Tag: Danielle Nicolet

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Smells Like Screen Spirit – Knuckle Draggers Review

Knuckle Draggers follows the story of a down on his luck emerging director named Ethan (Ross McCall). Even though Ethan’s a great guy, his fiancée Heather (Jennifer Alden) leaves him because he is unable to provide her a swanky lifestyle similar to those of her friends. Set on winning Heather back, Ethan reaches out to his sexist older brother Kyle (Paul J. Alessi), a macho New Yorker who has his own unique philosophy on the dynamic of men and women. Disgusted by Kyle’s chauvinist view on women, Ethan’s female friends Patricia (Amie Barsky) and Renee (Danielle Nicolet) chime in to provide advice from the other side. As the story progresses Ethan is not the only one who is faced with questioning their relationships, and what it is they need from them.

Though the stars of the film are not household names, there are many familiar faces – Ross McCall was in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers and the Starz TV series Crash. Paul J. Alessi who is also the producer of the film was in Ten til Noon and the TV series Desire. Omar Gooding (Cuba Gooding Jr.’s little brother) was in… READ MORE

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Award-winning indie comedy Knuckle Draggers to screen at Toronto’s ReelHeART Film Festival

The indie comedy Knuckle Draggers will be screening at the ReelHeART Film Festival as an official closing night film this Saturday, June 27th, at 7:15pm.

The indie comedy – which has already nabbed two “Rising Star” awards at the DelRay Beach Film Festival – stars Ross McCall, Jillian Murray, Omar Gooding, Jennifer Alden, Melissa Ordway, Justin Baldoni, Sarah Laine, Danielle Nicolet, Lisa Waltz, Parisa Fitz-Henley, Katrina Law, Tom Kiesche, Sara Sanderson, Amie Barsky and Karrie MacLaine.

Knuckle Draggers was writer and directed by Alex Ranarivelo, and produced by Paul J. Alessi, who plays the main character’s misogynist brother Kyle in the film.

Here’s the synopsis for Knuckle Draggers:… READ MORE

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Knuckle Draggers review by CultFilmz

Knuckle Draggers (2009, USA) C-89m. *** D: Alex Ranarivelo. Starring Ross McCall, Paul J. Alessi, Amie Barsky, Omar Gooding, Danielle Nicolet, Jennifer Alden. Refreshing indie movie offers a look at thirty-ish director McCall, whose girlfriend leaves him because of lack of success. His brother then takes up the task of introducing him into being the way women want him to be, though it seems … READ MORE (see right hand side of main page for review link)

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journeyPod 10th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival

film-festival

Photo by David Woytowich. Stars of Knuckle Draggers: (from left)
Paul J. Alessi, Danielle Nicolet, and Ross McCall

journeyPod was live and on the Red Carpet last Thursday evening at the 10th Annual Newport Beach Film Festival. The Opening Night Film, “Lymelife,” featured Alec Baldwin, Jill Hennessey, Rory Culkin and Kieran Culkin. While none of those celebrities were present, we did chat with Adam Gregory, star of the television program “The New 90210.”  Originally from Cincinnati, Adam now lives in Santa Monica and apparently isn’t much of a foodie. When I asked him his favorite restaurant, he told me “Subway.”

On the Red Carpet, we chatted with Matt Sobel, director of “X to Y” for the inside scoop on the inspiration for his short. Also on the Red Carpet filmmaker Carole Holliday gave us an inside peak at her film, “Witt’s Daughter.”  Her 40 minute film is about a father who comes home from the Korean War and meets his three year old daughter. Carole’s inspiration was the movie, “The Gladiator.”  Wanna hear more? Stay tuned for an upcoming podcast show.

The festival, in it’s fourth day now, is packed with filmmakers (who in many cases are the writers, directors, and producers), and actors and actresses. While waiting to screen the “Impact of War” shorts, first-time film maker Tomas Solli from Norway and I struck up a conversation. He is the only Norwegian filmmaker at the festival. His film, “Emergency Exit”  debuts today. While munching on popcorn in between films, I ran into Paul Alessi and Serah D’Laine, two stars of the much anticipated, “Knuckle Draggers.”  I was able to see Sunday’s sold out performance. If you missed it–be sure to catch it the second time around, later this week! ... READ MORE