NORTHERN SOUL Hits Theaters Today
By: Movies News Desk Oct. 02, 2015
The film is the directorial debut of acclaimed photographer Elaine Constantine who also wrote the screenplay and was nominated for a BAFTA Award for Outstanding Debut by a British Director. The movie stars Elliot James Langridge, Joshua Whitehouse, Lisa Stansfield and Steve Coogan and was produced by Debbie Gray with Stubborn Heart Productions in association with Genesius Pictures and Baby Cow Limited. The film will have a day and date release today, October 2nd in the U.S.
Originally released in the UK, the film also won Best Film at the 2015 NME Awards, was nominated for the 2015 London Film Critics' Awards, and was a surprise hit reaching the top 10 Box Office with only 83 screens. Both Elaine Constantine and actor Joshua Whitehouse were signed by CAA after the film's phenomenal success.
Before there was Coachella, underground DJs inspired a movement with Northern Soul. When awkward John Clark (Langridge) is introduced to the feverous energy of American Soul by new friend and local DJ, Matt (Whitehouse), they both begin to dream of a more exciting life. But will the scene's underbelly keep them trapped in their boring town, or will the music land them where it all began?
The deal was negotiated by Chris Charalambous, Head of Acquisitions for Freestyle Releasing and Freestyle Digital Media and by Robbie Little, of The Little Film Company on behalf of the filmmakers.
"Northern Soul is simply a great film," said Mark Borde, President of Freestyle Releasing. "It perfectly depicts, in its setting, characters and mood, the underground movement of soul as it made its way into the psyches of an entire generation of kids."
"Freestyle is the perfect home for our film. They have enthusiasm and smarts and have set the standard for independent film releases and we are excited to be working with them on this one," commented Little.
The film's best-selling soundtrack album, currently available to worldwide fans of the film, contains many soulful R & B hits from the likes of Marvin Gaye, Frankie Valli, Luther Ingram, The Velvets, The Precisions and The Originals.
Background on Northern Soul:
In the 1970s, a form of dance music took a feverish hold on the UK, finding its heart in the north of England. This music, from 1960s and 70s American soul singers, combined with a distinctive dance style, created what became known as "Northern Soul." This movement tapped into a yearning for individual expression in the UK's northern working-class teenagers. This is the story of a youth movement that changed a generation and exploded into a cultural phenomenon that influenced songwriters, producers, DJs and designers for decades to come. Today, "Northern Soul" is still a vibrant underground scene throughout the world.
Constantine is also the editor of a companion book for the film entitled Northern Soul: An Illustrated History, which details through first person accounts the rise of the scene in northern UK.
About Freestyle Releasing:
Freestyle Releasing is a full-service, theatrical motion picture distribution company that specializes in representing independent companies, major studios, and mini-major studios for the purpose of exhibiting their films in a first class theatrical release. The founders and principals of Freestyle Releasing, Mark Borde and the late Susan Jackson, were and are highly regarded and experienced motion picture veterans with a combined total of over a century of respected work in the industry.
About The Little Film Company:
The Little Film Company-owned by Robbie and Ellen Little-is a worldwide motion picture sales and marketing company which also finances, executive produces and distributes independent motion pictures. In addition, The Little Film Company also consults for diverse media companies. Films, which the company is currently exec-producing and selling, include: Northern Soul, directed by Elaine Constantine, with Elliot Langridge, Joshua Whitehouse and Steve Coogan; John Doe: Vigilante, starring Jamie Bamber; THE BARBER starring Scott Glenn; The Price of Desire starring Orla Brady, Vincent Perez, Francesco Scianna and Alanis Morrissette and directed by Mary McGuckian. Other films The Little Film Company has licensed are The Last Station, directed by Michael Hoffman, with Helen Mirren, James McAvoy and Christopher Plummer; It Might Get Loud, directed by Davis Guggenheim, featuring The Edge, Jimmy Page, and Jack White and The Eye of the Storm, directed by Fred Schepisi, with Geoffrey Rush, Charlotte Rampling and Judy Davis. The Little Film Company also exec-produced Gavin Hood's Tsotsi, which won the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film. A specialized label, Accelerator, works with select, cutting-edge thrillers and genre-based films like DARK AWAKENING directed by Dean Jones; Dirty Weekend, directed by Christopher Graniere-Deferre; Scar Tissue, directed by Scott Michell; The Clinic, directed by James Rabbitts; Urban Explorers, directed by Andy Fetscher; War of the Dead, directed by Marko Makilaakso.
About Genesius Pictures:
Genesius Pictures Ltd was co-founded by Debbie Gray and Julian Gleek in 2013. Julian is the Executive Producer of Northern Soul. Genesius Pictures is dedicated to developing and producing high quality film for audiences in the UK and across the world via traditional and emerging platforms. Taking PRIDE in giving directors and writers the time and space to produce work that is both commercially and critically successful. The first production Peter Grimes on Aldeburgh Beach, was released theatrically across the UK in September 2013. This was followed with Maxine Peake as Hamlet distributed in the UK by Picturehouse. Genesius Pictures has a number of projects in development for both film and television, including The More You Ignore Me, written by Jo Brand and starring Maxine Peak, along with The LadyKiller, a Martina Cole Novel, adapted for the screen by John Hales and directed by Tim Fywell.
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