R

a Gabwww.wilson

Trent Horn And

icketta Butler in

riel Aluisy film wheaton.com/lovesong.html

Love Song Cast

Grant

Chris

Toni

Melissa

Professor Woods

Désirée

Ramon

Dwayne

Keisha

Alicia

Danielle

Reese

Trent Horn

W. Aaron French

Ricketta Butler

Indian Tyler

Charles Hayes

Meghan Robinson

Eli Jackson

Jeremy Johnson

Akeia Carter

Rachael Lang

Lauren Cullum

James W. Gray III

Love Song

Filmmakers

Written and Produced By

Executive Producer

Director

Director of Photography

Gaffer

Production Assistant

Music Supervisor

Editor

Teri Wilson Wheaton

Lewis A. Wheaton

Gabriel Aluisy

Tom Benca

Shea Sizemore

Joy Adams

Crystal Hubbard

Misti Pinkston-Allen

Angela White

Crystal Hubbard

Gabriel Alusiy

Love Song Synopsis

A true and pure friendship is priceless and cherished by all those who have one. It is often challenged but never forsaken.

Grant Jeffries and Toni Simms have been good friends since middle school. They were part of the same crowd and practically joined at the hip. Never did romance cross either of their minds. They were just friends and very happy with the situation.

Now attending the same university, they are still very close but associating with different friends. Slowly they grow apart as they realize they must allow each other to develop into the adults they were meant to be. Grant learns to be self-sufficient and not rely on Toni as much as he did in the past while Toni learns that she cannot live in Grant's overwhelming shadow. Their early years at school are marked with creating new friendships and relationships. While they are still friends, they are no longer the single unit of their past.

A job transfer out of the country for Toni's mother forces Toni to leave school and leaves Grant without his other half. Their friendship is sustained through letters and phone calls. Grant keeps a promise to her to be the man he should become.

Eventually, fate returns Toni to school with Grant and their friends. However, fate also sends the boyfriend she thought she left behind. This blossoming relationship is seen as a threat to Grant, although he too is in a serious relationship.

When Toni's new beau, Reese is asked to return to London for the opportunity of a lifetime, he asks Toni to return with him. While Reese is away on business, Toni accompanies a newly single Grant to a school banquet. They reconnect as if no time has passed at all. Grant's friends are very impressed with his date and very curious as to what is going on between them. Like a mantra, he tells them they are just friends but wonders if there could be more. Now Toni must make the decision to stay with a man who loves her or to take a chance on the friend who has not made his feelings clear to her. Neither of them has the courage to take their relationship to another level. Her voice of reasoning comes from her older and wiser roommate, Melissa, who tells her that the deepest and strongest relationships start with friendship and continue with friendship.

Reese returns with plans to propose to Toni. When Reese asks for Grant's blessing, Grant finally realizes that he does not want to lose her. After Grant sabotages the proposal, Toni is furious and their friendship is seriously threatened. Toni accepts Reese's proposal.

Soon Reese learns that Toni's feelings for him are not what they should be for two people planning to marry. He is unable to accept the half of her heart she is willing to give him. He tells her it’s all or nothing. Toni decides to finally be honest with him and herself and calls off the engagement.

Grant becomes engulfed in his education and preparing for graduation. Toni cannot help feeling empty as she prepares for one of the most important days of her life without her best friend by her side. Grant and Toni soon realize that they must be in each other's lives. Their friendship has taken them through various ups and downs, highs and lows. Fear and apprehension were never a part of their relationship in the past and they decide those things will never be a part of their relationship in the future.

Love Song About the Cast

(in alphabetical order)

Ricketta Butler

Ricketta Butler, alum of University of Florida, joined the cast, in part, because of previous experience with Wilson Wheaton Productions. She played the lead role in their previous feature, Again. She offers a unique perspective of Love Song.

“I think people will see that it is ok to date someone that is your best friend. You know everything about each other and you have a very close connection. What more can you ask for in a relationship?” Is she qualified for such a demanding role? Certainly! She plays a significant role in

this film, as her acting experience from five other films, three plays, and a television show have given her strong qualifications to take on the role of the leading lady, Toni. Ricketta says she’s from everywhere as her father was in the military but she now calls Los Angeles home and continues to work toward her Hollywood dream. She has signed with Abrahms Artist Agency for commercials but soon wants to get into their theatrical department. “I plan on continuing to pursue my career as an actress and I will not stop until I have reached my maximum level of success......whatever that is!” Look for her in other productions in nationally released films in 2006. W. Aaron French

William Aaron French is a native of the Hampton Roads, VA area. He heard about the Love Song through a poster calling for auditions. While having experience in the theatrical arts, he had never before been in front of the camera until Wilson Wheaton Productions gave him his big shot. French was given the lead role, Chris, whom is the typical shy guy turned frat boy. French describes Love Song as being about ‘life, love, and relationships…it illustrates the strong connections human have with each other, as well as the unbreakable bond of friendship’.

French’s accolades include: principle roles in the Radford University Theatre Departments productions of The Great Gromboolian Plain, The Best Little

Whorehouse in Texas, Lone Star, Lion in the Winter, and others. He is also the President of the Theta Upsilon cast of Alpha Psi Omega nation theatre honor society and has done commercial work for Cox Communications, Inc. Notable interests include, having his pilot’s license and a new found respect for the film industry due to his work with Wilson Wheaton Productions. James W. Gray III

“I believe Love Song will appeal to most people because it is about sorting through the common questions of purpose, destiny, and relationship. The winding path of life offers a lot to experience and observe. Through the journeys each of the characters face, the audience will realize aspects of their own lives that have led or are leading down similar paths. I believe the audience will be able to identify and confront their own experiences with renewed hope and fervency after watching Love Song.” These are the words of James Gray, who plays Reese in Love Song. Reese is the love interest Toni finds when she moves to England with family and for college.

James Gray’s lifelong passion for the performing arts has culminated in the establishment of “Speaking to the Dead Productions” in Christiansburg, VA. He has received several words through the work of ‘Speaking..’, however he feels that the awards do not justify the reason the company exists, however it does confirm that the pursuit of these dreams is not for loss. His future interests include Marriage and Family Therapy and voice acting and characterizations. Charles Hayes

Charles Hayes feels he was type-cast in the movie. Could it be? His character, Professor Woods, is a hard-nosed professor who takes no prisoners. Well, as it turns out, Charles Hayes has been a professor at Radford University since 1968 and was personally asked by Teri Wheaton to play the character of Professor Woods.

e reacts to Love Song.

Charles not only has experience teaching but has also performed in many plays commercials and films. With his expansive experience, he is anxious to see how the audienc

Trent Lamont Horn Trent Lamont Horn is a native of the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. He’s lived there the majority of his life. Trent attended Frostburg State University where he earned his B.S. Degree in Business Administration. Trent now resides in Hollywood, CA where he has been pursuing his acting career.

Trent got involved with the project through a good friend, Ricketta Butler, who was already a part of the project. In support of the film, Trent says “Sometimes we as males tend to let our ego blind us from true love that could be

staring us right in the face. It’s ok to be in love”. Trent plays the role of Grant who is a very self-indulged individual, appearing to have it all together. Things always seem to come easy for him, thanks to his best friend Toni. Because of his ego he never recognized his feelings for the true love of his life until it was too late. Or was it? Trent has co-starred on the television show “The Parkers” and “The Big House”. He was lead in “Treat Her like Lady”, a play directed by Roy Fegan (Five Heartbeats). His plans are to continue to pursue his acting career until Hollywood recognizes this diamond in the rough. He would like to give a special thanks to Teri Wheaton for giving him this opportunity. Indian Tyler

Indian Tyler is no stranger to the craft of acting. She has had roles in three films, two television shows and numerous stage plays. Although she holds a bachelors degree in Biology and a Masters degree in Public Health from Morgan State University, Indian has realized that acting is her true calling. She has since studied acting in the Stanislavsky Summer Institute of Harvard University and the Moscow Art Theatre as well as with Arena Playhouse and Fells Point Corner Theatre. Indian plays the role of Melissa, the eccentric, outgoing and wise best friend to Toni. Melissa is Toni’s voice of

reason. Fashion and design also play a prominent role in Indian’s full life. Not only does she design handbags and accessories but she currently runs a small fashion boutique named “Neccessory” in Baltimore, MD.

Love Song About the Film

Love Song is a drama set in present-day.

It was filmed entirely on location in Southwest Virginia on the campus of Radford University in Radford, VA and the cities of Radford and Roanoke, VA. Actors came from Los Angeles, CA and Baltimore, MD. Several Radford University and Virginia Tech students also served as actors and crewmembers.

Production began September 10 and lasted one solid week. "Love Song" was shot with a Panasonic MiniDV camera. The majority of the music for the film was produced by Gemini Music Productions, a Radford company, owned and operated by Radford University alum, Crystal Hubbard. Post-production was completed in May 2006.

Love Song About the Filmmakers

Lewis Wheaton (Executive Producer) is a graduate of Radford University, with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He graduated as a member of Beta Beta Beta Biological Sciences Honor Society. Lewis continued his education at the University of Maryland, College Park, where he received his Doctorate degree in Neuroscience and Cognitive Science in the department of Biology, with a concentration in Clinical Neurophysiology. He is a member of the Society for Neuroscience, American Clinical Neurophysiology Society and the Movement Disorders Society.

Lewis is currently a Research Biologist at the Baltimore Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Baltimore, MD. With several presentations at professional scientific meetings, speaking engagements at various scholarly meetings, and several papers in peer reviewed publications, Lewis is an active member in the scientific community. He plans to develop a career as a Clinical Neurophysiologist in an academic setting, studying the underlying physiological mechanisms related to various brain disorders.

Raised in Northern Virginia, Teri Wheaton (Writer/Producer) received her Bachelor of Science degree in Media Studies and a minor in Business Administration in December 1999 from Radford University in Radford, VA. While a student at Radford, she focused on studio television production and writing.

She continued her studies at The American University in Washington, DC and received her Master of Arts degree in Film and Video in December 2001. At American University, Teri put her focus into screenwriting for television and feature length film. In the spring of 2001, Teri served on the crew of a documentary titled Through Her Eyes: Virginia's Story. The documentary followed a homeless woman on the streets of Bethesda, MD and tried to capture life through her eyes. The film was entered into the 2001 Visions Festival where it received first place honors in the documentary category.

Teri continues to write feature length screenplays to hone her skills. In 2001 she entered her first screenplay, Exodus, into the Scriptapalooza Screenwriting Competition and was selected as a semifinalist. Her third screenplay, Again, is the basis for Wilson Wheaton Production's inaugural production. Teri resides in Bowie, MD with her husband and their two year old son.

Gabriel Aluisy (Director\Editor) grew up in St. Petersburg, Florida. He moved to Washington, DC and studied film at American University. He has worked on various independent feature films and documentaries. Gabriel has worked with the Discovery Channel, PBS, Spike TV, FOX, and Hallmark Entertainment. He has won awards at the DC Independent Film Festival, and the Atlantic City Film Festival. He plans to continue directing feature films and documentaries that tell compelling stories. Gabriel has worked with Wilson Wheaton Productions as the editor for their feature, Again. He has also work with Tom Benca, the Director of Photography, on films for the last two years. Thomas Benca (Director of Photography) grew up in Western New York in the small city of Olean. After high school, Thomas went to SUNY Fredonia and received a bachelor’s degree in video production with a minor in music. He continued his education at American University where he received his MFA in Film and Electronic Media. He has remained in the Washington, DC area since then. Thomas has worked on several different types of projects from political videos, feature length films and documentaries to music videos and reality television shows. He has worked on many award-winning films. The most noted is Iris, the short film version of Bloodsworth, which was selected as a finalist at several film festivals including Cinequest, and won the 2005 DC Shorts Film Festival and Best Local Film award. The film was picked up for international distribution. Another film entitled The Song won third place in the American Visions Film Festival. Most recently he worked on Samson’s Empire and a thirty minute reality based television pilot about bounty hunters. Thomas plans to continue working in the same line of work, just on a larger scale. He loves the atmosphere of working on independent films, but would not mind shooting a major studio film. Growing up moving all over the Southeastern and Western United States, Shea Sizemore (Gaffer\Camera Operator) currently attends Radford University. He is working towards a degree in Media Production with a minor in Cinematic arts. Shea graduated from International Film and Television Workshops four week film school. He is the owner of a small production company for which he has produced several award winning films. Shea has received the honor of Best Screenplay at Progeny Film Festival and the Official mentor selection at the VA Film Festival Adrenaline Project. He plans to continue working on movies.

Born and raised in southwest Virginia, Crystal Deon Hubbard (Music Supervisor\Production Assistant) attended both high school and college in Radford, Virginia. She graduated from Radford University in 2000 with a B.S in Media Studies: Audio/Video Production and a minor in Art. Crystal is currently growing her own music production company that has been in business for four years. Her company and company website are the focus of her free time.

Love Song “QUOTES”

“I did the movie because I loved the script and I love being on the set of a film. I like be able to know what went on behind the scenes while a shoot took place.” ~Rachael Lang “It was my first time doing anything like [a movie] so every moment was kind of my favorite.” ~Akeia Carter “This was my first movie, and I felt honored to be a part of such a great project. I think it was during the first read-through that I realized just how well Teri's vision and the cast's talents came together to form an amazing story; I am very excited about the final product.” ~Meghan Robinson “I liked the script a lot and I liked my character. It gave me the opportunity to be someone I am totally not. As far as the direction, the director was very professional and helpful. It was made very clear as to how I was supposed carry my character and it made it a lot easier for me.” - Akeia Carter “My favorite moment while filming was during the wedding scene. Teri ran right into the front of the camera and bonked her head on the lens! We all lost it.” ~Rachael Lang “Another one of my favorite moment[s] was shooting the scene that look place at the house when the girls were trying to help Toni get ready for her date. In that scene, the girls end up fighting over superficial things like shoes and ear rings and power bars. I found that being a high-strung-bimbo-blond was a good stress reliever!” ~Rachael Lang

“There are a lot of films I work on that I really don’t see going anywhere, not because of the story, but the talent just can’t communicate what the director has in mind. This isn’t one of those films. It was a very talented cast and when you are working with talented people; it brings out the best in everyone and makes everyone’s job much easier and things move much quicker.” ~Thomas Benca

“I thought that the cast and crew were all a lot of fun. I was very impressed with how down to earth everyone was. They worked when it was time to work and partied when it was time to party.” ~Rachael Lang “I think that Teri is a very talented writer and I am glad that she has the opportunity to share her creative vision with an audience. I found Teri's presence very warm and friendly. I really liked being around her. She gives good vibes.” ~Rachael Lang

Love Song

Stills