Tucson, Arizona – Tucson crime thriller, Choir Practice, is set to premiere as part of the Arizona International Film Festival on April 19th at The Loft Cinema. The premiere SOLD OUT in a matter of hours, prompting the film festival to add a second screening on Saturday, April 25th. The story is inspired by real people and events - an unconventional Catholic priest, a lost migrant, Tucson cops and a brutal crime committed by an international drug gang. (“Choir Practice” is a law enforcement euphemism for “after-work drinks”!)
MEDIA IS INVITED to cover the premiere of this marquee Tucson film!
Date: Sunday, April 19
Time: 1p - 1:45pm (Film screening starts at 2pm)
Location: The Loft Cinema 3233 E. Speedway Blvd. Tucson, AZ 85716
Event: Actor interviews, Billy Shaw, Jr. band playing prior to screening
Legendary actor Danny Trejo (Machete, From Dusk Till Dawn) is featured in the film, along with our lead actor Rodrigo Rojas (Ozark, Modern Family)
Our co-lead and breakout star is a University of Arizona student, JJ Urquidez and Tucson native Jon Proudstar (Reservation Dogs, Last Stop in Yuma County) plays a pivotal role. Behind the visual talents of award-winning L.A.-based cinematographer, A.J. Raitano, most of our crew is also local, as Tucson’s own Monsoon Production Services is a co-producer on this project.
Danny Trejo on set with Director Sally Shamrell - Photo by Chris Scott
The SAG feature film was written and directed by Sally Shamrell (actor, restaurateur, University of Arizona alumni and former KVOA reporter/anchor). Shamrell and Glenn Murphy of Flat Dogs Films, LLC, spent more than four years raising funds locally to produce the story. Many Los Angeles-based producers advised them to film in New Mexico, due to higher state film tax incentives. “Having grown up in Naco and Bisbee, I had to dig my heels in and insist we keep this story in southern Arizona,” Shamrell said. “The Sonoran Desert is the only landscape that could serve as an additional character in this film. And as it turns out, our local investors made their contributions based on the film being shot in southern Arizona.”
Choir Practice is set to qualify for Arizona’s new film tax incentives, as post-production also took place in Tucson. For more information:
Film website: www.choirpracticemovie.com
AZ Int’l Film Festival Contact: Mia Schnaible arizonafilmfest@yahoo.com
Film Tucson contact: Peter Catalonette pcatalonette@visittucson.org
Flat Dog Films, LLC
EIN 85-3809989
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