Justin Price is a producer and actor, known for Alien Reign of Man (2017), Almost Amazing (2017) and The Elf (2017). (Source: IMDB) We had an opportunity to chat with Justin about his latest projects. Check out the interview below.
Hi, Justin! Thank you for speaking with us. What an amazing body of work. Any new projects in the works?
Almost Amazing” is a romantic comedy that is releasing in limited theaters before going to all digital platforms October 06, 2017. The film stars Torrei Hart, Brian Hooks, Taylor Carter, Alisondra Alexander, and Matthew Simmons. The 13th Friday” is horror\thriller being released October 10, 2017, to Itunes and Vudu and etc. We are also working on a television series called “Reapers. Reapers is a supernatural sci-fi about the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. We are very excited about that and are looking to have the pilot done by MIPCOM 2017. It is an exciting time at Pikchure Zero Entertainment, my company is at the forefront of creating innovative content. And with great distribution partners, such as Uncork’d Entertainment, there are no limits to what the future holds. I think what I am most excited about is how open we are allowed to be as creators. And I think that with that freedom comes a great opportunity to shape and mold the future generation of film makers and dreamers. I am looking forward to creating my own film language with the catalogue I leave behind.
What inspired you to start a career in the film industry?
I was inspired by how movies made me feel. I think that as we get older we become so numb to a lot of what the world has to offer. I think that we forget how engulfing and memorable the movie going experience is. My very first film, I watched with my mother and I will never forget how it made me feel as if we were a family. Here we were sneaking in hot dogs and cheeseburgers into a theater together. These small moments dancing in my head like the popcorn ads on the large screen in front of me. The idea of believing that what was on the large screen was real, and we somehow found a way to view it. That feeling encapsulates the joy I feel every time I pick up the camera. Each film being more and more an unveiling of my inner thoughts and desires. At my core it is what continues to drive me forward. Chasing the fantasies in my head and longing for the world to be that way.
You are also producing a movie called Alien Reign of Man. Tell us more.
Alien: Reign of Man is an action scfi thriller about the last of humanity attempting to find a new home. The problem is they sent a species there first and that species wants to survive as well. What we wanted to do was create a film that dealt with this sort of realistic idea of discovery. My producing partner KHU and I sat back thought of ways to explore Zan. Zan is the leader of this group of immune astronauts deemed “Eternals” whose sole mission is to activate this alien device that would restore life to our planet. What is so great about the film is we tackle diversity and its so subtle and so brilliantly acted by all of the characters that it can bypass the audiences psyche . As in people forget to pay attention to what the people look like and are engulfed in what they are doing. What emotions they are conveying. It is within that realm that being able to produce a film about aliens and foreign planets that will be shown around the world, brings about more than just a good story. It can bring about a perceptional change. As a producer and a partner at Pikchure Zero Entertainment, this is what excites me the most.
You’re no stranger to production work. Do you feel working in several areas in the industry enhanced your skill in the industry?
I think that working on a film is a personal journey. Each movie is like a child. I have a hard time allowing that child to go forth in the world knowing there is something more I could have done. So with each film I try and learn more and more about what each job entails. I believe it helps me speak grip language and gaffer language as opposed to saying, “Hey, grap that thing.” I can say “can I have two stingers”. I do believe that helps me speak and articulate better all of the myriad of things moving about in my mind. This in turns allows for us to have a smoother set.
Tell us what inspires a movie script?
I think of a million ideas a day. I sometimes find myself riding or walking or browsing social media and thinking about what I want to see. I remember seeing a large shark attack this cage and I thought about how much we don’t know about the ocean. The idea of the ocean having a bottom was intriguing and I thought what if the world turned upside down and we were forced to relearn the terrain again. How awesome would that be? Like every 2000 years, the world flips. I now have to turn this into a short.
After a successful short film, television, and film run, are you planning to produce more?
I am looking to create more Urban content for channels, like Oprah’s Own and Bouncetv and BET, because there is a lack of education when it comes to the arts. There aren’t a lot of resources in many of the minority communities and it is doing a disservice to the many talented voices left unheard. I hope that by providing shows and broader scoped themes to my films it will open up even more dialogue for people to step outside of the box. Pikchure Zero Entertainment will be releasing the romantic Comedy “Almost Amazing” October 6, 2017 followed by the Christmas Horror film “ The Elf” November and the Scifi\thriller “Alien Reign of Man” on August 1, 2017. I am currently working as a producer on a Christian film titled “if You’re Gone” directed by the amazing Brittany Daniels Goodwin. My next foray will be in television. We are looking to do “Reapers” as well as an Urban dramedy titled “Greenlight” about a fallen comedian who inherits her mother’s comedy club and tries to turn it around and bring it back to it’s glory days. The problem is her famous mother had a lot of enemies. We are looking to get that series off the ground alongside my manager Shaun Cairo and Shakir Entertainment’s own Mikey from Day 26. It is going to be an awesome episodic.
You’re also an actor. Can you talk about Almost Amazing?
Almost Amazing is about a group of guys who work at a company called Unluv and they are break-up experts. What a fun film to make. It stars Alisondra Alexander, Taylor Carter, and Matthew Simmons. Along with the incomparable Torrei Hart and Simone Shepherd, Almost Amazing is a film that will definitely piggy back off the recent success of films such as Girl’s Trip and Think Like a Man. I am a huge fan of Will Packer and met him during Stomp The Yard. As an actor, I was told “no” a lot. I was told I couldn’t lead a romantic comedy unless it had certain urban stereotypes in them. Slanging drugs and making mix tapes. I remember getting to Hollywood and every script or audition I was either a rapper or an athlete. It was so refreshing to play Chris in Almost Amazing and to just be a guy. A guy with issues that are relatable to everyone. That was so cool. We filmed in New York and Los Angeles and Alton Texas. I have a funny story. On New Years they block off time square and sale parties to be in near and around the concert. We bought tickets to a party and it was on the other side of time square and I remember playing as my character Chris and getting us to the center of time square. It was insane that it worked.
Thus far, what has been the best experience working in the industry?
Being able to produce alongside Khu who is the most talented person I know. Working alongside my best friends and producing partners Deanna Grace Congo, Cameron White, David Cazares, and Lisa May. I have met so many new people J.D. Ellis Amy (AJ) Melissa Vega and etc along the way. I think watching it change over night and seeing the many voices present their art. It is exciting times. Every time Uncork’d Entertainment accepts one of our films it is a blessing. We never know what tomorrow brings and it keeps an elevated sense of purpose and that is where creativity and innovation thrive.
Do you have any upcoming projects that we haven’t mentioned?
I will also begin working on a secret sci-fi film to be released next year. Khu is working on landing the role in Disney’s Mulan and she is perfect for that. I was turned down for a Marvel film and I am hoping that James Wan lets me direct the Conjuring spinoff! That is what I am working o next.
Complete this sentence, if I had an opportunity to do anything I want, I would do ___________.
Ultimately, we are creative people making content for all audiences. I am looking forward to expanding this idea to the cinematic realm and that would require the resources of a studio. I want to make a film like Black Panther and a film like Avatar, which is essentially story telling on a large scale.
Get more info on Alien: Reign of Man.
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