“MARSHALL” STARS CHADWICK BOSEMAN, JOSH GAD, KATE HUDSON, STERLING K. BROWN, DAN STEVENS AND JAMES CROMWELL
Open Road Films has set October 13, 2017 for the nationwide release of MARSHALL starring Chadwick Boseman (upcoming “Black Panther,” “42,” “Captain America: Civil War,” “Get on Up”) as legendary attorney and Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall, Josh Gad (“Frozen,” “The Wedding Ringer,” upcoming “Beauty and the Beast”) as lawyer Sam Friedman, Kate Hudson (“Mother’s Day,” Oscar® nominee for “Almost Famous”), Dan Stevens (upcoming “Beauty and the Beast,” “Downton Abbey”), James Cromwell (Oscar® nominee for “Babe”), Sterling K. Brown (Emmy® winner for “The People vs. O.J. Simpson,” NBC’s “This Is Us”) and Keesha Sharp (“The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story”). Oscar® nominee Reginald Hudlin (producer of “Django Unchained”) is directing and Paula Wagner (“Mission: Impossible,” “The Last Samurai”) is producing through her Chestnut Ridge Productions banner along with Jonathan Sanger (“The Elephant Man”) and Hudlin.
Director Reginald Hudlin stated: “I can’t wait for the world to see this movie. It’s a thriller, not a biopic, about an early case of one of the greatest lawyers in American history. In a time when we need heroes who fight for justice, MARSHALL is an inspirational movie that brings people together. And it’s a lot more fun than anyone expects.”
Open Road Films CEO Tom Ortenberg added: “Thurgood Marshall spent his whole life fighting for justice and his story has never been more relevant. We are living in volatile times and this film, as well as the entire career of Justice Marshall, serves as a potent reminder that fighting injustice is as important today as it was before and during the Civil Rights Movement. We are incredibly proud of all the work that went into MARSHALL – particularly the top-notch filmmaking from director Reginald Hudlin and producer Paula Wagner, as well as fantastic performances from Chadwick Boseman, Josh Gad, Kate Hudson, Sterling K. Brown, Dan Stevens, James Cromwell and the entire cast. We are looking forward to sharing this film with all Americans and audiences around the world.”
Financiers of MARSHALL are Star Light Media, Inc., Hero Film, Ltd. and Sky Legend. Executive producers are Peter Luo and Belton Lee.
Sony Pictures Worldwide Acquisitions is handling international distribution of MARSHALL.
MARSHALL is based on a true incident in the life of Thurgood Marshall, when he was a young lawyer, long before his appointment to the U.S. Supreme Court. As the nation teeters on the brink of WWII, a nearly bankrupt NAACP sends Marshall to conservative Connecticut to defend a black chauffeur against his wealthy socialite employer in a sexual assault and attempted murder trial that quickly became tabloid fodder. In need of a high profile victory but muzzled by a segregationist court, Marshall is partnered with Samuel Friedman, a young Jewish lawyer who has never tried a case. Marshall and Friedman struggle against a hostile storm of fear and prejudice, driven to discover the truth in the sensationalized trial which helped set the groundwork for the Civil Rights Movement to come.
The screenplay for MARSHALL is a unique collaboration between renowned trial lawyer, Michael Koskoff, and his son, screenwriter Jacob Koskoff (“Macbeth”).
MARSHALL is being produced with the full support of the Thurgood Marshall and Samuel Friedman estates, including their children, John W. Marshall and Lauren Friedman.
(January 27th, 2017) Hollywood Director Fred Olen Ray 4th feature film shot in Western New York “Stage Fright” (formerly known as Curtains) is airing now on the Lifetime Movie Network (LMN).
Jordan Ladd (on couch) gets ready for a scene shot in a downtown Buffalo office.
“Stage Fright” starring Jordan Ladd (Cabin Fever), Brody Hutzler (Days of Our Lives), Western New York natives Bob Rusch (Sons of Anarchy), and Alan Pietruszewski is about a retired opera singer who receives some unwanted attention.
Stagefright shoots in the Colonel Ward Pumping Station.
(January 17th, 2017) The Western New York Region of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Union (#52) Studio Mechanics celebrated the holidays by inducting another 17 experienced members into it’s local crew base. Regional Representative John Scardino administered the oath to the new members on behalf of IATSE 52 President John Ford. A tireless advocate for film production in Western New York, Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown was on hand to congratulate the new members along with Film Commissioner Tim Clark.
This crew addition will go along way in increasing the the ability of Western New York to attract larger films to the region. It will also make it more affordable for productions by making use of our well seasoned local crew base without having to import union crew members from elsewhere.
PHOTO (L-R) – Daniela Cosmano-Kayser, Matt Nardone, Mike Amato, Bob Ross, Frank Coppola, Rick Liberatore, Matt Quinn, Film Commissioner Tim Clark, Kash Costner, Chris Brown, Chris Rados, Tom Rukavina, Jim Kerr, Rich Battaglia, Regional representative John Scardino, and Buffalo Mayor Byron Brown.
MCMF was shot at Michael’s alma mater, the Nichols School in North Buffalo and featured the acting talents of actual Nichols Students.
(L-R) Key production personnel of MCML Costume Director Alison Pieroni, Producer Amy Strzelec, and Hair and Make-up Cassandra Lyons at North Park Premiere.
This project was first narrative feature managed by Buffalo advertising veteran Amy Strzelec and featured the talents of Director of Photography Shannon Madden, Hair/Make-up Cassandra Lyons, and Costume Designer Alison Pieroni.
(L-R) Michael Angelakos, Brent Katz, and Director Hana Haley during Q and A at the North Park Theatre.
At a cast and crew sneak peak at the North Park Theatre Angelakos expressed excitement in returning to Nichols where he had a chance to explore and develop his artistic abilities as a student, and how proud he was of the Nichols Students and their performances in the production. Joining Angelakos on the main creative team for MCML teamed up with former Harlem Shakes member Brent Katz and director Hana Haley.
Katz, Angelakos, and Haley seated in front of the entire Nichols School Cast for “Merry Christmas, Mr. Fields”.
(November 21st, 2016) Buffalo Niagara Film Commissioner Tim Clark will talk about the historic growth of major film production in Western New York as Daemen College’s Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series speaker at 4:30 p.m. Nov. 30 in the Wick Campus Center’s Alumni Lounge. The lecture is free and open to the public.
Clark will discuss growth in the local film industry, attracting new feature film projects to the Buffalo area, and the economic impact this sector has had on the region.
Daemen House, the college’s presidential residence on the day of Marshall Shoot.
He will also highlight Buffalo’s recent major film projects, including “Marshall,” for which scenes were filmed at Daemen House, the college’s presidential residence, and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2.”
“The filming of these recent movies are two great examples of how Buffalo has taken its place among major film production cities in the country,” said Clark. “I look forward to speaking at Daemen about the true renaissance in filmmaking that is taking place in our region.”
Starting out in the television industry, Clark was director of news operations at WKBW-TV and then went on to serve as press secretary for the Erie County Executive. He was named film commissioner of the Buffalo Niagara region in 2006.
“When filming was done at Daemen House, we had the unique opportunity to see first-hand the success of the vibrant film industry right here in Western New York,” said Daemen President Gary A. Olson, “We are pleased to have one of our state’s top film executives come to campus to tell us about the many impressive projects filmed in our region.”
The Daemen Distinguished Leaders Lecture Series brings top government and public officials and business leaders to campus to share their unique perspective on critical state, national and international issues. It is sponsored by Harris Beach PLLC, a major New York-based law firm with offices in Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, Ithaca, White Plains, New York City and Long Island.
