HOLLYWOOD, CA, June 15, 2010 — Producer Bruce Reisman has finally announced that “Blood Effects” is the new permanent title for the recently completed “Untitled Kris Black Project” from FourTwoFive Films.

Independently-financed by Chicago-based Paul B. Payne and Terry Gehring, and directed by Hank Braxtan (who is among the film’s producers), “Blood Effects” is now in the final phases of post-production; with teams working in both Los Angeles and Toronto (where producer Ryan P. Wilson is overseeing the CGI “magic” at his company, Authority FX).

(L-R) Justin Shilton, Shar Jackson, and Kris Black are the stars of "Blood Effects."

Featuring Shar Jackson, Justin Shilton (both are co-executive producers), Kris Black (who wrote the script), and Jeremy Jackson (“Hobie” from Baywatch), “Blood Effects” is an edgy, raw, scary “behind-the-scenes” look at the making of a horror movie and what the first-time director (Black) and his company go through to complete the paranormal thriller, on a break-neck schedule.

Shot in a Christopher Guest-“Best in Show” style, with inspiration from Larry David, “Blood Effects” creates for the audience, a “fly-on-the-wall” perspective of low-budget, horror movie-making, where reality mixes with fiction; and the viewer will not be quite sure where one ends and the other begins.

“Blood Effects” joins “The House that Jack Built” as part of FourTwoFive Films’ low-budget “thriller” division with “Boarding School” among other projects in development for this genre.

Pre-order THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT on Amazon.com!!!

“Jack Built,” featuring Joe Mantegna, Gail O’Grady, Hal Sparks, Shar Jackson, Justin Shilton, and Kris Black (who co-wrote the script with Bruce Reisman) is now available for pre-orders at Amazon.com, with its official premiere in mid-August, distributed by Synergetic worldwide in all media.

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Read all blog posts about FourTwoFive Films by CLICKING HERE.

Synergetic Distribution has acquired worldwide distribution rights to the thriller, “The House That Jack Built,” produced by FourTwoFive Films (www.fourtwofivefilms.com, IMDB). Directed by Bruce Reisman, from an original script by Reisman and Kris Black, the sexy suspense drama features Joe Mantegna, Gail O’Grady, Hal Sparks, Shar Jackson, Chantelle Barry, and Kris Black in the lead role of “Jack.”

View trailer below…

“The House That Jack Built” tells the story of a young man of the “The Hills” generation who breaks a promise made on the deathbed of his father (Joe Mantegna) not to tear down the family estate. In destroying what was there and replacing it with a “party house” of his own invention, young Jack’s betrayal of his own oath, brings the devil’s wrath down on his housewarming party. A cross between “Friday the 13th” and “Entourage”, “The House That Jack Built” is stylish, features a sexy young cast, and boasts the first rate production qualities not usually found in this type of feature. Filmed on the Redcam, director Reisman along with post-production supervisor, Hank Braxtan (who also produced), has created an edgy, colorful, wildly exciting “party from hell” with masterful “kills” and “CGI” effects found only in much higher budgeted movies.

The Untitled Kris Black Project

“The House that Jack Built” was the first project on the impressive FourTwoFive Films slate, which was followed by the recently completed “Untitled Kris Black Project”, a scathing pseudo-documentary directed by Hank Braxtan, written by Kris Black, and produced by Bruce Reisman and Paul B. Payne. It features Shar Jackson (VH1’s 2010 “Celebrity Fit Club”, “Moesha”, and “The House That Jack Built”); along with Jeremy Jackson (of “Baywatch”), Justin Shilton (“Little Miss Sunshine” and the “New Melrose Place”), and Kris Black (“The House That Jack Built” and the upcoming “Five Good Years”).

Five Good Years

This project is already getting the kind of festival “buzz” indie film-makers dream of. Currently in pre-production is FourTwoFive Films most ambitious project, “Five Good Years,” which will also be distributed by Synergetic via their parent company, Metropolitan Filmexport. Directed by Bruce Reisman, from an original screenplay by Reisman and Kris Black, Black also appears in the inspiring story of a Southern coal miner who is forced into the boxing ring to save his mother’s life. He will be surrounded by a stellar cast that includes both past Oscar winners and nominees (to be announced).

To be shot in Atlanta, “Five Good Years” production team includes Gerald Wolff (Executive Producer), Bryan Greenberg (Director of Photography for “The Perfect Game”), and Jackie Kallen (the “first lady of boxing” as co-producer). Filming is tentatively set for August 2010.

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FourTwo Five Films: Kris Black (L), Bruce Reisman (R)

Independent film production company, FourTwoFive Films (IMDB: FourTwoFive Films), owned and operated by the multi-talented duo Bruce Reisman and Kris Black have been busy working on multiple film projects.  Here’s an exclusive update on all of their film projects planned for 2010 and 2011.

Their film slate currently includes “The House That Jack Built,” “The Untitled Kris Black Project,” “Boarding School 3-D,” “Five Good Years,” “4:20,” and “Danny Boy.”  Indie film enthusiasts like myself are certain to find a film or two or three that suits their preference as this power duo of Reisman and Black have written films ranging from horror to comedy.

Take a look!

The House That Jack Built

A psychological thriller where “Saw” meets “Entourage.”

IMDB: The House That Jack Built

FourTwoFive Films first completed film project was “The House The Jack Built.”  The premiere was held at ArcLight Theater in Los Angeles on July 7, 2009 and received great reviews (see “Interview with writer, painter, actor Kris Black: Part 1 of 2“).  Kris Black also held a screening of the film in his hometown of Viroqua, Wisconsin back on October 9, 2009 (see “FourTwoFive Films: Kris Black, local boy goes Hollywood“).  The cast includes: Gail O’Grady (“Boston Legal”), Shar Jackson (“Celebrity Fit Club- Season 7″), Joe Mategna (“Criminal Minds”), Hal Sparks (“Queer as Folk”), and more. Good news! They have recently finalized a distribution agreement for their first venture.  More details to come regarding release dates and how to obtain a copy.

The Untitled Kris Black Project

A “Killer Komedy” that scrambles fact and fiction and takes on Hollywood like never before.

IMDB:  The Untitled Kris Black Project

Production and writing partners, Bruce Reisman and Kris Black, recently completed their 2nd production, “The Untitled Kris Black Project” (UKBP), an irreverent “mockumentary” about the foibles of independent movie-making. Using the “movie-within-a-movie” concept, Kris Black’s hot-button original screenplay, takes on styles of both Woody Allen (“Zelig”) and Larry David (“Curb Your Enthusiasm”).

Directed by Hank Braxtan under the guidance of producer, Reisman, “UKBP” stars Shar Jackson (who also makes her debut as co-executive producer with her Malkore Productions banner); along with ex-child-star, Jeremy Jackson, all grown up from “Baywatch.”

Also in the cast is Justin Shilton, best-known as the guy who dumped Steve Carrell in “Little Miss Sunshine” and more recently seen as a recurring co-star of the new “Melrose Place.”

Jeremy Jackson adds to the mix for “UKBP,” bringing his own brand of experience and celebrity to a project that pokes fun at reality stars, delves deeper into their real talents, and creates a terrifying depiction of Hollywood indie horror films. In this movie, the audience will not be quite sure where reality stops and movie-magic begins.

It is already being touted for the independent film festival circuit, with insiders buzzing about the movie’s originality and superb production values; along with some surprising performances from the celebrated cast.

Boarding School 3-D

Not everyone is going home for the holidays in “Boarding School 3-D.”

IMDB: Boarding School 3-D

FourTwoFive Films plans next to expand their thriller base, but to do it in 3-D, with “Boarding School 3-D.” Written by Bruce Reisman and Kris Black, Reisman will direct this terrifying new take on the old “phantom of the opera” concept, whereas a “scarred” ex-high school football hero/coach (David Chokachi) returns to take revenge on the “student” (Kris Black) who destroyed his life.

David Chokachi

“Think ‘Breakfast Club’ meets ‘SAW’”, says director-writer Reisman, “and you’ve got the idea.”

Five Good Years

Kris Black takes on the fight of his life with “Five Good Years.”

IMDB: Five Good Years

The big news from FourTwoFive Films is that production is proceeding on their “most auspicious script,” “Five Good Years.” In development for over a year, with rumored stars like Kathy Bates (“Misery”), Taryn Manning (“Hustle and Flow”), Shoshanna Stern (“Weeds”), Peter O’Toole (“The Tudors”), and Samuel L. Jackson (“Lakeview Terrace”) to flank Kris Black, “Five Good Years” is the rags-to-riches story of one young man’s obsession to save his mother’s life; and by doing so, must enter the boxing ring.

Kris Black (L), Taryn Manning (R)

From coal miner to contender, Alex Winston must “fight against time,” and with the help of his hard-bitten fight promoter, his burnt-out Irish-poet trainer, his best friend and fellow miner, and the young CNN reporter (Taryn Manning) who falls in love with him… just maybe he can win.

“Five Good Years” is the most ambitious of the movies in the production slate, but its deeply moving screenplay is already gaining buzz as an Oscar-contender.

4:20

“4:20″ ponders what if you only had 3 hours left…to get high?

IMDB: 4:20

FourTwoFive Films’ plans are varied, as their films go from one extreme to the other. Following the intensity and raw emotions of “Five Good Years,” they will be moving forward with Kris Black’s directorial debut, the wild and raunchy “4:20,” which Black wrote with Reisman.

Says Black, “It’s ‘The Hangover’ meets ‘Pineapple Express’ and ‘Superbad’,” where two “stoners” have just one day to gather up all the legal marijuana they can before the California State Law is reversed.

This one will shoot in late summer 2010 in Los Angeles. No talent are attached as yet.

playing with props on set: Kris Black (L), Kevin Malloy (R)

(Above) Actor/Writer Kris Black is “playing around” with “4:20″ props for the media last summer in Los Angeles, and sharing the fun with fellow actor, Kevin Molloy (“The House That Jack Built” and “Boarding School 3-D”).

Danny Boy

Life and death and love in “Danny Boy.”

IMDB: (not yet available)

As FourTwoFive Films grows as an independent production company, as do their ambitions. For 2011, Reisman and Black are already writing and planning on producing “Danny Boy,” their original screenplay concerning the “relationship” between an incarcerated Episcopal priest and a death row inmate.

Golden Globe Award winner, Colin Farrell, is targeted for the title role of a social outcast, doomed to a life of prison, and finally, ending up on death row. By way of his friendship with Father Mick Callum, who himself is in jail, there’s a chance for clemency.

Told in flashback style, through the memories of a child, “Danny Boy” takes on the subjects of capital punishment, the right to die with dignity; and for two men, when under the most desperate of circumstances, are encouraged to experience love in the most unlikely of places.

“Danny Boy” is both raw, violent, scary, and finally an emotionally moving story of two very different men, who, to survive, chose their friendship over their wives, their children, and a disparaging world.

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- all posts related to FourTwoFive Films
• Ifelicious Thoughts- FourTwoFive Films looks to cast Kathy Bates in “Five Good Years”
• FourTwoFive Films official website- www.fourtwofivefilms.com

Exclusive Sneak Peak!

Hollywood, Ca. (November 6, 2009) — FourTwoFive Films‘ upcoming thriller, “Boarding School 3-D” offers readers an exclusive sneak peak at the production design for the movie. Created by Oliver Dear, this “lair” provides the setting for the “killer” Coach, Ralph Scudder, to be played by former “Baywatch” star, David Chokachi. This setting provides much of the terror in the Bruce Reisman-Kris Black script. To be directed by Reisman, Chokachi portrays a once-beloved high school athletic coach, forced into exile ten years ago after an “accident” maimed his once-perfect face and body.

Kris Black

Kris Black stars with Chokachi as current “coach” Ray Reynolds, the most popular teacher at the exclusive River Oaks Boarding School, where during the Christmas break, he chaperones a group of school “misfits” who are forced to remain. The director of the recently completed thriller, “The House That Jack Built” was originally “finished” with the horror genre, “but the chance to direct in 3-D”, says Reisman, “is something I couldn’t pass up. The technology is not only fascinating, but 3-D is the future of this genre”.

David Chokachi

FourTwoFive Films is currently completing the casting for the roles of the students, and the kids will all be played by some of the hottest names and faces in Hollywood.

About “Boarding School 3-D”

The story revolves around the holiday “lockdown”, where the horribly disfigured Coach Scudder sets out to destroy the current coach (Kris Black), once his “favorite student”, whom he blames for his own desolation. In true “SAW” and “Final Destination” tradition, the story is a relentless tale of suspense and terror, all taking place in a single nightmarish day.

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- Former “Baywatch” star, David Chokachi joins Kris Black in FourTwoFive Film’s new “Boarding School 3D”
• Ifelicious Thoughts- Ifelicious EXCLUSIVE!!! FourTwoFive Films Moves Forward On “Boarding School 3-D”
• Ifelicious Thoughts- all FourTwoFive Films related posts
• FourTwoFive Films official website- www.fourtwofivefilms.com
• FourTwoFilms Myspace- www.myspace.com/jackbuilt
• IMDB- Boarding School 3-D

(Hollywood, Ca). Kris Black, born in Westby, WI and raised in Viroqua, packed up virtually everything he owned a few years back, after deciding he was going to be an actor. Before he loaded up his car, Kris Black was Chris Mellem, son of local accountant and single mother, Christine Mellem; when he got to Los Angeles, and after a few years of sorting out his “identity”, Chris Mellem changed his name to Kris Black, and his fortunes changed with it. (www.myppk.com/go/krisblack.aspx)

Although not quite yet a household name, Kris is well on his way after forming FourTwoFive Films (with his producing partner, Bruce Reisman) and completing “The House That Jack Built”, which will have its premiere on October 9th at the Vernon Square Cinema. (www.fourtwofivefilms.com)

Chris Mellem attended Viroqua High School and was a star athlete, especially in football. It is on the football field where he got used to the cheers from the crowds, and felt the love and support from his fellow students and families. It is from there that a local boy got the guts to leave the safety net of Hometown USA, and venture forth into the world with a dream.

As not only the star of “The House That Jack Built”, Kris has become a multi-threat in Hollywood. As co-writer of “Jack” and producer, Kris has learned quickly all facets of independent movie making, from writing to raising money.

Also an acclaimed abstract artist, Kris Black was named by Los Angeles magazine as “One of the Top 25 Renaissance Men in Los Angeles”.

His company, FourTwoFive Films, is planning a roster of movies, the first being another thriller, “Boarding School 3-D” and includes Kris Black’s directorial debut, “4:20” from a script by he and Reisman.

But Kris is most looking forward to playing “Alex Winston” in “Five Good Years”, whereas he portrays a young West Virginia coal miner who’s forced in the boxing arena, to fight to save the life of his ailing mother. Written Kris and Bruce Reisman, to be directed by Reisman, Kris has been intensely training for the role for the last eight months. The training was recently photographed for publication in Mens Health fitness magazine.

Kris will be attending the premiere on October 9, 2009, joining his old friends and family. Please contact the Vernon Square Cinema (www.vernonsquarecinema.com) for event details and show times.

Related Links

• Ifelicious Thoughts- all news about FourTwoFive Films, Kris Black, Bruce Reisman
• Vernon Broadcaster- Viroqua native bringing his movie to local cinema
• FourTwoFive Films official website- www.fourtwofivefilms.com
• FourTwoFilms Myspace- www.myspace.com/jackbuilt

The company, having recently completed “The House That Jack Built” is now preparing their second feature, “Boarding School 3-D” to be followed by their much heralded screenplay, “Five Good Years”, and then the duo’s comedy “4:20”.

Kris Black will be represented by Pantheon as an actor, writer, producer, and director with Reisman, who has had an extensive career as a writer, producer, show runner, and director, being repped in these categories as well.

Pantheon partner, Aaron Kogan, will lead his team of agents focusing on Reisman and Black’s projects already funded and in pre-production, along with future projects, which includes their 2-hour pilot, “Private Eye Candy”.

Pantheon, one of the most prestigious talent agencies in Hollywood, which has a lengthy list of “talent”, is located on Ave. of the Stars in Century City, California.

Legendary rep Mark Lichtman will remain as Black and Reisman’s manager, and will work side by side with Kogan and Pantheon. Mark was partnered at the Shapiro-Lichtman Agency for over 30 years, and currently works on his own with a few select major clients.

Bruce Reisman of FourTwoFive Films

Preface…

In my post, “Behind the scenes look at Kris Black photo shoot for Men’s Health,” I mentioned that I had the opportunity to sit down with co-owner/writer for FourTwoFive Films, Bruce Reisman. It was ears at attention for me as I sat down next to a man who has been in the industry for 40+ years.  Fortunately, he’s the kind of guy who enjoys a moment to impart wisdom on younger generations which is part of his charm.  Bruce speaks at an even pace, with purpose, and without reservation presenting some strong views about New Hollywood that you’ll eventually get to read.   I could easily picture him in a lecture hall at some prestigious university with the sounds of pens and paper (or is it fingers on keyboards nowadays?) in the background scurrying trying to capture his every word. I am personally indebted to him and extremely grateful for the exposure and opportunities he’s laid before me.  We spoke for maybe 30 minutes in his “office” and home while the hustle and bustle of the Men’s Health photo shoot continued several floors below.

Instead of breaking the interview into parts, per se, I will continue to post portions of our conversation in a kind of “Bruce speaks about…” format because he was truly outspoken about specific topics that warrant their own space. Buckle your seatbelts, you’re really going to enjoy what he has to say.

People Get Ready…

While Bruce Reisman’s name may not ring a bell to you right away, he has written for some of the greatest television series of the 70s and 80s including “Bonanza,” “Chips,” and “St.Elsewhere” (one of my all time fav shows).  His career also includes acting, although Bruce is the first to tell you that was never his forté.  His strength all along, even when writing, has been directing, and he spends a good part of his time with FourTwoFive Films in that capacity.

In this part of our conversation, Bruce describes the inspiration, plot, and casting for “Five Good Years.” As in the last FourTwoFive Films project “The House That Jack Built,” Kris Black jointly wrote the script with Bruce and will play the leading role.  The cast will also include Taryn Manning from “8 Mile” and “Hustle and Flow.”  The latest buzz is that Jerry Ferrara best known as “Turtle” on the HBO hit series “Entourage” is just inches away from formally joining the cast.

So the story begins…

Ifelicious:  Tell me about what you have going on today.

Bruce:  We’re doing a photo shoot, promotion, and starting the documentary of “The Making of ‘Five Good Years’” all in one day. Today’s the first day that our producer/director of that project “The Making of ‘Five Good Years’.”

Ifelicious:  I didn’t realize that you all were doing a documentary so tell me a little bit about that.

Bruce:  What happens when these movies go to DVD, people like the nuts and bolts, the behind the scenes process. We did a little bit of one on “The House That Jack Built,” but knowing how important it is, we decided to start from the very beginning even before we actually start shooting “Five Good Years.”  We’re going to shoot all of the process from development straight through post-production.

Ifelicious:  Where are you in the process?

Bruce:  We’re in the process of casting the picture…[and] finding locations which will be in Detroit, Michigan. We’re going to be beginning principal photography sometime in mid-October.

Ifelicious:  What does principal photography mean?

Bruce:  Principal photography is a term given for the actual shooting of the movie. This [currently] is pre-production and then, after you finish the movie, and they say, “It’s a wrap,” you go into post production which is editing, special effects, all that good stuff.

Ifelicious:  Tell me about how this movie idea happened and your part in the writing process.

Bruce:  The story of “Five Good Years” is inspired by an actual lady that I know. Her name is Marcy, and Marcy has a very rare form of cancer.  Kris and I as writing partners wanted to do a boxing story, and we sort of wanted to do a story about a mother and son. So we decided to combine these two stories and create this role of a coal miner that Kris will be playing Alex who is one of three children being raised by a single mother who comes down with this rare form of cancer, and because the mining company’s insurance company will not pay for her treatment, Kris’s character, Alex, takes a job as a human punching bag in a boxing ring to make extra money.

Ifelicious:  So [Alex] has no prior experience boxing?

Bruce:  No, but he’s a street fighter. He gets in ballroom brawls because he’s also a trumpet player and he makes extra money in dive bars in the south playing the trumpet.  The people get drunk and heckle him, and he gets in fights and ends up in jail all the time.

Ifelicious:  Ok, so he’s using his forces for good.

Bruce:  Yes, that’s right…[Alex] sees that he can make more money as an actual fighter. So he goes into training. His best friend becomes his trainer, a fellow coal miner. His cause is taken on by a young CNN reporter played by Taryn Manning an actress who was in “Hustle and Flow” and “8 Mile.” She’s fantastic, and she’s going to be playing the girl that’s sort of the Barbara Stanwyck role from like “Meet John Doe” to Kris’s Gary Cooper. She turns him into a media star, and the whole country gets behind this coal miner and his plight to save his mother’s life.

Ifelicious:  That sounds like a great story. I know when I talked to Kris a few weeks ago, he was saying that the reception for the script has been overwhelmingly positive.

Bruce:  Across the board. We didn’t realize what we were writing, and we wrote it in a very short period of time.

Ifelicious: Also, from interviewing Kris I learned that you were looking to cast Jerry Ferrara?

Bruce:  Jerry Ferrara [who plays "Turtle" on the HBO series "Entourage"] is the person we approached to play the part of Jackson who is [Alex’s] best friend who will train him. He accepted the role, and at that time, we were going to be shooting in March or April [2009]. He couldn’t do it because they were shooting “Entourage.” Now the picture has been moved to the Fall, so we’ll be going back to Jerry, and if he’s available, he’ll do it.

Ifelicious:  So that’s not confirmed yet?

Bruce:  That’s not confirmed, but it’s confirmed that he wants to do it. He loves the script. It’s going to be about timing.

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For more on Bruce Reisman, FourTwoFive Films and related work…

Bruce Reisman on Myspace- www.myspace.com/brucereisman

Bruce Reisman full bio- www.fourtwofivefilms.com/reisman.html

FourTwoFive Films website- www.fourtwofivefilms.com

Ifelicious Thoughts related blog posts (most recent listed first)…

“Ifelicious Exclusive: FourTwoFive Films Moves Forward On ‘Boarding School 3-D’“

“Behind the scenes look at Kris Black photo shoot for Men’s Health“

“Interview with writer, painter, actor Kris Black. (Part 1 of 2) Film Projects, FourTwoFive Films“

“Interview with writer, painter, actor Kris Black. (Part 2 of 2) Moving to LA, Hidden Talents, Dating.“

“Interview Teaser: Meet writer, painter, actor Kris Black“

“My LA Journal- Friday, May 29, 2009 (Part 2 of 2) red carpet for Derek Strong party“

INTERVIEW WITH WRITER, PAINTER, ACTOR KRIS BLACK.  (PART 2 OF 2) MOVING TO LA, HIDDEN TALENTS, DATING.

INTERVIEW TEASER:  MEET WRITER, PAINTER, ACTOR KRIS BLACK

MY LA JOURNAL- FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 (PART 2 OF 2) RED CARPET FOR DEREK STRONG PARTY

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INTRO

Derek Strong, Shar Jackson, Kris Black, (unknown)

I met Kris Black, his business partner Bruce Reisman and several members of the cast of their company’s FourTwoFive Films first film release The House That Jack Built a few months ago at an LA red carpet event.  Little ole me doing press for what would ultimately end up in my blog was content to just experience the event and meet people, however, Bruce and Kris were much more friendly than anyone else I met that night.  Bruce stopped to talk to me, asked where I was from, and told me a bit about his film.  After that, he ushered Kris Black over to me so that I could meet him and do an interview.  I share all of this to say, that of the dozens of Hollywood guests there that night, it was the most personal conversation I had.  Kris was super down to earth as we talked about the differences between midwest life and Hollywood life.  We all exchanged information so that I could do a proper interview at a later time.

When we caught up again to do this interview a few weeks ago, Kris struck me as someone who throws himself into whatever he’s doing and wants to do it well.  With good looks, it’s not surprising to introduce himself as an actor and personal trainer.  However, he threw a few curve balls into the mix that took me away from the superficial.  He studied finance, picked up painting, is not attracted to the stereotypical blond bombshell you find in Hollywood, and has a sense of humor.  He was confident in speech but not cocky nor that ‘I know I’m a pretty boy’ flirty.  The conversation flowed freely which made for a great interview.

We began by talking about his current film projects.

FILM:  THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT

on set of The House That Jack Built. Kris Black, Joe Mantegna. photo by David Sobel.

Ifelicious:  Tell me about The House That Jack Built.

Kris:  The House that Jack Built is our company’s first film that just premiered at the ArcLight Theater in Hollywood out here on the 14th [of July 2009].  It was more a sneak peak slash charity event [for The Wellness Community] we’d done to get the cast and the crews to see it, get the media to get their first look at it and expose it to studios and distribution.  It was a great success.  Everyone loved the film and we’re in the process of negotiating distribution deals right now. We’ve already pre-arranged to have it screen in my hometown.

Ifelicious:  Awe, that’s nice that your movie will screen in your hometown.

Kris:  Ya, and my hometown is very small. I come from a town that’s just under 4,000 people…so I’m really excited to let all my family and friends get a chance to see what I’ve been doing the last two years.

FILM:  FIVE GOOD YEARS

Ifelicious:  I read on your website that you have Jason Wahler from MTV’s The Hills and Laguna Beach lined up for Five Good Years.  I’m such a reality tv junky so I was excited to see that.  Is that confirmed?

Kris:  That’s the latest buzz, actually.  We parted ways.  He was originally going to play one of the lead roles, and [there were] some creative differences, and he’s no longer on the project.

Ifelicious:  I didn’t even know he was into acting.  I always saw him as a reality tv bad boy.

Kris:  He was starting to get back into acting.

Ifelicious:  Who do you have lined up for Five Good Years?

Kris:  We are going to go back to our original first choice who we had to let go of because of scheduling conflicts.  Jerry Ferrara who plays Turtle on Entourage on HBO.  Originally we had him, and our scheduling got pushed, and he started shooting Entourage, and it just wasn’t going to happen so we went elsewhere, but now that we’re starting in the Fall and Entourage will be done, we’re going to go back to him and see if he still wants to be on board.

Ifelicious:  So that’s not confirmed?

Kris:  No, that’s not confirmed yet.

Ifelicious:  Anyone else that you’re looking to cast in this film?

Kris:  We’re in talks and negotiations with Taryn Manning.

Ifelcious:  I remember her from Hustle and Flow.

Kris:  Hustle and Flow and 8 Mile, she’s great.  She loves the script.  You know, it’s always a matter of money and scheduling but things look really good to have her on board.

Ifelicious:  Wow, you’re moving up the food chain in terms of attracting bigger name talent.

Kris:  There’s a few other names of Oscar nominees who are very interested.  Again, it’s about money and scheduling, but it could end up being a really great cast of actors for only our second film.  The response to the script, everybody loves it.  Taryn said it’s the best scripts she’s read in years, and that’s kind of been the general consensus of everyone who’s read it.

Ifelicious:  So you think you have a hit on your hands?

Kris:  Well, I think we have a good script, but there’s lots of ways to mess that up by the time this thing gets shot and screened and everything, but we think we do have something really special with it.

FILM:  420

flickr.com

Ifelicious:  Tell me about the film 420.

Kris:  It’s my stoner comedy.

Ifelicious:  (laughs) Do you have to get into role for that?

He ignores me and instead offers a different response. 

Kris:  It’s Superbad and Pineapple Express.  That’s the type of movie it is.

Ifelicious:  The film seems like a departure from everything else you’ve written.  What made you want to go in this direction?

Kris:  I just wanted to write a comedy, and I wanted it to be about this topic in particular, and I wanted to also be not just a bunch of guys just smoking weed and all that and actually has some heart to the story and talks about the positive things that marijuana has helped people with, as far as medical marijuana, and using it as a pain reliever…It’s all in jest, but it’s about marijuana…The story just came, and it was on the heels of The Hangover which was this smash hit that I wanted to do a movie like that.  I’m a big fan of Judd Apatow and Seth Rogen, and this film is in the same vein as all of those movies.

FOURTWOFIVE FILMS

Bruce Reisman (left), Kris Black (right)

Ifelicious:  How did you and Bruce Reisman link up?

Kris:  About 4 1/2 years ago…we happened to meet at a party, and at the time he was looking for a younger writing partner because he was having trouble getting writing jobs because of his age even though he has a resume that’s longer than my arm.  So we got to talking and he, at the time, had a couple of scripts that he was writing for producers at Lifetime, and it was too much of a workload, and he said ‘Can you take this outline?  You want to write this script, and we’ll be writing partners?‘ I finished the script…we write really quickly as a team so it got done in about 2 weeks.  The first draft was done in about 4 days.

Ifelicious:  No way!

Kris:  I specifically write very fast.  The way we work as a team is I usually write the first draft of the script.  My strong points are organization and structure and a story and make sure it all flows and everything makes sense, and when that’s done, I’ll give it to him, and he’ll kind of hone and refine the characters and the dialog a little bit, and then I’ll take it, and then I make it sound more current and hip and fresh.  That’s kind of how we go back and forth.  We never write together.  We never sat down and wrote a script together.  It’s always just back and forth.  After we got the first one, it just seemed like it could work…and then it was about 2 years after that that we decided to form our own company and write materials specifically for myself to be in and for him to direct a lot of them.

Click on the first link below in the Related Posts to read Part 2 of 2 of this interview…

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MY LA JOURNAL- FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 (PART 2 OF 2) RED CARPET FOR DEREK STRONG PARTY

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MOVING TO LA

Kris Black, photo by Rob Roa

Ifelicious:  Tell me about the moment when you decided that you were going to pack up and move to LA?  Was that something that happened over days, weeks, months?

Kris:  It was on my 22nd birthday actually, and I was in school.  I was just about to finish, actually.  I was going into my last semester and getting my finance degree, business management, and my parents took me out for dinner and I said, ‘After this semester, I’m quitting and I’m moving to LA and I’m going to try to act.  I’m going to pursue it.’…It was a professor I had in acting class.  He inspired me and gave me the confidence to think that I could do it…I believed him and on the last day of the semester I went home.  The next day I packed my car and I drove 36 hours to Los Angeles, and I knew one person.  I knew an old college buddy who had moved out here a few months prior.

Ifelicious:  So you had a place to stay?

Kris:  He and I split an efficiency apartment in Hollywood.

Ifelicious:  Awe, such a Hollywood story.  Did you wait tables?

Kris:  I was lucky…Within the first 2 weeks of being here, I got my first job on Pearl Harbor, and I was in Mexico for about 3 weeks shooting…It was an amazing experience.  Only being in LA 2 weeks, I was like, ‘This is easy!  I don’t know what people are talking about.‘  I didn’t work again for a year and that’s when I started doing a lot of catering and bar-tending, and I started my own personal training business.  I figured I’d put my business degree to use.  That is how I supported myself for about 4 years as a personal trainer, mostly.

Ifelicious:  It’s obvious that you work to maintain your physique.

Kris:  In high school, I was completely a jock.  I didn’t want anything to do with the art world or anything like that, and all I cared about was getting a scholarship to play football, and I got it, and as soon as I got it…I started playing, and I hated it, and I quit. [Then] I got into writing and acting, and I was hooked.

Ifelicious:  Wow, it seems like you’ve gone to the other end of the spectrum from what people would have guessed you’d be doing.

Kris:  Most people, like old classmates and family, when they had been hearing and seeing what I’d been doing lately, from the Kris that they knew back home, it’s a complete 180.  I’m not that jock anymore.

HIDDEN TALENTS

Ifelicious:  You have so many talents, what’s your first love?

Kris:  It’s funny, they all manifested roughly around the same time as far as the writing, the painting, and the acting.  [My] first love is acting.  Absolutely, I love it.  Painting, though, to me is (pauses) it’s hard for me to even think back on my life before I was an artist because now painting is such a release for me, and I’m so passionate about it.  It helps in the down time when I’m not able to act. I can just pick up a canvas and a paint brush.  In some ways, I get to do the same thing.  Rather than letting it out in front of the camera, I get to let everything out on the canvas.

Ifelicious:  I see, different mediums, but the creativity is the common thread.

Kris:  Absolutely.

Ifelicious:  You said they all kind of manifest around the same time.  (jokingly) Alright, prodigy, was it the story of, ‘I was 3 years old and I was painting and writing and acting and I was on Star Search?

Kris:  No, I’ve been writing since I was young.  Writing a lot of poetry and some lyrics and music and things like that but never any as movies or anything like that, and painting, I never picked up a paint brush.  I was the kid in class that was throwing scissors and putting glue all over everything.  I just didn’t take it seriously, and it’s now spawned into something that, you know, it’s definitely a career for me now.

Ifelicious:  I read that you have artwork showing currently or you have had shows, correct?

Kris:  Ya, I’ve had several.  I’ve had several group shows and individual shows at galleries here in Los Angeles.  I’ve had my work shown in several places in Florida and Wisconsin and several other cities across the States and little things.  Right now I have an exhibition in a restaurant in the Valley where I have my work up for about another month I believe.  It’s been up 3 months and 1 more month.

Ifelicious:  What’s the name of the restaurant?

Kris:  It’s called Stanley’s Restaurant and Bar.  It’s a trendy little restaurant in Sherman Oaks.  They rotate artists and photographers in throughout the year and, to be honest, they liked my work so much that they offered to give me a 4 month stay, and we had a big charity event there back in May for Shar Jackson and her charity [Sweet Dreams Foundation which is part of S.H.A.R.- Sharing Helping and Reconciling Lives] for a homeless shelter here in Los Angeles which was fabulous.  It’s been a really good run.  I’ve been selling quite a few paintings and getting a lot of recognition for it.

Ifelicious:  Did this all happen when you got to LA, or was it before?

Kris:  When I first moved to LA my only focus was acting.  I did that for about 3 years doing little bit parts in some bigger movies and then some straight to DVD movies.  Then after that I joined forces with Bruce formed the company [FourTwoFive Films], that’s when the writing came, and that’s when the art came, and creating leading roles for me in the scripts that we write.

Ifelicious:  Wow, so you must’ve had a big ‘Aha!’ moment or something in your life for it all to come together like that at the same time.

Kris:  Well, I’m very spiritual, so to just keep it simple, I had a spiritual awakening, some divine intervention that helped test all this.  Without sounding all crazy like a lunatic.

Ifelicious:  That doesn’t make you sound like a lunatic.

DATING

Photobucket.com (sawaar)

Ifelicious:  How’s the dating life for you out in LA?

Kris:  I didn’t really date a lot out here.  It’s kind of hard because I don’t want to date an actress or a model or anyone that’s in the business so that cuts out a lot of the population out here.

Ifelicious:  Ya, that’s pretty much everyone you run into in LA.

Kris:  With my schedule, I’m pretty devoted to things now.  I’m so close to things really turning over that I’m not going to take my attention off so it’s also very hard to put that much energy into a relationship, and it’s unfair for the other person because they’re expecting a certain amount of time and commitment, and it’s really hard for me to give that right now.

Ifelicious:  Would you say that you are single now, or are you in a relationship?

Kris:  I have been seeing someone, and it’s been going good.  It’s tough.  She doesn’t live in LA.

Ifelicious:  Was Shar Jackson the first black girl you dated?

Kris:  No, she’s not.  I don’t want to discriminate…I’m an equal opportunity employer but …the whole Hollywood California blond girl, that’s not what I go for.

IT’S A WRAP!

For your gossip hungry folks, NO the rumors are NOT TRUE about Shar Jackson having Kris Black’s baby.  They are not dating anymore but maintain a friendship.

I hope by the time you all read this interview and the teaser post that includes the trailer for The House That Jack Built that you’re sitting on the edge of your seat waiting for details on when it’s coming out.  Stay tuned, I’ll be sure to provide more updates as I get them.

Thank you, Kris, for your time and a chance to get a behind the scenes glimpse at your life.  Fist bumps to you and Bruce for releasing your first film project The House That Jack Built through FourTwoFive Films.  I look forward to hearing more great news down the road.

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INTERVIEW WITH WRITER, PAINTER, ACTOR KRIS BLACK.  (PART 1 OF 2) FILM PROJECTS, FOURTWOFIVE FILMS

INTERVIEW TEASER:  MEET WRITER, PAINTER, ACTOR KRIS BLACK

MY LA JOURNAL- FRIDAY, MAY 29, 2009 (PART 2 OF 2) RED CARPET FOR DEREK STRONG PARTY