Vision Films has announced the Transactional VOD release of the intergenerational, mystical, family fantasy “Patsy Lee and the Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms” on June 18 through an acquisition deal with Fairway Film Alliance.
The feature-length film is based on a story by star and producer James Hong and takes inspiration from the adventurous coming-of-age movies of the ’80s. Written by Hong, Zack Ward (former child actor, “A Christmas Story”) and Ace Underhill, the movie was directed by Ward, produced by Ward and Underhill, and executive produced by Hong and James Grossman.
Full of practical effects and puppetry from the best creatives in the business, the film also features an original score from songwriter, composer and producer of multi-platinum records and TV & film soundtracks, Michael “Fish” Herring.
Hong, whose illustrious career has spanned over 70 years in film and TV, including the “Kung Fu Panda” film franchise, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” and “Big Trouble in Little China,” heads up the largely Asian cast featuring the voices of George Takei (“Star Trek”) and Gedde Watanabe (“Sixteen Candles,” “ER”), Bai Ling (“The Crow,” “Lost”), and introduces newcomer Michelle Mao (“Metal Lords”).
When Patsy Lee (Mao) discovers an ancient relic box, she has no idea that it will transport her, her grandfather (Hong), and her friends into a mystical world of vampires, goblin witches, talking turtles, and an evil sorceress (Ling) who will stop at nothing to get the box. Their only chance of returning home is to stop the sorceress before she finds the key to the 5 Kingdoms and destroys the entire world.
Lise Romanoff, CEO/managing director, shares, “This is a fun film for the entire family. Full of fantastical creatures and mysticism, it stars the legendary and fan favorite James Hong alongside an incredible cast including Bai Ling, George Takei, and a young group of talented actors that are ready to save the world!”
Hong says, “It was a great pleasure to have worked with such young and talented actors. It was as if I jumped into the midst of the making of that older film ‘The Goonies.’ Young talents have that wonderful quality of just abandoning themselves into the role. In acting with them, I couldn’t help but just jump into their pace and world.
“Now and then, I would ad lib dialogue to them like: ‘Let’s go. It’s time to save the world!’ This typifies the feeling I had … very exhilarating! I trust the audience will react the same way. They must see this wonderful feature film … because it will lift them up in spirit, love and adventure.”
Ward adds, “This movie is my love letter to the ’80s fantasy films I adored as a kid, like ‘The Goonies,’ ‘Dark Crystal,’ and ‘Big Trouble in Little China.’ I worked with Oscar-winning FX artists for years so I was able to combine the classic practical FX with new VFX and Unreal Engine world building digital technology to create a modern fairy tale with comedy and heart for the whole family.”
The cast also includes Matthew Sato (“Imaginary”), Anna Harr (“Hot Seat”), Dante Basco (“Hook”), Dave Sheridan (“Scary Movie”), and Marisa Kapavik (“Daisy Belle”).
“Patsy Lee and the Keepers of the 5 Kingdoms” is available on most cable/satellite providers in the U.S. and Canada, and major online platforms including Amazon Instant, Apple TV, Google Play, Vudu, and Vimeo, followed by DVD.
Vision Films is a leading independent sales and VOD aggregator specializing in the licensing, marketing, and distribution of over 800 feature films, documentaries, and series from some of the most prolific independent film producers in the world. It releases two to four films a month across theatrical, VOD, DVD, and television platforms. (visionfilms.net)
Fairway Film Alliance is a full-service independent film sales and production company of note founded by long-time indie film veteran Marty Poole, whose background includes 20 years of world sales and having written and produced a number of successful films. Produced titles include “Dakota” with Abbie Cornish, Lola Sultan, Tim Rozon, Patrick Muldoon, and William Baldwin, “Bernie the Dolphin 1 & 2” with Patrick Muldoon and Kevin Sorbo, “Army Dog” with Casper Van Dien, “Standing Still” with Amy Adams, Colin Hanks, Mena Suvari and James Van Der Beek, and “Protecting the King” with Peter Dobson and Tom Sizemore. (www.fairwayfilmalliance.com)