Heart of a Woman
2013 was a banner year for transgendered people in America. With the production of Heart of a Woman, we want to continue that kind of visibility with a film that is sexy as well as moving, powerful, filled with emotion and thrills, with an African American trans-woman as the protagonist, Heart of a Woman is unique in that regard: we explore the complex life, loves, and desires of a transgendered heroine. She is the center of the narrative.
TERRI is a transgender African American woman who works as a professional dominatrix in the fast paced, high risk world of high paid escorts. Having a college degree, she attempts to further her station in life by applying for various jobs, yet seems to hit roadblocks at every turn and around every corner due to the prejudice facing transgendered people, not only in the corporate world, but in society at large.
Terri lives with DERRICK a very handsome young man with dreams of stardom as an actor. Derrick, also an escort , he offers sexual services that sometimes involves acting out bizarre fantasies.
Into the lives of Terri and Derrick, steps PAMELA. Pamela is an alcoholic and drug addicted stripper/prostitute under the abusive grasp of butch Lesbian pimp, DAWN.
Pamela is taken in by Terri & Derrick and they form a strong, but strange sort of family. With Terri as the mother figure. Their lives are intertwined and turned upside down by Pamela’s erratic and unpredictable behavior and her battle to free herself from Dawn’s vicious yoke.
Heart of a Woman is a gripping drama, based on the life of co-screenwriter/producer Toni Newman and recounted in a chapter in her debut memoir I Rise: The Transformation of Toni Newman. Heart of a Woman is a true story set in a dark world of sadomasochistic sex for hire, drug abuse, violence, glamor, money, and celebrity. It is a story of redemption and love, one unlike any brought to the silver screen.
This groundbreaking screenplay placed in the semi-finals (Top 20) in the Script Showcase Screen-writing competition for originality. And upon completion this will be the first feature film to feature an African-American transgender lead.
Meet the crew
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KEITH HOLLAND,
Producer/Co-Screenwriter/Director began his career as a visual
effects cameraman working at Pinewood Studios in the UK. He has
worked on a number of big budget films such as Superman, Moonraker,
and The Neverending Story. Upon moving to the US, Mr. Holland has
directed many commercials as well as music videos for artists such as
Janet Jackson, Journey, and Seal. His feature film directing credits
include Cage Free and Dance of Desire. Mr Holland is an member of the
Director’s Guild of America and seeks originality in his projects.
[IMDB]
[Website]
1) Why did you
agree to Direct the Film The Heart Of A Woman?
The script is very
unusual and the characters are very interesting. I like the material
and believe I can do a really good job bringing it to life. I have
worked on other “erotic” movies, but this has a depth of
character that sets it apart and makes it really worth doing.
2) Why will
this Film The Heart Of A Woman be so unique?
I don’t believe there
have been many other films touching on the subject of transgenders
and this side of the erotic sex industry. As it is based so solidly
on real events it will have a truth about it and will not appear
exploitist.
3) Have you
read the Book I Rise by Toni Newman and what was your opinion?
I think the book is
really quite remarkable and I’d love the opportunity of making it
into a movie as well. The struggle Toni Newman has gone through in
her life would make a very compelling movie and appeal to a wide
audience.
4) How long
have you been directing films and how do you go by selecting new
projects?
I have been directing
for over 10 years and working as a cinematographer for much longer. I
try to find projects that are original and stand out from the others,
projects that have promise of succeeding in the market place.
5) Who would be
the viewing audience of Film The Heart Of A Woman?
The Heart Of A Woman
should have a wide audience as it covers a variety of themes and
should appeal to a lot of people. It will initially do well in the LGBT sector, but should cross over into a wider market as it has
quite a broad appeal.
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Original Screenwriter/
Executive Producer ALTON DEMORE is the president of SPI Productions,
LLC. Original screenwriter of Heart of a Woman and contributor to
Memoir I Rise-The Transformation of Toni Newman. Alton is SAG/AFTRA
actor,in addition to being an accomplished dancer &
choreographer. In addition Alton is the executive producer and writer
of comedy webisode Douche Bros (www.douchebros.com)
Before writing the screenplay for Heart of a Woman, he had a
successful career as a model & actor. [IMDB]
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Co-Screenwriter/Producer
TONI NEWMAN is a 1985 graduate of Wake Forest University with a
degree in sociology. Toni Newman has been a trans-activist for a
number of years. Her critically acclaimed memoir I Rise: The
Transformation of Toni Newman has been hailed as the first memoir
published by an African American transgendered woman. Ms. Newman has
written about issues pertaining to the transgender
community for a variety of publications including the Huffington
Post
Currently,Toni is working on behalf of the largest LGBT non-profit organization in the Golden State who works
tirelessly to pass legislation to benefit the LGBT community. Most recently, they had been successful in banning
abusive, so-called "conversion therapy" in California.
To continue her
work on behalf of transgender
activism, Toni is now studying law with the ambition of fighting for
transgendered people in the legal system. [Website]
![]()
DEA
VISE
has been casting for over a dozen years and assisted with the writing
of feature film Heart of a Woman. Dea Vise has been associated with
Billy DaMato Casting for many years. She recently completed her
master's degree in Conflict Related Trauma. She has cast for such
films as Robot, Efrain and Posey. [Website]
[IMDB]
CAST
SPOTLIGHT
DERRICK
![]()
DANIEL SOBIERAY is a
California native, born in Newport Beach, California. Daniel is now
based in Los Angeles. Daniel grew up in Colorado and was very active
in sports from an early age. After accepting a scholarship to
Michigan for Ice Hockey, Daniel graduated with a B.A in Finance and
Economics. Then Daniel was asked by a top talent agency to model for
many well known designers in Europe and was a regular on the runway
from 2006-2009. In 2010 Daniel was asked to be in the popular day
time soap All My Children. Now you can see him in many TV shows and
feature films. [IMDB]
TERRI
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ANGELICA ROSS studied
theater at Florida Atlantic University. Her one woman show, “From
Where You Are” has allowed her to travel all over the United
States. Angelica Ross is a Singer/Songwriter/Storyteller who plays
the guitar and piano and has penned many amazing original songs.
Angelica Ross talks about her journey from smart accelerated student,
to the hard life on the streets, to rebuilding herself from ground
up, building a business, and falling in love as a African-American
transgender. Her main message is that from wherever you are, no
matter what it looks like, if you stay open, and grateful, and
present for whatever the time or lesson is, then you will gain the
courage, power & knowledge to withstand and overcome anything, to
become anything. [IMDB]
PAMELA
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RACHEL STERLING had a
recurring role on HBO's True Blood. Rachel is best known for comedic
roles in THE WEDDING CRASHERS, RENO 911!, FX series WILFRED and HBO
Presents FUNNIE OR DIE. Being an avid horror film fan Rachel made her
debut to the horror world with the film THE HELPERS. Rachel has made
guest appearances on shows House, Entourage, How I Met Your Mother,
NCIS and Private Practice. This former member of the original Pussy
Cat Dolls has graced the pages of Maxim, Esquire, FHM, Stuff, Italian
Vogue, and posed in Playboy Magazine. [IMDB]
SASHA
![]()
ELISABETH
RÖHM got
her
first break in television via
a contracted role on One Life to Live, then starring opposite Kyle
Maclachlan in the Invisible Man pilot. Next, she worked in England as
a regular on the BBC series Eureka Street, followed shortly by her
recurring role on the American series Angel. She was soon performing
simultaneously on Angel, and starring along side Stanley Tucci on
TNT's first serialized drama BULL. Elisabeth went on to star as
Serena Southerlyn for five years on Law & Order, winning two SAG
awards with her ensemble cast. Most recently Elizabeth has received
critical
acclaim in her role opposite Jennifer Lawrence in American Hustle.
[IMDB]
DAWN
![]()
LESLIE
JONES is a national headliner. She's been performing since 1987 and
since then has toured with Katt Williams, appeared on BET, HBO's Def
Comedy Jam, Showtime and more. Currently, she lives in Los Angeles
and can be seen performing at The Comedy Store, The Improv Hollywood,
The Laugh Factory, etc. You can catch her in her most recent movie
"Lottery Ticket" and also on her 1 hour Showtime special
"Problem Child" - available everywhere. [Website]
[IMDB]
Link into the full cast
and crew here.
Use
of funding
If
we are able to raise the necessary funding we can:
-Rent
all of the necessary equipment it takes to make a professional
looking feature film project, cameras, lighting, rigging, electrical,
as well as hire of all of the necessary technicians, actors, and
craftspeople required.
-The
producers also need to secure all of the various locations involved
to make the story of Heart of a Woman to come to glorious life.
-Of
course we need a talented team to design the most important tasks of
hair, makeup, & costumes. We have to make sure that our
attractive cast looks their absolute best up there on the big screen.
-An
aspect not really glamorous or discussed very often is the
post-production of a film that involves editing and sound design, as
significant as any of the other parts of the film-making process.
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