“THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS”
SELECTED FOR MALTIN CLASS SCREENING

CRANSTON, R.I. –– Strongheart Pictures announced today that The Education of Charlie Banks www.charliebanksmovie.com was selected by iconic film critic Leonard Maltin to be shown to his University of Southern California film class. Maltin teaches a course of Theatrical Film Symposium with 360 students, many of them film majors. The film was screened to the entire class on March 26, 2009 at the schools Cinematic Arts Complex. The screening was followed by a moderation by Maltin and a Q and A session of the films representatives.  Fred Durst; the films director, Jason Ritter; one of the stars and Peter Elkoff; the writer, all attended the screening. Elkoff stated that the students were “totally into the film”.

 “I was delighted.” commented Ken Guarino, CEO of Strongheart Pictures.  “Knowing that Mr. Maltin found the movie to be well developed and have enough depth to explore its characters and personalities in detail with his class, is a great achievement for everyone involved. Performances like Jason Ritter’s “Mick”, Jesse Eisenberg’s “Charlie” and Eva Amurri’s “Mary” were perfectly coupled with first-time director Fred Durst’s unflinching vision, to bring this movie to life.”

 Additional notice of the solid character based performance is confirmed with several other critic reviews such as writer Elliot Kotek, of Moving Pictures magazine, who noted in his review, “Jesse Eisenberg threatened to explode onto the scene following Noah Baumbach's embracing ensemble flick, The Squid and the Whale. He is, as he was in Squid, perfectly appropriate for this role, and  would be the one to watch if Jason Ritter weren't so damn good …. Ritter really breathes a palpable sense of danger to the role, turning the tables on his off-screen nice-guy persona…..Durst has delivered a film of pedigree.”

 Charlie Banks was shot almost entirely at Brown University and other locations around Rhode Island and New York City. “The reviews from critics confirm that we have broken the monotony of college aged films that rely so heavily on raunchy jokes and gags, and have produced a true college-aged drama.” added Guarino. The film was an award winner at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival and Jason Ritter was awarded the Best Breakthrough Performance award at the 2008 Lone Star Film Festival. The film is currently playing exclusively at New York’s Landmark Sunshine Theatre.

About Strongheart Pictures, LLC  

Strongheart Pictures, LLC www.strongheartpictures.com is an independent film production company based in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Its mission is to produce creative films – bringing fringe and emerging directors and artists to a wider audience. Strongheart Pictures is designed to facilitate the development, funding, production and distribution of these films.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Matt Corona
Strongheart Pictures
401.461.2200 x 113
matt@strongheartpictures.com

ANCHOR BAY ANNOUNCES RELEASE OF
FRED DURST’S DIRECTORIAL FILM DEBUT WITH
“THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS”
 
BURBANK, CA –– Anchor Bay Entertainment and Strongheart Pictures is pleased to announce the U.S. theatrical release of Fred Durst’s directorial debut film, THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS.  The film will premiere in Los Angeles and New York on March 27th, 2009, with other select cities to follow. The film received much acclaim at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, winning the prestigious “Made In New York” award. The film also received much attention at the Lone Star Festival, where Jason Ritter received the “Best Breakthrough Performance” award for his ambitious acting role as the films charming bully.

THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS, www.charliebanksmovie.com written by Peter Elkoff, is a riveting tale about college students learning to deal with life, love, and ultimately facing their fears. Set in the early '80's against the backdrop of Greenwich Village's rough and tumble playgrounds and an elite academic institution in Upstate New York, we learn how Charlie Bank's (Jesse Eisenberg) sheltered world at his Ivy League campus is shaken when Mick (Jason Ritter), an old acquaintance with a violent past, unexpectedly shows up at his dorm room. Intrigued by Charlie's privileged lifestyle, the charismatic Mick quickly wins over Charlie’s friends and his crush, Mary (Eva Amurri) as he seamlessly integrates himself into Charlie’s life. Unnerved yet also in awe of Mick's easy charm, Charlie's unresolved feelings of jealousy, admiration and fear – as well as an unspoken secret between the two—threatens to come to a head with ruinous consequences. Marking Fred Durst’s directorial debut, the film also stars Chris Marquette, Sebastian Stan and Gloria Votsis, with music supervision by Chris Douridas and photography directed by Alex Nepomniaschy. 

“Anchor Bay is thrilled to release THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS,” commented Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment.  “The film is a wonderfully accomplished first feature from Strongheart Pictures and we are delighted that audiences will get to experience it. This compromising look at life among contemporary young adults will appeal to all audiences”
 
“THE EDUCATION OF CHARLIE BANKS” RT is 101 min, color, 35mm aspect ratio 1.85, Dolby Digital, 5.1 surround sound. This film has been rated R for adult language, violence, and adult content.

About Strongheart Pictures, LLC  
Strongheart Pictures, LLC www.strongheartpictures.com is an independent film production company based in Cranston, Rhode Island.  Its mission is to produce creative films – bringing fringe and emerging directors and artists to a wider audience. Strongheart Pictures is designed to facilitate the development, funding, production and distribution of these films.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray formats.  It is the exclusive home media distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films.  Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media www.starzmedia.com is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

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FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:

Laura Paulsen
PMK/HBH
310.289.6200
Laura.Paulsen@pmkhbh.com

HOLLYWOOD COMES TO PORTLAND

November 5, 2007

CRANSTON, RI – Strongheart Pictures will screen its new feature film “The Education of Charlie Banks” on Wednesday, November 7th for one week only at The Movies On Exchange, 10 Exchange St., Portland, ME.  This film marks the directorial debut of Limp Bizkit front man, Fred Durst, and will be distributed by Anchor Bay Entertainment.

Written by Peter Elkoff (Dirty Sexy Money, The Education of Charlie Banks stars Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid & The Whale, The Hunting Party), Jason Ritter (Freddy Vs. Jason, Joan of Arcadia), Christopher Marquette (The Girl Next Door), Eva Amurri (The Banger Sisters, Saved!), and Sebastian Stan (The Covenant).  This coming-of-age story, which spans from the playgrounds of Greenwich Village to the idyllic greens of Vassar College, is a riveting tale about college students learning to deal with life, love, and ultimately facing their fears. The film premiered to much acclaim at the 2007 Tribecca Film Festival, winning the prestigious “Made in New York Award”.
On the opening night (Wednesday, November 7th), writer Peter Elkoff and stars Jason Ritter, Christopher Marquette and Sebastian Stan will be in attendance for a V.I.P. screening followed by a Q&A session. Limited seating for the premier will be available for purchase at The Movies on Exchange box office. Following the premier, The Education of Charlie Banks will show Thursday (Nov 8th) through Tuesday (Nov 13th) at 9pm with additional matinee showings on Saturday (Nov 10th) and Sunday (Nov 11th) at 1pm. Tickets are $7 and available through The Movies on Exchange box office.

"Portland is a city filled with arts and culture," said Ken Guarino, CEO of Strongheart Pictures, “this is a great opportunity to bring a taste of Hollywood to such a creatively enlightened area.”

Press is invited to attend a press conference at The Sheraton South Portland Hotel
(363 Maine Road, South Portland, ME, 04106) at 11AM in the Breakwater Room. Filmmakers and cast will be in attendance to speak about, and answer questions regarding, the film.
For more information on the movie, visit http://www.charliebanksmovie.com or http://www.myspace.com/charliebanksmovie

About Strongheart Pictures, LLC
Strongheart Pictures, LLC (http://www.strongheartpictures.com) is a start up Management Company based in Cranston, Rhode Island. Its mission is to produce independent films -- bringing fringe and emerging directors and artists to a wider audience. Strongheart Pictures is designed to facilitate the development, funding, production and distribution of these films.

Anchor Bay Entertainment to Distribute
Fred Durst's Directorial Film Debut With
The Education Of Charlie Banks

October 9, 2007

BURBANK, CA  -- Anchor Bay Entertainment and Strongheart Pictures today announced that they have entered into an agreement for the theatrical and home entertainment distribution of Fred Durst's directorial debut film, The Education of Charlie Banks. The film premiered to much acclaim at the 2007 Tribeca Film Festival, winning the prestigious "Made In New York Award."

"Anchor Bay is thrilled to add The Education of Charlie Banks to our ever-growing slate of independent theatrical releases," commented Bill Clark, President of Anchor Bay Entertainment. "The film was met with tremendous critical and popular acclaim during its premiere. We're looking forward to being partners with Strongheart Pictures and allowing audiences nationwide to experience it."

"We are excited to partner with Anchor Bay Entertainment for the distribution of Charlie Banks, as they share with us a sincere passion for its success," said Ken Guarino, CEO of Strongheart Pictures.

The deal was negotiated by Anchor Bay Entertainment's Mark Ward and Bill Clark as well as Jon Sheinberg of Machine Management for Strongheart Pictures. "Jon's experience and knowledge of the film industry was instrumental in making this deal work for both parties" stated Guarino.

The Education of Charlie Banks (http://www.charliebanksmovie.com), written by Peter Elkoff, is a riveting tale about college students learning to deal with life, love, and ultimately facing their fears. Starring Jesse Eisenberg (The Squid and the Whale, The Hunting Party), Jason Ritter ("Joan of Arcadia," The Deal), and Eva Amurri (In Bloom, The Banger Sisters), the movie marks the directorial debut of Limp Bizkit's front man, Fred Durst.

About Strongheart Pictures, LLC
Strongheart Pictures, LLC (http://www.strongheartpictures.com) is a start up Management Company based in Cranston, Rhode Island. Its mission is to produce independent films -- bringing fringe and emerging directors and artists to a wider audience. Strongheart Pictures is designed to facilitate the development, funding, production and distribution of these films.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment
Anchor Bay Entertainment is a division of Starz Media. Starz Media is a programming production and distribution company operating worldwide. It includes Film Roman and Anchor Bay Entertainment as well as the Starz Home Entertainment and Manga Entertainment brands. Its units create animated and live-action programming -- including theatrical films -- and programming created under contract for other media companies. It distributes that programming, and programming acquired from outside producers, through home video retailers, theaters, broadcasters, ad supported and premium television channels, and Internet and wireless video distributors in the US and internationally. Starz Media is a programming, production and distribution company operating worldwide and is a wholly owned subsidiary of Starz, LLC which in turn is a wholly owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corp. and which is attributed to Liberty Capital Group, http://www.starz.com.

IN THE SWING Durst [left] on the Charlie set last summer.

If Kenny Guarino has his way, Rhode Island will become a mecca for independent film. His company, Strongheart Pictures, a management/production firm based in Cranston, opened its doors just last year, but has gotten off to a scorching start with its debut motion picture, The Education of Charlie Banks, which premieres this weekend at the Tribeca Film Festival in New York City.

A coming of age flick, Charlie Banks marks the directorial debut of Limp Bizkit frontman Fred Durst and stars Jesse Eisenberg, Jason Ritter, Eva Amurri, Chris Marquette, and Sebastian Stan. Guarino served as executive director. “I was involved from inception to final edit,” he said in an interview, “and although I had a busy schedule, I had great confidence in the script and a good vibe from Fred.”

It’s not the first time Guarino has seen success. With more than 40 years in a variety of business endeavors, from retail and restaurants to media and real estate, Guarino is one of the state’s most visible entrepreneurs. He’s bringing that track record to the motion picture industry. “Strongheart Pictures is just beginning,” he says, “and we plan on producing everything from biographies to docudramas. Strongheart is looking to expand to a full operating studio here in Rhode Island.”

In 2006, the company invested in the soon-to-be-released Brooklyn Rules. Set in 1985 against the backdrop of John Gotti’s rise to power, the story revolves around three lifelong friends whose ambitions threaten their bonds. It stars Alec Baldwin, Freddie Prinze Jr, Mena Suvari, Scott Caan, and Jerry Ferrara, and was scripted by The Sopranos’ Emmy-winning writer Terence Winter.

Guarino’s deeper mission with Strongheart is to bring fringe and emerging directors and artists to a wider national audience. This is why his work with Durst makes good sense. “Although it’s his first movie,” Guarino says, “I found him to be very bright, honest, and hard-working. He has the character of the kind of person I like to be involved with.”

Durst was an aspiring filmmaker before his stint with Limp Bizkit. He helmed a number of music videos and has since lensed an as-yet-unseen short film titled The Truth, a mockumentary on the subject of televangelism. Last summer when I visitied the set of Charlie Banks, Durst appeared sensitive, intelligent, and very much in control.

“During the filming, I wanted to create a positive work environment,” Fred said. “I wanted it to be like a family. Some of my favorite directors — their cast, cinematographers, grips, and everyone from their first film went on as a family to create more emotional experiences in cinema.”