cast biographies - Out of Business

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SYNOPSIS
When world peace is threatened in the not-so distant future, there’s only ONE
man who can come to the rescue -- GEORGE W. SHRUB!
The year is 2022, and the world is at peace. George W. Shrub (C. Thomas
Howell, E.T., THE OUTSIDERS), the infamous former leader of the free world, is
struggling to release a new biography about his “fantastical adventures in office.”
When Shrub’s biographer questions the authenticity of Shrub’s rose-tinted
recollection of his time in office, he journeys to the U.N. American Presidential
Museum in order to research his presidential career.
Once at the museum, Shrub crosses paths with Perry (Ronnie Gene Blevins,
AMERICAN COWSLIP, A BEAUTIFUL LIFE), the timid and antisocial nighttime
janitor at the museum. At first, Perry is unnerved by Shrub’s over-the-top antics,
but the two men quickly discover they have a lot in common. Soon, the unlikely
friends find themselves defending the museum from a series of mysterious
attacks. Convinced that it’s the media out to ruin his career again, Shrub enlists
Perry’s help to put an end to the terrorists once and for all.
Now, with the 5th Anniversary of World Peace being held at the museum in a few
days, Shrub and Perry must rely on their wits and gut instincts to stop the
attackers and restore peace and justice throughout the galaxy!
Commander And Chief is the new political satire from International Studios 4
Movies. LLC. The comedy is fresh, sophisticated, and relevant to the current
American political climate. The film boasts a cast of veteran industry favorites
joined by hot up and coming stars.
© 2008 International Studios 4 Movies, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
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CAST BIOGRAPHIES
C. THOMAS HOWELL is one of the most
recognizable faces working in the industry
today. The Los Angeles native started acting
at an early age, and in 1981, was cast as
“Tyler” in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra
Terrestrial. Shortly thereafter, he nabbed the
lead in Francis Ford Coppola’s classic The
Outsiders, starring opposite the likes of Diane
Lane, Patrick Swayze, Matt Dillon, and Tom
Cruise. It was Howell’s gripping performance
as the tough, yet vulnerable, “Ponyboy Curtis”
in The Outsiders that made him a household
name virtually overnight.
Earmarked as one of the most promising
young actors in the mid 1980s, Howell’s career
soon skyrocketed with roles in films such as
the Cold War invasion drama Red Dawn, the romantic comedy Grandview,
U.S.A alongside Jamie Lee Curtis, the classic psychological thriller The Hitcher,
and the hilarious but controversial college farce Soul Man. Since then, Howell
has been in consistent demand with filmmakers for the last twenty-five years,
appearing in favorites such as That Night, Gettysburg, Hidalgo, “24,” and
Fighting Words.
Howell can currently be seen as “George W. Shrub” in the International Studios 4
Movies, LLC political satire, Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
E.T.: The Extra Terrestrial (1982)
The Outsiders (1983)
Grandview, U.S.A (1984)
Red Dawn (1984)
The Hitcher (1986)
Soul Man (1986)
That Night (1992)
Gettysburg (1993)
Baby Face Nelson (1995)
Gods and Generals (2003)
Hidalgo (2004)
“24” (2006)
Toxic (2007)
Big Game (2008)
Commander And Chief (2009)
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RONNIE GENE BLEVINS
is a relative
newcomer to the industry. The Texas native
made his feature film debut in 2001 playing a
robot in Steven Speilberg’s A.I.: Artificial
Intelligence. Since then, Ronnie has gone on
to guest star in a number of popular television
shows such as “E.R.,” “Over There,” and
“Californication.”
Currently, Ronnie is receiving plenty of
advance buzz concerning his breakout role as
heroin addict Ethan Inglebrink in the upcoming
indie comedy, American Cowslip. Ronnie
can be seen as “Perry Houser,” the shy but
lovable nighttime janitor in the upcoming
political satire Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
A.I.: Artificial Intelligence (2001)
“Over There” (2005)
“Californication” (2007)
“E.R.” (2007)
A Beautiful Life (2008)
American Cowslip (2008)
Commander And Chief (2009)
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JENNY VILIM is a veteran of the theater
circuit, and has appeared in a number of plays
across the nation including “An Honest Girl,”
“The Birds,” and “Fiddler on the Roof.”
Jenny is new to the film industry and started off
working in short projects such as “Vengence,”
“The Sack,” and “Choke. Kick. Girl.”
Currently, Jenny can be seen in her first
feature role as “Lisa Langenkamp,” the nature
girl with a heart of gold in International Studio 4
Movies, LLC’s political satire Commander
And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
Vengence (2007, short)
The Sack (2007, short)
Choke. Kick. Girl. (2008, short)
Commander And Chief (2009)
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CAMERON BENDER is one of the hottest
up and coming stars working in the industry
today. The handsome Michigan native has
guest starred on many of televisions’ most
popular shows such as “Buffy the Vampire
Slayer,” “Gilmore Girls,” and “Veronica
Mars.”
Recently, Cameron has been busy with roles
in the feature films Smother, Mr. Sandman,
and These Woods. Cameron can currently
be seen as “Tony, the Leader of the
Anarchists,” in the hilarious political satire,
Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
“7th Heaven” (1999)
“Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1999)
“Undressed” (1999)
“CSI: Crime Scene Investigation” (2004)
“The Young and the Restless” (2004)
“American Dreams” (2004)
“Veronica Mars” (2004)
Formosa (2005)
“My Name is Earl” (2006)
“Gilmore Girls” (2007)
Smother (2007)
Mr. Sandman (2008)
These Woods (2008)
Commander And Chief (2009)
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EVAN HELMUTH continues his rise up
through the ranks as one of the industries hot
young talents. The versatile young actor has
guest-starred on dramatic television shows
such as “Alias,” “NCIS,” and “CSI: New
York,” while flexing his comedic talents in films
such as Garfield, Fever Pitch, and Mr.
Woodcock.
In addition to acting, Evan also served as
Producer on the upcoming indie comedy Other
People’s Parties. Evan plays techno-nerd
“Jared, the Anarchist” in the upcoming political
satire Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
Speakeasy (2002)
The United States of Leland (2003)
Garfield (2004)
“Alias” (2005)
Fever Pitch (2005)
“Navy NCIS: Naval Criminal Investigative Service” (2006)
“CSI: New York” (2006)
Mr. Woodcock (2007)
The Last Lullaby (2007)
Ready or Not (2008)
Other People’s Parties (2008)
Commander And Chief (2009)
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CANDICE PATTON’s stunning good looks
landed her roles on daytime soaps such as
“The Young and the Restless” and “The
Bold and the Beautiful.”
The charismatic newcomer has much more to
offer than just looks however. Candice can be
seen as the intelligent but deadly “Dana the
Anarchist” in the upcoming political comedy
Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
“The Young and the Restless” (2004-05)
“The Bold and the Beautiful” (2007)
Commander And Chief (2008)
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MARSHALL MANESH is one of the most
beloved character actors working in the
industry today. The Iranian Born Actor is a
veteran of both television and film, and has
workied under such legendary filmmakers as
Harold Ramis, the Coen Brothers, and James
Cameron.
From his scene stealing role as the high-voiced
“Sumbhajee” in Pirates and the Caribbean:
At Worlds End, to his hilarious recurring role
as “Ranjit the Taxi Driver” on CBS’s “How I
Met Your Mother,” Marshall has proved
himself to be one of entertainment’s most
reliable comedic assets.
Marshall can be seen in another scene-stealing
role as “The Sheik” in the upcoming political satire, Commander And Chief.
SELECTED FILMOGRAPHY
True Lies (1994)
Barb Wire (1996)
The Big Lebowski (1998)
“The X-Files” (1999)
“Will & Grace” (1999-2003)
“City of Angels” (2000)
“Law and Order: SVU” (2000)
Guardian (2000)
“Alias” (2002)
“NYPD Blue” (2002-03)
“JAG” (2002-05)
Showtime (2002)
Stealing Harvard (2002)
Hidalgo (2004)
“Entourage” (2004)
“Scrubs” (2004)
“Boston Legal” (2004-06)
Looking for Comedy in the Muslim World (2005)
“How I Met Your Mother” (2005-2007)
“Andy Barker P.I.” (2007)
Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End (2007)
The Untitled Onion Movie (2008)
Pearlblossom (2008)
Crossing Over (2008)
Commander And Chief (2009)
Year One (2009)
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PRODUCTION NOTES
Commander And Chief is the flagship feature film from International Studios 4
Movies, LLC, a new independent production company in Los Angeles focusing
on high-quality socially significant entertainment.
Taking place in 2022, Commander And Chief tells the story of “George W.
Shrub,” a former American President who is a bit out of touch with the way the
world perceives him, and is unaffected by the damage he has caused through his
poor decision making. Naturally, George W. Shrub is a palpable effigy of a
recent real-life American President, but the character’s name was made fictitious
with the intention of not alienating certain demographics.
The project originated as the brainchild of Doc Tamer Tamer Salameh, the
Executive Producer of International Studios 4 Movies, LLC. “Doc” knew that the
current American political climate was ripe for a satire as ambitious as
Commander And Chief, and commissioned Producer/Co-director Gerson
Sanginitto to bring his vision to life. Having collaborated successfully on two prior
features, The Morgue and Big Game, Doc and Gerson developed a quick and
efficient workflow, allowing them to fast-track production in order to get the
project in the can in time for the 2008 U.S. Election.
INSERT DOC QUOTE
The theme of responsibility is paramount to Commander And Chief, and
throughout the film characters make decisions that they later regret in one way or
another ! decisions that force them to reevaluate the way they perceive the
outside world. Producer/Co-director Sanginitto believes that the message is
relevant today more than ever, and says: "I hope we can realize now the
mistakes that we are making, especially against nature, in order to live in a better
world.”
Based on the universal appeal of the subject matter, Gerson was approached by
longtime colleague Ric Halpern, the administrator of the New Filmmaker Program
at Panavision Woodland Hills, to serve as Co-director on the film. Although
Gerson and Ric had worked with each other for years via the equipment
transactions at Panavision, Commander And Chief marked the first time that
the two men would collaborate on a film.
INSERT RIC QUOTE
A story so readily controversial as Commander And Chief must be balanced
with the perfect amount of social commentary and humor, and be accessible to
audiences of all political ideologies. Accordingly, the script, written by Robert
Dee, went through numerous incarnations and treatments; yet the perfect
combination of elements always seemed just barely out of reach. Finally, after a
demanding rewrite process totaling 11 drafts, the script was lean, mean, and
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ready for production. Only one questioned remained: who would play Shrub?
That question would be answered by a simple, well-timed R.S.V.P call....
By early 2008, International Studios 4 Movies had already been searching for the
perfect “Shrub” actor for months. A number of well-qualified candidates were
intrigued by the project, but ultimately passed due to scheduling conflicts or fear
of the subject matter. One candidate in particular had expressed overwhelming
enthusiasm for the project, provided he could get his schedule cleared. Soon,
contract negotiations were underway, but to the Producers’ utter disappointment,
the actor dropped out at the last possible moment ! less than a week before
principal photography was scheduled to begin. It was that same day that C.
Thomas Howell called the International Studios 4 Movies office in order to
R.S.V.P. for the premiere of Big Game being held at the 1st Annual Los Angeles
Brazilian Film Festival that very weekend. Seeing his opportunity to get the
project back on track, Gerson asked the Big Game star a once in a lifetime
question: “Hey Tommy... how would you like to play George W. Bush?”
The following week production was underway with George W. Shrub and the rest
of the cast in place. Joining Tommy on the project was co-star Ronnie Gene
Blevins (American Cowslip) as “Perry Houser,” the nighttime janitor of the
fictional “U.N. American Presidential Museum; theater veteran Jenny Vilim as
“Lisa Langenkamp,” Perry’s next-door neighbor with a heart of gold; Cameron
Bender (Smother) as Tony, the Shrub-worshipping museum security guard and
leader of the Anarchist group; Evan Helmuth (Mr. Woodcock) as Jared, the
techno-savvy Anarchist member; Candice Patton (“The Young and the
Restless”) as “Dana,” the butt-kicking female member of the Anarchists; and
Marshall Manesh (Pirates of the Caribbean: At World’s End) as the hilarious
geriatric Jiu-jitsu master, “The Sheik.”
Although Commander And Chief takes place in Texas, production was limited
to the Los Angeles area due to budgetary constraints. Thus, the difficult search
for appropriate locations was on. Line Producer Kevin Harding was able to
negotiate a deal with the futuristic-looking “House of the Book” temple at the
Brandeis Bardin Institute in Simi Valley, California. Aesthetically, the location
offered the filmmakers everything they could hope for. Yet with the rural chic of
the property came with the heavy price tag of a very long drive to set. Filming
also took place in the City of Los Angeles, Huntington Park, Montrose, Malibu
Creek State Park, Singing Springs Movie Ranch, and at the soundstage at
Panavision Woodland Hills. The fact that Principal photography turned out to be
an overwhelming success is made all the more impressive by the number of
delays production experienced while shooting.
It began on the second day of filming, when a light exploded and promptly caught
the set on fire (thankfully, no one was injured, but the warehouse had to be
evacuated until the smoke could be fanned out). Next, the picture vehicle rented
as Shrub’s vintage truck stopped running and couldn’t be moved in time for the
next scene. Next, there was a malfunction with Tommy’s aging make-up, putting
production behind schedule for the day. Next, a background horse was
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frightened inexplicably and ran dangerously around the riding ring until it could be
calmed down. Next, an instantaneous hailstorm erupted during an exterior
scene, and equipment had to be rushed inside on a moment’s notice. Next,
Ronnie, the main co-star of the film, chipped his tooth during a take and had to
go to the dentist first thing in the morning. With such an unusual amount of
misfortune plaguing the set, crew members began to speculate that Shrub’s reallife counterpart had something to do with the aforementioned “accidents.”
Despite all the mishaps, production wrapped according to schedule,
Production ran 25 days. Film format is 35mm. All featured actors are members
of the Screen Actors Guild.
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FILMMAKER BIOGRAPHIES
Doc Tamer Tamer Salemeh (Executive Producer) is the co-founder and
President of International Studios 4 Movies, LLC.
Gerson Sanginitto (Producer/co-director) is the co-founder and COO
International Studios 4 Movies, LLC. Gerson is also the co-founder and CEO of
Reef Pictures, Inc., an independent production company based in Los Angeles.
Sanginitto’s love for art developed early, when he began stage acting at the
tender age of fourteen. By age twenty, he was a veteran of the Brazilian theatre
circuit. It wasn’t long before he entered the most prestigious and competitive
theatre school in Brazil, O Tablado (established by Maria Clara Machado).
Through his exposure to the creative arts, he developed a passion for
filmmaking, and moved to America in pursuit of a degree in film production.
As a film student at California State University Long Beach, he worked on a long
list of film projects, where he learned every facet of film production. His short film
Contend entered the festival route, winning the ‘Grand Festival Award’ at the
Berkeley Video and Film Festival 2005. His comedy The TV Broke was chosen
for the CSULB’s 16th Annual Student Filmmakers Showcase at the Director’s
Guild of America Theatre in Los Angeles, as well the Los Angeles Latino
International Film Festival 2006, and competed at the Delray Beach Film Festival
2007. His first feature, Maximum Cage Fighting, was shot in Los Angeles and
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, giving Sanginitto an opportunity to work once again in his
homeland. Beyond the Ring, his next effort, brought him together with old friend
and stunt coordinator JJ Perry (The Rundown, Serenity).
Gerson worked as Co-director/Producer on The Morgue, Reef Pictures’ first
feature film. The Morgue turned out to be a huge success for Gerson, as it was
invited to close the Cine Ceará International Film Festival in Fortaleza, Brazil,
June 2007. Fabrication Films (www.fabricationfilms.com) is handling international
distribution for the film, while domestic distribution is managed by Grindstone
Entertainment (www.thegrindstone.net), a division of Lions Gate Films.
Gerson’s second feature with Reef, the high-octane thriller Big Game, turned out
to be the filmmaker’s most powerful film yet, and is sure to become a new classic
in the thriller genre. Currently, Big Game is undergoing preparations for the
Marché du Film at the Cannes Film Festival and will be represented by Spotlight
Pictures (www.spotlight-pictures.com) for international distribution.
Sanginitto’s perseverance comes from the discipline of his Martial-Arts
background. He holds two 2nd degree black belts, one in Judo and one in
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu. His greatest satisfaction comes from teaching Jiu-jitsu to his
students from his personal dojo in Culver City, California, and making films with
his wife, Carina. Currently, Gerson is in pre-production for Reef Pictures’ third
feature film, Noesis, scheduled to begin production in Fall of 2008.
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Ric Halpern (Co-director) A newcomer to the production side of feature
filmmaking, Ric Halpern is the creative coordinator for the “New Filmmaker
Program” at Panavision Woodland Hills, the legendary camera equipment
company. Ric has nigh encyclopedic knowledge of the technical aspects of
filmmaking -- a trait that served production well on Commander And Chief. By
means of the New Filmmaker program at Panavision, Ric has worked with
Gerson Sanginitto on a number of different projects, starting with the student film
The TV Broke through the feature Big Game. Commander And Chief marks
the first creative collaboration between the two filmmakers (and based on the
success of the recent partnership, it will be the first of many).
Carina Sanginitto (Director of Photography) is the co-founder of
independent production company Reef Pictures in Los Angeles. She was born in
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, where she attended school to become a nutritionist. In
1996 she moved to the United States where she would discover her love of
cinematography. During her study at the California State University Long Beach
film school, Sanginitto would hone her talent for lighting films. She shot six short
films while at CSULB, including Contend, the award-winning short film helmed
by her husband, Gerson. She would go on to lens two more films under
Gerson’s direction, the features Maximum Cage Fighting and Beyond the
Ring, the latter of which she also served as co-producer.
Since then, Carina acted as producer on Reef Pictures first feature film, The
Morgue. Her technical expertise came of paramount importance on the film,
where she worked closely with director of photography Jack Anderson in order to
orchestrate the schedule so that the crew was able to accomplish even the most
equipment-heavy shooting days. Sanginitto then went on to lens Reef’s second
feature, the revenge thriller Big Game, and most recently, Commander And
Chief. Carina is hard at work in pre-production for Reef Pictures’ third feature
film, Noesis, scheduled for production in Fall of 2008.
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CREDITS
INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS 4 MOVIES, LLC
presents
a GERSON SANGINITTO production
a film by GERSON SANGINITTO and RIC HALPERN
COMMANDER AND CHIEF
Directors GERSON SANGINTTO and RIC HALPERN
Executive Producer TAMER TAMER SALAMEH (DOC)
Producers GERSON SANGINITTO, CARINA SANGINITO and RORY WALSH
Directors of Photography CARINA SANGINITTO and BRYNDON SMITH
Writer ROBERT DEE
Screenwriter ROBERT DEE
Starring
C. THOMAS HOWELL ................................ George W. Shrub
RONNIE GENE BLEVINS ................................. Perry Houser
JENNY VILIM .............................................. Lisa Langenkamp
CAMERON BENDER ...................................................... Tony
EVAN HELMUTH ........................................................... Jared
CANDICE PATTON ........................................................ Dana
STEVE FILICE .............................................................. James
GARY SUGARMAN ................................................ The Rabbi
KELLY ANNE FORD ................................................... Leanne
PRESTON JAMES HILLIER .............. Chuck the Moving Guy
BEN WISE ........................................................... Abdul Abdul
RYAN CHRISTIANSEN .......................... The Police Corporal
and
MARSHALL MANESH ............................................. The Sheik
Featuring
HEATHER BROOKER ......................................... The Teacher
MARIE DEL PRETE ........................................................ Cindy
KAY D’ ARCY ................................................. The Old Woman
CASEY MARGOLIS ............................................................. Bill
JASON BROAD .............................. The Museum Receptionist
RENZO GRACIE .......................................................... Himself
WANDER BRAGA ........................................................ Himself
Stunt Players
NATASHA HOPKINS
Casting
DAVID GLANZER
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Line Producer
KEVIN HARDING
Editor
JOUBIN MORTAZAVI
Production Designer
ROGER AMBROSE
Costume Designer
MALIA MIYASHIRO
Production Coordinator
ANDREW MAKISHIMA
First Assistant Director
ADAM ARNALI
Second Assistant Directors
ROGER MELVIN
RAFAEL LEYVA
Script Supervisors
RHONA RUBIO
MYRNA POWELL
Key Make-Up Artist
BRANWYNE
Art Department Coordinator
BILL BAKER
Property Master
BEN RECORD
Set Decorator
KETREN WILLIAMS TOLBERT
Set Dresser
CHRIS RIVERA
Stunt Coordinators
KERRY WANG
PRESHAS JENKINS
Stunt Choreographer
DAVID CHAN CORDEIRO
Camera Operator
COLIN MIKA
1st Assistant Camera
WOOJA PARK
CLINT MORAN
2nd Assistant Camera
DAWN SELTER
LOUIS CHERNOVSKY
DAVID CHAN CORDEIRO
Loader
JUDY WEBSTER
Production Sound Mixers
MICHAEL CROSBY
GLENN A. PORTER
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Boom Operator
BRENT MCCLAIN
Assistant Costume Designer
VANESSA PORTER
Assistant Make-Up
MYRNA POWELL
Gaffer
BRYNDON SMITH
Best Boy Electric
TERRANCE STEWART
Technocrane Operators
RAY PATRICK
CLAY PLATNER
Utility Stunts
STEVE UPTON
DAVID WALD
Production Assistants
NICHOLAS GRIFFITH
GIULIA CASAVECCHIA
ELLIOT SMITH
DAVID SCHWARTZ
MAGALI BRAGA
Electricians
JULIAN JANIGO
MIKE PRIM
ANA MILENA AMORTEGUI
MARTIN DICICCO
Sound Design
STAGE 6 DIGITAL
Key Grip
YOSHITERU “MINCHI” MURAKAMI
EPK Camera Operator
SCOTT EDWARD
Best Boy Grip
JOHN PARKER
Production Stills
SOREN VIUF
COLIN MIKA
GABRIEL SUAREZ TESCHNER
Dolly Grip
BOB LOW
Grips
YOSHI MIYAHARA
JUSTIN CRUM
MIKE FOODMAN
MARK STUEN
JUAN TRINIDAD
Steadicam Operators
ROBERT STARLING
TODD KIRSCHNER
Assistant Editor
SAM MYESKI
Legal
PAUL HAZEN
JACOB REINBOLT
LORNE R. POGER
Accounting
NORMAN NYBERG
Screen Actors Guild Representative
MARGARET JOHNSON
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Dollies by
Film Processing by
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picture for the purpose of copyright and other laws in all countries throughout the
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COPYRIGHT " 2008 INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS 4 MOVIES, LLC.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
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INTERNATIONAL STUDIOS 4 MOVIES, LLC
5959 W. Century Blvd., Suite 522 Los Angeles, CA 90045
Office: (310) 424-2212 ! Fax: (310) 424-2213 ! www.reefpictures.net