- Deadline (2012 film)
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Deadline 
Deadline film posterDirected by Curt Hahn Produced by Molly M. Mayeux
Curt Hahn
Exec Producres:
Hunter Atkins
Ron RoutsonScreenplay by Mark Ethridge Based on Grievances by
Mark EthridgeStarring Eric Roberts
Steve Talley
J.D. Souther
David Dwyer
Jeremy ChildsMusic by Dave Perkins Cinematography Paul Marschall Editing by Robert Gordon Studio Transcendent Films Release date(s) February 15, 2012 (Nashville, Tennessee) Country United States Language English Deadline is a 2012 American mystery drama film directed by Curt Hahn with a screenplay by Charlotte Observer former editor Mark Ethridge, based upon his novel Grievances which was inspired by a real event. The film stars Steve Talley and Academy Award nominee Eric Roberts. The film was partially shot in the Nashville, Tennessee area, including at the Rippavilla Plantation in Spring Hill[1] and inside the offices of the newspaper The Tennessean.[2]
Contents
Synopsis
Deadline is the story of the murder of an African American youth in rural Alabama that has gone uninvestigated, unsolved and unpunished for almost twenty years. That changes when Nashville Times reporter Matt Harper (Steve Talley) meets an idealistic young blueblood bent on discovering the truth. Harper undertakes the investigation despite the opposition of his publisher, violent threats from mysterious forces, a break-up with his fiancée and his father's cancer diagnosis.[3]
Plot
Young newsparer reporter Matt Harper (Steve Talley) is dispatched from Nashville to cover the murder of the police chief of Amos, Alabama. There he meets Trey Hall (Lauren Jenkins), a 21-year-old blue blood who lives on her family's hunting plantation. She wants Matt to investigate the nearly 20-year-old unsolved killing of black teenager, Wallace Sampson (Romonte Hamer). Matt decides the unsolved death will jump start his career, and begins investigating. Being distracted, he forgets an appointment related to his upcoming wedding, which casuses his fiancée Delana Calhoun (Anna Felix) to call off their engagement.
Matt asks his editor Walker Burns (Jeremy Childs) to let him look into the older murder. While Burns notes that Matt is already on hin ice with publisher (David Ditmore) for his lack of productivity, he allows Matt some time to investigate, with the caveta that older reporter Ronnie Bullock (Eric Roberts) goes along.
The two discover old police files which point to a Klansman who operated 'The Store' near where the shooting occurred. Days before, someone had attempted to firebomb 'The Store' during a civil rights protest. Just as the two reporters are making headway, his ex contacts Matt and tells him his father Lucas (J.D. Souther), is dying of cancer. Matt and Delana visit Matt’s father, but late fight because Matt hasn’t told his father about the broken engagement and because Matt is openly critical of his dying father.
Matt and Bullock continue investigating without their publisher’s knowledge. One of their sources, the boy Wallace’s mother Mary Pell Sampson (Jackie Welch), is reluctant to talk to them, and Matt begs Delana to help him by speaking to the woman. Delana reluctantly agrees, not for Matt, but because she dislikes someone getting away with murder. Mary Pell tells Delana that The Store was firebombed because it was a front for prostitution.
The publisher discovers that Matt and Bullock are continuing to work on the story against his orders. After a public confrontation in which Matt challenges the publisher, Matt seeks his father’s help and comes to understand why he has never before received it.
Using his father's advice, Matt and Bullock subvert the publisher and renew the investigation. They ask Delana to help with the interview of Wallace Sampson’s girlfriend Vanessa (Maisha Dyson) and Delana again becomes part of the team. Vanessa reveals a crucial clue about someone running from the scene, and Matt and Bullock discover that Judge Buchanan (Tommy Cresswell) owned the store that was firebombed. There’s a nasty confrontation when they ask him about it. A car tries to run Delana off the road when she leaves Amos, but she escapes. Matt realizes how much she means to him and rushes to comfort her. He delivers a full and complete apology for his self-centered behavior.
Matt and Bullock track down the man running from the scene, Billy ‘Possum’ Baker (Clay Brocker). They learn he’s been an anti-Klan informer and is still undercover but is dying and is no longer worried about the consequences of coming forward to tell what happened. Just as they publish the story, Matt’s father dies. But Matt arrives in time to make his peace and to hear the words of approval he’s always craved. When Matt has to choose between doing the right thing and doing the professional thing, he makes the right choice and Delana falls back in love with him.
Matt and Bullock’s story leads to indictments. Evidence proves the same gun that killed Wallace Sampson also killed the police chief. The reporters foil an attempt on Possum's life the night before a hearing where Mary Pell reveals a final shocking truth about the killer that leaves everyone gasping.
The reporters receive a prize for investigative reporting. The town of Amos is transformed. Matt Harper has become a reporter with a conscience, and someone who finally deserves Delana.
Cast
- Eric Roberts as Ronnie Bullock
- Steve Talley as Matt Harper
- J.D. Souther as Lucas Harper
- David Dwyer as Everett Hall
- Jeremy Childs as Walker Burns
- Ian Quinn as Defense Attorney
- Yuri Cunza as Bailiff
- D'Army Bailey as Judge Williams
- Tucker Perry as Young Vanessa Brown
- Larry Woods as Max McCallum
- Anna Felix as Delana Calhoun
- Lauren Jenkins as Trey Hall
- Jackie Welch as Mary Pell Sampson
- Tommy Cresswell as Judge Buchanan
- Jenny Littleton as Patty Paysinger
- Clay Brocker as Possum
- Joe T. Blankenship as Olen Pennegar
- Jessejames Locorriere as Earl Thornton
- Denice Hicks as Dr. Deborah Wright
- Maisha Dyson as Vanessa Brown
- Darryl Van Leer as Reverend Young
- Amelia Hahn as Emma Jean Thornton
- Romonte Hamer as Wallace Sampson
- Genma Holmes as Possum's Wife
- David Ditmore as Warren Baxter
- Kennedi Hall as Ella Churchwell
- Hunter Atkins (a Nashville banker and an investor in the film[4]) as Ray
Release
Deadline’s world premiere will be hosted by The Tennessean on Wednesday, February 15th[5] in Nashville. On February 21st, The Charlotte Observer will host the next in a series of premieres. The cast and filmmakers ae slated to tour dozens of cities where the local newspapers will host a premiere in that city to benefit a local non-profit.[6] The Friday after each premiere, Deadline will open in the markets that have had premieres that week.[7] The tour will conclude in April 2011 when Deadline will be set to open nationwide.[8]
The film had a private screening at the APME Conference in Denver, Colorado.[9]
References
- ^ Rippavilla Turns On Charm For Role in Upcoming Movie'' The Tennessean, February 2011
- ^ "Deadline Movie Shot at the Tennessean"
- ^ Transcendent Films, LLC.
- ^ Nashville Banker Bitten by Film Bug The Tennessean, December 21, 2010
- ^ http://www.filmhouse.com/news_deadline.php
- ^ Film Crew Moves On, Locals Await Premier Pulaski Citizen, Feb 23 2011
- ^ http://www.apme.com/news/72796/
- ^ http://www.filmhouse.com/indie.php
- ^ [1]Behind the Scenes on Deadline – APME Conference Private Screening]
External links
Categories:- Upcoming films
- American films
- English-language films
- Independent films
- Films shot in Tennessee
- Films shot in Alabama
- 2012 films
- 2000s thriller films
- American thriller films
- 2000s drama films
- American mystery films
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