CHRISTMAS RIDE, a feature film produced by Karen Francis through her company Art Promotions in Memphis with the cooperation of Yarbrough Media Productions, is included in the official Reminder List of Oscar Eligible films for Best Picture. The article in in The Wrap at http://www.thewrap.com/oscars-announce-323-films-eligible-…/    The list is alphabetized, so scroll down, to see the full list.

We're happy to announce

CHRISTMAS RIDE is slated to start its first theatrical run

in Los Angeles, California beginning Sept 19 - 25, 2014, at the

Laemmle Music Hall 3 9036 Wilshire Blvd near Doheny Drive  Beverly Hills, CA.   

Screenings Daily:  1:20, 4:10, 7:00 & 9:45 PM

Would appreciate everyone sharing this news with their California friends and groups.

Here's a link to the cinema's website: http://www.laemmle.com/films/38501   

From Yelp I found these tips on parking:

METERED PARKING IS FREE:
- after 6 pm Monday thru Friday
- after 3pm Saturday
- all day Sunday

$5 flat-rate parking at both 135 and 140 Doheny Drive:
- after 5 pm on weekdays
- all day Saturday

========================

Several garages are on S. Doheny.  During the day, Weatherly has five hour meter parking.

Buses seem to run on Wilshire too.
Please make time to see this moving film and make the opening weekend a winner for CHRISTMAS RIDE.  Four or five screenings daily.  Cast member Russell Walden plans to be present opening weekend.  Also  screenwriter, producer Karen Francis will be there for the Q & A Friday and Saturday. 

This year some new variations on the posters for Christmas Ride were introduced. The one of Keri (played by Brittney Ham) driving was slightly favored over over a dramatic black and white version of her running in the results of a public poll.  Other posters featuring additional cast members and may be seen on Facebook. 

The most popular YouTube spot video on the film has garnered over 18,461 plays to date.   Trailer versions abound including a sketchy animated effect.  Click to see Top Trailer.  (It has 5241 plays.)  More Cast interviews, Musician profiles and news were posted to the Christmas Ride blog.    Announcements about the movie continue to be posted in LINKEDIN groups and on other social media sites along with some online advertising, and submission of press releases to the print media.
 
Additionally, the Title Certification Report was received and a Blu ray Master Mix of the DVD prepared.  A DCP version is being explored at this time for use in cinemas with digital projection systems.  An entertainment attorney continues to review the comprehensive  Actor and Location and Music Releases etc. to finalize Clearance for the film.  

As producer, Art Promotions, celebrating its 25th anniversary of making and selling "Paintings, Prints, and [now] Productions,"  continues outreach to the community and distributors with  considerations of booking cinemas to open film theatrically in Los Angeles, New York as well as Memphis.  Due to limitations on funds available for this family friendly movie, Christmas Ride is tied to local railroad tracks at the moment.  We need a Dudley Do Right of Studio Acquisition to appear and rescue us from the train of Exhaustion and put us in the Passenger seat through Cinema Rollout and Distribution.  Any ideas on this subject, or interest in playing this moving feature film in your cinema, contact Karen Francis kfrancis427@gmail.com.   

So pleased to have a Laurel to add to the CHRISTMAS RIDE Key Art from the Charleston International Film Festival.  The Title Report is in for the film name of Christmas Ride.  Looks good, per California Entertainment Attorney.
Studying a nine DVD series on Distribution and reading The Angry Filmmaker Survival Guide and continuing to explore the best order to release film.  Currently holding on to dream of Theatrical Release before TV, DVD and web.   Believe I have found source for making some encrypted DVDs for the hard copy Press Kit (in development)  to send to Distribution firms and Studios, which is next step.   Also developing advertising plan with media placement firm for Memphis area, and studying larger roll out, which would require major financial investment.  So goes the life of an indie . . . 

Photo of the eight floors of offices at Lowe's Hotel, one of several hotels hosting  the American Film Market in Santa Monica, CA held  November 6 - 13, 2013.  

It was an exciting time and representing CHRISTMAS RIDE and I  met briefly with many Studios, Sales Agents, Distributors from around the world at the American Film Market (AFM).   I attended a Distribution Conference one day which focused on the emergence of movies on the web and other changes in the marketplace.  This internet movie streaming  capability is seen as both a challenge to the traditional theatrical distribution mode and as a new lower cost way for independent movies to find an audience.  

I met musicians and their representatives, actors, filmmakers, producers, representatives from WGA, LA Film Commission, Hong Kong DVD makers, and saw one film, a beauty  from Turkey called The Butterfly's Dream about poetry.   There were many films represented from Japan, China and Australia with posters and banners bigger than life.

"The 2013 American Film Market  to screen 402 films, including 321 Market Premieres and 75 World Premieres, from 51 countries.  Films in 30 languages will be screened for more than 8,000 buyers and industry professionals from more than 70 countries," was reported in a press release from AFM in late Oct.  I believe it.  Films screened there were included in a published Film Catalogue, but inclusion requires a lengthly lead time.  

The American Film Market includes an online website where registered attendees can communicate with others before during and after the Market for making appointments and following up with meetings.       --Karen Francis, Art Promotions

CHRISTMAS RIDE, a new dramatic family film, will premiere   for a one night showing   7:00 PM Tuesday, October 29, 2013, at the MALCO  in   Wolfchase Galleria (Carousel Entrance).   

The film tells the story of a woman with two kids and a mysterious neighbor driving South during the Christmas holidays in 1991 in the U.S..  Along their journey they share past tragedies, run into dangerous situations on the road, and ultimately discover a truth which tests the limits of forgiveness.    Tickets are $6.00.   The movie runs one hour forty-eight minutes.   Please arrive around 6:30 to buy tickets in the lobby and find seating.

The film is produced by Art Promotions, owned by Memphian Karen Francis,  in cooperation with Yarbrough Media Productions  of Covington.    This is an independent production, the first feature for each.   CHRISTMAS RIDE draws predominantly on acting talent from TN, such as Covington, Memphis, Bartlett,  with the male co star, H T Altman, being from Minnesota.   Over sixty actors are in the cast.  More than ten musicians have works in the movie.     Some of the actors will be there.   Come check it out, Memphis.   More info at  http://christmasride.wordpress.com      http://www.facebook.com/christmasride