo certainly called it when he described Jakes Corner as a movie that "brings innocence" to a story of how these characters deal with tragedy together. It's a movie about loss, healing, hope. Jakes Corner teaches us that When loved ones die, we find their spirits in othersÂÂÂ, that's how you move on."
"I am most proud of this movie because it is truly an Arizona movie", Santo said, "90 % of the actors, 90 % of the crew, and 75% of our production financing came from Arizona". "Harkins Theaters has made it possible for our world theatrical release to take place in Arizona, and we couldn't be happier."
For updates and progress on Jake's Corner, please visit, http://www.jakescornerthemovie.com
Jake's Corner the movie, filmed entirely on location at Jake's Corner, Payson and Phoenix, is headed to the big screen. Written and Directed by Jeff Santo and produced by Tim Comstock and Hollywood Heard, Jake's Corner will be moving from the festival curcuit to Harkins Theaters. After its outstanding success at the Sedona and Phoenix Film Festivals, Harkins Theaters, in an almost unprecedented move, has selected Jake's Corner for a September 5th Phoenix area theatrical debut. Jake's Corner will show in 6-8 of Harkins largest theaters. Only one percent of independent films made are ever released theatrically, and Jeff ,Tim and I couldnt be more excited! said Producer Hollywood Heard.
Producer Hollywood Heard, Director Jeff Santo
Harkins is the largest chain of theaters in the State of Arizona. The Jeff Santo-directed production, which will open at selected Harkins Theaters on September 5, played to 5 sold out screenings at the Sedona and Phoenix Film Festivals and was greatly received with hour-long Q&As after the shows.
Premiering at Sedona Film Festival, Jakes Corner was among the 150 films selected for this festival from over 1,500 submissions. Festival officials had to turn away over 100 people who waited in line to see the film because the screenings were sold out. Jakes received a rating of 4.35 out of 5 from those that saw the film. Special screenings of Jakes Corner were also held in Los Angeles and Sacramento.
Singer/Songwriter BJ Thomas
Work has started on the soundtrack, which will be produced by Grand Canyon Films (Santo, Heard, and Comstock). The soundtrack will feature 5 songs by 5 time Grammy Award winner BJ Thomas, 3 songs by Arizonas own Tom McCormack, and a selection of themes from Steve Dorffs moving Southwestern score.
This family drama centers around Johnny Dunn, a former NFL star and University of Arizona Heisman trophy winner, that moves away from the spotlight after a family tragedy. Dunn buys the high desert town of Jakes Corner and inherits the eclectic group of residents that live there. . His reclusive life is shattered when he is forced to take care of his young nephew, Spence, who "has survived a family tragedy of his own." Spence is played by Peoria, AZ resident, Colton Rodgers, in his breakout acting debut. Colton was selected from hundreds of other boys for this part and is a student at Oakwood School in Peoria. He's very interested in a career in the movies and modeling.
"Jeff has written an incredible family drama that is entertaining, heart wrenching, and heartwarming all at the same time. It shows that no matter what happens in life, you can overcome it with the support and love of those around you. said producer Hollywood Heard.
Actor Danny Trejo, Director Jeff Santo, Actor Richard Tyson
The cast is certainly nothing to sneeze at either. The entire cast, which includes many notable names, personifies and exudes a down-to-earth persona almost unexpected in those who have found fame and fortune.
Portraying the lead role of Johnny Dunn is actor Richard Tyson, who has appeared in over forty films and television projects. He describes Johnny Dunn as a "serious character" and of the movie, says, "it's not fluff, it's real."
Tyson's film credits include 3 O'Clock High, Liar's Poker, Ridley Scott's Black Hawk Down, Kindergarten Cop, There's Something About Mary, Me, Myself and Irene, Two Moon Junction, Big Bad Wolf, and a repertoire of Shakespeare, including Richard III, Romeo & Juliet and the Taming of the Shrew.
Playing the role of Fran, the Jakes Corner sage is Hollywood icon Diane Ladd. Ladd has three Academy Award nominations as Best Supporting Actress for Martha Coolidge's Rambling Rose, Martin Scorcese's Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore, and David Lynch's Wild at Heart. Her list of credits includes Chinatown, Ghosts of Mississippi, The World's Fastest Indian, Primary Colors, and Citizen Ruth. Diane did Rambling Rose with her daughter Laura Dern (whose father is well-known actor Bruce Dern). She was the first woman to direct her ex-husband Bruce in Mrs Munck, which was selected for ten International Festivals.
Actor Danny Trejo, another well-known face and no stranger to Hollywood, has appeared in Con Air, Heat, Once Upon A Time in Mexico, Desperado, Reindeer Games, Point Blank, and numerous TV episodes including Desperate Housewives, King of the Hill, and NYPD Blue.
David Della Rocco plays Wheels, the grill man, at Jakes Corner and is well-known among the younger generation for his role in the cult classic "The BoonDock Saints.ÂÂÂ
Santo certainly called it when he described Jakes Corner as a movie that "brings innocence" to a story of how these characters deal with tragedy together. It's a movie about loss, healing, hope. Jakes Corner teaches us that When loved ones die, we find their spirits in othersÂÂÂ, that's how you move on."
"I am most proud of this movie because it is truly an Arizona movie", Santo said, "90 % of the actors, 90 % of the crew, and 75% of our production financing came from Arizona". "Harkins Theaters has made it possible for our world theatrical release to take place in Arizona, and we couldn't be happier."
For updates and progress on Jake's Corner, please visit, http://www.jakescornerthemovie.com