GEORGE ELDER’S CONCERT DOC, “Piaf: Her Story ? Her Songs,” sung by French jazz singer Raquel Bitton, is set for June 19 release by Lionsgate to major national U.S. retailers and throughout Europe.
Elder first filmed Bitton, considered the greatest interpreter of Edith Piaf’s song, in concert in September 2001, and completed the 90-minute show two years later.
Elder’s Luminair will co-produce for the fifth season restaurateur Rick Bayless’ “One Plate at a Time” with Frontera Media Group. Luminair’s Scott Dummler is currently scouting locations in Merida, Mexico, near Cancun, and Chicago. The gourmet Mexican food show will air in September over Ch. 11.
RICARDO ISLAS’ vampire flick “Night Fangs” is being released through Warner Bros.’ Video On Demand via Islas’ distributor Hart Sharp Video.
Islas’ feature script “El Grito de la Llorona” is the only predominantly Spanish-language screenplay in the Moondance International Film Festival screenplay competition.
He recently wrapped production on the horror thriller “Lockout.”
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WRITER/DIRECTORS ED KOZIARSKI AND JUNKO KAJINO start production on their feature, “Okinawa Project,” filming in Okinawa, Japan in July and Chicago in August. Okinawan actress Erika (“After Life,” “Alive”) stars; featured are Chicago actors Sean Nix and Ric Arthur.
The revenge drama is about a young woman, Rei, from Okinawa who was raped as a teenager by two U.S. Marines in Okinawa. Ten years later, Rei comes to the U.S. to confront the Marines and rebuild her life. Rei kidnaps Paris, the teenage son of one of the Marines. She holds Paris captive in a motel room and begins to form an unexpected bond with him, even as the boy’s father is closing in on them.
