[Updating this post with today's news that Phase 4 films have pre-bought all US rights to the film. It aint made yet but we know who'll be releasing it when it is.]
I declare my bias on this one right up front: XYZ Films - the LA company that I'm a partner in - are serving as executive producers on this one and the lead producer - Hawaii International Film Festival programmer Anderson Le - is a long time friend. Do with that what you will. What I do with it is toss it all aside as irrelevant because with the talent attached to this script - which I've read and is fantastic - this is going to be a fantastic film by any measure.
MMA star Cung Le - recently seen on screen fighting Donnie Yen in Hong Kong action drama Bodyguards and Assassins - will take the lead in Journey From The Fall director Ham Tran's English language martial arts film Breaking Point. Producing are XYZ Films, Media 8 Entertainment and Vietnam-based Chanh Phuong Films. For those unfamiliar with the name, Chanh Phuong Films are the backers of Johnny Nguyen star vehicles The Rebel and Clash, both of which Breaking Point director Tran served as editor on. Pre-sales will begin in Cannes with principal photography scheduled to begin in late 2010. Here's what we can say about plot so far:
I declare my bias on this one right up front: XYZ Films - the LA company that I'm a partner in - are serving as executive producers on this one and the lead producer - Hawaii International Film Festival programmer Anderson Le - is a long time friend. Do with that what you will. What I do with it is toss it all aside as irrelevant because with the talent attached to this script - which I've read and is fantastic - this is going to be a fantastic film by any measure.
MMA star Cung Le - recently seen on screen fighting Donnie Yen in Hong Kong action drama Bodyguards and Assassins - will take the lead in Journey From The Fall director Ham Tran's English language martial arts film Breaking Point. Producing are XYZ Films, Media 8 Entertainment and Vietnam-based Chanh Phuong Films. For those unfamiliar with the name, Chanh Phuong Films are the backers of Johnny Nguyen star vehicles The Rebel and Clash, both of which Breaking Point director Tran served as editor on. Pre-sales will begin in Cannes with principal photography scheduled to begin in late 2010. Here's what we can say about plot so far:
Need more? Check the full press release below:In this action-packed thriller, former DEA agent and recent ex-con VU TON (Cung Le) travels to Vietnam to bury his father. Once there, Vu meets business mogul DANIEL PARK and learns that Daniel is married to Vu's ex-wife, LILY. Daniel offers Vu a position as bodyguard to Lily and her daughter, NINA, but Vu refuses until Lily tells him that he is Nina's father. When a business rival with criminal ties firebombs Daniel's house and kidnaps Lily and Nina, Vu is forced into action.
Los Angeles, CA (May 10, 2010) - Media 8 Entertainment, a leading film entertainment company engaged in the production, financing, acquisition, and worldwide licensing of theatrical feature films, announced today it has partnered with XYZ Films to acquire the worldwide rights to the upcoming action film "Breaking Point." Starring international Mixed Martial Arts fighter Cung Le, the film marks his first starring role after his breakout performances in films like Fighting with Channing Tatum, and Pandorum with Dennis Quaid and Ben Foster. The script was written by Ham Tran and Collin Chang, and will be directed by Tran. Media 8 Entertainment will introduce the project to international buyers at this month's Cannes Marche du Film. Media 8 and XYZ Films will co-represent the North American rights. Executive producers include Vietnam's leading film studio, Chanh Phuong Films and LA-based XYZ.
"'Breaking Point' has everything a modern action film needs - a classic good versus evil storyline, compelling characters, and thrilling non-stop action," said Stewart Hall, President of Media 8. "We are excited to work in partnership with Ham Tran and Cung Le on this project."
"Breaking Point" is an action-packed thriller about former DEA agent and recent ex-con VU TON (Cung Le) who meets Vietnamese business mogul DANIEL PARK and learns that Daniel is married to Vu's ex-wife, LILY. Daniel offers Vu a position as bodyguard to Lily and her daughter, NINA, but Vu refuses until Lily tells him that he is Nina's father. When a business rival with criminal ties firebombs Daniel's house and kidnaps Lily and Nina, Vu is forced into action.
From the world of Mixed Martial Arts, CUNG LE stepped into the cage with remarkable skills in Taekwondo, Vietnamese Kung-fu, wrestling, Thai boxing, and Brazilian Jiu-jitsu and quickly won a rabid fan-base. In 2008, he left the ring for the movie screen, starring opposite Channing Tatum in Rogue Film's Fighting and as "Martial Law" in Tekken.
Writer/Director HAM TRAN has won countless awards for his short films, and Academy Award ® Short-Listed for his live action short film, The Anniversary. His first feature, Journey From the Fall, premiered at Sundance in 2006 and was theatrically released in 2007.".
Chanh Phuong Films has produced international hits such as period epic The Rebel, and full throttled action film Clash which just had its International premiere at the recent Tribeca Film Festival.. Joining him on the production team is Cinematographer GUILLERMO ROSAS, a veteran of Hollywood filmmaking who has worked with directors such as James Cameron (Titanic), Tony Scott (Man On Fire), Mel Gibson (Apocalypto), Peter Weir (Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World), and Julian Schnabel (Before Night Falls). Rosas also lensed Tran's Journey From the Fall.
About Media 8
Media 8 Entertainment is a leading film entertainment company engaged in the production, financing, acquisition, and worldwide licensing of theatrical feature films in a variety of genres. Media 8 Entertainment's previously produced and distributed the Academy Award®-winning MONSTER, the critically acclaimed THE UPSIDE OF ANGER starring Joan Allen and Kevin Costner, and the action-drama RUNNING SCARED written and directed by Wayne Kramer and starring Paul Walker. Media 8 recently announced the sexy drama "The Laureate" written and directed by William Nunez and starring Dominic Cooper, Hayley Atwell and Rebecca Hall. In addition, the company will be executive producing "Satisfaction" starring Academy Award® winner Sharon Stone, Chris Evans and Carice van Houten, At Cannes, Media 8 will be debuting the world premiere of the animated film "Jackboots On Whitehall" featuring Ewan McGregor, Tom Wilkinson and Alan Cumming.
About XYZ Films
XYZ FILMS is an LA-based film production and sales company founded by partners Nate Bolotin, Nick Spicer, and Aram Tertzakian. XYZ's production slate includes Ole Bornedal's DEATH OF HOSTESS along with Endgame Entertainment; the action-thriller LAND OF THE FREE to be directed by Ric Roman Waugh; a heist film with Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER); and a crime thriller about automotive maverick John DeLorean with Alex Holmes ("House of Saddam"). Several of XYZ's projects were cultivated from an exclusive one year partnership with Time Inc., the publisher of such magazines as Time, Fortune, People, Sports Illustrated and Life. ScreenAnarchy.com founder and editor-in-chief Todd Brown joined the company in 2009 as a partner and serves as its Head of Acquisitions.