some lies just have to be told -...

press kit for “alleged“ 1

Some lies just have to be told

2 press kit for “alleged“

LOGLINE: “alleged” is a romantic drama based on events occurring behind the scenes and outside the courtroom of the famous Scopes “Monkey Trial” of 1925.

SYNOPSIS: Charles Anderson (Nathan West) feels trapped writing for his deceased father’s meager newspaper and living in a tiny town (Dayton, TN) in steep decline. Local news is scarce in Dayton but in yonder Nashville the populist statesman and Christian fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan (Sen. Fred Thompson) stirs up the Tennessee legislature to pass an anti-evolution statute. At Robinson’s Drugstore a few local entrepreneurs, keen on a way to channel 20,000 or so folks into dying Dayton for a look-see, concoct a friendly scheme for the small town to host the “Trial of the Century” — they just need a teacher at the high school willing to claim that he taught evolution. John Scopes (Jamie Kolacki) obliges despite never having taught evolution to anybody that he can recall.

When the notorious agnostic Clarence Darrow (Brian Dennehy) agrees to defend Scopes and meet the Great Commoner in a battle to see which theory of mankind’s origin is the fittest (the Bible’s or Darwin’s), the entire world shows up and Dayton becomes the center of the journalistic universe. Once in the midst of this staged event, however, Nathan is torn between his love for the more principled Rose Williams (Ashley Johnson), his fiancée, and the escalating moral compromises that he is asked to make as the eager protégé of H.L. Mencken of the BaltimoreSun (Colm Meaney), America’s most colorful and influential columnist. Complicating matters is Rose’s half-sister of mixed race, Abigail (Khori Faison), who local doctors feel is a candidate for sterilization to prevent her, on Darwinian grounds, from propagating her supposedly inferior genes.

“alleged” is a true story of conflicts that boiled over in 1925 but that remain simmering with us to this day — evolution and creation, the role of science in social policy, and media sensationalism motivated by religious and political biases on all sides. When the truth is at stake, Charles discovers, some lies just have to be told.



CAST

BRIAN DENNEHY as Clarence Darrow (Known for: Ratatouille / First Blood / Righteous Kill / Death of a Salesman)

Brian Dennehy has maintained a strong presence in film, theatre, and television for three decades. He has twice won the Tony Award for Best Actor, honored for playing James Tyrone in Eugene O’Neill’s LongDay’sJourneyIntoNight, and for playing Willy Loman in Arthur Miller’s DeathofaSalesman. The latter production was also filmed for Showtime and subsequently earned Dennehy a Golden Globe Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy Award nomination. He revived the role of Willy Loman in London’sWestEnd in 2005 for which he received the coveted Olivier Award for Best Actor. He recently played Matthew Harrison Brady (the character patterned after William Jennings Bryan) in the Broadway production of InherittheWind.

Dennehy is well-known to audiences worldwide for his performances in such popular films as Semi-Tough,FoulPlay,10,FirstBlood,Cocoon,F/X,PresumedInnocent,TommyBoy, and Baz Luhrmann’s Romeo+Juliet. His other notable screen credits include GorkyPark,NeverCryWolf, Spike Lee’s SheHateMe,10th&Wolf, and RighteousKill. He also voiced the role of Remy’s father, Django, in the animated hit film Ratatouille. He has completed work on the upcoming feature EveryDay with Liev Schreiber and Helen Hunt, and he will be starring in Paul Haggis’ TheNextThreeDays.

Dennehy has starred in a wide range of television projects, receiving Emmy Award nominations for his performances in the miniseries TheBurdenofProof,MurderintheHeartland,ToCatchaKiller (in which he played John Wayne Gacy), and Stephen Gyllenhaal’s telefilm KillinginaSmallTown. He recently received an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Showtime’s OurFathers.

COLM MEANEY as H.L. Mencken (Known for: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Next Generation, Law Abiding Citizen)

Born in Dublin, Ireland, Colm Meaney is perhaps best known for his role as Chief Operating Officer Miles O’Brien on the television series StarTrek:DeepSpaceNine and StarTrek:TheNextGeneration.His feature film debut was in John Huston’s TheDead, but it was his performance in director Alan Parker’s TheCommitments (the first of a trilogy) that gained him wider recognition with North American audiences. He also starred in the trilogy’s other two films: TheSnapper(for which he received a Best Actor Golden Globe nomination), and TheVan, both directed by Steven Frears. He starred in two other Parker films as well, ComeSeeTheParadise and TheRoadToWellville.

Meaney has successfully bridged the gap from starring in large studio films such as ConAir,Mystery,Alaska,UnderSiege, and FarandAway, to highly acclaimed independent films such as LayerCake,Intermission,ThisIsMyFather,TheEnglishmanThatWentUpAHillButCameDownAMountain,IntoTheWest,and MonumentAvenue. Meaney won Best Actor at the Newport Beach Film Festival for the indie film HowHarryBecameATree, a film for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the Irish Film Awards.

Meaney’s most recent film projects include LawAbidingCitizen in which he stars with Gerard Butler and Jamie Foxx, GetHimToTheGreek, in which he stars with Russell Brand and Jonah Hill, and TheDamnedUnited, in which he portrays famed English football coach Don Revie starring opposite Michael Sheen.


SEN. FRED THOMPSON as William Jennings Bryan (Known for: Secretariat/ In the Line of Fire / Law and Order)

One of the most respected and visible figures speaking out on the important challenges facing America today, Fred Thompson’s dedication to law and his passion for the founding principles that are America’s bedrock led him to serve for eight years as a Senator from Tennessee and motivated his presidential bid in 2008.

The winner of two landslide elections to the United States Senate, Thompson focused on lowering taxes, strengthening national security, and cutting wasteful government spending. In 2002, he walked away from an easy reelection victory to seek new challenges.

Senator Thompson first appeared on screen in the film Marie in 1985, and subsequently appeared in numerous movies including NoWayOut,IntheLineofFire,DieHardII,DaysofThunder, and TheHuntforRedOctober. He has also appeared in the television series ChinaBeach,Wiseguy,Matlock, and most notably Law&Order in which he portrayed New York District Attorney Arthur Branch.

NATHAN WEST as Charles Anderson (Known for: Bring It On / Miracle)

Nathan West is best known for his movie roles BringitOn (2000) and Miracle (2004), both movies which featured Nathan’s real-life athleticism (Nathan was a semi-professional hockey player before going into acting). Nathan has also appeared in several television shows and his wife, Chyler Leigh, is a star of Grey’sAnatomy. Nathan is a musician (guitar) and the father of three young children with Chyler.

ASHLEY JOHNSON as Rose Williams (Known for: What Women Want, Fast Food Nation, Growing Pains)

Ashley Johnson most recently starred in Fast Food Nation, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Richard Linklater. She was part of a sterling ensemble cast that included Greg Kinnear, Catalina Sandino Moreno, Ethan Hawke, Wilmer Valderrama and Bobby Canavale. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. In 2005 Ashley starred opposite Gregory Smith and Jordana Brewster in the coming-of-age feature Nearing Grace which premiered at the L.A. Film Festival. She also starred in What Women Want opposite Mel Gibson, Nine Months, Lionheart, and Anywhere but Here.

No stranger to the small screen, Ashley is perhaps best known from her role as the youngest child, Chrissy Seaver, on the hit television series Growing Pains. She has gone on to guest star on many TV

shows, most recently CSI and Heartland among others including, ER, Rosewell, Providence, Ally McBeal, Touched by an Angel, and The Guardian.



CREW

TOM HINES (Director)

Tom has spent the past 18 years in Los Angeles, twelve of which he spent working for writer/producer/actor/director Garry Marshall. “alleged” is his second film as a director. His first film, ChronicTown, made its World Premiere at the Sundance Film Festival in 2008. Tom is married to Lauri LaBeau (who produced and acted in ChronicTown) and they have a toddler, Brady, and a newborn daughter, Finley. Tom grew up in Holliston, MA and graduated from Boston College.

FRED FOOTE (Writer/Producer)

Fred is a graduate of Cornell University and Harvard Law School. He has spent the majority of his professional career in banking and finance but took time off to co-write (with Brian Godawa, ToEndAllWars) and produce “alleged”. Prior to ”alleged”, Fred invested in the distribution of both ThePassionoftheChristand Bella. He lives with his wife, Theresa, and two of their six children in Haslett, MI.

YIANNIS SAMARAS (Director of Photography)

Yiannis is a member of the International Cinematographers Guild. He began film work in his native Greece and has been working in the film industry in the US for over twenty years. Yiannis has worked with our director before, serving as the cinematographer on ChronicTown. He has done work on TV’s Nip/Tuck, and on such films as Bulworth and DaddyDayCare. He graduated from the American Film Institute with a Master’s Degree and has also done work in theater as a lighting designer as well as work as a fine art photographer.

MARTHE PINEAU (Production Designer)

Marthe has a background in fine art and theater. She has been decorating sets for almost twenty years, getting her start in TV (Matlock) before moving into film. Marthe’s credit list includes TheCrow,AnnaKarenina,TheGift,BecauseofWinn-Dixie,Idlewild, and DeathSentence.


FILM CREDITS

Directed byTom Hines

WritersFred Foote

Brian Godawa

ProducersFred Foote - Producer

Kenneth Foote – Co-Executive ProducerBarbara F. Shingleton – Co-Executive Producer

Cheryl F. Groenendyke – Co-Executive ProducerKevin Reidy – Co-Producer

Beverly Holloway - Associate Producer

Story byCharlie Jordan Brookins

Leo Severino

CastNathan West as Charles Anderson

Colm Meaney as H.L. MenkenAshley Johnson as Rose Williams

Brian Dennehy as Clarence DarrowSen. Fred Dalton Thompson as William Jennings Bryan

JR Bourne as George RappleyeaKhori Faison as Abigail

Thomas D. Mahard as Judge RaulstonGeoffrey Beauchamp as Dr. Morganthall

Jamie Kolacki as John ScopesFrank Zieger III as Tom StewartMarty Bufalini as Mr. Lebarron

Jennifer Weil as Mrs. BryanJohn Lepard as Rev. Sutherland

Ralph Lister as Dr. MetcalfJohn Sanders as Prof. Mabon

Dan John Miller as Mr. SheltonJohnny Ginger as ‘Doc’ Robinson

Sam Urich as HowardLinda Boston as Sally

Tevis R. Marcum as Mr. RileyJessica Culaciati as Pumpkin Queen

Ellen Campbell as Mrs. SheltonShelly L. Hoffman as Stenographer

Lauren Mae Shafer as Trial StenographerSteve Gerics as Bailiff

Sam Slocum as Mr. Riley’s SonMichael Kelly as Hominid Exhibitor

Unit Production ManagerKevin Reidy

Director Of PhotographyYiannis Samaras

Production DesignerMarthe Pineau

EditorsLuis Colina

Tara Timpone

Costume DesignerJoseph A. Porro

Music ComposerJohn Graham

Casting DirectorBeverly Holloway(InAlphabeticOrderByDepartment)



PUBLICITY STILLS

Dayton, TN was the site of the Scopes Monkey Trial Clarence Darrow (played by Brian Dennehy) and in which a high school biology teacher, John Scopes, William Jennings Bryan (played by Sen. Fred was accused of teaching in the public schools that Thompson) strike a pose that was also famouslymankind evolved from a lower order of animals. captured at the original trial in 1925.

John Scopes (played by Jamie Kolacki) on trial. Clarence Darrow (played by Brian Dennehy) consults with various scientists in Dayton.


PUBLICITY STILLS

Young reporter Charles Anderson (as played by Charles (Nathan West) with his fiancée Rose (Ashley Nathan West) and his mentor, the famed Baltimore Johnson), a young couple in love.Sun columnist H.L. Mencken (played by Colm Meaney.)

The Scopes Trial was the first major news story The “Trial of the Century” put the small town oftransmitted across the transatlantic telegraph cable. Dayton, TN on the map, attracting thousands.



PUBLICITY STILLS

(Left) Clarence Darrow (played by Brian Dennehy), the defense attorney.

(Right) On Broadway, Brian Dennehy played the William Jennings Bryan character in Inherit the Wind.

William Jennings Bryan (played by Sen. Fred Dalton Thompson), Prosecutor for the State of Tennessee.Bryan was a noted orator and statesman, serving as Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson and was a Democratic presidential candidate three times. He died in Dayton, five days after the trial.

H.L. Mencken (played by Colm Meaney) was the most quotable and influential columnist of his day.


PUBLICITY STILLS

Charles Anderson (played by Nathan West) learns what it takes to be a successful writer for the big-city papers at the Scopes Trial.

Rose Williams (played by Ashley Johnson) is the love interest in the film and the reason for Charles’ struggle with moral compromises while covering the trial.



Hi-resdownloadsofthepublicitystillsareavailableonthewebsiteat

http://gallery.me.com/frederi825/100343


PRODUCTION NOTESHistorical Characters

Eventhough“alleged”isnotaretellingofthefamousMonkeyTrial(1925),thattrialdoesprovideabackdropfullofcontroversialissues,fascinatingcharacters,andsurprisingevents.Belowarethreewell-knowncelebritiesthatwereattheScopesTrialandthreelesser-knownhistoricalcharactersofinterest:

H.L. MENCKEN: The most quotable and influential columnist of his day, Mencken wrote for the Baltimore Sun and authored several books on language and quotations. His scathing wit was often directed at Bible-believers, progressives, politicians, and do-gooders of all sorts. Mencken was a lovable and hilarious curmudgeon as long as you were not one of his targets, like the fundamentalist William Jennings Bryan. Mencken’s obituary of Bryan (who died in Dayton just five days after the trial) remains as arguably the most vitriolic and demeaning of any national figure ever written.

CLARENCE DARROW: Perhaps the greatest defense attorney of all time, Darrow was a famous agnostic, brilliant on his feet, a supporter of unions and various socialist causes, and (according to his critics) ethically-challenged. He appreciated Bryan for Bryan’s liberal politics (campaigning for him in two of Bryan’s three runs for President as the Democratic candidate), but found Christianity (and Bryan’s adherence to it) to be repressive and backward.

WILLIAM JENNINGS BRYAN: Bryan is known as one of the greatest orators in American history. He was a consummate statesman, a presidential candidate for the Democratic Party on three separate occasions, and Secretary of State under Woodrow Wilson. Motivated by his belief in the Christian “social gospel,” Bryan was a far-left-leaning politician (fighting especially against US military involvement abroad and for women’s and workers’ rights) while believing in the Bible as written. During the Scopes Trial, he volunteered on behalf of the Prosecution for the purpose of delivering the closing argument for the State. A college was erected in his name after the trial in Dayton, TN.



PRODUCTION NOTESHistorical Characters (continued)

JOHN SCOPES: The young John Scopes was a general math teacher and football coach at the Dayton High School in 1925. Although in his memoirs he admitted to never having taught evolution to any students, he did substitute for the regular biology teacher’s class at the end of the year and conducted a general review of the course in preparations for the students’ final exams. Since the course textbook did violate the Tennessee statute regarding the teaching of the evolution of mankind, this general review was thought by the ACLU to be sufficient to make him a defendant in the case. Scopes volunteered to participate in the trial once he was assured that it would not involve him taking or stand or jeopardizing his teaching job. Professor Scopes was a local hero at the trial and was offered his teaching position for the following fall but elected to attend graduate school with funds raised by the scientific experts who attended the trial on his behalf.

GEORGE RAPPLEYEA: “Rapp” was a New Yorker who was an engineer and the manager of the Cumberland Coal and Iron Company in Dayton. It was Rappleyea who first saw the advertisement placed by the ACLU in a Tennessee newspaper seeking a public school teacher willing to testify that he had violated the state’s new anti-evolution law. Rappleyea then convinced a handful of Dayton’s more prominent citizens to help host the trial, as well as the defendant John Scopes to “lend his name.” Rappleyea’s stunt to put Dayton back “on the map” ultimately worked — Dayton is alive and thriving today, in no small part due to Bryan College which was founded virtually at the close of the trial.

TOM STEWART: With the help of assistant prosecutor Sue Hicks (the original “Boy named Sue” of Johnny Cash fame) among others, Attorney General Arthur Thomas Stewart prosecuted John Scopes as part of Dayton’s friendly test case. He won the case against Scopes although it is often portrayed as a pyrrhic victory insofar as the Tennessee statute (although upheld on appeal) was largely denounced by the major academies and media as backward and anti-science. After the trial Stewart went on to become twice-elected Democratic Senator from Tennessee in Washington DC.


PRODUCTION NOTESFictional Characters

Inadditiontotheaforementionedhistoricalcharacters,“alleged”tellsthestoryofCharles,Rose,andAbigail:

CHARLES: Charles is a tremendously talented young writer who feels trapped at his deceased father’s newspaper in small (and shrinking) Dayton, TN. His hero is the great H.L. Mencken of the Baltimore Sun. It is not easy getting a job with Mencken, however. This proves to be true even when the Monkey Trial brings Mencken directly to Dayton and Charles is able to promise the so-called “Sage of Baltimore” inside access to John Scopes and others. This fictional character is played by Nathan West (Bring it On, Miracle).

ROSE: Nothing in Rose’s life represents stability—no father, a mother with an unnamed illness, and a mulatto sister whose father is also never mentioned nor the circumstances of her birth. Mencken explains to Rose that she does not have the genetic material for greatness (unlike Charles, who does). But maybe it’s Mencken who lacks what Rose does have. This fictional character is played by Ashley Johnson (Fast Food Nation, What Women Want, Growing Pains).

ABIGAIL: Over 60,000 Americans were sterilized in America against their will in the name of eugenics. Abigail represents one of the likely targets (along with Native Americans, epileptics, and criminals) of this “science” of human breeding that was widely endorsed by the scientific establishment of the 1920s and 1930s. This fictional character is played by Khori Faison (My First Tooth).



PRODUCTION NOTESHistorical Background of The Scopes Trial

(Source:Wikipedia)

The Scopes Trial — formally known as The State of Tennessee v. Scopes and informally known as the Scopes Monkey Trial—was an American legal case in 1925 in which a high school biology teacher John Scopes was accused of violating the state’s Butler Act that made it unlawful to teach evolution.

Scopes was found guilty, but the verdict was overturned on a technicality and he was never brought back to trial. The trial drew intense national publicity, as national reporters flocked to the small town of Dayton, to cover the big-name lawyers representing each side. William Jennings Bryan, three time presidential candidate for the Democrats, argued for the prosecution, while Clarence Darrow, the famed defense attorney, spoke for Scopes. The trial saw modernists, who said religion was consistent with evolution, against fundamentalists who said the word of God as revealed in the Bible trumped all human knowledge. The trial was thus both a theological contest, and a trial on the veracity of modern science regarding the creation-evolution controversy. The teaching of science and evolution expanded, as fundamentalist efforts to use state laws to reverse the trend had failed in the court of public opinion.

Comparison to Inherit the Wind“alleged” will inevitably be compared with the Hollywood classic InherittheWind. A key theme of “alleged” is how the media (and Darrow to an extent) resorted to distorting facts and mocking creationism out of both fear and contempt. InherittheWind, ironically, is arguably “Exhibit A” in the case that the media often seeks to distort history for ideological purposes. For video clips comparing scenes from ITW with the actual events of the Scopes Trial visit www.themonkeytrial.com.


DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT

AsaDirector, the first thing I always look for is a great story. The “alleged” screenplay presented such wonderful characters, both factual and fictional, that when it was offered to me, I jumped at the opportunity.

The producer’s passion for the project, coupled with a very talented cast and crew, only made my job that much easier. I hope you enjoy “alleged,” a film shot entirely on location in Flint, Michigan. After watching this film, I think you’ll agree that it is a story in itself. Enjoy.

Tommy Hines Director

WRITER/PRODUCER’S STATEMENT

Asalawstudentandamateurhistorian, the “Scopes Trial” is of particular interest to me because it was such a unique historical event involving enormously important issues (creation, evolution, media bias, and America’s widespread endorsement of eugenics by our secular elites), fabulously colorful characters (William Jennings Bryan, Clarence Darrow, and H.L. Mencken), and the twists and turns of the trial itself.

As a writer, my intent was to reintroduce this important piece of American history with more focus on how the media twisted the story for its purposes than on the evolution-creation debate.

As a producer, my goal is to create a film about an event that will be enjoyably discussed—maybe even further researched—by those who see the film and wonder, “Did that really happen?”

Fred Foote Co-Writer/Producer


FACT SHEET / FILM SPECIFICATIONS

More Information:

Trailer: www.allegedmovie.com

YouTube: YouTube.com/alleged the movie

Facebook Facebook.com/alleged

Research: www.themonkeytrial.com (historical documentation of the facts and a comparison

to Inherit The Wind)

Specs:

Feature Running Time: 91 minutes

Completed Production Date: 2010

Camera: Shot on HD with the RED camera

Sound: Dolby Digital

Subtitled: English

Genre: Drama / History / Romance

Tones: Historical / Religious / Political / Reflective / Earnest / Heartwarming / Nostalgic /

Americana / Inspirational / Allegorical

Target: Adults 35+ for the historical reference and those that recall Inherit The Wind

Students 12-24 for the educational reference

Niche groups: Christian faith-based and family-film audiences



Comparatives:

Inherit The Wind (1960) – Academy nominated Best Actor (Spencer Tracy),

Best Screenplay, Best Cinematography, Best Editing 2 hrs 8 min.

Released by United Artists.

Changeling (2008) – Stars Angelina Jolie, Directed by Clint Eastwood

Distributed by Universal. B.O. $114M Theatrical / $13M DVD

Selling Points:

• Star talent

• Based on historical event

• Factual account of true event — unbiased

• Educational — study guides available

• Controversial — creation/evolution, media bias, America’s suppressed history

of eugenics

• Appeals to 85-90% of Americans who believe that God played some role in the

creation of the world and mankind

Contact:

Media Inquiries: Tracy Balsz, [email protected], 323.428.9075

Distribution and Sales: Tracy Balsz, [email protected], 323.428.9075

Producer: Frederick Foote, [email protected], 517.256.1490


Contact:Media Inquiries: Tracy Balsz, IndieMarketing, [email protected], 323.428.9075

Distribution and Sales Inquiries: Tracy Balsz, IndieMarketing, [email protected], 323.428.9075Producer: Frederick Foote, [email protected], 517.256.1490

some lies just have to be told -...

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