Saturday, August 1, 2009
Monday, July 27, 2009
Faith-based Musical ’CHURCH’ In Production in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, CA, July 23, 2009: Rehearsals begin next week for the faith-based musical ‘Church’ in Southern California. ‘Church’ is a musical-comedy-drama based on typical Sunday services at the fictional “Glorious New Life Greater Faith Tabernacle Church of The Living God In Christ Up on the Hill.” The movie stars an ensemble cast including:
Darius McCrary, the cast is led by this talented actor/singer who portrays prodigal son “Daniel Rhodes” in ‘Church’. McCrary, (Eddie Winslow from the hit 90's TV sitcom Family Matters), has appeared in numerous productions on both the big- and small-screen, and is a musician, songwriter, and vocalist.
Art Evans, this veteran actor has appeared in numerous television shows and is best known for his role in the action film Die Hard 2: Die Harder in which he plays an air traffic control tower employee who helps detective John McClane, played by Bruce Willis. Credits include: Everybody Hates Chris, Lincoln Heights, The X-Files, Monk, A Different World, and numerous dramas and sit-coms.
Joseph C. Phillips, who is perhaps best known for the role of Lt. Martin Kendall, Lisa Bonet’s husband, on the hit series The Cosby Show. He was also a three time NAACP Image Award Nominee for his portrayal of Attorney Justus Ward on the Daytime Drama General Hospital. For two seasons he appeared as Mayor Morgan Douglas on the CBS series The District, recurred as Marcus Johnson on the hit CBS series Without A Trace and most recently appeared as JT Morse on the Fox Series, Vanished. He has had guest starring roles on C.S.I., Las Vegas, Jack and Bobby, The King of Queens, and Living Single among others.
Daryl Coley, a nationally renowned recording artist for more than twenty years, Daryl Coley has been wowing audiences for years with his gut-wrenching singing. He has remained true to the message of the church he loves, and is one of the most unique and celebrated artists of our age.
Blanche McAllister Dykes, who began singing with Gospel genius “Donald Lawrence” and has provided background vocals for Karen Clark-Sheard, The Clark Sisters, Darwin Hobbs, Joanne Rosario, Hezekiah Walker, Kim Burrell, Jennifer Holliday, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, and Mary Mary to name a few.
Nikki Potts, is a spirit filled alto who is currently a member of Kurt Carr and the Kurt Carr Singers as well as the West Angeles Church of God in Christ where she has served on the praise and worship team, and young adult choir for 15 years. Nikki has worked with several artists including Yolanda Adams, Norman Hutchins, Daryl Coley, Byran Cage, Judith McAllister, Kirk Franklin, Stevie Wonder, Neil Diamond, and Donnie McClurkin. She appeared in several stage plays including, “The High Life,” “Gospel at Colonus” and “For this Reason.”
Sam Sarpong, the international face of Tommy Hilfiger for 6 years. Sam hosted MTV's "Yo Mama" Seasons 1 & 2 and won a prestigious MAA fashion award for new male model of the year. He belongs to a music crew called Future Stars, and played the lead in music videos for artists Genuine, Maxwell, and The Braxtons.
Additional cast members include: Dionne ‘Dde’ Gipson; and from Houston, Texas singer/actress Hannah Miller and singer Krystal Broussard.
Filming will begin the first week of August in the Santa Monica and Los Angeles area. The movie is a production of Gospel Jam, LLC, in association with L.A.’s historic First A.M.E. (F.A.M.E.) Church, and directed by Cory King and Foster Corder. King and Corder also serve as producers of “Church”. Businessman and Political Strategist Tommy Ross, C.E.O of Pinnacle Strategic Group, Inc. is Executive Producer.
For more information, or to request and interview, please call Cory King at (562) 618-2668 or email info@churchthefilm.com. www.churchthefilm.com
Monday, July 6, 2009
Tuesday, June 23, 2009
Cory King & Team Bring 'Church' to the Big Screen
Who is Cory King?
You’ve seen him in recurring roles in “Sister, Sister” and “The Parenthood.” He’s been guest starring on network TV for many years. He wrote and directed a well-received faith-based play. He writes TV and movie scripts, and was a producer/ creative writer for the “World Wresting Federation.” He’s a married father of two who never misses an episode of the “The Young and the Restless!”
Brooklyn-native Cory King, spent his formative years in the Suffolk County, New York, town of Holbrook. “My family was the only African-American family in the town,” he recounts, “The first script I wrote was about my experience growing up in Holbrook.”
Cory’s acting career began at the age of 13 when he saw a casting company infomercial and made an appointment to ‘audition.’ He convinced his mom to take him and pay the $300.00 for pictures. The company sent him on many auditions, and in every one, the agent signed the gregarious teen. He appeared in nearly fifty commercials. After high school, Cory came to Los Angeles with the intention of attending Loyola Marymount, however, he auditioned for the TV sitcom “Sister, Sister,” got the part, and pursued acting as a career. He went on to appear in shows such as the “Steve Harvey Show,” “ER,” “Player,” and “The Parenthood.”
After touring the country as a producer and writer for Vince McMahon’s “World Wrestling Federation,” the year 2007 found Cory in Houston, Texas. He had followed the advice of fellow actor (and producer) Robert Townsend and began writing and directing his own projects. Through his company, called “Sunday Morning Productions,” he produced —“Sunday: The Musical.” Featuring Gospel greats, this play became the catalyst for Cory’s idea of filming a musical based on the black church.
Growing up in the church, Cory King is comfortable writing for a faith-based audience. “I was one of the bad kids in church,’ he says with humor, “Always running my mouth and getting into trouble.” Still, he recalls fondly there was always someone to set him straight, and he appreciates, “the many funny and compelling stories you find within the black church.”
What’s His Latest Project?
Cory King states the time is right for a faith-based musical, and his newest project, “Church” fits the bill. He states, “If you look at the success of Tyler Perry, or Sherwood’s “Fireproof” movie, or even Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Cross,” you see there is a market for faith-based films. “Church” offers a unique approach because it is the first modern-day musical set in the African-American church.”
“Church” is a musical-comedy-drama based on the activities at a typical African-American church. The story centers around the return of ‘the prodigal son’ Daniel Rhodes—played by actor/singer Darius McCrary (Family Matters). The movie portrays the theatrics of the black church, including the uplifting songs, the charismatic preacher, the perpetually long services, the incessant gossip and the eventual backstabbing. However, the movie also highlights the strength of the African-American church and its power of redemption and forgiveness.”
What’s Next?
Cory, and his team, co-director and cinematographer Foster Corder, and Executive Producer Tommy Ross, (Pinnacle Strategic Group), are completing the casting for the musical. Filming will begin soon at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles.
For More Information visit: http://www.churchthefilm.com/ or email info@churchthefilm.com
You’ve seen him in recurring roles in “Sister, Sister” and “The Parenthood.” He’s been guest starring on network TV for many years. He wrote and directed a well-received faith-based play. He writes TV and movie scripts, and was a producer/ creative writer for the “World Wresting Federation.” He’s a married father of two who never misses an episode of the “The Young and the Restless!”
Brooklyn-native Cory King, spent his formative years in the Suffolk County, New York, town of Holbrook. “My family was the only African-American family in the town,” he recounts, “The first script I wrote was about my experience growing up in Holbrook.”
Cory’s acting career began at the age of 13 when he saw a casting company infomercial and made an appointment to ‘audition.’ He convinced his mom to take him and pay the $300.00 for pictures. The company sent him on many auditions, and in every one, the agent signed the gregarious teen. He appeared in nearly fifty commercials. After high school, Cory came to Los Angeles with the intention of attending Loyola Marymount, however, he auditioned for the TV sitcom “Sister, Sister,” got the part, and pursued acting as a career. He went on to appear in shows such as the “Steve Harvey Show,” “ER,” “Player,” and “The Parenthood.”
After touring the country as a producer and writer for Vince McMahon’s “World Wrestling Federation,” the year 2007 found Cory in Houston, Texas. He had followed the advice of fellow actor (and producer) Robert Townsend and began writing and directing his own projects. Through his company, called “Sunday Morning Productions,” he produced —“Sunday: The Musical.” Featuring Gospel greats, this play became the catalyst for Cory’s idea of filming a musical based on the black church.
Growing up in the church, Cory King is comfortable writing for a faith-based audience. “I was one of the bad kids in church,’ he says with humor, “Always running my mouth and getting into trouble.” Still, he recalls fondly there was always someone to set him straight, and he appreciates, “the many funny and compelling stories you find within the black church.”
What’s His Latest Project?
Cory King states the time is right for a faith-based musical, and his newest project, “Church” fits the bill. He states, “If you look at the success of Tyler Perry, or Sherwood’s “Fireproof” movie, or even Mel Gibson’s “Passion of the Cross,” you see there is a market for faith-based films. “Church” offers a unique approach because it is the first modern-day musical set in the African-American church.”
“Church” is a musical-comedy-drama based on the activities at a typical African-American church. The story centers around the return of ‘the prodigal son’ Daniel Rhodes—played by actor/singer Darius McCrary (Family Matters). The movie portrays the theatrics of the black church, including the uplifting songs, the charismatic preacher, the perpetually long services, the incessant gossip and the eventual backstabbing. However, the movie also highlights the strength of the African-American church and its power of redemption and forgiveness.”
What’s Next?
Cory, and his team, co-director and cinematographer Foster Corder, and Executive Producer Tommy Ross, (Pinnacle Strategic Group), are completing the casting for the musical. Filming will begin soon at First A.M.E. Church in Los Angeles.
For More Information visit: http://www.churchthefilm.com/ or email info@churchthefilm.com
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