Professional Motion Picture Production and Distribution NEWS
"Breaking Bad" Star Giancarlo Esposito to Direct Pilot of V1 Entertainment Films' NASCAR-Themed TV Series, "The Ride"
By Staff
posted Aug 22, 2010, 09:56
�The Ride� is a character-driven story written by veteran screenwriter Tony Sommo about the exploits of a tight-knit group of drivers from different worlds set in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina, often called Race City USA. The project is being targeted as a Spring 2011 network replacement series and, if it is picked up, Esposito will likely continue to take the director�s reins.
“The Ride” is a character-driven story written by veteran
screenwriter Tony Sommo about the exploits of a tight-knit group of drivers
from different worlds set in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina, often called
Race City USA. The project is being targeted as a Spring 2011 network replacement
series and, if it is picked up, Esposito will likely continue to take the director’s
reins.
(Mooresville, NC) Acclaimed film and television actor/director Giancarlo Esposito
has agreed to direct the pilot of V1 Entertainment Films’ new NASCAR-themed
television series, “The Ride.” Esposito, who currently stars in
the award-winning AMC television series “Breaking Bad,” has been
seeking more opportunities to direct since producing and directing the 2009
independent film, “Gospel Hill.”
“The Ride” is a character-driven story written by veteran screenwriter
Tony Sommo about the exploits of a tight-knit group of drivers from different
worlds set in the Lake Norman area of North Carolina, often called Race City
USA. The project is being targeted as a Spring 2011 network replacement series
and, if it is picked up, Esposito will likely continue to take the director’s
reins.
Esposito studied his craft under some of filmmaking’s most honored directors,
including John Landis, Michael Mann, independent filmmaker Jim Jarmusch and
Oscar-nominated Spike Lee. Esposito has appeared in four of Lee’s films
– “School Daze,” “Do the Right Thing,” “Mo’
Better Blues” and “Malcolm X” – and it is Lee’s
influence that is reflected in “Gospel Hill,” a contemplative story
of racial tension and redemption in a small town in the South.
Despite its small budget, “Gospel Hill” afforded Esposito a chance
to direct such Hollywood talents as Angela Bassett, Danny Glover, Adam Baldwin
and an uncredited Samuel L. Jackson.
“We’re delighted that Giancarlo Esposito has agreed to direct ‘The
Ride,’” said Aspen Hughes, CEO of V1 Entertainment Films. “Giancarlo
is a thoughtful, expository director who knows the nuances of working in the
Carolinas. Everything about ‘The Ride’ has to be absolutely authentic,
and he’s the perfect guy to convey what we want. He was our first choice,
and I can’t tell you how pleased we are to have him in the director’s
chair.”
With the selection of its director and writer finally accomplished, Hughes
has turned to lining up product sponsors for “The Ride.” “NASCAR
is unique in that the advertising sponsors are an integral part of the sport,
so they also play an important role in the storyline of ‘The Ride,’”
he noted. “The product sponsorship opportunities are diverse and will
give the right partners a terrific return on their investment.”
Hughes added that product sponsors who join “The Ride” will be
working directly with all key decision-makers on every aspect of production,
right from the start. He has hand-picked a well-connected team of racing consultants
to be on board from script development to final edits to soundtrack to promotion.
V1 Entertainment Films’ personal and professional relationships with NASCAR,
drivers, teams, tracks and off-track locations assure the kind of authenticity
that both sponsors and viewers demand.
Resources:
www.V1EntertainmentFilms.com
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