![\"Alexander](\"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/02\/2.-GRP-Alexander-Dreymon-Luke-Judy-in-GUYS-READING-POEMS.jpg\")
<\/a>Alexander Dreymon & Luke Judy in GUYS READING POEMS. Photo by: Michael Marius Pessah<\/p><\/div>\n
The story follows an all-male literary secret society that intervenes in the life of a family headed by a disturbed avant garde painter (Patricia Velasquez, \u201cThe Mummy,\u201d \u201cLiz En Septiembre\u201d) whose sanity dissipates when she\u2019s abandoned by her handsome lothario husband (Alexander Dreymon, \u201cThe Last Kingdom\u201d) for his\u00a0<\/span>stunningly\u00a0<\/span>beautiful mistress (Lydia Hearst, \u201cSouth of Hell\u201d). In a feature debut performance, eight-year old Luke Judy plays the vulnerable child left in her care. The supporting cast includes Rex Lee (\u201cEntourage,\u201d Freeform\u2019s \u201cYoung & Hungry\u201d) and Christos Vasilopoulos (Alan Ball\u2019s \u201cBanshee\u201d). \u00a0Members of the secret society are played by Jerod Meagher (Freeform\u2019s \u201cRecovery Road\u201d), Blake Sheldon (“The Age of Reason”), Justin Schwan (“Cutback”), Gopal Divan, Jason Fracaro (“Comedy Bang! Bang!”), Vincent Montuel and Hunter Lee Hughes, who also directs the film. Also appearing in the film are Megan Sousa (“Zero”), Daniel Berilla (“Kissing Darkness”) and Alastair Bayardo.<\/p>\n This is the debut feature film from\u00a0Mr. Hughes, who credits finding the poetry collection of his late grandmother as inspiration for the film. \u201cMy grandmother not only read a lot of poetry, she marked up the poems, underlined certain passages and wrote notes in the margin comparing cherished phrases to figures in her life. The poetry she left behind served as psychological puzzle pieces to fill in gaps in my knowledge of my grandmother as a woman. It was a powerful experience and eventually I decided to make a mindbender film that employs individual poems as psychological clues to the journey of a protagonist. My grandmother loved poetry. I\u2019ve always loved mindbender films like \u201cMulholland Drive\u201d and \u201cEyes Wide Shut.\u201d So, I designed \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d as a unique and compelling marriage of those forms of creative expression. I\u2019m so pumped that we\u2019re premiering during National Poetry Month – it\u2019s perfect for us,\u201d says Hughes.<\/span><\/p>\n In addition to Palm Beach International, the film has won the support of Danny Simmons (Producer, HBO\u2019s \u201cRussell Simmons\u2019 Def Poetry Jam\u201d), who will present the film at his Corridor Gallery in New York City later in the Fall. Of the film, Simmons says, \u201cThe characters are interesting and well-defined and the storyline is gripping and magical. The crisp cinematography pulled me into every nuance of the story, but the poetry itself was the best of all the film\u2019s commanding qualities. The poems themselves are thoughtful and complex. Words that I wanted to continually contemplate. They carried the production and never let go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Patricia Velasquez in GUYS READING POEMS photo by: Michael Marius Pessah<\/p><\/div>\n Before directing \u201cGuys Reading Poems,\u201d Hughes wrote and directed the internet television series \u201cDumbass Filmmakers!\u201d and authored two plays, \u201cFate of the Monarchs\u201d (Critic\u2019s Pick, \u201cBackstage West\u201d) and \u201cThe Sermons of John Bradley\u201d as well as the dark short film \u201cWinner Takes All\u201d starring Alec Mapa. \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d was produced by Debbie Vandermeulen, Jason Fracaro and Hughes, with cinematography by Michael Marius Pessah, who won the Outfest \u201cFive in Focus\u201d award for his work in black-and-white on the feature film \u201cJoshua Tree 1951: A Portrait of James Dean.\u201d The score was written by Joachim Horsley with editing by Patrick Kennelly, production design by Nathaly Lopez and costumes by haute couture designer Shpetim Zero.\u00a0The rest of the producing team includes co-producers Sammy Kusler, Terry Nitschke and Paul Trusik, executive producers Elizabeth A. Bell, J. Parker Buell, Dennis Crema, Anja Godhe, Johann Moonesinghe, Neelou Malekpour, co-executive producers Bradley R. Bernstein, Kerry H. Buell and Colin K. Buell and Tom Liebengood and associate producers Daniel Berilla, Josh Cohen, Michael Fister, Jordan Gregory, John C. Hall, Patrick Holzen, David Russo and Robert D. Womack. The film is a collaboration between Fatelink Productions and Fusion Features, in association with Crema Family Office, Xantara Film Capital, Fast Track Pictures and YourHollywoodPro.com.<\/span><\/p>\n The filmmakers believe that \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d is the first feature to be shot on the Red Epic Monochrome, which David Fincher employed on his Justin Timberlake music video, \u201cSuit & Tie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n Lydia Hearst in GUYS READING POEMS photo by: Michael Marius Pessah<\/p><\/div>\n The film\u00a0features\u00a0poetry by Walt Whitman, William Wordsworth, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson, along with a few modern poets, including current West Hollywood poet laureate Steven Reigns.<\/p>\n The Palm Beach International Film Festival is known for launching the debut of \u201cMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,\u201d among others. For more details on the screening schedule, visit pbifilmfest.org<\/span><\/a> and for news and upcoming festival announcements, as well as a poetry blog related to \u201cGuys Reading Poems,\u201d please visit: guysreadingpoems.com<\/span><\/a>. An international premiere announcement is expected within a few weeks.<\/span><\/p>\n For international sales, please contact Patrick Holzen (patrick@mutzmedia.co.uk) at Bodhi Tree International.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ specialty=”off” _builder_version=”3.9″ global_module=”2287″ prev_background_color=”#000000″][et_pb_row global_parent=”2287″ background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_size=”initial”][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”iTunes Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/itunes.png” url=”https:\/\/geo.itunes.apple.com\/us\/movie\/guys-reading-poems\/id1330861332?mt=6″ \/][et_pb_image admin_label=”Amazon Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/amazon.png” url=”https:\/\/www.amazon.com\/Reading-Poems-Blu-ray-Patricia-Velasquez\/dp\/B07895ZWWF\/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1530808335&sr=8-2&keywords=guys+reading+poems” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Google Play Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/google-play-badge.png” url=”https:\/\/play.google.com\/store\/movies\/details\/Guys_Reading_Poems?id=bQ4Tt-DfRWM&hl=en_US” \/][et_pb_image admin_label=”Vudu Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/vudu.png” url=”https:\/\/www.vudu.com\/content\/movies\/details\/Guys-Reading-Poems\/921534″ \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”YouTube Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/youtube-logo.png” url=”https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=bQ4Tt-DfRWM” \/][et_pb_image admin_label=”Blu-Ray Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Blu-Ray.png” url=”http:\/\/www.blu-ray.com\/movies\/Guys-Reading-Poems-Blu-ray\/199089\/” \/][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_4″][et_pb_image admin_label=”Vimeo Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/vimeo.png” url=”https:\/\/vimeo.com\/ondemand\/guysreadingpoems\/248898991″ \/][et_pb_image admin_label=”Microsoft Buy Now” global_parent=”2287″ _builder_version=”3.9″ src=”https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/07\/Microsoft.png” url=”https:\/\/www.microsoft.com\/en-us\/p\/guys-reading-poem\/8d6kgwxp6gnt\/0001″ \/][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Neo-noir poetry drama \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d will debut at the Palm Beach International Film Festival this April during National Poetry Month. The innovative feature film uses poetry as a framing device to tell the story of a creative but troubled family living in a downtown Los Angeles artist's loft. It was shot in black-and-white, largely using the brand new Red Epic Monochrome camera.<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_1106\" align=\"alignleft\" width=\"150\"] The story follows an all-male literary secret society that intervenes in the life of a family headed by a disturbed avant garde painter (Patricia Velasquez, \u201cThe Mummy,\u201d \u201cLiz En Septiembre\u201d) whose sanity dissipates when she\u2019s abandoned by her handsome lothario husband (Alexander Dreymon, \u201cThe Last Kingdom\u201d) for his\u00a0<\/span>stunningly\u00a0<\/span>beautiful mistress (Lydia Hearst, \u201cSouth of Hell\u201d). In a feature debut performance, eight-year old Luke Judy plays the vulnerable child left in her care. The supporting cast includes Rex Lee (\u201cEntourage,\u201d Freeform\u2019s \u201cYoung & Hungry\u201d) and Christos Vasilopoulos (Alan Ball\u2019s \u201cBanshee\u201d). \u00a0Members of the secret society are played by Jerod Meagher (Freeform\u2019s \u201cRecovery Road\u201d), Blake Sheldon (\"The Age of Reason\"), Justin Schwan (\"Cutback\"), Gopal Divan, Jason Fracaro (\"Comedy Bang! Bang!\"), Vincent Montuel and Hunter Lee Hughes, who also directs the film. Also appearing in the film are Megan Sousa (\"Zero\"), Daniel Berilla (\"Kissing Darkness\") and Alastair Bayardo.<\/p> This is the debut feature film from\u00a0Mr. Hughes, who credits finding the poetry collection of his late grandmother as inspiration for the film. \u201cMy grandmother not only read a lot of poetry, she marked up the poems, underlined certain passages and wrote notes in the margin comparing cherished phrases to figures in her life. The poetry she left behind served as psychological puzzle pieces to fill in gaps in my knowledge of my grandmother as a woman. It was a powerful experience and eventually I decided to make a mindbender film that employs individual poems as psychological clues to the journey of a protagonist. My grandmother loved poetry. I\u2019ve always loved mindbender films like \u201cMulholland Drive\u201d and \u201cEyes Wide Shut.\u201d So, I designed \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d as a unique and compelling marriage of those forms of creative expression. I\u2019m so pumped that we\u2019re premiering during National Poetry Month - it\u2019s perfect for us,\u201d says Hughes.<\/span><\/p> In addition to Palm Beach International, the film has won the support of Danny Simmons (Producer, HBO\u2019s \u201cRussell Simmons\u2019 Def Poetry Jam\u201d), who will present the film at his Corridor Gallery in New York City later in the Fall. Of the film, Simmons says, \u201cThe characters are interesting and well-defined and the storyline is gripping and magical. The crisp cinematography pulled me into every nuance of the story, but the poetry itself was the best of all the film\u2019s commanding qualities. The poems themselves are thoughtful and complex. Words that I wanted to continually contemplate. They carried the production and never let go.\u201d<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_1108\" align=\"alignright\" width=\"300\"] Before directing \u201cGuys Reading Poems,\u201d Hughes wrote and directed the internet television series \u201cDumbass Filmmakers!\u201d and authored two plays, \u201cFate of the Monarchs\u201d (Critic\u2019s Pick, \u201cBackstage West\u201d) and \u201cThe Sermons of John Bradley\u201d as well as the dark short film \u201cWinner Takes All\u201d starring Alec Mapa. \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d was produced by Debbie Vandermeulen, Jason Fracaro and Hughes, with cinematography by Michael Marius Pessah, who won the Outfest \u201cFive in Focus\u201d award for his work in black-and-white on the feature film \u201cJoshua Tree 1951: A Portrait of James Dean.\u201d The score was written by Joachim Horsley with editing by Patrick Kennelly, production design by Nathaly Lopez and costumes by haute couture designer Shpetim Zero.\u00a0The rest of the producing team includes co-producers Sammy Kusler, Terry Nitschke and Paul Trusik, executive producers Elizabeth A. Bell, J. Parker Buell, Dennis Crema, Anja Godhe, Johann Moonesinghe, Neelou Malekpour, co-executive producers Bradley R. Bernstein, Kerry H. Buell and Colin K. Buell and Tom Liebengood and associate producers Daniel Berilla, Josh Cohen, Michael Fister, Jordan Gregory, John C. Hall, Patrick Holzen, David Russo and Robert D. Womack. The film is a collaboration between Fatelink Productions and Fusion Features, in association with Crema Family Office, Xantara Film Capital, Fast Track Pictures and YourHollywoodPro.com.<\/span><\/p> The filmmakers believe that \u201cGuys Reading Poems\u201d is the first feature to be shot on the Red Epic Monochrome, which David Fincher employed on his Justin Timberlake music video, \u201cSuit & Tie.\u201d<\/span><\/p>[caption id=\"attachment_1109\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"300\"] The film\u00a0features\u00a0poetry by Walt Whitman, William Wordsworth, Edna St. Vincent Millay, Emily Dickinson, along with a few modern poets, including current West Hollywood poet laureate Steven Reigns.<\/p> The Palm Beach International Film Festival is known for launching the debut of \u201cMy Big Fat Greek Wedding,\u201d among others. For more details on the screening schedule, visit pbifilmfest.org<\/span><\/a> and for news and upcoming festival announcements, as well as a poetry blog related to \u201cGuys Reading Poems,\u201d please visit: guysreadingpoems.com<\/span><\/a>. An international premiere announcement is expected within a few weeks.<\/span><\/p> For international sales, please contact Patrick Holzen (patrick@mutzmedia.co.uk) at Bodhi Tree International.<\/p>","_et_gb_content_width":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[2,6,9],"tags":[185,184,116,134,103,62,53,45,57,106,124,173,71,61,59,73,95,54,186,189,77,187,188],"class_list":["post-1105","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-cast","category-press","category-updates","tag-alastair-bayardo","tag-alexander-dreymon","tag-blake-sheldon","tag-christos-vasilopoulos","tag-daniel-berilla","tag-debbie-vandermeulen","tag-guys-reading-poems","tag-hunter-lee-hughes","tag-jason-fracaro","tag-jerod-meagher","tag-justin-schwan","tag-lydia-hearst","tag-megan-sousa","tag-michael-marius-pessah","tag-neo-noir","tag-noir","tag-patricia-velasquez","tag-poetry","tag-poetry-film","tag-red-epic-monochrome","tag-rex-lee","tag-shpetim-zero","tag-suit-and-tie"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1105"}],"version-history":[{"count":22,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2338,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1105\/revisions\/2338"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1106"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1105"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1105"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/guysreadingpoems.com\/grp_wordpress\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1105"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}<\/a><\/a><\/a> Alexander Dreymon & Luke Judy in GUYS READING POEMS. Photo by: Michael Marius Pessah[\/caption]<\/a> Patricia Velasquez in GUYS READING POEMS photo by: Michael Marius Pessah[\/caption]<\/a> Lydia Hearst in GUYS READING POEMS photo by: Michael Marius Pessah[\/caption]