PHOTOS: Bradenton-shot film 'Blind Pass' has special screening at Burns Court Cinemas

"Blind Pass" writer/director Steve Tatone with his co-producer and star Danielle White at Burns Court Cinemas in Sarasota for private screening of their film on Jan. 26, 2013. PHOTO BY WADE TATANGELO

"Blind Pass," the movie featuring an Armand Assante cameo that I watched being filmed about a year ago in Lakewood Ranch, had its debut screening Saturday at Burns Court Cinemas in Sarasota.

It's the latest by Sarasota-based independent film production company Midnight Pass Productions and the producing team of Steve Tatone and former Bradenton resident Danielle White, a past winner of Fox’s “American Juniors” reality show.

The duo got their start collaborating on the musical-drama “Beautiful Noise,” another locally shot film also written and directed by Tatone and starring White that sold out an unprecedented six showings at the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival.

Ed Lauter, second from left, participates in a post-screening Q&A.

In the thriller “Blind Pass,” 20-year-old White plays the daughter of a wealthy businessman played by Assante, who makes the most of minimal screen time. White's character is going blind from a rare disease and her mother sends her to a psychologist played by Chris McKenna, best known for his appearances on the CW series “90210.” The movie largely focuses on their rocky romance. 

Crowd gathers outside Burns Court Cinemas in Sarasota for screening of "Blind Pass."

Mike McGlone (“The Brothers McMullen,” “She’s the One”), Tampa-based Mary Rachel Dudley (“Dear John,” “Free Ride”) and up-and-coming child star Sydney Rouviere, a South Florida native whose appearances include “The Glades” TV series, also appear in “Blind Pass.”

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/01/3691857/armand-assante-movie-filming-in.html#storylink=cpy

Veteran Hollywood character actor Ed Lauter (“Leaving Las Vegas,” “The Longest Yard,” “Seabiscuit”), who was in attendance Saturday, makes a most welcome cameo in "Blind Pass."

Ed Lauter at Burns Court.

State Sen. Bill Galvano, Bradenton Mayor Wayne Poston, John Lakin, a judge of the Twelfth Circuit Court and Kathy Jordan, managing director at the Sarasota Film Festival, were also among those in attendance. 

The Saturday screening was designed to raise awareness of the new movie and encourage funding for the global marketing of “Blind Pass." The film has been entered into this year's Sarasota Film Festival taking place in April.

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/01/3691857/armand-assante-movie-filming-in.html#storylink=cpy

WATCH: 'Blind Pass' trailer shot in Sarasota with Armand Assante scenes in Lakewood Ranch 

—All photos by Wade Tatangelo

Bradenton-shot film 'Blind Pass,' starring Armand Assante, to be screened at Burns Court

Armand Assante in Lakewood Ranch on the set of "Blind Pass." PUBLICITY PHOTO

"Blind Pass," the Armand Assante movie I watched being filmed about a year ago in Lakewood Ranch, will be screened Jan. 26 at Burns Court Cinemas in Sarasota.

Sarasota-based independent film production company Midnight Pass Productions officially announced today that producers Steve Tatone and Danielle White are inviting members of the media, area film investors and select regional and government film supporters to the invitation-only private screening of their new feature length motion picture.

Yes, I'm attending.

The special event is designed to raise awareness of the new movie and upcoming MPP film projects and to encourage funding for the global marketing of “Blind Pass’.

Tatone, the writer/producer/director of “Blind Pass,” stated that his psychological drama, shot entirely on location in Sarasota, Bradenton and Lakewood Ranch as well as in Dublin and County Clare, Ireland, is set to be showcased on the 2013 international film festival circuit and to industry studio executives and distributors.

The Tatone/White producing team got their start with their collaboration on the musical-drama “Beautiful Noise,” a locally shot film also written and directed by Tatone that sold out an unprecedented six showings at the 2010 Sarasota Film Festival.

Other topics to be discussed at the Burns Court screening will be Tatone’s upcoming collaboration with White. “Serenade” is a new film expanding the “Beautiful Noise” storyline that will be shot later this year in Sarasota and Manatee counties as well as in Amsterdam and Greece.

Tatone also states there will be an update on a recent kickoff in Boston of a major film of his original screenplay “Turk.” He describes it as "a true-life sports/drama about the rise, fall and redemption of former Boston Bruin great Derek Sanderson."

The movie "reveals the incredible on and off ice exploits of Sanderson and his close relationship with hockey legend Bobby Orr."

Tatone is a member of the producing team bringing the film to the big screen and will be working with  Hollywood writer-director Doug Atchison (“Akeelah and the Bee”) and actor-writer Edward Burns (“Saving Private Ryan," "The Brothers McMullen"), who is playing Sanderson’s father and co-producing the film. “Turk” is scheduled to commence principal photography this spring in Boston and Canada.

In addition to Assante, “Blind Pass” features local resident White, past winner of Fox’s “American Juniors” reality show. Chris McKenna co-stars as her psychologist, with the pair spending about 80 percent of the film together, according to Tatone. He’s best known for his appearances on the CW series “90210.” Veteran Hollywood character actor Ed Lauter (“Leaving Las Vegas,” “The Longest Yard,” “Seabiscuit”), Mike McGlone (“The Brothers McMullen,” “She’s the One”), Tampa-based Mary Rachel Dudley (“Dear John,” “Free Ride”) and up-and-coming child star Sydney Rouviere, a South Florida native whose appearances include “The Glades” TV series, are also appearing in “Blind Pass.”

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/01/3691857/armand-assante-movie-filming-in.html#storylink=cpy

Read more here: http://www.bradenton.com/2011/12/01/3691857/armand-assante-movie-filming-in.html#storylink=cpy

Ed Lauter movie 'The Artist' named best of the year by New York Film Critics Online

Ed Lauter publicity photo

Last month I wrote about the Sarasota Film Society's Cine-World Film Festival closing night film, writer/director Michel Hazanavicius’ “The Artist,” which features veteran character actor Ed Lauter.

Lauter was in town last week to film scenes for the Sarasota-Manatee movie "Blind Pass," starring Bradenton resident Danielle White with an appearance by Armand Assante. 


Dinner at Gio's in Bradenton with Lauter and others from the movie led to my Sunday column.


READ "ED LAUTER: CHARACTER ACTOR."

From the HollywoodReporter.com:

The Artist has been named best film of the year by the New York Film Critics Online.

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Additionally, Michael Hazanavicius, who helmed the silent black-and-white movie, was named best director by the group, which met Sunday in New York to select its 12th annual awards in 15 categories. The movie also nabbed a third honor, best use of music, for composer Ludovic Bource.

PHOTOS: The Making of 'The Artist'
Sunday was a big day for the movie, which also recognized by the American Film Institute and the Boston Film Critics.

More info on Armand Assante movie 'Blind Pass' filming in Manatee and Sarasota

All Armand Assante scenes to be shot in Manatee County

Here's more info on today's breaking news story "Armand Assante movie filming in Manatee and Sarasota." It's the latest feature by local filmmaker Steve Tatone and his Midnight Pass Productions. 

Setting: Film takes place almost entirely in Sarasota and Manatee counties except for several scenes shot in Europe. All of Armand Assante's scenes are being shot in Manatee. "We're the first film company to be given privilege to film at the new Sarasota National Cemetery," Tatone said. "That's where the opening scene takes place."

Plot: Movie focuses on a 24-year-old woman named Carrie (played by Danielle White) who has always had the best of everything. Her father (Armand Assante) is a former military man, attorney and "master of universe type," said Tatone, living on a horse farm in Manatee County. Carrie rebels, gets involved in show business and lives in the family beach house on Siesta Key. Movie starts with funeral of her father and tells his story in flashback. Carrie is a very independent woman who then finds out she has an eye disease and is going to go blind in 90 days. Daughter and father are very much alike in their approach to life and Mom (Mary Rachel Dudley) worries daughter might also commit suicide. Carrie is sent to see psychologist (Chris McKenna) and that's when the action starts in this thriller.

Here's the description from the "Blind Pass" Facebook page:

“Blind Pass” is a dramatic thriller reminiscent of “Basic Instinct” and “Last Tango in Paris”…and then some…that reminds us all never to take anything in Life for granted. The bold, edgy indie film reunites writer-director Steve Tatone with his "Beautiful Noise" star Danielle White and shoots on location in Fall 2011 in Sarasota, Florida; Milan, Venice & Lake Como Italy; Lugano Switzerland; Paris France; London England & Dublin Ireland.

Production: "Everything is being shot on location," Tatone said. Next month Midnight Pass Productions plans to open a post-production and small soundstage facility in downtown Sarasota. They're shooting "Blind Pass" with digital cameras and leasing equipment from Tampa-based First Unit Production Services. "Ninety-eight percent of the crew is from the Suncoast and Tampa Bay," Tatone said.

Financing: "It's a combination of our company money with some local investors," Tatone said.

—Publicity photo of Armand Assante courtesy of Midnight Pass Productions