Quantum Theory Interview 26

America Young probes writer/director Tennyson E. Stead on the science behind Quantum Theory:

Quantum Theory Interview 25

Actor and producer America Young outlines the creative challenges of performing in Quantum Theory:

"The Starmind Record" to Screen at the 2012 Hollyweb Festival!

For the last two hours, I've been debating whether to write this post as a blog entry or as a press release. On the one hand, the people behind The Hollyweb Festival have been very open and cooperative in their approach to building this event - to the degree that I won't be surprised to see supporting from folks who were not invited into the competition itself. This festival is, in the end, a triumph of Young Hollywood. My support for the organization comes from a profound, personal sense of respect and admiration.

On the other hand, take a look at the competitors! Several folks are coming to screen their shows from Canada, and several more are coming all the way from AUSTRALIA! Through their toil and effort, the producers of The Hollyweb Festival have collected entries from every corner of the world - and "The Starmind Record" has emerged among the top 54. I'm excited to see the other 53 shows, and I'm proud to be screening ours in good company.

The festival is on March 31, 2012 at Dim Mak Studios - formerly CineSpace - on Hollywood Blvd. We'd love to see you there, and tickets are available through the Hollyweb Home Page.

I'm hoping you'll come and celebrate with us. Certainly, I hope this inspires more people to watch the show, and I'm very much looking forward to meeting all the other web show creators. This is a fantastic day, and I feel exceptionally grateful to all those who made it possible.

Thank you, one and all!

DEADHEADS on DVD!

8 Sided Films congratulates a friend of the company, Andy Drummond, for bringing his critically lauded zombie comedy to DVD! Click the DVD cover to check it out on Amazon:

I confess that I have not had the chance to watch DEADHEADS yet myself, despite several festival screenings here in Los Angeles. What I do know is that repeatedly, DEADHEADS was exceptionally well-received. The guys behind this film are genre fans in the truest sense, in that they have a deep, passionate love for the conventions that defined the zombie genre before mainstream Hollywood got hold of it.

For his part, Andy Drummond is an Old Hollywood breed of producer. His interest in a project extends from his faith in the material and the people involved, rather than an external business model or the prevailing market trends. When he decides that a filmmaker can be held accountable for both the material and the audience they are engaging, he applies himself absolutely in service to that objective.

In this respect, I know DEADHEADS is as honest a film as you will find. I'm looking forward to seeing what directors Brett and Drew Pierce have done with it, and I hope you will join me!

Quantum Theory Interview 24

Actor America Young describes Quantum Theory's heroine, Dr. Chelsea Barrington:

Quantum Theory Interview 23

Director Tennyson E. Stead introduces Quantum Theory star America Young, and finds out what drew her to the film:

PRESS RELEASE: America Young to Lead Ensemble Cast in Sci-Fi Heist Quantum Theory

Actor and internet celebrity America Young partners with 8 Sided Films on Quantum Theory, a sci-fi heist comedy. Back-to-basics plan includes basing production value on performance and stagecraft, and leveraging fan support for platform release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

- Feb 07, 2012 -
Yesterday, 8 Sided Films publicly announced that actress and internet celebrity America Young will play the lead role of Dr. Chelsea Barrington in their upcoming science-fiction heist comedy, Quantum Theory. Film centers on two brilliant female scientists who develop next-generation reality-bending quantum technology, only to have it stolen by a powermongering defense contractor. Young stars alongside LA stage favorite Danielle K. Jones, as the pair of scientists responsible for snatching back their dangerous research. Cast will be joined by 8 Sided ensemble members Gerard Marzilli, Ray Auxais, Cesar Ramos, Shanna Beauchamp, Brian Abraham and Marta Portillo.

Young’s previous credits extend from the stage to the video game console and include “Goodnight, Burbank”, now on television, as well as her acclaimed web series “Geek Therapy”. Young’s stuntwork has been seen in many of Hollywood’s recent blockbusters, including Transformers 3. Her directing skills were most recently seen in the viral internet hit “Elf Sabers”, which delighted audiences worldwide over last year’s Christmas season.

When asked whether he had any intention of plying Young’s diverse skill set to other projects, Quantum Theory writer/director Tennyson E. Stead replied: “Of course!”

“8 Sided Films is a repertory film company,” explains Stead. “Companies like ours only thrive when artists work together to build a relationship with the audience. For us, America Young is a dream come true because she loves the same stories we do, and because she pursues her craft with the same reckless passion.”

“Beyond the quality of her craft, what makes her right for this role in particular is her sense of courage. America Young has accepted the monumental risk of Hollywood without compromising her goals or values - including the value she places on her own excellence. Including her goal of being the best that Hollywood has to offer. I don’t need to tell you how rare that is. That’s selflessness. That’s what the whole movie is about!”

With a financing and production plan that hinges on “crowdsourcing” through websites like IndieGoGo.com, production blogs, and eventually festivals and roadshows as a prelude to Quantum Theory’s theatrical release, audiences will have ample opportunity to meet America Young for themselves. This comprehensive approach to social media is necessary both to Quantum Theory’s microbudget approach to filmmaking, and to the content itself. Without pouring hundreds of millions of dollars into special effects and post-production, Quantum Theory’s appeal will hinge on the craftsmanship and appeal of the actors and the script. Without pouring hundreds of millions more into advertising, Quantum Theory will rely on grassroots labor for the exposure a film needs to achieve profitability.

Tennyson E. Stead is the writer of Unified Pictures’ upcoming thriller XII, and most recently wrote and directed the science-fiction web series “The Starmind Record”. Quantum Theory goes into production in the winter of 2012 in Los Angeles, CA.

To meet America Young, Tennyson E. Stead, and the cast and crew of Quantum Theory, visit http://www.quantummovie.com.

The 8 Sided Ensemble welcomes America Young!

For the last two months, I've been completely absorbed in the task of auditioning for the leading role in Quantum Theory. Our search has been both absorbing and exhaustive, bringing us face-to-face with some of the most accomplished actresses of our generation. Folks who follow have heard me talking about needing to find someone with the ease, wit and timing of Jack Lemmon, someone who produces because they refuse accept the role our industry has marked for them, someone who connects effortlessly with an audience...

Ladies and gentlemen, America Young is all these things and more:

Rather than sit here rattling off her resume (which you can find here: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0949440/), I'd prefer to talk a little about the things I find so appealing about America personally. Quantum Theory, in many ways, is my own fantasy. This is a story about amazing people who love one another and love working together. Every day, these people break through the frontiers of human existence and discover new and incredible things. In fact, Quantum Theory is very much the story of 8 Sided Films... but that's a post for another day.

For now, the salient point is that the role of Chelsea demands an actress with whom I share trust and connection. Chelsea is the part of me that deserves success, she is the connective tissue that keeps the audience rooting... and the first thing you will notice about America Young is her smile. Without so much as a word, she is able to make you feel like you and she are working on the same team. She gives you confidence. It's a tremendous, inspiring thing.

Her love of acting is the second thing you'll notice about America Young. As a performer, America comes from the stage - just the same as the rest of us. She relishes every performance opportunity, she takes direction with complete commitment and attention, and she loves and respects the performers around her. I learned this in an audition, mind you!

Her love of storytelling is no less powerful than her love of performance - America is a skilled director, she's an experienced stuntwoman, and she's a big, big fan of genre. Her web series, Geek Therapy (http://www.comediva.com/geek-therapy-gq), has earned her acclaim online and in the mainstream media, including on CNN! ...and now you've caught me talking about her resume.

More to the point, I can talk with her about stuff like SkyChasers. Anyone who finds inherent value in teaching kids to be space commando dinosaur hunters is welcome here, and at the same time her sense of drama is very well-refined. Across the board, every project we are involved in can benefit from her creativity and passion - and the projects she is involved in are projects we would all be excited to help with. Her creative sensibilities make me want to write for her. Her skills make me see new opportunities for our ensemble as a whole. America Young is not just a cast member. She is someone who makes me excited for the future of my company and my collaborators.

I'm gonna be working real hard to keep her around, you guys. This one's a keeper.

There's one more thing I will say. None of this would matter if America Young's commitment or craftsmanship was any less profound than my own, Danielle's, Gerard's, Johnny's... but her craft and professionalism are consummate. Her skills are so well-developed and accessible that we were able to move past all pleasantries and start working together during her very first audition.

America Young is the kind of creative partner that comes along once in an age, and these are precisely the partnerships that form the core of 8 Sided Films. We are very, very lucky to have her.

America Young, welcome to 8 Sided Films! May they sing songs about this day!

Quantum Theory Interview 22

Writer/Director Tennyson E. Stead talks about the challenges involved in preparing a script for production: