New York, NY (September 1, 2010) – The Creative Coalition announced today the addition of director George Hickenlooper’s Casino Jack to its Spotlight Initiative. Casino Jack, starring Kevin Spacey, will make its world premiere at this year’s Toronto International Film Festival.
Casino Jack is the latest film to be invited to join The Creative Coalition’s Spotlight Initiative, an integrated partnership supporting independent films that have profound and compelling messages, and entertains with a socially relevant story.
“The Spotlight Initiative uses the art of filmmaking to bring attention to the important issues and causes of our time,” said CEO of The Creative Coalition, Robin Bronk. “Through our partnership with Casino Jack, we hope to entertain — and inform — about an event which forever changed the face of American politics.”
“I’m delighted that Casino Jack has been selected by The Creative Coalition as one of their Spotlight Initiative films,” said Mr. Hickenlooper. “I wanted to make a film that illustrates how Gothic and surreal Washington has become in this gilded age of hubris. Abramoff’s story was simply a metaphor for how upside down politics has become, whether you’re on the right or the left.”
Inspired by true events that are too over-the-top for even the wildest imaginations to conjure, Casino Jack lays bare the wild excesses and escapades of Jack Abramoff. Aided by his business partner Michael Scanlon (Barry Pepper), Jack parlays his clout over some of the world’s most powerful men with the goal of creating a personal empire of wealth and influence. When the two enlist a mob-connected buddy (Jon Lovitz) to help with one of their illegal schemes, they soon find themselves in over their heads, entrenched in a world of mafia assassins, murder and a scandal that spins so out of control that it makes worldwide headlines.
Directed by George Hickenlooper (Factory Girl, The Man From Elysian Fields), Casino Jack returns Spacey to the type of role that made him famous – a cool-headed, articulate snake charmer whose wild ambitions knows no limits or boundaries. The film also stars Kelly Preston and Rachelle Lefevre and is produced by Gary Howsam, Bill Marks and George Zakk from an original screenplay by Norman Snider. Executive Producers are Richard Rionda Del Castro, Lewin Webb, Donald Zuckerman, Dana Brunetti, Patricia Eberle, Warren Nimchuk, Angelo Paletta and Domenic Serafino. The Associate Producer is Rick Chad.
ABOUT THE CREATIVE COALITION AND THE SPOTLIGHT INITIATIVE
The Creative Coalition (www.thecreativecoalition.org) is the premiere 501(c)(3) nonprofit, nonpartisan social and public advocacy organization of the arts and entertainment community. Founded in 1989 by prominent members of the creative community, The Creative Coalition is dedicated to educating its members on issues of public importance and is headquartered in New York City.
The Spotlight Initiative was launched in 2008 by The Creative Coalition to support independent films with messages that make a positive difference in the world.
FOR MORE INFORMATION ON Casino Jack CONTACT:
Steven Zeller
GS Entertainment Marketing Group
323-860-0270
stevenzeller@gsemg.com
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dennis St. Rose, The Creative Coalition
(212) 512-8570
dstrose@thecreativecoalition.org
Tracy Pendleton
FMPR
323-957-2700, Cell 302-530-9442
Tracy@FMPR.TV