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.   

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.

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.  

A new online article about  H T Altman, the male lead in CHRISTMAS RIDE, is now ready for you to read in The Examiner.  Click here.

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.
 

The Memphis writer's group, Script Write, read the screenplay Christmas Ride by Karen Francis aloud on July 24 and critiqued it afterwards.  The event was filmed and this Table Read is in editing now.