A trio of swell actors have signed on to star in the drama Jamesy Boy. Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames, and James Woods will star in the feature debut of director/co-writer Trevor White. The film tells the story of a young suburban street gang member who gets sent to a maximum-security prison. Once inside, he strikes up an unlikely friendship with a convicted murderer (as one does) who ends up becoming the boy’s mentor “and ultimately defines and changes the course of his life.” Newcomer Spencer Lofranco will play the young prisoner.
Parker is gearing up for the likely final season of Showtime’s Weeds and will next be seen on the big screen alongside Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges in R.I.P.D. Rhames recently booked a prominent role in David E. Kelley’s pilot Chelsea General, and should the show be picked up to series he’ll have himself a prime spot on weekly television. Hit the jump to read the full press release.
Los Angeles, CA – February 28, 2012 – Mary-Louise Parker (“Weeds”, “Red”, “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “Angels In America”), Ving Rhames (“Mission: Impossible” series, “Pulp Fiction”, “Out of Sight”) and James Woods (“Casino”, “Nixon”, “Salvador”) have joined the cast of JAMESY BOY. The lead role of James will be played by newcomer Spencer LoFranco. Trevor White will be making his feature debut with his brother, Tim White producing. Filming begins March 4, 2012 in Baltimore, Maryland.
Inspired by the real life of troubled teenager James Burns, JAMESY BOY tells the compelling story of a young man who goes from suburban street gangs to a maximum-security prison surrounded by hardened criminals. In prison, James fosters an unlikely friendship with a convicted murderer who ends up becoming his mentor and ultimately defines and changes the course of his life. JAMESY BOY is a film about hope and redemption, where a fighter becomes a dreamer and a kid with no faith finally sees a brighter future.
The cast of this powerful drama is headed by Golden Globe Award winners Mary-Louise Parker, Ving Rhames and James Woods. Parker received a Golden Globe for her critically acclaimed portrayal of Nancy Botwin in the smash hit “Weeds” and a Golden Globe and an Emmy Award for her riveting performance in “Angels in America ”. She won a Tony Award for Best Performance by A Lead Actress for her portrayal of Catherine in the Broadway Play “Proof”. Parker, is set to start shooting her 8th season of Weeds in April. Rhames was most recently seen in the box office hit “Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol”, reprising the role of Luther Stickell for the fourth time. Rhames won a Golden Globe for his performance in HBO’s “Don King: Only in America”. Up next for Rhames is a recently announced starring role in David E. Kelley’s TNT medical drama pilot “Chelsea General”. Woods is known for starring in critically acclaimed films such as “Once Upon a Time in America”, “Ghosts of Mississippi”, “The Last Day of Summer”, and in the television legal drama Shark. He has won three Emmy Awards, and has received two Academy Award nominations. Lofranco is emerging as a strong up-and-comer and was recently signed to William Morris Endeavor.
Maryland-based Wayne L. Rogers and New York based Bonnie Timmermann are executive producers. The production team also includes producers Maria Norman (“Public Enemies”), Steve Saeta (“The Kingdom”, “The Island”), Galen Walker (TMNT, Highlander) and Scott Mednick (300, Superman Returns, We Are Marshall) from a screenplay written by Lane Shadgett and Trevor White.