Motion Picture Production News

Director Topher Straus (Extra, Krush) and Producer Brian Knappmiller (Monster House, Blue Caviar) have officially wrapped production on their new film, "The Attackmen" starring Nick Slatkin (The Clique, Best Friend’s Date). The project was based on Slatkin’s personal story of being one of the few Jewish students in an all-Catholic private school. Award winning writer Shari Goodhartz (Star Trek: The Next Generation) was brought on board to pen the script.

"The Attackmen" stars the acclaimed actors Marshall Bell (Capote), Dominic Keating (Star Trek: Enterprise) Jeffrey Combs (The 4400, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) and Michael Shamus Wiles (Fight Club, Magnolia). Robert F. Smith lensed the 35 millimeter short and Adam Weiss (Reunion, Bull Durham) is editing. The musical score for "The Attackmen" will be composed by Aaron Zigman, who recently lent his composing talents to the Nick Cassavetes films “The Notebook” and “Alpha Dog”.

Straus describes why so many experienced and talented people were drawn to the film. "Nick came to me with his incredible story, and I immediately wanted to be a part of it. Everyone can relate to the emotions it deals with. Though we all come from different backgrounds, we still have our own stories about hate and how it has affected us."

"The Attackmen" is a term in lacrosse for the forward most team members playing offense in this aggressive sport. And the game of lacrosse means everything for Jordan Simms (Nick Slatkin) and Chris Wheatley (Ryan Carlberg), two players from opposite ends of the religious tracks who come to realize that their parents' values aren't their own, all as a life-changing game nears.

Slatkin’s story was based on his experiences from childhood. "Even though I was raised in a Jewish household, my parents sent me to Christian schools, hoping they'd provide me with the best education," Slatkin explains. "The one thing I knew was that I was going to have some sort of confrontation with the other kids. That experience had such a profound affect on me, I knew that I had to make "The Attackmen".

Post Production will be completed in Spring, 2006 and REEL DREAMS plans to compete with "The Attackmen" in the festival circuit.