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                   

Here's the link to a one minute trailer about CHRISTMAS RIDE, an indie family feature film.   That's Brittney Ham , the lead actress, in the photo to the left.  The complete film mix is now in its fifth, and hopefully, final edit before its anticipated release in October, 2013.  We're seeking theatrical distribution and/or a sale to television of this special dramatic holiday production with a theme of forgiveness.

With lots of dedication by cast and crew, the filming stage of CHRISTMAS RIDE seems to be drawing to a close.  Editing has a ways to go yet, but a first draft of the scenes is near.  Sponsor or Advertising opportunities exist for companies wishing to be included in the credits.  Also, we are looking for theatrical distribution for this dramatic feature film.  The credits are being developed on this website with a few more details to be added.  More about this production:
1. Facebook  at http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide  
    plus on the web pages of cast and crew members
2. On a Word Press blog.   See http://christmasride.wordpress.com
3. On Pinterest.  See http://pinterest.com/paintingsofnote/   click on Christmas Ride Visuals
4. On IMDb.com
5. On CFDB.com
6. And on the Art Promotions blog.    

                                                          

Five cast members took to the ice to film a scene in CHRISTMAS RIDE recently.  They found Mid-South Ice House in Mississippi, just over the Tennessee line off Hacks Cross Road at 10705 Ridgeway Industrial Drive, Olive Branch, to be a delightful, spacious  Skating Rink and many thanks go out to them for assisting in our film making.     More about Mid-South Ice House may be found on facebook and http://www.midsouthicehouse.com/

Thanks to all those helping to make this story of CHRISTMAS RIDE come alive.   Pictured here is Dr. Jeff  and his airplane with Reagan Britt Mullins playing APRIL  and Russell Walden in the role of JOSH at the Covington, TN airport.    The cast and crew are also enjoying filming in the beautifully decorated homes of private citizens of the city.   Trucks provided by Thornton Home Furnishings and cars by the owners of Automotive Pro Tek  as well as a couple in Somerville are creating the period feel of the early nineteen nineties.  We appreciate the City of Covington permitting us to film at the prior First Baptist Church, and the Covington Police Department for assisting.   Thanks to Karl Collins for letting us film at the City Service Station on Highway 51,  the owner of Sparky's,  and St. Matthew's Episcopal Church.   Special thanks also go to Wing Stop in Cordova between Bonnie and Dexter on Germantown Parkway for feeding the cast and crew after one filming session and to the historic Ruffin Theatre for loaning us some props.  

I am so thankful to all who are helping me make this screenplay CHRISTMAS RIDE into a film. Special thanks go to Coffee in the Attic and the Chamber Center in Covington, TN where we held the auditions, Don Baskin Truck Sales LLC, Yarbrough Media Productions, the musicians who are making originals available for this faith-based production: Danny Jones and Marty Ray; Fractured Atlas, the contributors through Indiegogo, and the actors who performed in the teaser and those that provided locations for the scenes and music for it; our adviser Diane Howard, and coverage through the press written by Gerry Jones  and others.

We have exciting news on the horizon about the cast.  In the meantime, we need to gather  props together for the fabulous locations where the scenes will be filmed very soon.  

Auditions for CHRISTMAS RIDE, a dramatic journey toward forgiveness and redemption,  will be held at Coffee in the Attic on the Town Square in Covington, TN Tues, Nov 20 from 4 - 8 PM  112 East Court Square.  Auditions will be recorded on camera.  Some sides are on TalentPages.com or you may present  a short prepared monologue, or do a cold reading from the script.   Here is a link to info on the roles.

Leads KERI, KEVIN, (adults), JOSH, APRIL (children) will require about three weeks of filming.   Many of the other roles will only require one or two days for those scenes.  Those wishing to participate as Extras need to leave contact info and size info, etc.  (Use Sponsor tab for online form if you cannot attend and are in the greater Memphis area).  The anticipated filming schedule is from 6 to 10 PM, M -F, and 9 - 5 Sat. in NOV and DEC, 2012,. in Covington, TN and some locations in Cordova.  

Yarbrough Media Productions  is filming this production in cooperation with Art Promotions.  More about the screenplay is at http://www.facebook.com/ChristmasRide  (Like Us!) See the About section for a synopsis.   A recent article about the author is in the examiner.com      

Visited Forrest Pruett's Memphis Acting class Monday night to watch talent in action and talk about Christmas Ride's acting needs.  Forgot to mention that U.S. Veterans are given preference for hires.  

On the look out for vehicles.  Christmas Ride needs for the filming:
1) a family style four door sedan from 1990 and before for the leads
2) a low life's car of the same general era;
3) a large truck or van from that time;
4) highway patrol squad car
5) and also a 2012 red corvette convertible, with a back seat
Sponsorship film credits available for car dealers who loan . . .

Locations are being actively scouted now.  

This picture is a photo of a painting called Christmastime.  Other art by this artist is on fineartamerica.com 

Write me at kfrancis427@gmail.com if you are interested in further information or helping with the production in the greater Memphis area. 

ART PROMOTIONS is seeking a production studio for the filming of the feature CHRISTMAS RIDE.  Studios in Memphis,TN are in consideration as well as those farther afield such as this large film facility in Shreveport, LA, called Millennium Studio.   The studio must be spacious enough to film this road trip drama which includes some takes within an automobile.    The story is set in 1991, so the car would need to be from that year or earlier and seat four. There are twenty speaking roles with an average of four people in most scenes.  This spiritually uplifting story of redemption needs to be filmed this year.  Is it possible?  Perhaps a TV Production company and studio which regularly produces dramas could make it happen.