Sunday, November 29, 2009

Cast Spotlight - Chris Burns!





CHRIS BURNS

With razor sharp focus and fierce tenacity, Chris has played various roles on stage from Stanley Kowalski in Tennessee Williams' A Streetcar Named Desire to Cpl. Dawson in Aaron Sorkin' s A Few Good Men To the Dauphin Charles VII in George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan.

Recently, he played Max Arthur in The Lena Baker Story starring alongside Tachina Arnold and Michael Rooker. Chris also had the re-occurring role of Brad on the first original television series for BET "Somebodies", as well as being a series regular for the Cartoon Network Superdeluxe sketch comedy series Fark TV.

A true chameleon, Chris has not only acted in well over eighty film and television programs, he also has multiple credits as a Co-Writer, Assistant Director, and Producer. In 2006 Chris had the distinct pleasure of having not one, but three projects at Park City during the Sundance Film Festival.

His latest film projects include a lead role in Kely McClung’s action film Kerberos as well as a lead role as Jay in Reel One Entertainment’s Battle.



Chris rehearses scene at WREK



Chris Burns' wife Miracole also plays a role in "Battle" as the Beatmaker Lady-O

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Battle in the Newz!!!!


Joshua Tanksley and Laron Austin


Laron Austin To Direct 'Battle'
Monday, August 17th, 2009

Laron Austin is directing the indie pic "Battle" for Atlanta-based Reel One Entertainment. Starring Chris Burns, Onira Tares and Conrad "HeadRoc" Clifton, the film is the tale of an unknown hip-hop producer, played by Clifton, who enters a Beat Battle competition.

Martin Kelley and Eddie Singleton have written the screenplay and are producing along with Kenno Rixson and Bennie Swint. Exec producer is Cassius Weathersby.

Read more: www.hollywoodreporter.com

Movie » Battle

» Comments
Joshua Tanksley
Oct 8th 2009 10:38PM I really think that this is gonna be a great urban film. I had a lot of fun working with the cast' crew and producers on this project. I first started out on the set as an extra for a few days and was given a featured role "Technician". It was a lot of fun playin the role. Can't wait to see it. Should be out in 2010.

Laron Austin to Stage Beat Battle for Reel One Entertainment

Laron Austin to Stage Beat Battle for Reel One Entertainment

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Friday, November 13, 2009

An Initial Poster



Well we've got an initial poster now.

We're working like crazy in post-production and hope to have a trailer to share this holiday season...but for now we've got an initial poster.

Stay tuned as we're working on a MixTape that will be "hot" and available to all Hip-Hop and Battle Fans soon.


Thanks to Ant & Mo from 268 for their work on the poster.


Martin Kelley
Producer, Battle

Monday, November 2, 2009

Do you remember?

Well, this is really it now.

We spent the last 48 hours fighting the elements to get a lot of 2nd Unit and B-Roll footage we needed to complete Battle...so we re-wrapped Production with Onira and HeadRoc and immediately started feeling nostalgic for past days on the shoot. It was sad and yet satisfying at the same time.

This of course beats complete relief to be done with something, I think.

So in that spirit let me take a moment to remember some of the shoot already.



Do you remember when we met Kevin Raser delivering pizzas to eyedrum while we were doing a final location scout for the shoot? And he said he wanted to help out on the shoot? He was great, he did everything from boom op duties to extra duties to manning the fog machines and fanning them with the flags. Very good young man and willing to get it done on the set. I highly recommend him to all the filmakers in the ATL.



Do you remember when we lost our Starbucks sponsorship after we pitched a movie tie-in featuring Chris Burns as Jay? I mean how could this tagline go wrong? "Well, it's not Red Bull and Vodka but it'll have to do..." We sure thought it was a winner. Guess we shoulda pitched HeadRoc and his expensive Frappachino habit instead :)



Do you remember Conrad "HeadRoc" Clifton attempting NOT to be upset when he heard that we forgot to order his Tofu dish for lunch and that he'd have to go with the salad? Well, I thought he played it off well at the time but photo evidence here suggests he was a little miffed.



Do you remember the heated exchange between direcor Laron Austin and producer Bennie Swint on location at WREK? No? Well, you're right, that never happened. But...



...there were fireworks on the set that day. I really can't go into it at this time...but check out the scene (in the movie of course) that we shot there.



But seriously, one of the best memories involved DRES tha BeatNik and the best extras I've worked with creating the genuine Hip-Hop vibe for Battle. Thank you all for helping us create the excitement of Beat Battles.

Anyway, I just wanted to post some more pictures and thank everyone again for all the hard work that they put in on the movie. We'll be sweating and grinding in post to make sure your efforts are rewarded with a great movie.

Take care and I'll be back to blog some more soon.

Martin Kelley
Producer, Battle