Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS

C22 Capital, Inc. and Catch 22 Entertainment Go Beyond the Stereotypes in Presenting BEYOND THE MAT

By Staff
posted Aug 22, 2010, 10:25

Coming-of-age drama focuses on Asian American lead as high school wrestling hero & heartthrob.

(Los Angeles) C22 Capital, Inc. and its sister company Catch 22 Entertainment, LLC, a full-service film production and distribution company, are crafting a multi-faceted marketing campaign to promote BEYOND THE MAT, the company's latest feature film, announced C22 Capital, Inc. CEO Anthony Millan. One such significant and oft-overlooked opportunity exists in the film's lead character: an Asian American male protagonist that is neither martial artist nor computer nerd.

Vietnamese American actor John Wynn, an emerging and charismatic talent whose star is on the rise, portrays the film's lead character, Aaron, who finds himself at a personal and competitive crossroads when he is presented with the opportunity to compete in a high school wrestling championship against the long-time rival of his best friend. Interweaving universal themes of friendship and loyalty, integrity and identity, and laced with a subplot of romantic quandary that places Aaron squarely in the middle as the object of desire, BEYOND THE MAT goes boldly where few motion pictures have gone before.

Wynn, who was born in Virginia to Vietnamese and French immigrant parents, first tried his fate as a musician, ultimately segueing into acting. National TV commercial and modeling gigs led to appearances on hit shows such as 7th Heaven and later to a job hosting DirecTV's CD USA, an internationally syndicated showcase of live concert performances.

"John Wynn has that star quality that captivates you from the moment he's first on screen," notes Catch 22 Head of Marketing Susan Wrenn, who in her former post at Paramount Pictures shepherded the media campaigns for such youth-oriented cinematic fare as Wayne's World, Save the Last Dance, Jackass, Rugrats, Kings of Comedy, Mission Impossible, and Beavis and Butthead. "His performance showcases not only a keen dramatic sense as well as athletic prowess, but also demonstrates his universal appeal."

BEYOND THE MAT, directed by Van M. Pham, is a coming-of-age drama set against the backdrop of high school wrestling that features a talented ensemble of attractive young actors, including Days of Our Lives' Mark Hapka as well as the pro wrestling world's Kurt Angle and Ken Shamrock, and has already generated considerable buzz in sports circles.

The film also achieves a rare balance between dealing head-on with issues of identity in a multi-cultural context, while not being singularly defined by them; Wynn is confident that viewers will relate to his character, regardless of ethnic background, because he is confronted by the same questions universal to any teenager.

"C22 Capital, Inc. and our sister company Catch 22 Entertainment are committed to working with filmmakers to bring fresh, intriguing stories to the big screen that resonate with specific demographics as well as with the widest possible audience," notes Millan.

 

Resources:

http://www.catch-22ent.com