by Angelo J. Bell
What’s the story, Angelo?
It’s insane to even want to make a movie…so call me crazy. With whatever you do in life, you must build on your past success. I’ve made no-budget films and I’ve made films with $10,000 to $100,000 of my own dough…
Now, I want to make something bigger and more badass!
In 2010, I got into the “Screenwriter’s zone” and went on a writing marathon. I completed two 119 page feature film screenplays in one month and one of those scripts later evolved into “A Perfect Weapon.” It was written like an adaptation of a Tom Clancy novel, to be directed by Michael Mann for the silver screen. Ha!
“A PERFECT WEAPON” is about a disgraced US Marshal who is mysteriously reinstated to track down an escaped convict with ties to terrorist organizations, but he learns the hard way that some people — maybe even the CIA — will do anything to keep him from accomplishing his mission.
In 2012, #PerfectWeapon became the most-viewed project on the Juntobox Films web site, which is chaired by none other than Forest Whitaker. A member of Juntobox Films’ development team even said my project was “very sexy.”
In the past, ALL of my films have been funded mostly out of my own pockets, but “A Perfect Weapon” is super badass and much bigger than any project I’ve ever make. $200K is a good start. I’d have enough to start shooting, and find production partners to obtain more money to make the kind of film I want.
After my filmmaker friend Sujewa Ekanayake told me about several successful, celebrity-driven crowdfunding campaigns I thought, “Maybe the fans are ready for a true unknown, up-and-coming indie filmmaker to step up to the plate with a strong project and cast attached.”
SPEAKING OF CAST…
I’m excited that Alimi Ballard from the hit TV show “Numb3rs” agreed to take the lead role! After Alimi read the script he responded with a single Twitter message to me saying, “Weapon is F*CKEN BADASS!”
And pinch me to make sure I’m not dreaming; the lovely Tehmina Sunny, rising star of the critically acclaimed Ben Affleck-directed film “Argo” and “Children of Men” read the part of the female lead, Femi, loved it and understood every nuance of the character. She “got” it!
Then there’s the talented and stunning Emayatzy Corinealdi, star of the Sundance award-winning film for Best Director, “Middle of Nowhere.” I’m happy to say I knew Ema before her star started to rise when she auditioned for a fantasy drama project of mine you may have heard about called “Legend of Black Lotus.” I quickly became a fan.
The main cast is rounded out by the amazingly talented journeyman actor from television’s “Crossing Jordan,” Mr. Ravi Kapoor.
And for all you sci-fi/fantasy fans, hold onto your unicorns… I’m conversing with the lovely Jessica Duffy from the indie sci-fi fantasy film phenom “INK” for a pivotal role in my movie.
Okay, enough background material. What’s the movie about?
The result is a thrilling pursuit wrapped in a dangerous international conspiracy, with action and sexual tension so obsessive the lines between fiction and reality blur.
More about A PERFECT WEAPON and the crowdfunding campaign HERE